Weekend events to celebrate faith, fellowship on local level
St. John Neumann Catholic Parish invites the community to the Festival of Ministries after all Masses Saturday and Sunday at the church, 2900 E. Main St., St. Charles.
Guests can learn about opportunities to volunteer in education, outreach, service and fellowship. Participants can also learn about the Catholic faith and register for parish membership and/or Baptism.
Ministry representatives will be available to answer questions about education programs for all ages, service programs, Bible studies and small groups.
St. John Neumann weekend Mass times are 5:15 p.m. Saturday and 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. and noon Sunday.
Free coffee and doughnuts will be served after all Masses (cookies on Saturday).
For more information, call the parish office at (630) 377-2797 during weekday office hours.
Picnic time
St. Patrick's Church will host Paddyfest Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of the church at 6N491 Crane Road in St. Charles.
The church picnic, which features food, dancing and live entertainment, will be held from about 5 p.m. (it will begin after the 4 p.m. Mass) to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and run from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"Gethsemane" will perform religious Hispanic songs from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Other music will be provided by Chuck Drager Entertainment. Tickets for the Saturday's pork dinner will be sold at the door for $10 per adult and $5 per child. All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity.
Food for purchase on Sunday includes fresh corn, brats, pizza, corned beef sandwiches and ice cream.
The event will feature free events such as a dunk tank and moonwalk, face painting, children's games and pony rides. There will also be a bake sale and farmers market.
Tickets for the Paddy's Pot O' Gold raffle are $10 each or three for $25. Prizes total $10,000.
Parishioner Lucy Dunn will make her Paddyfest debut singing with Billy Croft's Christian Country Rock from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Sunday entertainment will also include the Geneva Jazz Ensemble and traditional Irish Dancers.
Call Colleen Gulling at (630) 513-0639 for details.
•Congregation Kneseth Israel will host a free family picnic and open house for members and prospective members from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the temple, 330 Division St. in Elgin, IL.
There will be food and entertainment provided by juggler Ken Schultz. Torah school registration will take place during this event, and prospective members can learn more about the temple, events and religious school.
Call (847) 741-5656 or visit www.ckielgin.org.
For the children
The Celebrate Our Children Festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at McCarty Park, east Galena Boulevard at Fourth Street in Aurora.
Admission to the festival is free. The festival includes entertainment, music, food, clowns and games. The event is designed to give area children a message of hope.
Children's singer and songwriter Mr. Nicky performs at 1:45 and 3 p.m.
Appearing on the park lawn will be Ozzie the Kane County Cougar mascot, the Merry Hearts Clowns, "B" from Old Country Buffet, the Aurora Public Library bookmobile, McGruff and the D.A.R.E. car, Aurora Fire Department, Aurora Community Church, Wayne Braun, WMBI radio community van, and others.
There will also be a pony riding ring, a petting zoo and the "inflatables."
Festival parking will be available at the Warehouse Church parking lot, 308 E. Galena Blvd. and at the First Presbyterian Church parking lot at Fourth Street and Downer Place. The rain site is the Harkness Family Center, 60 S. Fourth St.
Visit www.celebrateourchildren.us.