Social Justice

We believe in the importance of expressing our faith in action, and encourage all members to serve their fellow human beings in works of justice, truth, and love.

Appalachia Service Project (ASP)

A program directed primarily for the youth of our parish, who spend a week during the summer forming community in Appalachia as they assist in repairing and rebuilding homes for the disadvantaged.  ASP is financed through fundraising events and personal contributions, and is supervised by adult chaperones from the parish that work alongside the youth in their labors.

Contact Marty Hertz at (815) 455-3992

Food Pantry

As a parish community, we join nearly two dozen other churches in supporting the Crystal Lake Food Pantry by our donations of food, money, and time.  Parishioners staff the pantry approximately once every four weeks, and volunteers for this ministry are always welcomed and appreciated.

Contact Bev Zurchauer at (815) 338-3851

Global Outreach

We are a Catholic Church with a ‘catholic’ (universal) perspective.  This ministry seeks to raise and maintain an awareness of the needs of the poor in the developing world, and to find ways to address those needs.  Our current focus is centered upon our partnership with Food for the Poor in addressing the need for housing and clean water in Haiti.  These efforts are funded largely through personal contributions.

2010 Global Outreach Report to Parish

Contact Ed McKeown at (815) 479-9709

Outreach to the Needy

A program to provide emergency assistance to people in need in McHenry County, regardless of race or creed.  Applicants are interviewed personally by volunteers to ascertain their needs, and are provided with immediate financial help and/or guided to other resources.  This ministry operates from the parish office on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.  These efforts are funded each week by a percentage of the weekly collection as well as personal donations.

Contact Dick Haefele at (815) 459-0056

Peace and Justice

Affirms the need to promote a society based upon the gospel values of justice, truth, and love.  This ministry seeks to promote social advocacy in responding to the injustices of poverty, war, violence, and the destruction of the environment.

Contact John Kavalunas at (815) 455-5824

Prison Ministry

Makes periodic visits to prisons in an attempt to share the Gospel with those who may not have any other means of receiving it.

Contact Merle Freund at (815) 385-2410

Respect Life

Affirms our commitment to defend the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death.  This ministry works to raise and maintain an awareness of the threats to that dignity offered by such practices as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research.  Fundraising by this ministry helps support 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services, which provides housing assistance, emotional and financial support for women and girls who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy.

Contact Joe Cramer at (815) 459-7836