Missionary Spirit Team
Our Missionary Spirit Team strives to identify needs and bring forth opportunities to serve those less fortunate in the parish, surrounding community and beyond. We bring together our parishioners of all ages who wish to help otherswith opportunities to volunteer and serve. It is our hope that by developing a strong sense of volunteerism and service, Saint Juliana will continue to be recognized as the giving and compassionate parish that it is.
Meetings: Our team meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the parish center to plan. Outreach opportunities are monthly, open to all parishioners and communicated through the bulletin and website.
Who is Uncle Pete?
Fondly called the "ultimate volunteer," Pete Zonsius was a long-time parishioner at St. John Brebeuf Parish in Niles. Uncle Pete started a ministry to feed people he called "less fortunate" not "poor& He felt it important to recognize the dignity of all people. For more information on this ministry, or to donate, please click here.
Uncle Pete would load a van with bagged lunches and personally distribute them on the west side of Chicago; when he passed away at age 90, St. John Brebeuf parishioners continued his ministry. Other parishes, including St. Juliana, have joined the effort.
How does it work?
Empty lunch sacks and directions for the meals are available in the back of church on designated weekends. Return one or more filled sacks on Tuesday mornings from 6:00-9:00am, to volunteers stationed in our parking lot. Later that day, the sacks will be distributed by our Missionary Spirit Team volunteers. Past recipients have included:
- Our Lady of the Angels, serving seniors, the after-school program and food pantry
- St. Martin de Porres food pantry
- St. Augustine Center for homeless
- St. Stanislaus Kostka Soup Kitchen
- Mother Theresa Sisters of Charity, serving homeless under the viaducts
- St. Sylvester Parish food pantry in Humboldt Park
Watch the bulletin, e-newsletter and marquee for news of the next Uncle Pete's Ministry collection!
Feed My Starving Children
Another outreach for the MST is outings to Feed My Starving Children in Libertyille. From their visit in 2014 through today, our Saint Juliana volunteers have packed enough meals to feed more than 500 children for an entire year! They have great fun while doing great work and invite everyone to join them!
Christmas Sharing Program
Each year, the Missionary Spirit Team collects gifts for Sister Joellen Tumas and her volunteers at Casa Catalina. Mrs. Lidgus and the St. Juliana School junior high student volunteers help collect and pack the gifts