[NOTE:
If one is unable to reach the organization or group, phone the
Church Office at 539-5256 or School at 539-3930.]
ST. JOSEPH PARISH COUNCIL.
The Parish Council shall serve as a channel of communication
between the Clergy, Religious and Laity of the Parish; provide greater
participation in the management of the life of the Parish; identify the
needs of the Parish and act upon these needs; encourage involvement of
all the people of the Parish in God’s work; receive, study and act
upon all problems, within the Council jurisdiction, placed before it by
members of the Parish; and function according to the spirit of Vatican
II, accepting the guidance of the pastoral directions of the Diocese and
recognizing its loyalty to Our Holy Father, to the Bishop of our diocese
and his representatives, and our Pastor.
The Council shall consist of 10 members, including 6 elected from
the congregation, two trustees, school board president, and the pastor. Each year the parish members elect two members to three year
terms in May. Persons interested in serving on the Parish Council should contact Father Mark
at the rectory.
Currently the officers are Andy Schilling, President; Herb
Wilhelm, Vice-President; Wayne Harris, Secretary.
The Council has the following standing committees:
Finance
Building and Property
Support
Religious Education
Liturgy
Hospitality and Activities
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Finance
Committee. The
Finance Committee shall:
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Consider and make recommendations
to the Council and the Pastor as deemed appropriate concerning all
aspects of the financing properties, and over all administration of the
Parish.
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Arrange the publication of the
annual financial report summary and budget for the coming year to the
parishioners by August of each year.
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Advise and assist as required or
as requested, parish activities and organizations concerning financial
matters and fund management, especially with regard to those instances
in which new proceeds are turned over to the Parish fund.
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Make recommendations regarding
Parish fund investments and financial assistance for worthy causes, both
within and outside of the Parish.
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Buildings
and Property Committee. The
Building and Property Committee shall:
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Be responsible for an adequate
program of insurance for all Parish property.
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Maintain a current and complete
inventory of all Parish property.
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Organize and supervise maintenance of minor construction to be
performed in-house by Parish volunteer groups, and obtain labor union
clearance as required.
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Establish and enforce safety
standards and assure safety measures are taken and provided for the
protection of parishioners and the public.
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Examine and monitor all Parish
property and make recommendations as to needed repairs, replacement and
obtain cost estimates therefor and report said recommendations to the
Parish Council.
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Be responsible for the Parish
Cemetery.
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Support
Committee. The purpose of this group is to
raise funds to maintain and preserve the parish center.
Currently the group sponsors the fish fry on the second Friday of
the month and every week during Lent as announced on the bulletin.
Volunteers are desperately needed at all times and individuals
interested should call Toni Smith at 539-9849 or Leo Wolf at 539-3136.
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Religious
Education and Youth Ministry Committee.
The Religious Education Committee shall:
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Provide guidance, leadership and
practical implementation in the entire field of Christian education,
formal and informal, for Parish children and adults, with emphasis on
the religious education of Parish children attending public schools.
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Coordinate with the diocesan
organizations in promoting attendance at and in conducting religious
training for Parish for high school students.
-
Operate and coordinate and/or
program adult religious education activities such as study clubs,
retreats, special speakers and similar events or activities to the
extent that interest can be developed within the Parish and support and
promote attendance at this type program conducted elsewhere.
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It is recognized that St. Joseph
Catholic School operated by the Parish is the primary religious
educational program of the Parish and the school principal and his/her
designated representative will serve as the liaison between said school
board and the Parish Council.
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LIturgy
Committee. The Liturgy Committee shall:
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Include among its members a
parish organist, the Pastor, and a cross- section of the Parish.
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Actively engage in planning and
participating in the liturgical celebrations.
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Recruit and train ushers,
commentators, choir members, and other liturgical participants and
prepare necessary schedules, giving a copy of said schedules to the
Pastor.
-
Maintain close liaison with the
diocesan liturgical commission and with liturgical committees elsewhere
and interchange ideas, experiences and a solution of common problems.
-
Schedules are prepared at the Rectory for ushers, lectors,
eucharistic ministers, and servers.
PARISH
SCHOOL BOARD.
Purpose: The
purpose of this Board is a shared responsibility with the Bishop,
Pastor, Principal and Parish Council.
The Board is a policy making body representing St. Joseph School
subject to such policies and regulations as might proceed from the
Ordinary of the Diocese, the Diocesan Board of Education, and the
Diocesan Office of Education.
Duties and Functions
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Implement policies and regulations of the Bishop, the Diocesan
Office of Education and the Diocesan Board of Education.
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Create better understanding and support of Catholic Education.
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With the administration and faculty determine goals and
objectives.
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Establish policies relating to the goals and operations of the
educational program.
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Review an annual budget pertaining to all matters of the
educational program of St. Joseph School.
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Be responsible for the determining of tuition rates and book fee
schedules and approving an annual budget.
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Establish committees on a standing or ad hoc basis according to
need.
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Report on the status of the educational school program to the
parish.
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Evaluate the effectiveness of Board policy in achieving our
objectives.
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Establish means to communicate Board policy and decisions to the
Parish communities.
Each year during the month of May, the parishioners elect two
members to the School Board for a three year term.
The seven member board meets on the last Wednesday of each month
in the school library at 7:00 P.M.
Parishioners are always welcome to attend the meetings.
For the current members, see the Governing Board list.
The School Board and the School staff currently coordinate the
following activities:
Annual
Fund Drive. The Annual
Fund Drive is launched in March of each year.
Parishioners, graduates, parents and alumni are solicited in
order to raise $20,000 in funds. These
proceeds are used to maintain and improve the computer lab, the library
and the science department.
Magazine
Drive. At the beginning
of the school, the students start their magazine sales for the benefit
of the school. The proceeds
are used to support the school.
ST.
JOSEPH SCHOOL PARENTS, TEACHERS AND FRIENDS ORGANIZATION. The objectives of the PTF organization is to promote the
welfare of children and youth in home, school, church, and community; to
bring a closer relationship between the home and the school, so that
parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently with the training of the children; and to develop a united effort between the
educators and the general public in order to secure the highest
advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.
The following functions are sponsored by the group to raise much
needed funds for school activities
:
Together We’re Better – The T.W.B. program is a
program wherein merchants donate a percentage of the certificate sales
to the P.T.F. to off-set tuition costs for the parents.
Started in the late fall of 2001, it has been a huge success.
Dinner Auction – Every two years.
50/50 Monthly Raffle – Each year the P.T.F. sponsors a
monthly 50/50 drawing. The
winner usually wins $50.00 more or less each month.
The group in cooperation with a variety of restaurants receives a
percentage of the food purchases on a given evening.
Currently, the Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Casa
Gallardo restaurants are participating.
ST.
JOSEPH MEN’S ASSOCIATION.
The Association was started in 1984 for the purpose of promoting
social and spiritual activities among the men of the parish and to
assist the pastor in various activities.
The members have conducted a variety of fund-raising activities
and have donated thousands of dollars to the parish over the years.
Currently the primary activity is the monthly Euchre Tournament
on the fourth Friday of each month.
In addition, the men operate the fish stand at the annual
Freeburg Homecoming. During
the month of July, the members enjoy their annual barbecue at the
Sportsman’s Club.
Short
meetings are held at the Parish Center on the second Wednesday of each
month at 7:30 P.M. Any
parishioner interested in more information or in joining the Men’s
Association should phone any of the following members:
Annual
dues are $5.00 per person payable in January.
QUILTING
LADIES.
The “Quilting Ladies” meet every Tuesday in the Parish Center
meeting room to make hand-made quilts for two main parish activities;
namely the spring quilt social and the annual church picnic.
These two events require over 100 quilts per year and therein
lies the reason why it is so important to continue to increase the
number of quilters.
Some
of our quilters arrive around 8:00 A.M. and some stay until 2:00 or
3:00. The time frame is set
by each individual quilter to suit her schedule on any given quilting
day. Our women do not quilt
during the summer months.
While the actual quilting of the quilts is a major part of the
work for the group, there is a lot of “behind the scenes work” that
needs to be done to keep the quilts rolling.
Not only are we always happy to have new quilters, we also need
people who can help by piecing quilts, marking quilts, pressing points
and binding the finished quilt.
The “Quilting Ladies” warmly welcome newcomers – even if
you have no quilting experience. Any
one of our dedicated quilters will be happy to work with new recruits to
help them learn the wonderful and relaxing art of quilting.
We would like to develop an evening group of quilters, and
welcome any prospective evening quilter to let us know they are
interested and we will attempt to get an evening group established.
ST.
JOSEPH WOMEN’S CLUB.
The purpose of the Women’s Club is to assist in the enrichment
of the spiritual life of the parish and work to promote these ministries
to others. In addition the
ladies strife to assist with social well-being of the parish along with
financial support for parish projects.
All Catholic women of the parish, who are 18 years of age or
older, and non-Catholic wives of male parishioners are eligible to join
the organization. The
calendar year dues are $5.00 payable January 1st.
The Club members do not meet in June or July.
Also a person can
just stop by one of our monthly meetings and join also.
Activities
The
Women’s Club formerly known as the “Altar Sodality” has been
involved in a wide variety of activities and events over the years,
namely:
1.
They visit the nursing home each month and play bingo with the
residents.
2.
When there is a funeral the members serve a lunch upon family
request.
3.
To support the Guatemala missions a silent auction is held each
October.
4.
On Mother’s Day the members sell “Roses for Life” after all
weekend masses.
5.
The organization donates a variety of altar items, including 2
lectionary books for mass recently.
6.
Cards are sent to parishioners who are ill.
7.
The women coordinate the cake stand at the annual picnic and the
basket stand.
8.
At the Homecoming the ladies operate the cake stand one evening.
9.
The members serve breakfast to the retired priests on a Saturday
during the Christmas season.
PARISH
PICNIC COMMITTEE.
The most significant social event and fund raiser each year is
the parish picnic. This annual event is held on the Friday and Saturday
following the Labor Day weekend. This
activity features one of the largest hand-made quilt bingos in Southern
Illinois. In addition to
the fine fish fry on Friday evening, there is an excellent Chicken
Dinner with all the trimmings on Saturday afternoon.
There are
several
raffles, games of skill, children’s activities, home-made ice cream,
sandwiches, and plenty of refreshments.
The picnic profits are earmarked for capital improvement projects
for the church and school and for emergencies.
The Chicken Dinner crew needs all of the volunteers they can get.
See church bulletin for additional announcements.
KNIGHTS
OF COLUMBUS.
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest lay Catholic
Family Service organization. Through charity and prayer, the Knights stand in service to
all as witnesses of the Good News of the Gospel.
The
Saint Joseph of Freeburg Knights of Columbus Council 13197 was dedicated
August 15th, 2002. This
date is the Feast of the Assumption.
The group raises money to support local Special Education
programs from the annual Tootsie Roll Fund Drive.
The annual Basketball Free-Throw Contest is held at St. Joseph
Parish Center. “Keep
Christ in Christmas” coloring contest was held.
The Marion Hour of Prayer Service was conducted in December.
Recycling Collection at the Freeburg Township Hall is scheduled
for the members.
NOTE: The Knights
will sponsor a pancake and sausage breakfast every Palm Sunday.
The
Knights of Columbus is open to all male parishioners 18 years of age and
older. Please feel free to
contact Leonard Hilmes at 539-6003 for more information.
CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION
(CYO) CYO consists of high school age students.
Youth are eligible to join upon confirmation. Our mission is to
instill a desire for lifelong faith development, a call to justice,
service and leadership by sharing the gifts of the young people with our
parish and community. We do this by providing service opportunities such as
sponsoring blood drives, collection drives, leaf raking for elderly,
Luke 18, Relay for Life, working various parish functions as well as
mission trips, Special Olympics, Elderly Picnic, and other service
opportunities at the diocesan level.
Our
social activities include lock-ins, float trips, 6 Flags, Cardinal Game,
swim parties, movie nights, hayrides, parade, sports as well as shrine,
diocesan and national youth conferences. We also invite guest speakers
to our meetings to further enhance our religious education and speak on
topics relevant to teens today.
New
officers are elected each year and our meetings are held on the first
Monday and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Parish
Center. Anyone interested should stop by on our meeting.
Our activities are also found in the Bulletin.
FREEBURG
COUNCIL 10 OF CATHOLIC FRATERNAL LIFE.
Our mission at Catholic Fraternal Life is to provide individuals
with superior service, financially sound insurance and annuity products;
and the opportunity to participate in Fraternal Benefits and Volunteer
activities:
Council 10 sponsors the annual
Sweetheart Brunch on the
Sunday closest to Valentine’s Day; Join Hands Day in June; the
bi-annual pilgrimage in September; the Habitat for Humanity project over
the Columbus Day weekend; and the annual Christmas Party for our
members. Also, the CFL sponsors matching gifts and other awards for the Parish.
ST.
JOSEPH SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND BOARD.
The purpose of the Board is to make and receive donations, grants
and gifts of property, real and personal, from any person, charitable
trust or other charitable corporation.
The Board invests the funds collected, and only earnings received
on investments are granted exclusively to St. Joseph’s School to
perform any function necessary to carry out the school’s mission.
The Board of Directors consists of five individuals which
includes the pastor, two church trustees, and two persons selected by
the Parish Council. The
Board meets as needed at the rectory.
During the course of the calendar year financial reports are
attached to the Sunday bulletin.
On August 1, 2006, the Fund had investments of $289,000.00.
FREEBURG
FOOD & CLOTHING BANK.
St. Joseph Church participates with the local food & clothing
bank coordinated by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.
Shelley Wolf is our delegate to the governing board.
Our parishioners are requested to assist in the collection by
placing their food contributions in the back of church. The food is then transported to the Food Bank each week.
Your generosity is appreciated by a lot of needy people.
R.C.I.A.
(RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION).
This is a process by which the Catholic Church warmly welcomes
new members. RCIA is an
ongoing effort with the coordination of a team of parish lay volunteers
wherein information is presented to those interested in becoming
Catholic. Those who choose to continue and complete the initiation
process do so by receiving the sacraments at the Easter Vigil mass.
RCIA is not only for those wanting to become Catholic, but also
for active Catholics who serve as catechists, sponsors or help as part
of the team. RCIA meets
once a week usually on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM starting in
September.
COMMUNITY
CARE COMMITTEE.
The Parish Council started the Community Care Committee in 2001
as a way of reaching out to those living in the Freeburg Community who
are in need of emergency assistance.
The Committee has no meetings.
The Council earmarks a percentage of the annual picnic profits to
fund the assistance program.
ADULT
CHURCH CHOIR.
Any and all parishioners interested in praising God through music
and song are encouraged to join the Church Choir.
No musical training is required or necessary but any talent will
be appreciated. Our
practice season starts in September and ends in May of the following
year. At our first session
the group decides when we will have our scheduled practices.
VACATION
BIBLE SCHOOL.
Each year early in June St. Joseph’s Church and St. Paul’s
United Church of Christ and First Baptist Church hold a joint vacation
bible school. A theme is
developed for the week-long event.
The committee is always looking for dedicated volunteers who are
interested in assisting. An
organizational meeting is usually announced on the bulletin in late
April.
LITURGY
AND PRAYER COMMITTEE.
To assist the parishioners become more involved and more
knowledgeable of their public and private prayer life, this committee
tries to implement the directives of Vatican II and the National
Liturgical Commission in planning Sunday and special liturgies,
especially Advent, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.
This involves being aware of the directives and resources for
music, environment, liturgical rites and ministries.
The committee meets as needed seasonally.
PARISH
SUPPORT COMMITTEE.
The purpose of this group is to raise funds to maintain and
preserve the parish center. Currently
the group sponsors the fish fry on the second Friday of the month and
every week during Lent as announced on the bulletin.
PUBLIC
SCHOOL RELIGION PROGRAM.
Students attending public schools are required to attend parish
religion classes on Sundays from 8:30 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. from August to
May as scheduled in St. Joseph’s School Building.
PARISH
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE.
To promote unity in our parish by keeping all parishioners
informed. A parish
newsletter is mailed to all households bimonthly. The
newsletter committee recruits submission of articles, processes the
stories, proofreads and then assembles and mails the newsletter.
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