| Education
& Faith Formation Commission The
purpose of the Education Commission is to provide educational needs and spiritual
growth opportunities to all members of the parish. This commission serves the
Parish through: - St.
Mary's School
- St.
Mary's Religious Education Program
St.
Mary of Gostyn Elementary School
The goal of St. Mary's School is
to develop individuals who will possess a strong Roman Catholic set of values
in addition to acquiring basic skills in communication arts, math and the sciences,
and attaining the power to think constructively and solve problems. The school
is staffed by Felician sisters and lay teachers. There is an enrollment of nearly
700 students ranging from preschool through 8th grade. The school greatly depends
on volunteers to assist the faculty. For more information about St. Mary's School
and the following programs, please see the School webpages in this website. Religious
Education Programs
Provides an overall network of religious education
and faith formation opportunities for all parishioners at every stage of their
faith journey. For more information about the following programs, please see the
Religious Education pages in this website. Preschool
Religion
Religious Education Program for Public School Children
Youth
Ministry (Jr. High and High School)
Young Adult Miistry
Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.)
Adult Faith Formation
Mission Committee
Small Faith Sharing Communities (RENEW, Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) In
addition, the following ministries are part of the Education and Faith Formation
Commission: Baptismal
Preparation
Parents
requesting Baptism for their children attend a meeting hosted by baptismal team
members to discuss the sacrament, its importance and the parental role in the
event. Marriage
Sponsor Couples
An
engaged couple meets with a married couple sponsor in that couple's home several
times prior to their wedding day, to discuss specific marriage preparation topics
that relate to a Catholic marriage. Peace
and Social Justice Ministry
This
organization is dedicated to: - increase
awareness of Catholic Social Teaching as the foundation for Christian living
- promote
action addressing the root causes of social injustices in an increasingly interdependent
world.
Catholic Social
teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living
lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. The
following website are good sources of information about Church documents, social
justice issues, and recommendations for action. United
States Council of Catholic Bishops, Social Development and World Peace
http://www/usccb.org/sdwp Center
of Concern
http://www.coc.org Joliet
Diocesan Peace and Social Justice Ministry
http://www.paxjoliet.org NETWORK,
a National Catholic Social Justice lobby
http://www.networklobby.org Bread
for the World, centering on world hunger issues
http://www.bread.org Human
Rights Watch
http://www.hrw.org A
Guide to Organizations that accept clothes, appliances, cars, etc. Automotive
Products: Darien
Oil
Express (630-986-9178)
6722
Rt. 3
Accepts motor and transmission oil (N/C) Customer must take back container.
Downers Grove
Oil
Express (630-964-6457)
1500 Ogden Ave.
Accepts motor and trnasmission oil
(N/C). Drop-Off
Recycling Centers:
Naperville
City
of Napeville Drop-off
Recycling Facility
1600 W. Jefferso
630-420-4190
Tue,
Thurs, & Sat 8-4
Assist the center by rinsing containers and removing lids
and caps.
Large Appliances
Stoves
and refrigerators are bulky, & some contain CFC gases, capacitors,
and other
components that are hazardous to the environment. Contact waste hauler to see
how large appliance pickup is handled. Lombard
Appliance
Outlet
400 S. Main St.
630-495-2990
$20.00 for pick-up services, no charge
for drop-off during store hours.
West Chicago
The Crusher
651 W. Washington St.
630-231-6888
Drop-off
large appliances (i.e. stoves, water heaters, washers and dryers) at no charge.
No refrigerators or freezers accepted.
Wheaton
Wheaton Junk Service
630-469-0298
Offers pickup service only
for a fee. C&D Recycling:
Construction
and demolition (C&D) waste through the remodeling of homes.
Visit www.dupageco.org/dec.
Elmhurst DuPage Materials
1N550
Route 83
630-832-4213
Service provided : Drop off Material accepted : Asphalt
Serves
primarily DuPage County.
Glen Ellyn Molenhouse Enterprises
1N282 Park Blvd. 630-790-9900
Service
provided : Pick-up Material accepted: Asphalt, Concrete, Wood,
cardboard and
scrap metal. Serves the western suburbs.
Scrap Metal Recyclers:
Westmont
Region Metals, Inc.
108 E. Chicago Ave.
630-964-0979
Accepts
aluminum, brass, copper, iron, stainless steel, steel, large appliances (no refrigerators
or microwaves), and lead-acid batteries.
Roll-off services available.
Resale Shops Oakbrook
Terrace
The Salvation Army
687 Roosevelt Rd. > 630-889-8780
Accepts large
and small appliances, books, clothing, computers, (486 or higher) and electronics,
furniture, household items, mattresses, sporting goods, toys, and vehicles.
Westmont
CareNet Pregnancy Services of DuPage
671 N. Cass Ave.
630-455-0335
Accepts
baby clothing up 2T and maternity clothing. Accepts baby furniture > and other
baby items. Also accepts baby formula and food. Cancer
Federation
A non-profit organization incorporated and recognized as a tax-exempt
organization since 1977.
Website : www.cancerfed.org
Need your discards
(especially clothing & accessories, housewares, small appliances, linens, small
furniture, baby items, toys and books)
Call 1-800-962-3260 to scheldule a
stop at your home. St.
Vincent de Paul
630-231-4658 for donation pick-up
Sharing Connections (Families in need)
Nonprofit furniture & housewares redistribution
center in Downers Grove that provides gently used household items to DuPage County
residents who are unable to afford them. All donations are tax deductable. Sharing
Connections has furniture pickup service Monday - Friday 9 - 3 p.m. and Saturday
9 - 12 noon. To scheldule a pickup call 630-971-0565 ext. 300.
Latex Paint Recycling Collection Facilities: DuPage
County Wastewater Treatment Facility
7900 S. Rt. 53, Woodridge
630-985-7400
The
DuPage County Paint Recycling Facility is open for drop-off of latex paint "during
the summer months only". Visit www.dupageco.org/dec or call > 630-985-7400 for
more information. They also have free recycled latex paint. This paint is available
to residents, churches, community groups for pickup fro the DuPage County Paint
Recycling Facility during "summr months only".
Computer & Electronics: Naperville
Bizzy Bee Tube Audio
418 E. School Street
630-369-6211
Accepts audio
electronic items, radios, amplifiers, turntables, tape deck, and old records.
No video or computer items. Dell
currently offers consumers a home pick up recycling option for computer equipment
from any manufacturer. See www.dell.com/ recycling for more information. Regional
Household Hazardous Waste Facility:
Residents through the state can drop off
HHW at the regional collection site operated by the City of Naperville. Located
at Naperville Fire Station No. 4, 1971 Brookdale Road (just off Rt. 59). Open
on Saturday & Sunday's from 9-3 except on holidays. Call the County hotline 630-510-2810
for more information. Automobile
and Truck donations:
Donate a vehicle for ALS: by donating a car, truck or other vehicle to the Les
Turner ALS Foundation, you can help fight Lou Gehrig's disease. The foundation
takes care of arrangements and towing. Donations tax deductable.To make a vehicle
donation complete form at www.lesturnerals.org or call Jamie at 847-679-3311.
Nonprofit Bridge Communities: Donate a car to a homeless family in DuPage. Donations
tax deductable. Call Mike Milligan at 630-545-0610 ext. 10 or visit www.bridgecommunities.org.
Scrap Book Rescue Program: > > Recycling textbooks & other books visit www.bookrescue.org
> 630-790-4345 Reverence
for Life
Committee
organizes and implements parish Pro-Life activities and awareness. (See link
to P.E.T.A.L., our bi-monthly newsletter, on the right). Prayer
Groups
Groups that
gather to pray in community: - Moday
Evening Prayer Group
- Tuesday
Evening Prayer Group
- Rosary
Group
- "Gather"
- Meets after 8:30 a.m. Friday liturgies during the school year to pray for
the intentions of school-age children and their families.
- Eucharistic
Adoration - Begins Friday following the 8:30 liturgy and continues around
the clock until Monday morning at 7:45 a.m., in the Parish Center Chapel.
Parish
Library
Located
in the Parish Center. Open to all parishioners, the Parish Library makes available
books, magazines, audio cassettes and videotapes to inform, support and inspire
our Catholic Christian life. Children's
Educational Garden
Our
parish and school are fortunate to have a beautiful outdoor green space to learn
and play. Since August of 2003, a large plot of land on Fairview Avenue has been
transformed into a landscapted children's garden available for the entire parish
to enjoy. The purpose of the garden is to foster an appreciation of God's gifts
so children and adults naturally become good stewards of the Earth. The project
was conceived and is being executed by parish members, with donated labor and
materials. Divided into three areas, the contemplative garden, children's circle
garden, and woodland garden, there is always something to do. Scout and school
groups regularly participate in outdoor planting and learning experiences. To
join our committee, make a contribution (recognized with an engraved brick installed
on the property), make suggestions, or participate in any way, contact Hilary
Denk at j.den@comcast.net. | 
