Art & Environment

Art and Environment team members prepare the church worship space to become a prayerful environment for each liturgical feast and season throughout the year. The members work together designing, creating and changing banners, as well as linen colors. They also complete sewing projects, iron fabrics and set up and take down seasonal decorations. The members arrange and care for live plants and flowers daily. Their commitment is strong and they are dedicated to serving the church and its parishioners.

For more information, please call Mariola Buchaniec mariolabuchaniec@att.net.

Bereavement Ministry

After the funeral home contacts St. Zachary to arrange a funeral, a Bereavement Minister contacts the family and meets with them to plan the funeral Mass. The Bereavement Minister prepares a booklet, which is distributed to all who attend the funeral Mass and is present at the funeral Mass. Training for this ministry is provided by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Further training is provided in our parish.

Children’s Liturgy of The Word

This ministry welcomes children from Grades K + up to reflect on the readings (Liturgy of the Word) during the Sunday 9 AM Mass. The readings and gospel are read in a way that the children can easily understand. Using music, demonstrations, stories and other methods, the gospel meaning is interpreted and discussed before the children return to the general assembly before the consecration.

Cantors

A cantor is a person who leads the congregation in sung prayer. A cantor must have skill in singing, leading worship and feeling comfortable reading and singing in front of others. Cantors sing at various Masses every weekend.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Paul Hyski at physki@saintzachary.org or call 847-956-7020 X332.

Eucharistic Adoration

Everyone is welcome to join in devotion to the Blessed Mother praying the rosary in her honor. This takes place every Friday at 3:00 PM in the Ministry Center Chapel.  The Eucharist is available for private adoration in the Ministry Center Chapel Monday – Friday 9am-4pm.

If you have any questions, contact Jo Tozzi at 847-824-4014.

Eucharistic Minister

Extraordinary Minister Of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Minister)

Specific training and instruction are a prerequisite to becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion during the celebration of the liturgy. Training is provided through the Archdiocese of Chicago with follow-up training here at St. Zachary Parish.

Contact the Parish Office 847-956-7020.

Family Choir

This choir, for ages 13 and up, sings at the 9:00 AM Mass each Sunday. The Family Choir is a contemporary choir with drums, guitars, and any other instruments. Students can earn “service hours” for joining this ministry. Practice is 8:15 AM on Sunday in the Music Room prior to Mass.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Paul Hyski at physki@saintzachary.org or call 847-956-7020 X332.

Fil-Am Club

The Fil-Am Club has evolved through the years into becoming an active ministry at St.  Zachary Parish.

This Club’s membership is not limited to people of Filipino descent. The main prerequisite is to embody the spirit of “bayanihan”, a Filipino term meaning “a sense of community”, coupled with love of serving the Church.

For more information or to join the Fil-Am Club, contact Joyce Calubaquib at joycecalubaquib@comcast.net.

International Rosary And Benediction

During Lent, we pray the International Rosary Devotion to our Blessed Mother along with Benediction on every Tuesday, at 7:00 PM in the church. Each week a different Ethnic Group, within our parish community, prays the rosary in their native language. The Ethic Group provides refreshments after praying the rosary and Benediction. Note: There is no International Rosary during Holy Week.

For more information, contact Jo Tozzi at 847-824-4014.

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization of Catholic men serving our parish and community. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through charitable, religious, social welfare and public relief works.

For more information, contact Grand Knight Steve Meinecke at 847-714-2719.

Lector

A Lector is a minister who proclaims the Scripture Readings at Mass.

Specific training for this ministry is a prerequisite to become a Lector. Training is provided through the Archdiocese of Chicago with follow-up training here at St. Zachary Parish.

Contact the Parish Office at 847-956-7020, for further information.

Liturgy Committee

The work of the committee is primarily preparing and making decisions or recommendations for the common prayer of the assembly.

The role and responsibilities of the Liturgical Committee is to:

• plan the liturgy for Sundays, Holy Days, holidays and other occasions and discuss liturgical practices;
• recommend steps to make liturgical improvements;
• be responsible for liturgical education of its members and of all liturgical ministers;
• provide direction for planning the liturgical seasons, sacramental celebrations and other liturgical events; and
• preserve good traditions of the church.

Ministry Of Care

If you or your loved one is sick or unable to come to Church, St. Zachary Parish has Ministers of Care who can visit and bring Communion. It is important for our parish to stay in touch with our sick and/or elderly and tend to their spiritual needs.

Whatever the length of time one is sick and/or homebound and unable to attend Mass, Ministers of Care are available to visit. For some, it is a brief time; for others who are permanently homebound the visits occur regularly over a number of years. In either case, there is one Minister of Care assigned who develops a personal relationship with the person being visited.

To arrange for a visit for yourself or for your loved one, call Dolores at the Parish Office, 847-956-7020 X327.

Please note the following:  Because of privacy laws in Illinois, hospitals and nursing facilities do not inform us that you were admitted. Make sure you tell them that you are a member of St. Zachary. 

Who can become a Minister of Care?
Do you feel that God is calling you to this important Ministry? Any parishioner who attends Mass regularly; is willing to spend time with the sick and suffering and take Eucharist to them; can attend the initial training; can commit to on-going enrichment training and attend meetings can become a Minister of Care.

Ministers of Care relate to a wide variety of people in many different settings. They are good listeners, maintain patient privacy and are able to assess and respond to the needs of others.

Ministers of Care are commissioned by the Archdiocese of Chicago to visit and take Holy Communion to the sick and homebound in hospitals, nursing homes and in the parishioner’s homes.

Contact Dolores Mielzynski, Minister of Care Director, at 847-956-7020 X327 or dmielzynski@saintzachary.org.

Ministry Of Praise

This is a spiritual ministry in which the members offer prayers to God for the salvation of souls. Anyone can be part of this Ministry. We especially encourage the homebound and all senior members of our parish to join because this Ministry allows them to feel more closely connected to the Parish.

As a Minister of Praise, you will be sent a letter six times a year that contains suggestions for prayers and prayer intentions. As a member, you will continue to say the same prayers you are comfortable saying, you will also be part of St. Zachary’s Ministry of Praise Community praying for the needs of our parishioners and of the people around the world.

To join, please complete the form below. You can also contact Dolores Mielzynski at the Parish Office, 847-956-7020  X327, for further information.