Tri-Cities celebrates Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated Jan. 31-Feb. 6. The 2010 National Catholic School week theme, "Dividends for Life," is a reminder that there is no better investment than the education of a child.
• At Holy Cross Church, 2300 Main St. in Batavia, there will be a coin collection competition between the classes with proceeds donated to help impoverished elderly in the community, a pep rally and spirit wear, as well as an all-school mass dedicated to the life dividends students receive by attending a Catholic school at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. Examples of exceptional student work displayed throughout the school from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4. Prospective families are invited to an open house from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7. For information, visit www.holycross-batavia.org/school/ or call (630)-593-5290.
• At St. Patrick Catholic School, 118 N. Fifth St. in St. Charles, it will start on Monday, Feb. 1 with "Rachel's Challenge" presentations, then all grades will attend an assembly from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. in the gym. A teacher presentation will be followed by a Recycle Fashion Show. Students are to dress in "Reflections of Earth." On Tuesday, Feb. 2, there will be the Brian Wismer Variety Show from 1:20 to 2:05 p.m. and Junior High Games will take place from 2:05 to 2:45 p.m. in the gym. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, first- to fifth-graders enjoy games from 1:45 to 2:35 p.m. in the gym. On Thursday, Feb. 4, kindergarten through eighth-graders will enjoy the volleyball game. On Friday, Feb. 5, breakfast at 7:45 a.m. will be hosted by Students of Service to honor teachers and staff members with more than 20 years of service. The School Talent Show is at 6:15 p.m. at Arcada Theatre. For details, call (630) 584-6367 or visit stpatsirish.org.
• At St. Peter School, 1881 Kaneville Road in Geneva, there will be an open house and kickoff luncheon on Sunday, Jan. 31, following the 11 a.m. Mass in the church's multipurpose room. A luncheon will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. while SPS Rockets basketball games are going on all afternoon in the gym with free admission. On Monday, Feb. 1, the St. Francis Jazz Band will perform from 8:55 to 9:40 a.m. On Tuesday, Feb. 2, students will form a Living Rosary in the church at 9 a.m. After school, students may attend a roller skating party at Funway in Batavia from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., sponsored by St. Peter School's Home and School Association. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, students will enjoy some game time, and fifth- to eighth-graders join in a volleyball tournament from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. On Thursday, Feb. 4, the Marmion Drill Team will perform at 1 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 5, the day begins with the regular Friday Mass at 8:45 a.m., followed by a coffee for school volunteers, and a teacher appreciation luncheon. A Pep Rally closes out the week beginning at 2 p.m. For details, call (630) 232-0476 or visit stpeterrockets.org.
Special events
• St. Charles native and renowned performer Stephanie Gurga will present a classical recital, "The Joy of Piano," performing romantic works for solo piano by Debussy, Ravel, and Rachmaninoff. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at St. Patrick's Mission Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles. The concert is free and open to the public.
• Fox Valley Unity Church, 230 Webster St. in Batavia, will hold its annual book sale before and after church services on Sunday, Jan. 31. Sale hours will be 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon. Hundreds of new and used books, tapes, videos, CDs and DVDs will be offered for sale. Come browse and buy. For information, call Fox Valley Unity at (630) 879-1115 or visit foxvalleyunity.org.
• All are invited to the fourth annual Bethany Lutheran Church Dinner Dance from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Bethany Ministry Center Gym, 8 S. Lincoln St., Batavia. Experience the atmosphere and music of "Yesterday" while dining on a full menu including prime rib prepared by Chef Jim Smigo. Live dinner music will be provided by Alan Spear and post-dinner dance music will be spun by DJ Doug Clark. Tickets are $20 per person. For tickets, call the Bethany office at (630) 879-3444.
• Temple B'nai Israel, 400 N. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora, has invited Brian Hoffert to speak to compare Judaism to Buddhism after a light continental breakfast at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7. Donations are accepted. For information, call the office at (630) 892-2450 or visit temple-bnai-israel.org.
• Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May St. in Aurora, will host a Sweetheart Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. Join the guest singers, the Legacy Girls, who will be offering a wide array of music from many decades for your dancing and listening pleasure. Appetizers, specialty-non-alcoholic drinks, and sweets are included in this fun-filled night, along with "sweetheart activities" and prizes. Commemorative photos will be available. To top the evening off and to solidify the love you and your sweetheart share, there will be an optional group "wedding vow renewal." Enjoy an evening full of song, dancing, appetizers and desserts. Cost for the dance is $20 per person $35 per couple. The dance is from 7 to 9 p.m. Free child care is available. Reserve your spot by calling (630) 896-1033. For information on the church, visit wesleyumcaurora.org.
• Fox Valley Unity Church is collecting stuffed bears until Feb. 14. Bears will be hugged and filled with love during church services and will be delivered with love to the local nursing homes on Valentine's Day. To donate any stuffed bears, drop it off at the church, 230 Webster St., Batavia. For information, call (630) 879-1115 or visit foxvalleyunity.org.
• Life Church will host the premiere of "Furious Love" at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at the Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles. It is new feature film from Darren Wilson, the director of the 2008 feature "Finger of God." It is the story of one man's journey into some of the darkest spiritual climates on earth to test the limits of God's love. Watch his discovery and witness God's response to the demon possessed in Africa, the heroine addicts of Madrid, and witches in Salem, Mass. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5. There will be a guest appearance by Wilson, an independent filmmaker and assistant professor at Judson University. Tickets may be purchased online at gotlifechurch.com or by calling (630) 443-8822. Ian Andrews will be the guest speaker from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at Life Church, 8 N. Second Ave. in St. Charles.
• Annunciation School, 1840 Church Road in Aurora, is hosting an open house for prospective new students and their families from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19. There is no registration for this event. Annunciation School is a prekindergarten to eighth grade Catholic elementary school. Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, Annunciation will offer an extended day program. For information, call Karen Wollwert at (630) 851-4300 or visit annunciationbvm.org.
• First Baptist Church Of Geneva will host its 2010 Women's Retreat from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at the west campus, 3435 Keslinger Road in Geneva. Join them for this time of worship, teaching, and connecting with other women who "Dare to be Delighted in!" featuring guest Speaker Lisa Harper. The $25 registration cost includes continental breakfast and lunch. Register online at fbcg.com or call (630) 232-7068, ext. 160 for details.
Donation drive
• Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, 176 Main St., invites the public to help the earthquake victims in Haiti by purchasing and bringing to the church new items from the following list of personal care items: one-gallon size resealable plastic bags, hand towels, washcloths, combs (large and sturdy), nail files or fingernail clippers (no emery boards), bath-size bars of soap, toothbrushes (single adult-size brushes, individually wrapped), adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages, or toothpaste (4.5 oz or larger, expiration date must be at least one year in future). These items will be assembled into kits and distributed in Haiti by United Methodist Committee on Relief. People wanting to make financial donations can do so directly online at umcorhaiti.org for general Haiti relief or to www.intlchildcare.org to support relief efforts through Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Checks can also be made payable to "Sugar Grove UMC", designating Haiti Relief in the memo and mailed to Sugar Grove United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 226, Sugar Grove, IL 60554. For details, call the church at (630) 466-4501 or visit sgumc.net.
Workshops
• From 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 2 to March 2, Fox Valley Unity Church, 230 Webster St. in Batavia, is offering a class based on the book "Even Mystics Have Bills to Pay." Join them as they explore this text which invites you to go beyond old methods of making ends meet. As you dig deeper you will find the treasure that is within you. This class will look at the basic principles, a practical application of those principles, and a reflective consideration of prosperity in our world. This book focuses squarely on the awareness of God. The class will be taught by Maria Cosentino, a Licensed Unity Teacher candidate. She completed the coursework and graduated at Unity Village in Missouri in 2008. Everyone is welcome to attend. To register for the class, call Fox Valley Unity at (630) 879-1115 or visit foxvalleyunity.org.