WINTER 2018 vol 19 • no 1 A CENTURY OF LIGHT PARISH PROFILE ROUNDTABLE LAST WORD St. Joseph’s in Shining Light On Matthew Shay: Light extends Round Lake Those in need when we let it shine 4 6 18 SPIRIT magazine contents winter 2018 WINTER 2018 VOL 19, NO 1 editor Jamie Lynn Ferguson writers Communications Department photos Catholic Charities Communications and Program Archives creative director Jennifer Sirota art design Kathleen Gabriel editorial board Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland president Kathy Donahue senior vice president, program development & evaluation Kristine Kappel director of communications “ Let your light shine before others, so that they John Ryan chief of staff may see your good works and give glory to Judith Silekis your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16 director of development A CENTURY OF LIGHT parish profile program news St. Joseph in Round Lake 9 spirit magazine 4 © Catholic Charities 2018 roundtable events Catholic Charities Shining Light On of the Archdiocese of Chicago 6 Those in Need 14 721 North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60654 the last word catholic charities Spirit Magazine is published 18 Matthew Shay: Light by Catholic Charities of the 8 Hurricane Maria extends when we let it shine Archdiocese of Chicago Relief Efforts for its friends, clients and benefactors. Spirit Magazine Editors and Staff Phone (312) 655-7010 [email protected] Postage paid in Chicago, IL 60654 Postmaster: Send change of address to: Spirit Magazine 721 N. LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60654 www.catholiccharities.net/spirit monsignor boland The Transformative Power of Light Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland presidenT of caTholic chariTies So many of our clients who turn to us have weary souls. for a multitude of reasons, they find themselves surrounded by darkness and uncertainty. They long for help and they search for hope. it’s a simple word, but without “hope” you don’t see a brighter future. You lose faith. You lose confidence. Without hope, the world is dark. “At catholic charities, our clients find the help, hope, and light they are searching for. We treat all of our clients who come to us with compassion and only ask one question when they walk through our doors, ‘how can we help you?’” Throughout this issue, you will find client- focused stories of transformation made possible That sense of darkness weighs heavy on the through our programs. While our clients come shoulders of our clients. The darkness may come to us surrounded by darkness and uncertainty, from the loss of a job or fear of homelessness. It they discover light on their journeys toward self- may be the anxiety felt at the possibility of being sufficiency. They feel light because of the change sent away from the place they know and back to a in their lives. They bring light to others because homeland that is unfamiliar. their lives have changed. Isiah speaks to us about times of darkness and We believe that even when a person feels the piercing light that penetrates. he reminds helpless, they should never feel hopeless. We are us that the light of christ has the power to shine grateful for all the Good Samaritans who have into our world. a world that is often dark, cold, supported us for 100 years to bring this light to and tough. all in need. It is thanks to supporters like you at catholic charities, our clients find the help, that we are able to lift up the needs of the weary, hope, and light they are searching for. We treat hungry, and lonely. every person who comes to us with compassion While one person can’t do everything, we have and only ask one question when they walk seen the power of what we can do together. through our doors, “how can we help you?” With Thank you for joining us on the front lines of a smile and a sympathetic ear, catholic charities hope, bringing light to the lives of those in need gives each person who turns to us hope. for 100 years. SPIRIT winter 2018 3 st. Joseph catholic church — RouND LAKE — Parish Profile St. Joseph Parish is committed to know, love, and serve one another in a welcoming community in Christ Jesus. st. Joseph catholic church of round “ You see a lot of lake is one of catholic charities first partners in lake county. people around the Terri denny, senior director of lake county regional services, said the parish but you don’t partnership was first formed in the late really get to know 1980s when needs were identified in the western part of lake county. them…But when we “it’s been a wonderful partnership,” Terri said. “The first catholic charities see people at the suppers in lake county were provided catholic charities in their building.” Those suppers continue today and are host to feeding supper we have a hundreds of lake county residents in PHOTOS need each year. common ground.” The parish itself dates all the (Top lefT) Carol Zmijewski st. anne catholic catholic church way back to 1900 when the first youth group volunteers. parishioners met to discuss the possibility of a parish in the the round lake area grew, so did the (righT – clocKWise) st. Joseph catholic church altar. community. By 1911, construction parish. Today, under the leadership of Parish volunteers distribute began under the permission of father michael zoufal, it’s a vibrant and clothing to the needy. archbishop James edward Quigley. as diverse parish with an equal number 4 SPIRIT winter 2018 parish profile of services in english and spanish to meet new people and I’ve been cater to its large hispanic population. volunteering ever since,” carol said. margarita frais-held and david she currently serves as a eucharistic held have been attending st. Joseph minister and was formerly on the for 18 years, and said they enjoy the diversity of the parish. “There are so many cultures we “It makes us feel get to experience, and we get to learn about other people’s likes and good that we’re dislikes,” he said. helping give back to about 14 months ago, they began volunteering through catholic the community.” charities meals on Wheels program, which provides hot meals and sack Carol Zmijewski lunches for seniors in need in Lake county. margarita and david decided to volunteer with the program after school board and parish council. they both retired. “i remember when we had just one store and tell her they recognize her “it gets us out of the house for a spanish mass, but the population has from the parish, she said. couple hours, and we get to meet grown so much and attendance for “i’ve grown up with st. Joseph. i’ve other people,” david said. “it makes both is now extremely high – people made friendships that last and have us feel good that we’re helping give come from outside Round Lake to so many memories from all the things back to the community.” attend our services,” carol said. we’ve done over the years,” she said. carol zmijewski, a parishioner at carol has attended catholic “The pastors we’ve had have all been St. Joseph who serves as a liaison for charities dinner for those in need for great. father zoufal is so welcoming catholic charities, has attended the three years with her friends. and open to new ideas. he’s there for parish for 45 years. carol, who was “We go whenever we’re available to the people and is very supportive of born and raised in chicago, started go,” she said. “You see a lot of people our diverse community.” attending St. Joseph when she and around the parish but you don’t really on its website, the parish describes her husband moved to the area to get to know them because we’re all itself as a stewardship parish: “our settle down with family. St. Joseph in our own little worlds. But when we hope is that all parishioners see was the only catholic church in the see people at the catholic charities themselves as sharers in the work of area at the time but they’ve stayed supper we have a common ground.” building god’s Kingdom in our area, there since. carol’s children also Because carol has been a member sharing generously of time, talent attended St. Joseph School. for so long and is often involved in and treasure. We are a multi-cultural “i decided to get involved at the the services, she sometimes has community and celebrate this in our school and the parish as a way to people come up to her in the grocery daily lives and in worship.” SPIRIT winter 2018 5 1917–2017 • A CENTURY OF HOPE Shining Light on Those in Need Our partners are an integral part of how we are able to bring light to those in need JIM & MOLLY PERRY in our communities. We know that it’s Catholic Charities only together that we have the power to Board Members bring hope to the lives of our clients and brighten the world around us. In this issue’s Roundtable Discussion, we talk to three Good Samaritans who have brought light to ROBERT GILLIGAN dark situations. Below, Jim and Molly Perry, Executive Director Catholic Charities Board Members; Robert Catholic Conference of Illinois Gilligan, Executive Director at Catholic Conference of Illinois; and Julie Chavez, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Bank of America share their experiences. JULIE CHAVEZ Senior Vice President, How do you see Catholic Charities bringing Market Manager, light to those in need? Bank of America THE PERRYS We’ve had the good fortune to watch catholic charities in action for many years.