Italian Language Classes for Adults and Children - September 2011 through May 2012

The Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia is sponsoring Italian language classes for adults and children. Children’s classes are held in various locations for 30 weeks from September through May. Exploratory Italian is offered to children between the ages of 4 1/2 and 6. Beginning, intermediate and advanced Italian is offered to children between the ages of 7 and 13. The adult classes are offered at the Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park, Berwyn and Chicago once a week for two hours.

For details visit the website www.casaitaliachicago.org or call 708.345.5933.

You're Invited to Jail Ministry Mass - February 5

Kolbe House, the Jail Ministry for the Archdiocese, invites you to a Spanish/English Mass at 3 pm next Sunday, February 5th at Assumption Parish, 2434 S. California, Chicago. At this Mass, we would especially like anyone who is personally affected by incarceration, a victim of crime, or anyone who wants to be part of our ministry through prayer to attend. If you are an ex-offender or have a loved one in jail or prison, please come. If you need more information, please call Deacon Pablo or Fr. Arturo at Kolbe House at 773-247-0070 or email Pablo at khpablop@aol.com.

Serra Club of West Suburban Chicago Meeting - February 8

Serra Club of West Suburban Chicago invites you to join them at their meeting on Wednesday February 8, 2012 at 7 pm at Holley Court Terrace, 13th floor, 1111 Ontario St., Oak Park, IL.

Guest Speaker in Sister Elyse Ramirez O.P. – Coordinator of Religious Vocation Ministries, Archdiocese of Chicago. The Club’s purpose is to provide Christian fellowship, and continuing education in the Catholic faith, while praying for and acting to encourage vocations to priesthood and religious life. Call at 708-386-2173 for details. PRAY FOR VOCATIONS!!!

The Women’s Center Life Banquet - February 11

The Women’s Center is holding their annual Life Banquet on Saturday, February 11th from 1 to 3:30 pm at The White Eagle, 6839 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, IL. This year’s keynote speaker is Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life. Tickets are $55 for adults; $500 table of 10; $25 for students 18 and under.

For additional information, please phone 773-794-1313 or visit our website at www.womens-center.org. Please note that this year’s event is on Saturday - not Sunday. The Women’s Center of Greater Chicagoland on Cicero Avenue needs an industrial size canvas laundry cart or basket truck.

Might you have a used one from your business you would be willing to donate? Please prayerfully consider and contact Jackie Keenan, Director of Volunteer Services at jkeenan@womens-center.org or 773-794-8807.

Diaconate Retreat / Workshop in the Catholic Church - February 19

Benefit for Amelia Patterson and Family - February 25

Have you taken care of your marriage? - March 2-4 or June 8-10

Take some well deserved time for just the two of you to deepen your communication, strengthen your relationship, rekindle your romance and renew your sacrament by attending the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends for the Chicago/ Northwest Indiana area on March 2-4, 2012 or June 8-10, 2012.

For reservations/ information, call Jim & Kris at 1-800-442-3554 or contact us through www.wwmechicago-gary.org. For a Weekend en Espanol (other dates), contact Oscar & Luz at 847-675-2119 or Aurelio & Letitia at 773-284-5308.

THE WOMEN'S CENTER - Ongoing Event

Volunteers Needed!

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has many kinds of volunteer opportunities available - from tax volunteers to greeters, as well as communications, technology and administrative coordinators. One might be right for you! Get the joy and satisfaction of helping others by applying to join the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer team today!

Your experience will be appreciated more than you can imagine. Contact John Bruun at bruun3@comcast.net or apply online at www.aarp.org/taxaide.

Catholic Charities LOSS Program for Children and Youth

Mayslake Ministries Announces

Their Veteran’s Ministry is designed to help our military men and women come to spiritual healing and reconcilitation with God and one another in the light of the Gospel message.

Post-Traumatic Spiritual Stress can affect a person for years after active duty. For more information about this Ministry contact Dr. Mary Amore at 630-268-9000.

Priesthood Vocation - Saint Joseph College Seminary

Walk-In Ministry Seeking New Volunteers

Volunteers work with clients to help evaluate their needs and develop an action plan. We welcome new volunteers and provide orientation and on-the-job training. To inquire about volunteering, please contact Catherine Rison at info@walk-inministryoprf. org.

West Suburban Catholic Charities’ SMART (Students Making a Real Transition)

Do you like working with children? Are you interested in becoming a tutor?
Do you need service project hours? Can you donate books and snacks?
Support the SMART Program at Catholic Charities West Regional Services

West Suburban Catholic Charities’ SMART (Students Making a Real Transition) after-school program, located at 1400 S. Austin Boulevard in Cicero, is in need of volunteers and donations. The volunteer-run program provides tutoring and a safe place to socialize for elementary school-age children. Volunteers are needed Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5:30 pm. The program is asking for donations of new or used children’s nonfiction educational books (i.e. social studies and science books); and healthy, nonperishable after-school snacks like unopened packages of trail mix, granola bars, pretzels, and fruit juice.

To make a donation or to volunteer, please call the SMART coordinator, Crysta Sulaiman, at 708-329-4027, or West Regional volunteer coordinator, Zulma Colon at 708-222-1491.

WANTED - A FEW GOOD PEOPLE

Have you been asking, “Now that I am retiring, is there a program where I can volunteer my services for a few hours a week? Now that my last child is in school, is there a way I can give of my talents? The answer is YES. There are so many immigrants who want to learn the language of their new country and never enough programs to service them.

Tolton Center, in its twentieth year of servicing the educationally underserved adult communities in Chicago, is embarking on a volunteer ESL program. We are looking for dedicated adults to work in small groups in our ESL program. At this time we are thinking of pairing two volunteers with a group of four ESL students to form conversational groups / writing groups.

The ESL classes will take place at the Toman Branch Library on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between the hours of 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. The Toman Library is located at 2708 S. Pulaski in the heart of Little Village, a predominately Mexican community. These are incredibly wonderful students to work with.

Tolton Center also has several sites on the West and South side serving adults needing Adult Basic education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED). Many of these students make tremendous progress when paired with an individual tutor. Volunteers will be required to attend training sessions and to do continuing training throughout the year. For more information please contact Mary Ellen Lesniak, ESL and Family Literacy Coordinator at 708-565-9401

PADS HOMELESS SHELTER - Can you lend a helping hand? - First Monday from October through April

The St. Giles PADS crew is in need of a few more volunteers to help with the emergency shelter at First United Church of Oak Park. The crew volunteers on the first Monday of each month, October through April, from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. The work includes setting up the shelter, greeting guests, serving dinner and clean up.
We are also in need of a few individuals who could be substitutes for the overnight shifts (10:30 am to 2 pm or from 2 to 5 pm). These substitutes would be called if a regularly scheduled volunteer cannot make it.
Saint Giles is well represented by over 50 individuals who volunteer at West Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). PADS is the primary homeless services provider for near west suburban Cook County. Each year over 500 homeless men, women and children come to the rotating shelter sites for temporary lodging from October through April.
In addition to the Emergency Shelter Program, the PADS Support Center is open during the day to help clients receive case management assistance; access medical care, mental health services and substance abuse treatment; conduct job searches; and find affordable housing. The Supportive Housing Program includes Transitional Housing for the homeless and Permanent Supportive Housing for the homeless mentally ill. The Homeless Prevention Program provides financial assistance for those at imminent risk of homelessness due to eviction or foreclosure. The PADS website is http://www.westsuburbanpads.org/dnn/. Volunteers at the emergency shelter sites are responsible for setting up the site, preparing and serving the meals, cleaning the site, and most importantly, visiting with the guests. If you are ineterested in volunteering at PADS as part of Saint Giles crew, send your contact information to Maureen Hunter at Maureen.Hunter@comcast.net.

LOYOLA HOSPICE OFFERS GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

The Journey Toward Healing Support Groups are offered free of charge to anyone in the community who has lost a loved one. Upcoming groups include a young widow and widower group, widow and widower group, loss of an adult child group, general grief support group and the Motherless Daughters Workshop.

For further information and group dates, please contact Nancy Kiel, Bereavement Coordinator, Center for Home Care and Hospice, Loyola Medicine at 708-216-1646 or nkiel@lumc.edu.

Volunteers to help administer Communion

“I was ill and you cared for me.” - Matthew 25:36

The Pastoral Care Department of Loyola University Medical Center is reaching out to the Oak Park Community looking for volunteers to help administer Communion. The ministry requires only a couple of hours each month and provides immeasurable spiritual support for patients and their families. Volunteers collaborate with the Staff Chaplains, and will be trained and supported by the Pastoral Care Office. Interested parishioners are asked to contact Loyola’s Department of Pastoral Care at 708-216-5907.

The Quigley Scholars Program

Honoring the 101-year tradition of High School Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago by continuing to call young men to consider the priesthood of Jesus Christ in a new way. Established by Cardinal Francis George in April 2007. Requirements:

• Baptized practicing Roman Catholic!
• Have interest in exploring the priesthood with other young men!
• In Catholic or public high school!
• Willing to attend a once-a-month evening of prayer, dinner, spiritual formation and fun with the St. Joseph College Seminary community at Loyola University!
• Willing to pray for vocations and for others!
• Willing to love and serve God and His people with great joy!

God is calling you! Answer the call. Come join us, make new friends, learn more about our faith, about the priesthood, and about yourself; feel God’s presence and have a great experience. Some scholarships available for those in Catholic high school. For information please contact Fr. Peter Snieg at the Quigley Alumni Office at 773-973-9706. St. Joseph College Seminary, 6551 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626.

Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry needs Saturday Morning Volunteers

The Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry needs Saturday Morning volunteers to help bag groceries, stock the shelves and serve clients.The Saturday shift is from 8:45 am at 12:30 pm (or split shifts from 8:45 to 10:45 am, and from 10:45 am to 12:30 pm.) Other weekday shifts are also available.
Please visit the Pantry website: www.oprffoodpantry.org and click on the volunteer page. Complete a Volunteer Application Online and you will receive an invitation to a Monthly Volunteer Orientation.
Individuals are welcome to volunteer on Saturdays to assist the Pantry in its effort to work together to provide hunger relief in our community.

HOSPICE VOLUNTEER

Have you ever thought of becoming a Hospice Volunteer? Hospice volunteers are needed to visit patients and assist families in this community. Bereavement and office volunteers are also needed. This is a special ministry and support and training is provided. For more information call Jim White, Volunteer Coordinator at the Generations Hospice in Westchester at 708-409-3040.
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love”.
Mother Theresa

Catholic Charities West Regional Services

1400 S. Austin Blvd. Cicero, IL 60804 - Phone: 708-222-1491
Catholic Charities maintains a Food Pantry which hours are: Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 am to 12 Noon and from 1 to 2 pm and Thursdays from 2 to 7:30 pm. They also have a Clothing Room (ID Needed) on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Appointments not needed for these services. Walk-in-visits on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am to 3 pm and Thursdays from 11 am to 5:30 pm. Financial Assistance information at above phone number.

Catholic Charities Immigration and Naturalization Information

126 N. DesPlaines, Chicago, lL - Phone: 312-427-7078
Assistance is provided with: Questions related to immigration, Immigration process for a family and Citizenship application process.

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CCDH)

"Thus says the Lord God: Put away violence and oppression, and do what is right and just!" - Eziekiel 45:9
From 2000 to 2005, the cost of college in Illinois has increased by 34% in public schools and 23% in private schools, which adds an extra barrier to low-income students attaining higher education.
CCHD addresses the root causes of poverty by funding organizations that are:
- Drecreasing youth violence.
- Increasing access to affordable housing.
- Advocating for the rights of seniors, immigrants, workers, and people with disabilities.
Catholic Campaign For Human Developement
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
For more information on how you can help, call at 312-534-5333 or contact the Archdiocese of Chicago located at 3225 S. Lake Park Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

Vocation Awareness

Have you ever considered a vocation to the priesthood or religious life? The journey of discernment is not an easy one. Just like the two men on the road to Emmaus from the Gospel, we often need God’s help to remind us of all the good God has done for us.

For opportunities to explore your vocation, please contact Fr. Brian Welter at 312-534-8298 or at bwelter@ archchicago.org. Go to www.ChicagoPriest.com for more information.

For information about the religious life contact Sr. Elyse Ramirez, OP at 312-534-5240 or at eramirez@archchicago.org.

Oak Park Public Library System

The Oak Park Public Library System offers many free services to Oak Park residents with a current Library card. If you are homebound and unable to get to one of the Libraries, call Irene Balks at 708-383-8200. Homebounds may also arrange for weekly books / materials to be delivered once a week on Fridays by a Library volunteer. These may include regular or large type books, books-on-tape, music on compact disc (CD's), video tapes. For further details, call the number above.

Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care

Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care is looking for individuals who have a caring presence and want to develop their skills to assist families and patients that are facing loss at end of life. Volunteers are trained to meet the needs of patients in their homes, long tern care facilities and Rainbow’s in-patient unit. For training location, dates, times, and other information contact Kathy Huber or Rhonda Parrow at: 847-685-9900.