“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” – Matthew 26:28
The Liturgical Ministries comprise various ministries that assist the clergy and parish community in celebration of daily, Sunday and Holy Day liturgies and provide a warm and welcoming space for worship that fosters a sense of belonging:
Mass Coordinators are adults who are responsible for the preparation of OLBS Liturgy by opening and securing the church before and after each service, and ensuring that the altar preparation is complete.
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion are adults at least 16 years of age who assist the priest with the distribution of the Sacred Body and Precious Blood of Christ at all Masses. Required training for Extraordinary Ministers of Communion is available through the Archdiocese.
Lectors are adults and young adults at least 13 years of age with a passion for public speaking who proclaim the Word; read General Intercessions at daily, Sunday and Holy Day Masses; and read Responsorial Psalms at daily Masses. Required training for proclaiming the Word is available through the Archdiocese.
Greeters & Ushers are adults at least 13 years of age who provide a warm welcome to parishioners and guests alike; assist with seating as needed; take up the collection (must be 18 or older to handle money) and direct the communion procession. Discover more.
Altar Servers are boys and girls of varying ages (must be in Grade 4 or up) who assist the priest with different parts of the celebration of the Eucharist at Sunday Masses and Holy Days. Required training for altar servers is available periodically. Trained altar servers, please follow this link to sign up for a time serve at Mass!
Music Ministers are children and adults who proclaim the Word of God by participating as a cantor, accompanist or in one of our choirs. Discover more.
Are you called? If you would like to assist with the celebration of Sunday and Holy Day liturgies, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation.” —Psalm 95:1
Music facilitates a sense of prayerful participation amongst parishioners and is an important part of worship and praise to God. At Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, our Music Director, Paul Van Lysebettens, is joined by an array of talented pianists, organists, guitarists, vocalists and other musicians leading sung prayer for Sunday and Holy Day liturgies.
Under the direction of the Music Ministry, volunteer and paid cantors and accompanists lead music for Sunday and Holy Day or special liturgies. Paid musicians are selected by the Music Ministry and wages are paid in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Divine Worship.
Volunteer choir members unite around a shared love of music and faith to experience the thrill of text coming to life as they lead song for select Sunday and Holy Day liturgies under the direction of the Choir Director:
The Adult Choir, age 18+, sings at select Sunday and Holy Day Masses at both Queen of the Rosary and St. Julian Eymard. Please check the parish calendar for rehearsal dates and times.
The Charismatic Music Group sings and plays at one Mass at Queen of the Rosary or St. Julian Eymard per month and features drums, guitars and trumpets to create praise and worship music you may hear on the radio, plus many of our favorites from right here at OLBS. Please check the parish calendar for rehearsal dates and times.
The Kid’s Choir, children in grades 3 through 8, sings at select Sunday and Holy Day Masses at both Queen of the Rosary and St. Julian Eymard and rehearses on Wednesdays from 2:45-4pm at Queen of the Rosary. Please check the bulletin or parish calendar for specific dates and times.
The Handbell Choir, under Christina Ray’s direction, brings scripture alive with a wide range of powerful notes to create a unique musical experience for worship. Handbell Choir plays one 10:30am Mass per month plus select special liturgies at Queen of the Rosary and rehearsals are Thursdays 7-9pm at Queen of the Rosary. Please check bulletin or parish calendar for specific dates and times.
Are you called? If you are ready to help us make a joyful noise, please contact Paul Van Lysebettens, Music Director, for more information today at (847) 979-0901 x1006 or mrvan@olbsegv.org.
“By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” —Proverbs 24:4
Art & Environment ministers plan and implement an environment for inside our worship spaces, centered on the liturgical seasons of the Church. All elements should work together to enhance worship and be clean, appropriate, authentic, beautiful and accessible.
While the Art & Environment team is responsible for decoration throughout the liturgical year, extra volunteers are always needed during Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter.
Are you called? If you would like to help enhance our worship spaces, please contact the Parish Office (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
A wedding is but one day, and a marriage is a lifetime. Marriage & Family Ministry enables couples to use their experiences of marriage and family life, especially challenges they have overcome, to accompany other married couples in similar situations. Effective marriage ministry helps married couples discern their own unique gifts and talents and provides opportunities for couples (and divorced or widowed persons) to use their skills in service to the parish community. Marriage and Family ministers provide prayer, activities, training and tools that help couples build into their marriage.
Are you considering pursuing an annulment? Do you have questions about the process and requirements? The Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Chicago is pleased to present a free Annulment Info Night at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elk Grove Village on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 7:00pm.
During this informative evening, experienced staff members from the Tribunal will provide an overview of the annulment process and answer any questions you may have. You will learn about the grounds for annulment, the steps involved in pursuing an annulment, and the support and resources available to you throughout the process.
The Annulment Info Night is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about annulments, including those who may be considering pursuing an annulment, as well as friends and family members who want to provide support.
The event will take place at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Julian Eymard in Shea Hall, and refreshments will be served. St. Julian Eymard Church is located at 601 Biesterfield Road in Elk Grove Village, across the street from the hospital.
Please note that this event is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or pastoral advice. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 7:00pm for an informative and supportive evening. So we know how many we will be, please follow this link to RSVP.
Questions? Please contact Mary Ellen Ottenstein at (847) 979-0901 x1007 or info@olbsegv.org.
For Catholics, February is the month devoted to The Holy Family, and it is an ideal time to strengthen our own family and its connection to Jesus’s family. As we strive to provide faith resources for families, here are 10 ways you can align your family to the Holy Family this February:
O Jesus,
our most loving Redeemer,
who having come to enlighten the world
with Thy teaching and example,
didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life
in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph
in the poor home of Nazareth,
thus sanctifying the Family
that was to be an example for all Christian families,
graciously receive our family as it dedicates
and consecrates itself to Thee this day.
Do Thou protect us,
guard us and establish aongst us Thy holy fear,
true peace and concord in Christian love:
in order that by living according to the divine pattern
of Thy family we may be able,
all of us without exception,
to attain to eternal happiness.
Mary,
dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us,
by the kindly intercession
make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of
Jesus,
and obtain for us His graces and blessings.
O Saint Joseph,
most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary,
help us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal
needs;
that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior
Jesus,
together with Mary and thee,
for all eternity.
(Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be 3 times.)
Amen.
Set aside time to pray the Rosary as a family:
You may pick up guides on how to pray the rosary, and even rosaries, at the parish office if you need them.
Set aside worldly and secular distractions and attend Sunday Mass together as a family. Remind everyone of the real presence of Christ at Mass, and use the Every Sacred Family 52-Week Guide to help start conversations about the Sunday readings. You can even keep the guide on your phone and use it to start conversation in the car on the way to Mass!
Place an image or icon of the Holy Family in a place of prominence in your home. Purchase a framed image or statue, take a family photo with the Holy Family statues in either of our worship sites, or search and print a favorite photo. If you would like Fr. Dan or Fr. Louis to bless an image or statue of the Holy Family, contact the parish office to arrange a time!
February can sometimes be gloomy. So, plan something fun you can all do together during the month! Maybe it’s a family outing to the aquarium, a sporting event or a movie. Perhaps it’s baking a special dessert together and enjoying the sweetness.
Celebrate the feast of the Family Patron Saint you selected at Christmastime, or you can base Family Feast Day on the patron saint of your wedding day and/or the day you moved into your new home. If you haven’t yet had your house blessed or consecrated, make plans to do so! After all, your home is the domestic church for your family, and a beating heart of sorrows and joys where you all dwell and grow. What better month could there be to bless it? Contact the parish office to request Fr. Dan or Fr. Louis come to your home for the house blessing, or to pray with you on your Family Feast Day!
Tell family anecdotes, share stories of faith and pass down the traditions. Pay special attention to family members who have passed. Make sure to talk about those who have lived their faith through difficulties in an exemplary manner! This gives roots and foundational meaning to our lives and identities as children of God. Invite Fr. Dan, Fr. Louis and fellow parishioners to hear these stories of faith, and share their own!
Write a short prayer to pray as a family following grace before meals. It can be as simple as “God bless the (Last name here) family!” If you need help, invite Fr. Dan or Fr. Louis over to pray with you.
It can be named after a saint or take its inspiration from a place in the Bible; it can have something to do with the name of the street you live on, an attribute you strive for, or your last name. But naming your home gives an epic quality to your life that creates a sense of bonding among family members that cannot be taken for granted. And again, what better month to bless your home than in the month of the Holy Family. Invite Fr. Dan or Fr. Louis to the house for the blessing!
Think of that classic television series, The Waltons, which closed each episode with that beautiful ritual!
As we end each day, let us recall these words of Pope St. John Paul II: “The family, more than any other human reality, is the place in which the person is loved for himself and in which he learns to live the sincere gift of self.” God bless your family.
What are you doing in your family to strengthen connections and be more like the Holy Family? If you have a great idea to pass along, we'd love to hear it! Please share it with us at info@olbsegv.org today!
On behalf of all of us here at the Archdiocese of Chicago, congratulations on your engagement! We are blessed to accompany you on your journey to the sacrament of marriage. The Office of Lifelong Formation offers PreCana courses on Zoom for couples to learn about the sacrament of marriage and prepare their hearts leading up to their wedding day. For more information on how to get married in the Catholic Church, please visit pvm.archchicago.org/lifelong-formation/marriage or email precana@archchicago.org.
Download the 2023 Marriage Preparation Schedule.
Married Couples Retreats are a great opportunity for couples to break away from daily struggles and tasks and spend time rejuvenating and enriching their marriage. Spend time growing closer in your marriage through inspiring talks, private couple time, individual prayer time, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and the celebration of the Mass. Through God’s grace, each couple may walk away with a renewed strength and a deeper commitment to each other and to God.
Breaking Bread Together
An Ignatian, Semi-Silent Weekend Retreat for Couples. Jesus shares many meals in the Gospels. During this retreat we will reflect on why “breaking bread together” is important to Jesus’ ministry and for the mission given to married couples. Retreat Master is Fr. Christopher Manahan, SJ.
Location: Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House
420 W County Line Road, Barrington, Illinois 60010 | Phone: 847-381-1261
Date: April 21-23, 2023
Fee: $660 per couple
Follow this link to discover more.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
We must die to self to give more in our marriage. Learn how to be the best spouse possible by participating in a virtual Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend.
Location: Various (including locations as near as Indiana)
Date: Various
Fee: $50-200 deposit plus free-will offering
Follow this link to find an Encounter.
Faith & Marriage
You and your spouse will spend time growing closer in your marriage through inspiring talks, private couple time, individual prayer time, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and the celebration of the Mass. Apostolate of the Willowoods Community.
Location: The Christian Retreat Center on the grounds of St. Joseph Abbey at 75376 River Rd, St Benedict, LA 70457 (approx. 13 ½ hour drive)
Date: Monthly options available
Fee: $325 per couple plus travel expenses (lodging included, each couple given its own newly renovated Married Couples Suite)
Follow this link to discover more.
Beyond Cana
Beyond Cana® offers the time and tools to enrich and strengthen marriages — with God and His direction for us at the center. This 2½ day retreat is designed to enrich the marriages of couples who want to focus on the communication, respect, love, and intimacy that are so integral to a good marriage. A blend of spiritual and practical talks, reflection, and prayer are combined with useful tools designed to improve communication and your relationship with your spouse — even if it’s good now. All this is done from a Catholic perspective, with an understanding of marriage as a sacrament.
Location: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Richardson, TX
Date: February 17-19, 2023
Fee: $300 per couple plus travel expenses (includes 2-night stay at nearby Hilton Garden Inn)
Follow this link to discover more.
AFC Marriage Retreat
Do you long for deeper intimacy with your spouse? Are you united in your vision for your marriage and family? During this Apostolate for Family Consecration Catholic marriage retreat, refocus your marriage on Christ. Deepen your intimacy with your spouse through prayer, communication, and time spent together. Renew your understanding of God’s plan for your marriage and family.
Location: Catholic Familyland℠ 3375 County Road 36 Bloomingdale, Ohio 43910
Date: October 20-22, 2023
Fee: $399 per couple plus travel and additional expenses (Lodging: $109-$289; Shuttle to and from Pittsburgh International Airport: $20.) The cost of registration includes 3 meals/day plus snacks & beverages.
Follow this link to discover more.
Each year, the Archdiocese of Chicago hosts the annual Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass to commemorate couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. As the Holy Father says, marriage, “gives witness to the courage to believe in the beauty of the creative act of God and to live that love that drives one to always go beyond, beyond oneself and beyond one's own family." This is the blessing that these have bestowed on your community for the past 50 years.
Follow this link to discover more information on the upcoming Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass.
Follow this link to review Frequently Asked Questions.
St. Bakhita Youth Video Contest
US Catholic Sisters against human trafficking invite high school students across the US to answer the question “What would you do?”
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Award: First Prize:$1000 • Second Prize: $750 • Third Prize: $500.
Follow this link for application, guidelines and to discover more!
Christ Is Alive! National Essay Contest
Students in Grades 3-8 and enrolled at Queen of the Rosary School or involved in a youth program at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament are invited to participate in a national essay contest.
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Award: $100 + any Bible from comcenter.com for the student plus $100 for the winning student’s teacher and $100 for a class celebration and $200 for the parish or school
Follow this link for application, guidelines and to discover more!
Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton Essay Contest
The Tolton Ambassadors-Chicago are accepting essays from students in Grades 5 through High School that answer the appropriate 2023 grade-level theme question.
Deadline: April 2, 2023
Award: New tablet
Download the flyer for application guidelines and to discover more!
ACCW Scholarship Opportunity
In keeping with its mission, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women annually provides one $1,000 four-year renewable scholarship to a young woman graduating from high school and continuing her education in a college or university.
Deadline: April 30, 2023
Award: $1,000 four-year renewable scholarship
Follow this link for application, guidelines and to discover more!
Czarnik/Heffern Memorial Scholarship
Inspired by Frank Czarnik and Jim Heffern’s lifetime focus on community, “The Czarnik/Heffern Memorial Scholarship” recognizes high school seniors who have also been active in their community and given their time to others.
Deadline: May 5, 2023
Award: Ten $1,000 scholarships awarded to High School seniors residing in Elk Grove Village.
Follow this link for application, guidelines and to discover more!
Are you called? Connect with us on Facebook to dive deeper into our Marriage & Family Ministry and stay updated on our latest events, activities and spiritual insights! If you would like to invite others to discover the beauty of marriage and our Catholic faith, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“You created every part of me, knitting me in my Mother’s womb. For such handiwork, I praise you. Awesome this great wonder!” – Psalm 139:13-14
Just as Jesus wraps us in His love and peace, we can provide a shawl to someone who needs to be held and wrapped in prayer. The Shawl provides this person with a visible symbol of Christ’s presence and care, along with our prayers. Knitters and crocheters, even beginner level, derive joy from providing comfort, care and prayer to those in need in our OLBS faith family and beyond.
To make the shawl personal, the giver or recipient may want to adorn the shawl with beads, shells, feathers or charms. A blessing or ritual may be offered when the gift is presented.
Materials:
Pattern:
Materials:
Pattern:
You do not need to attend ministry meetings to participate in Prayer Shawl Ministry, only to have a love of knitting or crocheting. Ministry meetings focus on faith, fellowship and exchange of ideas and are optional. Prayer Shawl makers start each session with prayer, and each stitch of the shawl represents that prayer for the recipient. For those who wish to participate, we have two opportunities to meet with other Prayer Shawl Ministers based on your schedule:
Saturday. On the third Saturday of the month in SJE Shea Hall from 9:30 to 11am.
Wednesday. On the fourth Wednesday of the month in SJE Shea Hall from 1:00 to 3:00pm.
Are you called? Connect with us on Facebook to dive deeper into our Prayer Shawl Ministry and stay updated on our latest events, activities and spiritual insights! If you have a love of knitting and/or crocheting and would like to help wrap people in prayer, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“How can I fear a God who is nothing by mercy and love.” – St. Therese of Lisieux
Sometimes it’s hard to make sense of our sufferings as we grow older or as we deal with illness. But God assures us we are not alone. He is with us.
Something that can be very meaningful as we go through difficult circumstances is to offer up or unite our sufferings and sacrifices to Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Then our suffering becomes purposeful.
Are you called? If you believe in the infinite power of prayer, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4
Losing a family member can be one of the most difficult and painful experiences a person will go through. Following a loss, the Bereavement Ministry seeks to bring a caring presence and living reminder of God’s love to the family.
Training provided.
Are you called? To walk with those in mourning, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” —Matthew 7:12
To bring comfort, share God’s Word and the Holy Eucharist, Ministers of Care make faith visits to the sick, homebound, hospitalized and elderly in our OLBS community and may participate in one or more activity.
Homebound. One-on-one visits with parishioners in their homes on a regular or periodic basis.
AMITA Health. Make room visits and bring Holy Communion to parishioners at AMITA Health at 800 Biesterfield Road in Elk Grove Village. Based on current health and facility volunteer guidelines. Please note, this is only open to trained and approved AMITA Health volunteers.
AMITA Health Rehabilitation Hospital. Make room visits and bring Holy Communion to parishioners at AMITA Health Rehabilitation Hospital at 935 Beisner Road in Elk Grove Village. Based on current health and facility guidelines. Please note, this is only open to trained and approved AMITA Health volunteers.
Alexian Village. Communion Services and room visits to residents at 975 Martha Street in Elk Grove Village. Based on current health and facility volunteer guidelines.
Promedica (formerly Manor Care.) Communion Services and room visits to residents at 1920 Nerge Road in Elk Grove Village. Based on current health and facility volunteer guidelines.
Watch bulletin and eNews for Ministry of Care training and mandation opportunities. Must first be a trained Eucharistic Minister.
If you would like yourself or a loved added to our Ministry of Care schedule, please contact the parish office (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
Are you called? To bring prayer, presence and the Eucharist to the sick, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” – Phillippians 4:13
When we lose someone we love—a parent, sibling, spouse, friend or worse a child—the sorrow sometimes overwhelms us. Even the most faith-filled among us may struggle with loss. It’s important to remember that grief is not a curse, but a call to a deeper relationship with God.
Journey of the Heart is a compassionate grief-sharing group following the Seasons of Hope. Following a loss, Journey of the Heart seeks to let those grieving know that they are not alone. God has not abandoned them, and neither has their OLBS parish family. Founded in the traditions of Catholic Scripture and prayer, facilitators will use small-group discussion and faith sharing in a safe setting to help bring God’s comfort to the bereaved. We will not offer Counseling, but rather seek to surround the grieving with compassionate hearts to help lighten their grief journey.
Do any of the following describe your grief journey:
Journey of the Heart understands your pain and hopes to lighten your load, please contact the Parish Office today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org and a grief minister will contact you about an upcoming season of Journey of the Heart.
Are you called? To help bring the love and comforting presence of God to the bereaved, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.” – Matthew 25:40
Good Samaritans know that worth is not determined by a person’s station and strive to remind the poor in spirit of the enduring peace found in God’s love for us. Working closely with social-services agencies and other organizations, our OLBS Good Samaritan Ministry fosters volunteer opportunities to care for the spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of individuals and families in need in our parish community and beyond.
Watch the parish calendar, bulletin and eNews for opportunities throughout the year to participate in Catholic Charities Dinners and the PADS Suppers Program.
Are you called? Connect with us on Facebook to dive deeper into our Good Samaritan Ministry and stay updated on our latest events, activities and spiritual insights! If you’re ready to put God’s love into action by serving the poor, hungry and marginalized among us with mercy and compassion and without judgement, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you.” – St. Jeremiah 1:5
Respect Life Ministry seeks to build a culture of life that respects the innate dignity and importance of all human life from conception until natural death. Respect Life ministers work tirelessly to change hearts and minds in our increasingly secular culture through prayer and worship, outreach, education and community involvement. Prayer is the foundation of all we do in defense of human life.
Respect Life ministers join the Rosary Group at St. Julian Eymard on the second Tuesday of each month to pray a special Rosary for Life. Respect Life meetings follow the Rosary for Life in Shea Hall.
From Mothers Day to Fathers Day, Respect Life celebrates a Season for Life to help raise awareness for agencies that work to protect life and help create a culture of life.
October is Respect Life Month. Each year, from Respect Life Sunday to the beginning of November, the Respect Life Ministry sponsors activities in the parish and community to help raise awareness and support for a culture of life and partner agencies who share this vision.
Respect Life ministers organize quarterly Holy Hours to help us pray for a culture that respects life from conception until natural death. In January we lift up the Unborn; in April, near Divine Mercy Sunday, we pray for Abortion, Suicide, Mercy and Forgiveness; in July we lift up Marriage & Family; and in November we lift up the Elderly and End of Life.
The First Friday Fast for Life is a monthly full day fast every first Friday to make reparation for and pray to end the culture of death which is driving abortion, euthanasia, suicide and more. At least one Respect Life ministry member, along with individual parishioner volunteers, may participate. All are invited to pray for those fasting each month.
Fasting is one of the three pillars of penance in the Christian life. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving express our conversion, respectively towards oneself, God, and neighbor. (CCC 1434)
This self-denial and mortification, as expressed in fasting, is also efficacious for the conversion of others. Sacrifice and prayer are the vicarious payment we make towards the redemption of another. St. Paul captured this eloquently when he wrote, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body.” (Col. 1:24)
Intercessory prayer and fasting is exactly the message of Fatima as well. Our Lady of Fatima said, “Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them.” Mary revealed that our prayers and sacrifices are truly efficacious reparations, in which we can even positively affect someone’s eternal destiny.
We can accommodate fasting to our life situation. The important point is that we fast in some fashion, in union with the Church, particularly on Fridays in remembrance of Christ’s Passion, whether just giving up meat, or strictly on bread and water, or somewhere in between the two.
“Lord, Hanging as a vine upon the Wood,
O Christ our Savior,
You have made the ends of the earth
to drink from the wine of resolve.
Therefore do I cry aloud:
I am darkened always by the vicious drunkenness of sin;
Give me to drink from the sweet wine of true faith,
and grant me now the strength, O Savior,
to fast from sensual pleasures,
for You are good and love mankind. Amen.”
Today (June 24, 2022), the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns the court’s tragic 1973 decision that removed legal protection for unborn children. We welcome this important ruling and the opportunity it creates for a national conversation on protecting human life in the womb and promoting human dignity at all stages of life. This moment should serve as a turning point in our dialogue about the place an unborn child holds in our nation, about our responsibility to listen to women and support them through pregnancies and after the birth of their children, and about the need to refocus our national priorities to support families, particularly those in need.
The Catholic Church brings to such a conversation the conviction that every human life is sacred, that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and therefore deserving of reverence and protection. That belief is the reason the Catholic Church is the country’s largest provider of social services, many aimed at eliminating the systemic poverty and health care insecurity that trap families in a cycle of hopelessness and limit authentic choice.
We also come to this dialogue as Americans, knowing that the principle that all human beings are endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, and that first among these is the right to life.
Make no mistake, because this ruling regrettably will have little impact on abortion in Illinois, as there are virtually no restrictions here, we will continue to advocate strongly for legal protections for unborn children. And we will redouble our efforts to work with all to build a culture that values the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
This ruling is not the end of a journey, but rather a fresh start. It underscores the need to understand those who disagree with us, and to inculcate an ethic of dialogue and cooperation. Let us begin by examining our national conscience, taking stock of those dark places in our society and in our hearts that turn to violence and deny the humanity of our brothers and sisters, and get to work building up the common good by choosing life.
During May, the month of Mary, and into June, Respect Life celebrates a Season for Life to promote a culture that honors and protects life from conception until natural death. During Season for Life, please support this initiative by purchasing Mothers Day and Fathers Day Cards or Mothers Day Flowers, leave donations (personal checks accepted, please make checks out to the agency you would like to support) in the baby bottles or drop off items from the Wish Lists to our collection bins. Let’s celebrate life, God’s precious gift to us, by supporting these agencies:
Catholic Charities. We are the face of hope! Did you know that every 30 seconds someone comes to Catholic Charities in need of help? Established in 1917, Catholic Charities Chicago is one of the largest non-profit, social services agencies in the Midwest. They operate 153 programs from 150 locations across Cook and Lake Counties to help those most in need without regard to race, religion or background.
OLBS Good Samaritans. Once a month, parishioners from OLBS Good Samaritan Ministry bring and serve dinner for Catholic Charities guests in Des Plaines. Before March of 2020, the average attendance was between 50 and 60 guests. Over the course of the pandemic that attendance has continued to trend up. Thanks to your generous donations to the Poor Box, OLBS is currently helping to feed 150 guests per month. Discover more (scroll down to Good Samaritan Ministry).
TLC Pregnancy Services. Our support saves. TLC is a multi-service facility reaching out to the community with the love of Christ, bringing light to the darkness. They provide free medical, material, emotional & spiritual support to local women facing unplanned pregnancy situations. Financial and in-kind gifts have helped TLC not only keep its doors open during this challenging time, but expand to 3 locations and a mobile unit. They are reaching more women than ever.
Celebrate Life. A young woman and her two-year old son came into TLC's Schaumburg location. The little boy was very polite and you could tell he was very well cared for. His mom had just moved back to Illinois from another state and was living with a friend. Upon returning, she got together with her old boyfriend and became pregnant. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do. Not only was she now unexpectedly pregnant, but she had also learned her boyfriend got married after they got back together and then, a few weeks later, had been shot and killed. Read this young lady's complete story.
Illinois Right to Life. More than 10,000 lives saved, and they're just getting started! A non-profit using a grass-roots approach to creating a culture of life in Illinois through education, research, legislation and support to men and women in unplanned or crisis pregnancy situations. Project Love is a grant program of Illinois Right to Life, founded in 1996 by the late Mary Bliss to support women through unplanned or crisis pregnancies. Many grant recipients are facing eviction, large medical bills, or are about to have their heat or water shut off. Project Love extends a helping hand to those families in need.
Meet Tanya. Tanya worked as a caregiver for an elderly patient, but when she was seven months pregnant, she could no longer continue to work. Just before her baby was due, Tanya fell behind on paying her rent and was left with no money to buy food. With an empty fridge and bills piling up, Tanya called Illinois Right to Life for help. See how Project Love helped Tanya.
The Women's Center. Supporting the Women's Center can help provide answers...and hope as it has done for more than 63,000 clients over the past 30 years. Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be extremely stressful. Women may experience feelings of panic. Maybe they don’t have anyone to confide in or don’t know where to go for help. The Women’s Center is here for them and cares about the physical and emotional health of each one of its clients. Free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds and free supportive counseling.
Hannah B. says the person she spoke with was very good at listening. Read Hannah's and other's testimonials.
Project Rachel. After more than four decades of legalized abortion, many children’s lives have been ended, and many parents and family members suffer that loss—often in silence. Yet God’s greatest desire is to forgive. No matter how far we have strayed from His side, He says to us, “Don’t be afraid. Draw close to my heart.”
Meet Karen. She is 23 years old and finished college last year and landed the job of her dreams in graphic arts. The work is creative and challenging. Karen is pretty and has many friends so she is frequently included in the party circuit at work. She should be happy and excited. After all, her life is beginning just as she carefully planned it. But instead, she feels dead and dull inside. She keeps up with her job, but it doesn’t bring the joy she thought it would. She feels distant from its satisfactions. She doesn’t feel as creative as she once was, and doesn’t understand the dull distant sorrowing she feels despite her accomplishments. Karen had an abortion in college. Read Karen's full story.
Aid for Women. In the Chicago metropolitan area, one out of four pregnancies ends in abortion. Aid for Women helps thousands of women each year in the Chicago metropolitan area who find themselves facing unexpected pregnancy. Each woman is provided with the emotional, practical and spiritual support that she needs to choose life for her unborn baby and to provide a better future for her and her child. Their life-affirming services are offered free-of-charge.
Meet Janessa. She was 19 years old when she learned she was pregnant. She didn't have a support system to help her through this. Aid for Women moved Janessa into Heather's House where she found her support system in the other young mothers going through the same thing. She is currently enrolled in college, preparing a better life for herself and her baby. See Janessa's complete story.
OLBS Domestic Violence Awareness. Did you know that approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner? Domestic Violence Awareness Ministers help to bring attention to this important issue. Discover more (scroll down to Domestic Violence Awareness Ministry).
During the month of October, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament participates in many activities in support of a culture that respects life from conception until natural death. Download the flyer or see below to discover more:
40 Days for Life is the world's largest grass-roots movement to end abortion. Knowing that with God, all things are possible, people of faith unite in 40 days of prayer, fasting, constant vigil and community outreach. We aim to be a peaceful and educational presence. The next campaign runs from September 28, 2022 to November 6, 2022. Follow this link to lead a vigil, join a vigil or discover more. Download the flyer.
By participating in Spiritual Adoption, you offer your spiritual support and ask for God's protection, through the intercession of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, of all unborn children in danger of being killed through abortion. Download the flyer to discover more.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament will once again join others of faith to march in the Northwest Families for Life STAND for Life in Palatine, Illinois on Saturday, October 8, 2022 between 1pm and 3pm. Follow this link for the complete itinerary and to discover more.
Aid for Women helps thousands of women each year in the Chicago metropolitan area who find themselves facing unexpected pregnancies. Each woman is provided with the emotional, practical and spiritual support that she needs to choose life for her unborn baby and to provide a better future for herself and her child.
Bishop Jeffrey Grob will give the Invocation at this year's Annual Benefit on September 28, 2022 at the Union League Club. Reception at 5:30pm and dinner at 6:30pm. Follow this link to discover more.
Each year, Life Chains form in cities nationwide to make a public, prayerful, peaceful stand for Life. Since 1987, believers have gathered nationwide on the first Sunday of every October to prayerfully stand for Life. Follow this link to lead or join a Lifechain on Respect Life Sunday, October 2, 2022.
All are invited to join a special forty-hour period of continuous prayer in support of a culture that supports life from conception until natural death. The devotion will begin at 7pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2022* and the church will remain open for Prayer and Adoration until 11am on Friday, October 14, 2022 when we will conclude with Benediction. Please see sign-up sheets in our church vestibules or follow this link to sign up online. If you need help signing up, please contact the parish office at (847) 979-0901.
*The Holy Hour including Reconciliation will be moved from QR to SJE on Wednesday, October 12th.
40 Hours Devotion comes from the 40 hours that Christ’s body traditionally rested in the tomb. 40 is also a significant number in the Bible, often tied to trials, tribulations and/or suffering: the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years, and Christ was tempted in the desert for 40 days prior to the start of his ministry. Follow this link to learn more about the 40-Hour Devotion.
In honor of Respect Life Month, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Respect Life Ministry dedicates the October Holy Hour to honor life and pray for aging and respectful end of life for all. This Holy Hour will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 12, 2022* at 7pm at St. Julian Eymard and will begin our 40-Hour Devotion.
*Our regular Holy Hour with Reconciliation will move from QR to SJE on Wednesday, October 12th.
“Look at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least, try to console me and announce that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall: go to confession, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.” –Words of Our Lady of Fatima
Join Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Respect Life Ministry and others to pray a Rosary for Life on the First Saturday of October.
Are you called? Connect with us on Facebook to dive deeper into our Respect Life Ministry and stay updated on our latest events, activities and spiritual insights! If you feel called to be a voice for life, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Every violation of the personal dignity of the human being cries out in vengeance to God and is an offence against the creator of the individual.” —Pope John Paul II, On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World, 1988, no. 176.
Domestic Violence Awareness Ministers seek to bring attention and awareness in our parish and in our community to the important issue of domestic violence through prayer, education and outreach.
In an emergency, dial 9-1-1 or call the National Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline at 800-799-7233.
If you are in danger, call 911.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800) 799-7233 or text “START” to 88788
Center for Prevention of Abuse
The American Association of Christian Counselors
(800) 526-8673
Meier Clinics, Christian Counseling
(888) 725-4642
New Life Ministries, Counseling, Coaching and other resources
(800) NEW-LIFE
Hope Joy Peace Counseling
Sandra Henderson & Marshelle Hood, Licensed Counselors
(815) 714-8620
Cloud-Townsend Online, Counseling Podcast
Hurt by Love (Cindy Burrell, verbal and emotional abuse survivor)
Jan Silvius, Life Coach
Liz Curtis Higgs, Life Coach
National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800) 799-7233
Center for Prevention of Abuse
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
(303) 839-1852
Court-Ordered Classes
(661) 312-0392
Are you called? If you would like to help stop the violence, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” —Ephesians 6:11
Please pray for the brave men and women serving our country in the armed forces, and please keep their courageous families here at home in your thoughts and prayers as well.
Please pray for loved ones and those from our parish family currently serving in the military:
Daniel Amack
Brandon Auerswald
Elizabeth Ann Barlow
Francis Boecker
Tim Byland
Jack Campe
Nicole Cedeborg
Aaron Coker
Casey Connors
Melissa Cortese, Ens US Navy
Sara Cvikote
Adam Dyas
Tom Decker
Tom Delk
Jon Diblee
Christopher Dietz
Robert Dones
Dan Droske
Daryl Egan
Dan Farell
Michael Foss
Jeremy Franco
James Godman
Randy Groller
Robert Harwig
Christopher Heckel
Patrick Kauffold
James Patrick Keith
Kory Laga
Michael LaPlant
Rory Leahy
Sean Leahy
Sean Majer
John Michael Mancuso
Anthony Mangiaracina
Eric Jonathan Miller
James O’Reilly
Thomas O’Reilly
Charles Peterson
Lindsy Pfenninger
David Phillip
James M. Rabey
Phil Rosen
Kyle Schnoor
James Schreiner
Anne Schreiner
Robert Schreiner
Nicholas Shallcross
Gina Stramaglio
Joseph Troxell
Katie Troxell
Maggie Troxell
Jonathan Van Dyk
Jonathan Van Lysebettens
Kately Walsh
William Walsh
Andrew Weldon
Abram Whitebird
William D. Benning
Christopher “CJ” Boyd
Phillip Frank
Lawrence Kalck
Are you called? If you would like a family member or loved one included in our Armed Forces listing, please contact the parish office (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. —Mark 12:31
Love Thy neighbor is a group of creative parishioners who seek to be a source of communion and support for other parishioners, especially those who may still find their personal and/or church lives disrupted by the pandemic. Love Thy Neighbor has three primary objectives: Check In; Pledge Support and Further Connection.
Are you called? If you are ready to love your neighbor, please contact the parish office (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” – Matthew 28:19
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (OLBS) has exciting volunteer opportunities for those who enjoy working in communications, to use your skills to help promote and advance our parish mission. As a Catholic parish, OLBS shares God’s love by celebrating the sacraments, proclaiming the Gospel and serving the needs of all His children. Working as part of a small team, we are looking for creative and self-motivated people who will enjoy helping support the work of OLBS’ clergy and parish leadership.
Duration: 6 months
Hours: 4-8 hours per month to get the best out of the experience.
Location: Queen of the Rosary/St. Julian Eymard and/or Remote
Days: Flexible
Report to: OLBS Communications Director
Benefit to volunteers: Grow in relationship to Jesus Christ, fellowship, professional growth, training opportunities, possible internships, service hours, letters of reference and limited access to equipment.
See below for suggested roles for Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish Volunteer Communication Ministry:
The volunteer Event Photographer will help OLBS capture digital images of important moments during events for use in website, bulletin, marketing materials, newsletters and other communications.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Video Producer and Editor will compile and edit video footage into compelling videos that illustrate the mission, vision and values of OLBS.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Videographer will capture OLBS’ programs, liturgies and events on video. For special projects, the videographer will also capture footage of the stories of individuals that OLBS serves (parishioner, expert and spokesperson interviews, etc.)
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Social Media Ambassador will help to spread OLBS’ mission, vision and values by supporting and growing our online communities. The Ambassador will initiate, share, and participate in discussions happening within social media, and actively help grow OLBS’ community on social media.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Blogger will write regular blog posts on topics relevant to OLBS’ audiences (parish families, school families, religious education families, community partners, etc.) and reflective of our mission, vision, values and communication goals.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
As the volunteer Email Marking Advisor, you will bring your expertise in email marketing to the table and help OLBS review its email communications. You will provide advice on the email format, content, style and frequency, and help OLBS design, implement and analyze email marketing campaigns when needed.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Graphic Designer will create graphics and materials for internal and external communications—bulletin, social media, presentations, posters, reports etc.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Proofreader will review written materials (blog posts, newsletters and email campaign content, copy for bulletins, marketing materials, presentations, reports and other documents) for content quality, accuracy and style, in a timely manner.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The volunteer Media Relations Liaison will use his or her experience and expertise to provide insights for use in OLBS’ content/communications, and act as a media representative for OLBS on a range of issues and events.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
As a Development, Stewardship & Fundraising Volunteer you will assist in establishing revenue goals while creating fundraising initiatives to promote OLBS’ growth. As a fundraising team member, you will also aid in grant research and the development and implementation of outreach methods.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The Volunteer Canva Designer/Template Developer will assist in developing OLBS-branded templates in Canva that can be easily shared with staff, lay leaders and community partners to create worship aids, flyers, posters, brochures and more that are visually appealing and aligned with OLBS brand standards and guidelines.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
The Marketing Administrative Support volunteer will support the management of administrative duties within the Marketing Team in OLBS.
Responsibilities and duties:
Required skills and qualifications:
If you have any questions or need assistance with Virtus or any of the forms, please contact the parish office at (847) 979-0901 or marketing@olbsegv.org.
Are you called? If you would like to discover more, or join the team, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Above all love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” —Peter 4:8-9
While Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament strives to make “radical hospitality” part of our DNA, Hospitality Ministry promotes an atmosphere of faith and fellowship that seeks to share the love of Christ, acceptance and support in a particular way with all who cross our doors.
Are you called? If you love to meet new people and share witness to our faith, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” — Psalm 37:30
OLBSlive! is Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament’s audio-visual and technology ministry. The importance of technology could not be overstated during and as we hopefully emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when we were asked to stay home, we were able to participate in Mass through television and live-stream, meet with fellow parishioners using Zoom, Teams, Google Meet or other technology and keep abreast of news and happenings at OLBS with the website, e-mail, social media and more.
While digital and online participation will never replace in-person participation, we recognize that some are still unable to join or may not be comfortable joining us in person at this time. We’re looking for teen and adult volunteers who are comfortable with or want to learn about technology, video, social media and more to help us continue moving into the digital age.
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Are you called? If you’re a budding director or you just can’t put the camera or camcorder down at family events, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” —Philippians 2:4
Books may educate us, transport us, entertain us, make us laugh or even make us cry. Our Lady of the
Blessed Sacrament Book Club encourages fellowship and builds community. Join other readers each month for spirited conversation about faith-based books from a variety of genres…biographies, fiction, non-fiction and apologetics to name just a few.
Are you called? Get ready to hit the books, new members are always welcome! Please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefor pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” —Matthew 9:37-38
Our grounds are the first impression that those in our OLBS family, visitors and the community at large have of our facilities. The grounds must present a warm and welcoming environment for worship and education. The Grounds & Garden Club helps us care for all of God’s creation by planning and carrying out gardening, planting and upkeep projects at both of our worship sites.
As the saying goes, “many hands make light work” and we are ever grateful when the Lord sends laborers into his harvest. However, if you see something around our campuses that looks like it could use a little attention, please contact our parish office before beginning any work. While plants or trees may look dead, they may only be dormant and while outdoor furniture may look in need of repair, that may be a project already underway.
Are you called? If you have a green thumb, love to dig in the dirt or arrange flowers, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears her down.” —Proverbs 14:1
The Women’s Club (CCW) acts through its members to support, empower, and educate women in our OLBS family and in the community in spirituality, leadership, and service. The Women’s Club plans and organizes various social activities, service projects and fundraisers to help support the parish and bring the women of the parish and community together.
Are you called? Join our Women’s Club. New members are always welcome! Contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” —Proverbs 27:17
The Men’s Group acts through its members to support, empower, and educate men in our OLBS family and in the community in spirituality, leadership, and service. The Men’s Group plans and organizes various social activities, service projects and fundraisers to help support the parish and bring the men of the parish and community together.
Are you called? Join our Men’s Club. New members are always welcome! Contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:6
OLBS proudly supports the Young Adult Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago by promoting events for the YAM NW, Theology on Tap and Young Catholic Professionals and even hosting events whenever possible.
Are you called? If you would you like to introduce a Young Adult Ministry (20s and 30s) at OLBS, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org. We’re ready to support you!
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” —Timothy 4:12
Youth Ministry strives to connect teens 13-19 to their faith by providing opportunity for encounter with Jesus through service; service to others, service to our parish and service to our community. Youth Ministry meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month in SJE Shea Hall and provides regular opportunities throughout the year to participate in service projects and other activities.
Not only are our teens encouraged to help serve at Mass both individually and as part of the AfterMass Youth Group, but there is prayer and reflection built into many of our meetings and events.
Totus Tuus. OLBS is looking forward to bringing Totus Tuus back! Founded on five pillars, Totus Tuus strives to inspire young people to renew their faith with a stronger prayer life. In addition to a focus on Marian devotion, Totus Tuus uses sacred scripture on a six-year cycle.
Following are examples of some of the service opportunities available to OLBS teens, service hours apply for most. Don’t see something for you, please contact Mr. Van to suggest something. New ideas are always welcome!
CHWC is a Summer Mission Trip open to teens entering 8th or 9th grade, depending on the camp, and older who are willing to serve others and explore their Catholic identity. You will “work hard, serve tirelessly, think deeply, celebrate Mass and build relationships.”
Spots at CHWC are limited. In order to secure a spot, teens are required to:
See for yourself what Mission Trip is all about…check out this video from our recent trip to CHWC Nashville.
Calling all teens in grades 8 through 12! We've created an epic new space designed exclusively for you. Beginning on July 12, the OLBS Teen Center will be open on Wednesdays from 2-6pm. Faith, fun, friendship and endless possibilities await. We've converted Rooms 4 & 5 behind Shea Hall (St. Julian Eymard Church, 601 Biesterfied Road across from the hospital) to bring you a haven tailored to your interests and passions. Here's a sneak peek of what's in store:
Social Hangout Space: Meet up with friends, relax and unwind in our comfy lounge area. Chat, laugh and make unforgettable memories in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Study Lounge: Need a quiet place to study or work on group projects? Our study lounge offers a comfortable and focused environment.
Gaming Zone: Unleash your competitive spirit and immerse yourself in some of your favorite video games, from adrenaline-pumping action to thrilling e-sports tournaments.
Creative Arts Corner: The center is equipped with all the materials and tools you need to help express your creative side. Painting, drawing, crafts and more…let your imagination soar!
Music Spot: Use Mr. Microphone to create your own sound or even enhance your voice with 5 voice effects (pitch change, enhancer, bender, reverb and echo).
Outdoor Recreation Area & Sports Equipment: Step outside and enjoy a breath of fresh air in our outdoor spaces. Whether you like to pray, meditate, study or you're into sports or simply lounging under the sun, we've got you covered.
Come join us on Wednesdays from 2-6pm at the OLBS Teen Center, where you'll find endless opportunities for personal growth, entertainment and connection with like-minded teens. We hope you enjoy this extraordinary experience designed just for you!
Are you called? For teens, stop by any of our events and bring a friend, or two, drop-ins always welcome! Follow the parish calendar, eNews or bulletin for upcoming dates or please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
To learn more about becoming an adult volunteer, please contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” —Proverbs 18:15
Participating in a faith community helps form confidence as well as friendships in an environment where one can learn and practice Catholic identity. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament provides opportunities to cultivate a more mature and authentic relationship with Jesus Christ by enriching the community’s understanding of our Catholic faith. Come grow in faith, knowledge, hope, love and understanding.
Lively conversation about the sacred scriptures following a book or video series. Meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month in Shea Hall at SJE between September and May.
For those who enjoy concentrated study in the Word. Meets weekly on Wednesday mornings from 9-11am in Shea Hall at SJE between March and mid-December.
Unlock the treasures of the Bible to deepen our understanding of the beliefs, celebrations and customs of our Catholic faith. Follows video with workbook Bible Study programs available through parish membership to FORMED. Combination of virtual and in-person in Shea Hall at SJE at various times throughout the year.
Work with clergy and community to develop special events throughout the year such as Speakers, Exhibits, Devotions or Pilgrimages to help Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament grow in faith and in relationship to Jesus Christ. Examples include Advent Retreat, Lenten Mission, Shroud of Turin Exhibit, Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit, Liturgical Ministry Morning of Reflection, Divine Mercy Sunday.
Are you called? Join an Adult Faith Formation group, or stop in at any of the regular meetings—drop-ins always welcome. Contact the Parish Office for more information today (847) 979-0901 or info@olbsegv.org.