Welcome Our New Development Director, Nick Fiddick
Nick brings a wealth of organizational and ministerial background in a brand-new position as Director of Development for our ENTIRE community here at Holy Family. He will lead efforts for BOTH our Parish and our Academy to advance our mission and expand support for all of our ministry and formational initiatives.
Among many responsibilities, Nick will play a huge role in our annual Gala. Most recently Nick led efforts to advance the mission of Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg. Please extend a warm Holy Family welcome when you see him around the campus!
Family & Teen Faith
Here at Holy Family Catholic Community, we offer an array of educational and, more importantly, FORMATIONAL initiatives for families with children from post-Baptism to senior year of high school, including but not limited to:
- Kid Church – a lay-led service with an adult and kid message for families with children under the age of five, held once a month on Sunday at 9:00 am in our Chapel.
- Family Faith – formation for grades 1–5, Sundays at either 8:45 am or 5:15 pm.
- Ignite – faith formation for grades 6, 7, 8.
- Flame – faith formation for grades 9 and 10. Our first session with teens and parents together was held this past Sunday. Ignite includes service projects, large and small groups, and a retreat. Flame includes two off-site retreats as well as preparation for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- FM Mass – a very vibrant monthly, multi-generational Eucharist at 9:00 am on Sundays.
- Kairos – a retreat for high school juniors and seniors including witness talks by fellow teens and adult guidance.
- Spark – a drop-in night for junior high students.
- Fanning the Flame – a drop-in night for post-Confirmation teens.
My heartfelt thanks to Karen McHale and Maureen Cochran for their dedication and hard work for the past two years, particularly in the absence of a Youth Minister and more recently the absence of a Director. The two of them, along with some tremendous lay volunteers, have kept our Family & Teen Faith programming alive and well.
This year we welcome two new members to the Family & Teen Faith team. Kate Nilsen will coordinate our junior high Ignite ministry, and Christine Lopez will coordinate our Flame program for high school teens. Christine also is the junior high religion teacher for Holy Family Catholic Academy.
Holy Family Catholic Academy
HFCA offers one of the most unique curriculums in the area that combines Inquiry-Based Learning, leading students to learn by working on projects uniquely designed by teachers, lasting a couple of weeks and based on a specific problem. Students learn to think critically and solve problems.
HFCA also includes an International Baccalaureate curriculum (using traits that translate to our entire world) and STREAM, which is an expansion of STEM. We offer Science, Technology, RELIGION, Engineering, and Math. All of this is done under the umbrella of Catholic values, rituals, and teachings.
My heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kate O’Brien, our principal, and her staff for leading such an innovative and Catholic faith-based education for our children. Our enrollment continues to be strong with almost 500 students.
OCIA, or Footsteps in Faith
Previously called the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), the program is now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. This is the oldest education program in Christian history, designed to teach, form, and welcome adults into full communion with the Catholic Church.
Please consider encouraging any adults you may know who are interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the Catholic faith. Contact Mary Whiteside, our Director of Adult Faith.
Part-Time Position Open in Human Concerns
Holy Family is currently seeking an individual to join our Parish Leadership Team in a part-time capacity in our Human Concerns Department. Holy Family currently has over 15 different ministries that fall under Human Concerns, and this position would be between 15–20 hours per week assisting Sue Geegan in the various responsibilities of this department.
Please contact Sue Geegan at 847-907-3443 for more details and a job description.