Daily Mass set up and clean up. Ensure ministries are covered.
Initial Training.
Time Commitment: 2 hours per week
Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com
Wedding Hostess
Must understand the Catholic marriage ritual and desire to serve others in a joyous ministry. Must also appreciate the importance of working with adults and their families at a critical stage of their faith life. Hostesses conduct the wedding rehearsal with another hostess (usually the evening before the wedding), arrive an hour before the wedding to make sure that all is ready and to greet the couple and guests. Hostesses ensure that the liturgy or ceremony runs smoothly and stay after to make sure that everything is put away before the weekend liturgies.
Initial Training: Hands-on training with an experienced wedding hostess
Time Commitment: 1 – 2 times per month (busiest time is May – end of October)
Contact: Lynn Wilson at (630) 615-7616 or lwilson@st-raphael.com
Annulment Support Services
Have you heard that annulments take years to process and cost thousands of dollars? Have you heard that someone with children or someone who had been married a long time cannot get an annulment? Have you heard that your ex-spouse must cooperate in the annulment process or that you have to know someone important to get an annulment?
Each of these statements is false!
If you or someone you know would like to receive accurate information about the annulment process, St. Raphael has an annulment support team. The field advocates on this team have received training through the Diocese of Joliet’s Marriage Tribunal and Family Ministries Office and can help answer your questions or assist in navigating the annulment process.
Contact: Deacon Kurt Lange at (630) 615-7607 or klange@st-raphael.com
Funeral Luncheons
Parishioners may request a buffet luncheon at St. Raphael immediately after a funeral Mass for their loved one. Members of our faith community are “on call” to prepare food and bring it to the Church, or to help serve the lunch. There is no cost to parishioners for this meal.
Volunteers are always needed to provide or prepare food and to help serve at the funeral luncheons.
Contact: Kathy Ford at (630) 615-7613 or kford@st-raphael.com
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a group of lay people who are trained to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in our parish. Stephen Ministry is based on the idea that all Christians are ministers. The responsibility for passing on God’s love is for all of us.
Contact: Paul Betten at (630) 904-8792 or betten69@gmail.com
Visiting the Sick & Homebound
Parishioners visit the homebound, those in hospitals, and those in nursing homes to pray with them, share the Eucharist, and to serve as a listening presence. Parish priests are also available for the Sacraments of Anointing the Sick, and Reconciliation.
Home Visitation
Parishioners who are trained Ministers of Care visit the homebound to pray with them, share the Eucharist, and to serve as a listening presence.
Time Commitment: Varies depending upon the needs and number of the people you are visiting each week.
Hospital Ministry
Parishioners who have been trained as Ministers of Care bring comfort and reassurance to Catholics at Edward Hospital by talking, listening, praying, and sharing the Eucharist. These ministers are assigned specific floors to visit on Tuesdays and Fridays of each week (other days are covered by Ministers of Care from other Naperville parishes). Hospital Ministers may visit the hospital at their convenience during the hospital’s regular visiting hours.
Time Commitment: Varies depending on the number and the needs of the Catholic patients being visited.
Nursing Home Ministry
Parishioners visit with the residents of The Pearl. These parishioners are trained to lead communion services and to distribute the Eucharist to residents.
Time Commitment: Varies, typically a 1 to 2 hour commitment each time.
Contact: Kathy Ford at (630) 615-7613 or kford@st-raphael.com
Counseling Referrals
Counseling Referrals
Counseling resources are available through the Director of Service Ministry and Pastoral Care; counseling referrals can also be made.
Contact: Kathy Ford at (630) 615-7613 or kford@st-raphael.com
Christmas Sharing
St. Raphael’s Annual Christmas Sharing Program provides an opportunity for parishioners to help needy families and individuals in our community.
There are three ways to participate:
Adopt-A-Family – Thank you for your generosity and support for the Christmas in Jamaica Toy Donation Project this past September. The Adopt A Family Program will be on hold for 2024 and should return in 2025. A parish family or group sponsors a needy family by purchasing gifts for each child in the family. Families of all sizes are available for adoption. Each family provides a gift “wish list.” Sponsor families or parish groups should call Kathy Ford at 630-615-7613, in early November to be assigned an adoptive family.
“Giving Tree” gifts – Tags are available on the trees in the Church Narthex. Parishioners may select a tag from the tree in late November (Thanksgiving weekend). On the back of each tag is a gift item to be purchased.
Gift Cards for Good Campaign –For 3 consecutive weekends beginning Thanksgiving weekend, sales of gift cards will take place in the Founder’s Room. St. Raphael Catholic School will receive a percentage of every dollar spent on gift cards. That percentage varies by gift card. To look at the list of gift cards available and their contribution back to us please go to: RaiseRight.com and click on “Brands” for the latest list. Gift card requests from ornaments from the Giving Tree may also be purchased at this time.
Contact: Kathy Ford at (630) 615-7613 or kford@st-raphael.com
Service Day
Parishioners come together in the spirit of serving others.
Parishioners of all ages join together at the Feed My Starving Children Packing Facility and pack meals to be sent to hungry children throughout the world. Service Day takes place on a Saturday in March or April. Registration begins in February.
Contact: Barry O’Donnell at (630) 615-7613 or bodonnell@st-raphael.com
Boy Scouts
Troop 510 was chartered in 1965 to St. Raphael Church in Naperville, IL. The troop has over 70 active scouts, who range in age from 11-17, holding ranks from Tenderfoot up through Eagle. Over 50 scouts have made Eagle since 1965. Active first year scouts will achieve First Class within one year of joining. You do not have to be a parishioner or catholic to belong to boy scouts.
The Troop holds weekly troop meetings and monthly troop campouts year round, and holds Court of Honor awards ceremonies four times a year. Every summer the troop spends a full week at BSA Camp Owasippe Summer Camp in northern Michigan. The troop offers High Adventure programs for older scouts such as Philmont, Sea Base, Boundary Waters, and a special program for third year scouts in West Virginia (activities include whitewater rafting, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing).
The troop’s active merit badge program is led by the troop’s many merit badge counselors. Via the effective fund-raising program that provides for excellent equipment and activities, Scouts can pay for summer camp fees and personal gear by earning “scout credit” during fundraisers. The troop sponsors Service Projects throughout the year at many community locations.