The Missionary Spirit Team will be handing out bags/menus at the back of the Church the weekend of May 16th & 17th to support Uncle Pete’s Ministry. This will be our second and final Spring event. Lunches are to be returned to parking lot on Tues, May 19th, 6am-830am.
Who is Uncle Pete and how did he get started?
Through his many trips to the Westside of Chicago, Pete Zonsius. or Uncle Pete, as he was known to all, realized that more and more people were homeless, in shelters, or living on less than adequate wages to support their families. He felt, “it is hard to see people so much in need, and not respond”. He knew if he could help mobilize various groups of volunteers, that each could do something to contribute, even in a small way. In 2010, Uncle Pete organized his St. John Brebeuf community in Niles to make sack dinners once per month for eight months of the year. He built relationships with people, mainly from the west side and Uptown areas of Chicago and planned how to get them a sack dinner.
He knew that he wasn’t solving the problem of hunger but rather alleviating some of the challenges of getting thru the day for those who are less fortunate. He began to ask other organizations and parishes to join in.
Our Saint Juliana Missionary Spirit Team is proud to partner with Uncle Pete’s Ministry and through the generous donations of our Parish and School Communities, keep this wonderful ministry going.