Stewardship Report - Time and Talent

St. Joseph Parish - Downers Grove, IL - July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011

- "The practice of the Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure is a grateful response to our deep
heartfelt desire to give something back to God in thanksgiving for all we have received, including the
gift of life itself. As Christian stewards, we receive God¡¦s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly,
share them lovingly in justice with others and return them with increase to the Lord.¡¨


Parish Population
2242 households
7859 individuals
121 new families registered in the past year

Sacraments Celebrated
- 941 Eucharists/Masses
- 41 Funerals
- 107 Baptisms
- 109 Confirmations
- 103 First Eucharists
- 18 Marriages
- 8 Communal Penance Services

Education and Faith-Formation Programs
- 462 St. Joseph School students (PS3-8) were taught by 26 teachers and 6 aides
- 316 religious education students (K-6) were taught by 37 teachers
- 117, 7th & 8th grade religious education Confirmation candidates were taught by 24 teachers
- 12 REACH students (Religious Education Apostolate for Handicapped ) taught by 6 teachers
- 43 religious educations students (grades K-6) were taught on Sunday mornings by 6 religious education teachers
- 175 students (ages 5-9) met weekly at 8:45am and 10:30am masses for Children's Liturgy of the Word
- 125 Catholic Kid's Club participants were taught for a week by 40 teachers and aides
- 60, 10 - 18 year olds participated Totus Tuus, a week long program led by 2 Joliet Diocese Seminarians, discerning college women and 6 adults
- 6 prayer groups with 50 participants met and prayed monthly
- 156 hours of Eucharistic Adoration were offered by Deacon Frank Monday evenings from 7-10pm
- 6 youth and 2 chaperones participated in a week long mission trip to aid families in Appalachia
- An average of 40 high school students and 10 adults prayed the Rosary every Wednesday night led by our Youth Minister
- 75 high school students participated in 2 catholic leadership training conferences
- 125 high school students participated in 2 parish sponsored youth ministry retreats
- 211 junior high students participated in a National Evangelization Team (NET) retreat
- 128 eighth grade students participated in a Confirmation retreat
- 426 St. Joseph School students participated in weekly Mass, morning prayer and daily religion class, Rosary, Stations of the Cross and Reconciliation
- 164 Parishioners attended a Morning of Reflection prepared by 2 staff and the 13 member Worship
Commission
- 136 people participated in weekly small group study sessions (Theology of the Body, Jesus of Nazareth Book Group, Seven Steps to Financial Freedom, St. Monica Book Group) hosted by Adult Faith Formation
- 20 people enjoyed Parish Movie Night every 3rd Sunday
- 135 people attended one or more of 12 speakers/seminars hosted by Adult Faith Formation
- 26 Youth Apostolate pilgrims traveled to Fatima and Madrid for World Youth Day 2011

Sacramental Preparation Programs
- 73 parents were prepared for the Baptism of their child by 4 Baptism couples
- 2 catechumen and 6 candidates prepared for their initiation into the church by 3 team members in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- 109 confirmation candidates were taught by 15 catechists and facilitators and were confirmed into the church by Bishop J. Peter Sartain
- 103 second graders were prepared for First Reconciliation by 6 catechists and facilitators
- 103 second graders were prepared for Holy Eucharist by 6 catechists and facilitators
- 19 couples prepared for marriage in a Pre-Cana program by 5 couples

Liturgy Assistance
- 70 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- 54 Lectors
- 78 Acolytes
- 23 Ushers

- Choir Members:
- 24 - 8:45 Singers and Musicians
- 34 - 10:30 Choir
- 31 - Resurrection Choir
- 20 - Youth Choir
- 24 - Children's Choir

- 17 Cantors
- 20 Handbells
- 7 Sacristans
- 25 Greeters
- 8 Art & Environment Committee
- 100+ St. Joseph School students participated as liturgists during weekly Mass, Stations of the Cross and special observances as lectors, acolytes, cantors, handbells, choir, ushers, sacristans and greeters

Parish Outreach
- 1040 home visits to the homebound and nursing homes by 19 parishioners and Deacons
- 2,228 Hospital visits made by 9 priests, deacons and parishioners
- St. Joseph's Food Pantry provided groceries to 2,892 families or 9,476 individuals in need of support
- The Giving Tree project provided 31 needy families with clothes, toys & other items this past Christmas
- 208 hours of service performed by 4 parishioners at PADS Shelter
- Joseph Church sponsors the PADS Shelter each Monday during the month of March:
- 200 families donated food for 240 breakfasts, 240 lunches and 360 dinners
- 60 Jr. High Confirmation Candidates, 35 HS students and 20 adults prepared and served the meals
- 41 parishioners volunteered 55 overnight hours to staff the PADS Shelter
- 3,165 service hours performed by 211 Confirmation candidates within their homes, schools, parish and community
- 224 Units of blood were donated in 4 St. Joseph blood drives, run by 11 parish volunteers
- 500 Rosary Chaplets were made by 34 members of the Chaplet Ministry and 30 teens
- 200 Prayer Shawls were made by 40 members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry
- 38 parishioners and staff participated in 40 Days for Life, prayer at abortion clinics and ran the Women's Choice Baby Bottle campaign where parish families filled 500 baby bottles in support of life
- 400 St. Joseph School students and their families participated in food, clothing drives and Undy Sunday
- 25 youth and 4 adults offered 4 days of service work at the Port Ministries in downtown Chicago
- 6-8 youth and adults serve the 1st Saturday each month at Our Lady of the Angels Mobile Food Pantry