40th anniversary brings celebrations for Catholic parish

Resurrection Catholic Community members have some unique things to celebrate for their 40th anniversary.

They have a rather modern building completed in 1999 on a former farm field in Wayne with seating for the congregation in the round.

Another unique fact about this church is that it is called a community -- not a parish. In 1993, the beginning of the church's Jubilee Year or its 25th anniversary, the congregation declared that it was a Covenant Community with a signed document between each member and the community that they will be faithful and supportive of one another. The covenant recognized that Christianity is not an individual religion, it is a communal one and a community with Jesus Christ as head.

This year as the congregation continues its 40th anniversary celebration, the activities will end with the bishop from the Catholic Diocese of Joliet leading a celebration mass Oct. 5, 2008.

While numerous events are planned throughout the upcoming year, right now the focus is on the catered dinner and show featuring local entertainer Chuck Salvo at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the church, 30W350 Army Trail Road, Wayne.

Ann Kohnke, chairwoman of the celebration and a council member at Resurrection Catholic Community, knows Chuck Salvo, and said that he's a comical entertainer.

"Chuck sings and plays instruments during his show. He has appeared with Bobby Vinton, Vic Damon, Jim Nabors and the Maguire Sisters. He's a riot," said Kohnke.

Tickets to the buffet dinner and show are available for purchase until Jan. 8 for $25 per person.

Resurrection Catholic Community began in the 1950s when 80 families started attending services at Christ the King Seminary on the weekends. The seminary was a Franciscan friars seminary, and the church's history is tied to the Franciscans.

By 1959, the small congregation had become a part of St. Mary's Church in West Chicago. Then in 1963, the congregation started fund raising to build a church with the building completed in 1968 and the first Mass Oct. 4, 1969, the Feast Day of St. Francis. The Franciscans of the Assumption in Pulaski, Wis., have been involved with the church, and Resurrection Catholic Community was a Franciscan directed church until two years ago.

Barbara Miller, director of adult faith formation, said that the church has always been a part of the Joliet diocese and is now a diocesan Catholic church. The current pastor, Father John Sponder, is the church's fifth pastor in 40 years. Two years ago, when it was time for their 70-year-old pastor to retire, there weren't any Franciscan priests to come to the church.

"We've always had a Franciscan presence," said Miller. "The Franciscans have changed direction and are now working among the poor, taking themselves out of the church and following St. Francis. This is a national trend to go back to what they did."

The Franciscan influence is reflected in the church's outreach. Resurrection Catholic Community is noted for their outreach ministries including a food pantry they began in the 1970s and the ministries that focus on social concerns and peace and justice issues.

The food pantry outreach began with Saturday food distribution in the 1970s and has grown into the Northwest DuPage Walk-In Ministry, formed in the late 1980's. The ministry has three sites to serve those in need and involves many churches in DuPage County. The three food pantry locations are Resurrection in Wayne, Lutheran Church of the Master in Carol Stream and St. Mary's Church in West Chicago.

"These locations are open throughout the week," Miller said. "We just had our Christmas feast drive at Resurrection, which provided 450 families with Christmas dinner."

The Northwest DuPage Walk-In Ministry provides those in need with money for rent, utilities and gas. Resurrection and Little Church in Wayne provide transitional housing in two apartments to help the homeless, as part of the ministry. While living in an apartment, homeless men and women receive two years of help, including counseling and guidance to get a job, so they can support themselves.

The church supports 64 ministries, including art, communion, environment, sewing and bread baking.

"People have wonderful opportunities to help," Miller said.

The church building and its landscaped prairie of wildflowers has won awards, Miller said.

"We're noted for our liturgy and masses. There is always a joyful welcome for those who've been away from church," Miller said.

The church holds the Generations of Faith pilot program twice a year, where all ages learn together. Miller said the program is focused on the seasons of change in life.

"In the early church, this is how people learned. There weren't special classes," Miller said.

Miller, who joined the church in the 1970s, said that there are still some of the 80 early family members involved in the church.

Mass is held at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays; 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings; and at 5 p.m. Saturdays.

For details, visit the Web site at www.rescatholiccom.com or call (630) 289-5400.

If you go

What:Resurrection Catholic Community is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a catered dinner and show featuring local entertainer Chuck Salvo at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the church, 30W350 Army Trail Road, Wayne.

When:7 p.m. Jan. 12

Where: Resurrection Catholic Community, 30W350 Army Trail Road, Wayne.

Cost:$25 per person, deadline for tickets is Jan. 8

Call:(630) 289-5400, ext. 200