Adopt -A- Family at Christmas
A parish family or group sponsors a needy family by purchasing gifts for each member of the family. Families of all sizes are available for adoption. Each family provides a gift "wish list." Sponsor families or parish groups should call Margaret Huck, 630-355-4545, ext. 123, in early November to be assigned an adoptive family.
All Saints Catholic Academy Special Education
The Council donates $1000 to their Special Education Program each year.
Benedictine University Sunday Recreation
Benedictine University has had a long history of service to individuals with intellectual disabilities through its program, Sunday Recreation, which was successfully run by Fr. David Turner for 35 years. Benedictine University then chartered a chapter of Best Buddies in the Fall of 2001, which became the successor of Sunday Recreation. Under the guidance of our Faculty Advisor Fr. Turner, our organization has made great strides in helping area community members who have intellectual disabilities.
Bishop’s Burse
This donation is used for the education of seminarians. It is a small way of showing our support and the importance of priestly vocations to the Bishops.
Healing Mass
As part of the St. Raphael Parish Community, our council supports and helps coordinate a healing mass with other parishioners.
Little Friends Naperville
Little Friends, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization serving children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Based in Naperville, Illinois, Little Friends, Inc. operates 13 programs including three alternative schools, family support and consultation services, vocational training programs, community-based residential services and the Little Friends Center for Autism.
Loaves and Fishes
In 1984, St. Raphael Church opened a pantry to assist families in need of food. Eight families were helped that year. In 1991, eighteen area church and civic groups came together to organize the Pantry as a not-for-profit corporation to meet the needs of all of Naperville; and, in 1992, Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry moved from St. Raphael and to its new location on West 5th Avenue.
Loaves and Fishes Pantry currently serves approximately 1700 families each year. St. Raphael continues its support of the pantry by collecting non-perishable food each Sunday and providing envelopes for monetary donations the 2nd weekend of each month.
Parishioners may also help at the pantry by packing grocery bags and assisting with food distribution, sorting food or stocking shelves, or delivering groceries to the homebound.
March for Life Bus Sponsor
“Jesus Christ gave his life on the cross that we might have life and have it to the full. Each year people of all ages gather from around the country to March for Life in our nation’s capital. This is an opportunity for all those who believe in the sanctity of each human person to express themselves in a peaceful and prayerful way. The focus is life. Bishops, priests, deacons and faithful gather to celebrate the Holy Eucharist the evening before the March at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The experience of celebrating the Eucharist with thousands of young people is truly inspiring."
The March for Life is held on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade on January 22. The Diocese of Joliet Life Office is sponsoring a trip which will depart by bus from various locations around the diocese. Our council helps sponsor one of the buses.
Neuqua Valley High School Special Olympics
We donate $1000 to their Special Olympic Program each year.
Newman Fund
The Newman Apostostolate Fund was created to support Newman Centers on the college campuses in the state of Illinois. At a time when a young person’s faith is tested the most, Newman Centers provide a Catholic home to students who are away from their families for the first time. What better way for the Knights of Columbus to exemplify charity and encourage vocations to Church ministry than a monetary donation to assist in the continued operation of Newman Centers and Programs?
P.A.D.S. / Hesed House
PADS
On the fourth Thursday of each month, a group of St. Raphael parishioners prepare and serve dinner to the approximately 175 guests who stay at PADS.
On the same night, another group of parishioners work the night shift in the shelter,
supervising the sleeping quarters. Also they prepare breakfast and make lunches for the PADS guests for the next day.
Soup Kitchen
On six days in the calendar year, St. Raphael parishioners prepare and serve lunch to those individuals and families using the Soup Kitchen.
Bread & Produce or Pizza Delivery
On assigned days, parishioners pick up food from their designated site, Dominick’s or Pizza Hut, and deliver it to Hesed House
Pro Life Activities
Members of the Re-Affirming Life ministry work to preserve the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. To achieve this goal, four collaborative committees have been structured based upon the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life. This publication by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was approved in November 2001, and has been successfully implemented in Naperville-area churches, the Diocese of Joliet, and around the country.
This pastoral plan calls upon all the resources of the Church—its people, services, and institutions—to pursue this effort with renewed energy and commitment in four major areas.
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Public Information and Education
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Pastoral Care
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Public Policy
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Prayer and Worship
Rainbows
This peer support group is for children in grades K-8 who have experienced a deep, personal loss, usually the loss of a parent through separation, divorce, or death. Parishioners serving in this ministry receive training and are provided with plans, materials, and resources to facilitate the groups. The only requirement is a love for children and a desire to be a loving listener.
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REACH - Religious Education Apostolate for Christian Handicapped
The REACH program helps students:
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Play, work, and pray happily with others.
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Develop a sense of awe, wonder, respect, gratitude and stewardship for God's creation.
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Develop a sense of community and worship.
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Know that God loves, protects and provides for them.
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Recognize that prayer is talking with God.
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Explore in active ways the Bible stories that form the Catholic Christian faith.
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Celebrate their place in God's family.
The REACH program welcomes children who:
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Are at least 6 years of age by September 1st.
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Need a program at a slower pace with simplified lessons and a small student to instructor ratio.
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Want to feel a part of a faith community.
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Want to learn more about God's love.
Special Camps for Special Citizens
Special Camps is an all volunteer, over night camp, challenges mentally handicapped children & adults to participate in new activities, make new friends and gain physical social and communication skills.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Needs Ministry Holy Spirit Catholic Community
We embrace people with disabilities, their families and their friends at Holy Spirit Catholic Community. We seek inclusion of all individuals and their unique gifts. We ask them to contribute these gifts to all aspects of our parish life. We seek to identify the strengths of each individual with special needs and encourage them to share themselves with their brothers and sisters in Christ. We seek a strong foundation for these individuals and their families, as we support, nurture and strengthen our relationship with Christ. We address the challenges people with disabilities face in the church community and the community as a whole. Our mission is to help the parish create the type of community where all feel welcome and invited to all ministries offered in the church.
St Raphael Scholarship
Our Council donates $3000 each year to be used as a scholarship for a needy family.
St Raphael Special Projects
Our Council supports a Special Project each year in connection with the school. This amount varies as to the need of the project.
Veterans Activities
Our Council helps coordinate a Veterans Day Mass and sponsors a Brunch afterwards.
Vocations/Adopt a Seminarian
Our Council supports our seminarians with funds that vary with needs. We also help support Veterans and their families throughout the community in many different ways.
Wheelchair Foundation
Create an awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities and to deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult in the world that cannot afford one. The Knights of Columbus has teamed up with the Wheelchair Foundation to help bring wheelchairs to those who lack the freedom of mobility.