eNews: May 8, 2019

eNews: May 8, 2019

8 May 2019 | Posted by: chadmin

On May 8, 2019 we will host an informational meeting about the Invest in Kids scholarship and tax credit program at 6:30pm in the parish center banquet room. Last year we secured $65,000 in donations through Invest in Kids. One hundred percent of this amount was directly sent to St. Philomena School for tuition assistance and benefited 23 students who attend our school. Unfortunately, less than $2,000 is currently donated for the 2019-20 school year. St. Philomena families have approximately $175,000 of tuition need. As a parish we do our best to provide tuition assistance. This Illinois state program allows you to not only provide tuition assistance to St. Philomena students but receive direct Illinois state tax credit. The Invest in Kids program helps us provide aid to families without additional financial burden to the parish. At this informational session we will explain the program in depth and share how you can benefit and contribute. Please contact Jack Dippold (jackdipp@stphils.com or 309-685-1208), or if you want further information about the program but cannot attend this meeting.

The Scrip buying year for tuition ends on May 31, 2019. Purchases made on or before this date will be credited toward your tuition for 2019-20. Purchases made after that date will begin accumulating for 2020-21. If you have questions, contact the parish office or stop at the Scrip table after Mass. Rebate amounts will be available by July so you know your tuition adjustment. If this is your last child at SPS and you are attending PND, please let us know so we send the rebate to PND. Or, if your last child is graduating from PND, contact us to send the rebate to your child’s college. Remember, you can also designate your rebate to another family from St. Philomena if you no longer have children in school.

Sr. Mary Rose Bingham, OP, from the Nashville, Dominicans will return to St. Philomena Parish in June 2019 to offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training for parents, teachers and catechists. The training will be offered for both level I and level II. The level I training is for those working with children ages 3-6 years of age and level II is training for those working with children 6-9 years of age. The training is open to non-St. Philomena parishioners and often draws a diverse crowd allowing for a fruitful collaboration with other programs. To learn more about or register for either training, please visit our website https://www.stphils.com/church/catechesis-of-the-good-shepherd-training/ .

Uniform sale drop off boxes are located inside the doors of school and in the parish center link. Items accepted: St. Philomena uniforms, school shoes, book bags, spirit wear, sports uniforms (soccer shirts, etc), sports equipment. Please be sure to put your name on your donation bag so you get the chance to shop the sale early. Sale will take place in July in the parish center basement. Questions, contact Mandy Meier 369-8940.

Men’s Club annual spring steak fry is Wednesday, May 15 at 6pm in the parish center banquet room.  Cost is $15 per person. All men of the parish are welcome.

If you are an Amazon shopper, consider using the URL smile.amazon.com/ch/37-0794772. It’s the same as shopping on the “regular” Amazon, except AmazonSmile then donates to St. Philomena Church & School. Don’t forget to purchase your Amazon Scrip, too. Amazon Scrip works on AmazonSmile.

Have you made a pledge for the 2019 Annual Diocesan Appeal? There is still time. A gift to the ADA, large or small, can go a long way. Consider a one-time gift or a monthly pledge through February. There are cards at each entrance by the bulletins and in the parish office. Every dollar raised to make our goal supports important diocesan ministries. Every dollar raised over our goal will be kept in the parish. See the bulletin for an updated showing of our progress.