For other local information about AA, call (630) 377-6610.
This ministry provides support to the family at the time of the death and continues through the wake, funeral and burial. As needed, ongoing grief support can be provided for a period of time. An annual memorial service is held each year to celebrate the lives of those who have died and to remember them prayerfully. Kathy Jaeger (630) 208-8471, Vicky Julitz (630) 232-4382.
For senior citizens 55 and older, the counselor works with the individual or group to explore problems, identify options open to them for positive change and indicate available resources. There is no fee. Mary Jaeger, a semi-retired, lifetime parishioner, volunteers her services. For the sake of confidentiality, please call Mary Jaeger (630) 232-0544 for an appointment.
Elizabeth Ministry affirms and supports women during the joys, challenges and sorrows of the childbearing years. Call Melinda Bernhard (630) 208-6055.
Our Food Pantry is open the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to distribute food and give information to those in need. Volunteers also help on other days to restock the pantry, and assist at food drives during the year. Contact Debbie Awe, Betsy Metcalfe, or Bob Smith for additional information (630) 232-0124 x444.
Hesed House is a homeless shelter and more. Homeless individuals and families are provided with a place to sleep and food to eat. Some need to stay only a short while and others are in need of the shelter for long periods of time. There are two sheltering programs on premise. The TLC (Transitional Living Center) is a group home for up to 57 residents (men, women and children) who are in the process of rebuilding their lives. For those that cannot be accommodated in the TLC, the PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) program is an overnight shelter for the homeless. Each night 150 to 225 guests sleep on mattress pads in a large open rooms. For PADS guests an evening meal and breakfast is provided. A sack lunch is provided for those who work. A new program called LightHouse provides supportive individual or apartment rental units for the chronically homeless. In addition to providing shelter there are several programs available on the Hesed House premise to help rebuild lives: Waubonsee job readiness program; substance abuse counseling; mental health and social services case workers; and a day time drop-in program that offers various activities. St. Peter Church volunteers in several areas.
Food and shift workers
St. Peter Parish provides the evening meal, breakfast and sack lunches the first Wednesday every other month (January, March, May, July, September, November). If you want to volunteer to: A) prepare food or serve food at Hesed, call Michele Doherty (630) 208-8683 or B) supervise the sleeping room, call Michele Doherty (630) 208-8683 or C) prepare breakfast, call Steve and Janet Weber (630) 208-1782.
Fun for Children
On the first Wednesday of most months, a group of St. Peter adults and teens bring games and/or crafts for the children of Hesed House. The individual attention and fun means a great deal to the children. Contact Jacki Docimo (630) 934-4848 for Children's Fun ministry
Fun for Grownups
St. Peter adults host an evening of bingo or other games for homeless adults. Prizes are something that would be useful to the homeless guests. Contact Connie Montana (630) 406-9246.
Each week members of St. Peter Parish Family visit homebound parishioners to provide a visible link of love, caring and Eucharist to those confined to their homes. Training sessions and support meetings are provided. Priests visit the homebound monthly. Contact Mary Stola, RN (630) 232-0124 x109.
There are several hospice organizations in the northwestern Illinois, including the Fox Valley Hospice in Geneva. They provide hospice care (short term intermittent home health services for patients diagnosed with a terminal illness) and various bereavement support groups for adults, children, and families. Call Fox Valley Hospice (6320) 232-2233.
Lazarus House is an overnight shelter at 214 Walnut Street, St. Charles, for those in need, who have connections to either St. Charles or Geneva. It is open 7 days per week, 52 weeks a year from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. St. Peter Church provides (on the first Sunday of each month) a hot evening meal, breakfast and a sack lunch for those staying. One volunteer spends the night at the shelter to augment the staff person. Contact Diane Brucato (630) 208-1675 or Joan Zbinden (630) 208-0751.
The St. Catherine Women's Club Guild provides loving meals on a short-term basis for parishioners and their families in need due to illness or emergency. For information, please contact Angela Pavelich (630) 992-1398 or Sandy Livingston (630) 845-8634.
Mycross Ministry is a series of small group gatherings, allowing everyone a quiet place to be where the troubles, distractions and pressures of life's issues can be put aside, and peace replaces anxiety, worry or paralysis. So often in life, we all carry our own burdens -"It's just my cross to bear"-and try on our own to get past that stuff that distracts or unfocuses us. Mycross helps us to turn it over to Jesus, let him carry the burden, and often us, putting ourselves in his hands and allowing the Holy Spirit to get us past the obstacles that try to overwhelm us. It is a peaceful time...and the only expectation we have is that people come with no expectations...just let Jesus guide you. You won't find final answers...but you should find quiet time to discern what your next step would be to eventually leave the distractions behind. The series usually starts in winter. Watch the bulletin or call Deacon Mike Zibrun at the Parish Office (630) 232-0124 x125.
This support group was organized for Christian widows and widowers to help them adjust to their new lifestyle by bringing them together with others in similar situations. The group meets at St. Peter Church on the 3rd Friday of the month for meetings and social activities. Spiritual needs and prayers are also part of the meetings. CContact Barb Borkowicz (630) 208-9861.
The Fox Valley Pregnancy Center in South Elgin (847) 697-0200 and Waterleaf Women's Center in Aurora (630) 701-6270, offer women and young girls experiencing a crisis pregnancy a variety of services to help meet their needs. All services are free and confidential. There is always a need for trained volunteers and financial support. In addition, a nationwide referral service, National Life Center (800) 848-LOVE, can assist women in finding needed resources during and after pregnancy, including adoption help and essential material assistance.
This beautiful sacrament provides God's forgiveness and mercy, and provides grace to correct our sinfulness in the future. Come to the sacrament of confession on Saturdays from 8:30 am until all are heard. If you need to go to confession at a different time, call (630) 232-0124 and make an appointment with one of our priests. Communal penance services are offered prior to Christmas and Easter.
The Salvation Army offers a variety of services to those in need (emergency housing, food pantry, clothing, limited medical care, occasional meals delivered to homebound and more). St. Peter parishioners help out in the Golden Diners home meal delivery program. For emergency assistance, call (630) 377-2769.
The Retrouvaille-meaning "rediscovery"-program offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship in your marriage. Tens of thousands headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending. Retrouvaille is not a spiritual retreat, not a sensitivity group, not a seminar, not a social gathering. We invite you to read some of the success stories on the website. Many judges, lawyers, and counselors send couples to Retrouvaille before rendering final decisions, as a prerequisite to filing for divorce and as a prerequisite to counseling. Experience shows that the tools of communication taught through Retrouvaille are what the couples needed more than a divorce, legal advice, or counseling. Get more information at www.retrouvaille.org or the Rockford Family Life office (815) 965-5011.
Volunteers work with residents in the Hesed House LightHouse program (formerly homeless in need of extra support to stay housed) and with residents in a few Aurora Housing Authority apartment buildings. Helpers work in a myriad of ways to offer assistance in finding employment for those fit to work. In addition volunteers offer practical help such as transportation, errands, advocacy, problem resolution support, referrals to services, finding needed household or personal items and more. Contact Rama Canney (630) 879-1296.