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Ministries

St. Vincent DePaul Society

The St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Andrew was established in 1947.  It reaches out to the needy helping them in various ways, but especially with groceries.  Membership is open to all: men, women, and even children of responsible age.

Parishioners are urged to investigate the Conference as a way to answer Jesus on the last day.  At that time, we will say to Him, “Lord, when did we feed you?”  We want to hear his answer, “When I was hungry, you gave me to eat.  When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink.  Whatever you did to the least of my brethren, you did unto me.

The Society was founded in the nineteenth century,  by Blessed Frederic Ozama, a professor at the Sorbonne of the University of Paris.  Since his time, the Society has spread over the entire world, carrying out the Lord’s command to feed the hungry and visit the sick and to fulfill the other works of mercy.

Ushers' Club

The main purpose of the Ushers’ Club is to assist at Saturday Sunday Masses.  In fulfilling that function ushers seat people at Mass, secure parishioners to take up the gifts, distribute bulletins, and assist parishioners as needed.  The ushers also assist the Pastor and his associates at all parish functions.  Ushers are also available to assist other parish organizations and societies as needed.

Membership is open to all male parishioners, 21 years of age, who are practicing Catholics.  Parishioners interested in becoming ushers can contact any usher or call the Rectory.

The Ushers Club sponsors the Parish Pancake Breakfast held each year in October, and also have a monthly raffle.  Profits from the Pancake Breakfast and the raffles are used to support parish activities such as the tent for the annual parish picnic.

St.Rita Altar Guild

The first meeting of this society took place on March 16, 1925.  It was named Towacziptwo Dobroczynnosce pod opecka matki Bockisj Krolowo Kozony Polskiej.  Translated it means “Benevolent or Charitable Society under the guidance of the Blessed Mother, Crowned Queen of Poland”.  This organization is open to all married and unmarried females of the parish.  The dues would be 10 cents a year.  The Pastor, Msgr Anthony Halgas, opened the first meeting with prayers and an explanation of the goals of the organization, which to this day are the same.  The goals are to assist with the purchase of various items for the parish and to assist in any other way.

On May 10, 1932, Msgr. Halgas renamed the organization.  It became the St. Rita Altar Club, with the mission still being the welfare of the church.  In September of 1933, Bingo was now the official social activity of the organization.  In January of 1942 at the request of the Pastor, the organization was renamed the St. Rita Altar Society.

Many functions were held to raise money such as a Stanley Products demonstration, pot luck dinners, bunco parties, sale of bottles of vanilla, a cake booth at the church carnival, and a refreshment booth at Memorial Park on Labor Day weekend. The fund were used to help offset the expenses for the church and school such as cassocks for the altar boys, wardrobes in which to store the cassocks, vestments for the priest, material for making albs, aprons for the nuns, carpeting for the church and in June of 1952 the purchase of the stained glass window above the main altar depicting the birth of Jesus for $650.00. A $1,000.00 donation was made to the new school in addition to purchase of material for the pulpit, gold vases, replacement of the convent doors, blankets for the nuns as well and monetary donations for groceries for the nuns.

The St. Rita Altar Guild is still following it original goal, the welfare of the church.  Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month except July and August.  Doors open at 6:30 P.M. and the meeting starts at 7:30 P.M.  Cake and coffee are served and Bingo is played after the meeting.  The organization is open to all females 18 and over.  For more information please contact Bernice at 862-7886.

Ladies Rosary Confraternity

With the assistance of Reverend Francis Wojtalewicz, a few women parishioners who were members of the Third Order of St. Francis formed our Confraternity in 1892.  They found there was a need for assistance with funeral expenses for women in the parish.  To remedy this, they arranged for funeral insurance wherein, the membership paid monthly dues of ten cents.

That was 111 years ago – today our purpose and mission is to promote the spiritual welfare of the members, to strengthen devotion to Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Rosary, to assist the pastor in any activity that he designates for this organization, to encourage the intellectual and social advancement of the members, and to participate in Our Cardinal’s Action Program.  The Ladies Rosary Confraternity is affiliated with the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary founded by St. Dominic, as registered with the Dominican Confraternities on November 26, 1947, and the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women(ACCW).

ACCW is a federation of parish and inter-parish organizations promoting and coordinating the religious, intellectual, and charitable activities of these organizations, in an apostolate of Catholic action, under the direction of the Cardinal – Archbishop of Chicago.

Our membership is divided into component parts called Roses.   Fifteen ladies make up the membership of each individual Rose.  We have over 300 members, and 64 of them have been with our confraternity from 50 to71 years.  This elite group of women represents over 3,000 years of service to our Blessed Mother.

Member Requirements

Women, single or married, who are exemplary in life and who belong to St. Andrew the Apostle Parish are eligible for membership in the Ladies Rosary Confraternity.  Dues are $5.00 per year.  Members should attend at least some of the meetings each year and support fund raising activities.  Member can join at any time; however, they will be officially invested during the month of October.  All members of the organization for 50 years or more are exempt from paying dues.

Meetings are held on the first Sunday of each month after 9:30 Mass.   No meetings are held in July and August.  Members are advised of changes in the schedule and special events in the parish bulletin.  A social meeting is help after the business meeting.

Special Notice

On May 9, 2002, on the occasion of the Confraternity’s 110th anniversary, a resolution extending their sincere appreciation and congratulations was presented by May Dominick Gigliotti and the Calumet City Council to the board members at the city council meeting.

Children of Mary

“Children of Mary” is a long-standing tradition of St. Andrew School.  The main objective of the Children of Mary is to deepen devotion to the Mother of God.  Membership is open to all girls from our parish in grades 3 through 8.

All that is required is attendance at 9:00 a.m. mass on the First Saturday of each month.  Mass is followed by the rosary and the Litany of Our Lady.  This takes approximately one hour.

We realize the importance of social and recreational activities for our children, but also are aware that at least a portion of time should be allotted towards their spiritual development.  It is with this in mind that we sincerely ask you to consider encouraging the participation of your daughter in the Children of Mary.

It is through this participation that the girl is chosen to crown the Blessed Virgin in May during our May Crowning celebration and that the remaining girls make up the court.  This is a very special privilege.

Antoinette Bonato, 708-868-4854, is the current coordinator of Children of Mary.

Apostleship of Prayer Society

A worldwide association of Catholics who strive to make their ordinary everyday lives apostolically effective.  They do this by offering themselves and everything they do each day in union with Christ’s sacrifice in the Mass.

Members pledge to recite the Daily Offering of the Apostleship of Prayer.  To best obtain the purposes of the organization, the member shall spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the heart of Christianity and the Apostleship of Prayer is perfect devotion to His Sacred Heart.

The Apostleship of Prayer Society of St. Andrew the Apostle Church meets four times a year on the first Tuesday of March, May, September and December.  Anyone interested in becoming a member of this society, please call Rose at 708-832-0775.

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Rectory & Parish Staff

Rectory

Rectory Hours

Telephone Numbers

Mass Schedule

Weekend

Weekdays

Holy Days

Other Schedules

Marriage

All marriages should be arranged at least 6 months before marriage date. Weddings are held on Saturdays only at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.

Baptism

Every Fourth Sunday of the month at 1 PM. Baptisms and Pre-Baptismal sessions must be arranged in advance at the Rectory.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Every Saturday, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM (English & Polish). Confession is always available by appointment at the Rectory.

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Every Tuesday Evening, Rosary at 6:30 PM, Novena at 7:00 PM. Followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Sick Calls

If there is anyone who cannot attend Mass or receive the Sacraments because of illness or age, please contact the Rectory.

Registration

New parishioners are asked to pick up a welcome packet at the Rectory. Parishioners who move to a new address should notify the Rectory.

Bulletin Articles

Material must be submitted in writing to the Rectory by 9:30 AM on MONDAY

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