Glen Ellyn's St. James the Apostle celebrating 50 years
St. James the Apostle Parish is celebrating 50 years of worshipping and helping others.
In honor of its 50th anniversary, the Glen Ellyn-based parish, established in 1965, will be hosting an anniversary concert featuring members of the St. James Music Ministry at 4 p.m. May 17 at the church, 480 S. Park Blvd.
On May 31, the parish will cap its celebration with a Mass with Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of the Joliet Archdiocese. The Mass will begin at 11:30 a.m. and a reception will follow.
In the late 1960s, the parish's church and school were completed, with Sister Mary Patricia Fallon, OSB, serving as the first principal of St. James the Apostle Catholic School. The parish moved into its current church years later.
Bulletin Editor Lisa Gilligan said the hallmark of the parish is its dedication to service, whether it be locally, nationally or even globally,
The parish has worked with the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry and DuPage PADS, provided food and gifts to families in need during the Christmas season and raised money to purchase vehicles for a Nigerian mission to help people get to the hospital and medical appointments.
"They know they have been given the resources by God to make a difference and they're very much about being faithful to that call," Gilligan said.
Parishioner Tom Shanley, who has been involved with St. James since its beginning, said the parish knows how to stick together.
"I like to think we're a very close community," Shanley said. "When people have had problems, whether they be health problems, a house fire, or some other tragedy ... our parish has always rallied around those people and continues to do so today."
Rev. David Hankus said the parish's future will be heavily influenced by what members already have one.
"Where we go in the future is to continue to do what we've been doing in the past," Hankus said, "which is basically reaching out as Jesus would want us to reach out, to care for our brothers and sisters, to love people as God loves us and to simply live the Gospel message."