Author: Sister Noe

One Family in Faith, Sharing Christ with the World.

Church of the Little Flower has a large number of organizations and clubs which make up our parish community. If you are interested in learning more about Liturgical, Sports, Prayer, Service organizations or clubs please contact the church office.

Building and Grounds
Caregivers (CIVS)
Choir
Curisillo
Diocesan Child Abuse (Reporting and Investigation)
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Finance Council
Greeters
Hospitality
Lectors
Liturgical Environment Committee
Mass Coordinators
Men's Club
Ministry to the Homebound
Parish Council
Prayer Line
Pro-Life Committee
Protecting God's Children
Rite to Life
Servers * (See Schedules)
Share the Word
Social Concerns
St. Teresé (Ladies) Guild
Ushers
Young at Heart

Each one should have a hyper-link to it’s information.

How the Diocese of Springfield Is Responding
The Diocese has instituted several policies towards that goal. These include:
A code of conduct for employees and volunteers who work with children and youth, is outlined in the Policy Against Sexual Misconduct for Lay Employees and Volunteers. This code makes clear what acceptable behavior is and the standards of conduct regarding sexual abuse and harassment.
A code of conduct for clergy and religious leaders who work with children and youth, outlined in the Policy Against Sexual Misconduct for Clergy and Religious Personnel. This code makes clear what acceptable behavior is and the standards of conduct regarding sexual abuse and harassment.
Background checks on all adults who have regular and consistent contact with minors.
Special training programs for all adults who work with minors, including priests, ministers, educators, church personnel, parents and volunteers. They are briefed on preventing, identifying, responding to and reporting child abuse.
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Do you love the Eucharist and want to get more involved in Mass? Consider assisting in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ during Mass. This ministry is available to any confirmed parishioner. We look to train new ministers on a regular basis. The next training will be announced. Training is also provided to those who wish to distribute communion to the homebound.

The Finance Council meets monthly to chart the financial course of the parish. The minutes of those meetings will be made available for download here.
November 15, 2018 Finance Council Other
October 18, 2018
September 27, 2018 Financial Review 2015
September 21, 2017 Financial Review 2007
May 11, 2017
March 16, 2017
February 16, 2017
March 17, 2016
February 18, 2016
January 21, 2016
January 5, 2016
November 2015
October 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015

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Greeters
Parishioners involved in this ministry give welcome to all who come to celebrate the liturgies at Saturday evening and Sunday Masses.
Hospitality
Lectors
Proclaiming the Word of God at the liturgies by reading the Scriptures during Saturday and Sunday Masses. Reference and interpretive materials are available to assist in the readings.
Liturgical Environment Committee
Meets to plan and arrange for the church décor for the various liturgical seasons.
Mass Coordinators
This liturgical ministry involves assisting the priest in preparing for the Mass. This minister helps in preparing the Sanctuary and the Altar for Liturgy. He or she also facilitates the assignments of Eucharistic Ministers before Mass. The minister also assists after Mass by preparing the sacristy for the next liturgy.
Men’s Club
The men of the parish promote good fellowship while performing a variety of activities to raise money for the parish, welcome new men to the parish, and work to repair and keep the buildings in good condition. Meetings are held at 5:45 p.m. on the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. Meals are served.
Ministry to the Homebound

Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered, how many hopes have been buried. But our efforts have been in vain.
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace, guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war! Never again violence! With war and violence everything is lost!” Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words of “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman.
Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother and sister”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!

Tag Line: One Family in Faith, Sharing Christ with the World.
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Diocese of Springfield, Illinois

Building and Grounds
These work to give back to the community at large and we appreciate their commitment. If you have an hour per week or per month, your church needs you. We are always in need of more volunteers. Contact Parish Office.
▪ Church Cleaners—Our Temple Tenders is a ministry of volunteers that gather Monday mornings after the morning Mass to clean and dust our Church. We take pride in making Church of the Little Flower a welcoming, inviting place to worship. Just show up and plan to spend an hour or two in the church.
▪ The Green Team—grounds beautification and upkeep—Volunteers
▪ Maintenance Items—Volunteers, The Men’s Club.
Caregivers
Choir
This group sings each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Mass. Practice each Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to join, including high school and college students, and instrumentalists. Volunteers who are interested in singing at funerals are also welcome. Anyone interested in cantoring but cannot attend rehearsals can speak with me after any mass. Mary Ann Keenan, Choir Director
Curisillo

State of Illinois

Still yet to write up...
Parish Council
Payer Line
Pro-Life Committee
Protecting God’s Children
Rite-to-Life
Mass Servers
LFC Caregivers Program
CIVS Mission Statement: “Caregivers, Interfaith Volunteers of Springfield (CIVS) is a network of religious congregations and community agencies who through groups of trained volunteers assist the frail elderly and their families maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life and prevent unnecessary institutionalization.” This program, coordinated through St. John’s Hospital Third Age Living, works through partner churches to provide volunteer help for older adults and their families. New volunteers are always needed. Individuals needing assistance or wishing to volunteer should contact the Parish Office.

St. Theresé (Ladies) Guild
The women of the parish assist Little Flower Parish through prayer and fundraising throughout the year. Monthly meetings are held from September through May with refreshments, good information, and fun activities.
St. Therese Guild wishes to welcome the women of the parish and invite them to any or all the Guild’s gatherings from September through May. At these gatherings, we join with other parish women in service and prayer while we enjoy food, activities, games, entertainment, guest speakers, and occasional prizes.
This September of 2017, St. Therese Guild begins its 70th year of involvement in Little Flower Parish promoting and supporting numerous projects and events.
The Guild Mission is to assist in a spiritual and material way any parish, church, deanery or diocesan activity that may be recommended by the Pastor and the Guild President. It also is to establish closer relationships among the women of the parish for the benefit of the parish.
All women of the parish are automatically member of the St. Therese Guild. Dues are not mandatory. However, in an effort to assist in a material way to meet the needs of the parish a small annual fee of $5 a year is suggested. Of course, larger donations are accepted and appreciated.
The St. Therese Guild has 3 major fundraisers each year. In September, the Guild has its annual Bakeless Bake Sale. In November, the Guild sponsors a craft booth at the Annual PTC Craft Bazaar. The Guild comes together to create a craft for the sale as well as accepts any individual’s handmade crafts donated to the sale. Then in the spring, the Guild holds its Geranium Sales. It is our largest fundraiser of the year. All profits are used for the needs of the parish community.
Below is a list of some of the ministries the St. Therese Guild participates in, events we provide for, and activities members help with.
Provide food, supplies and volunteers for Funeral Luncheons of parishioners who request this service
Donate to Holy Family Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving food drive
Provide funds and volunteers for parish grounds improvement
Provide supplies and volunteers to Vacation Bible School
Provide an auction item and desserts for the Annual Silent Auction fundraiser for Little Flower School
Provide volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels
Provide desserts at a Men’s Club meeting as a thank you for all the Men’s Club does in partnering with Guild
Participate in St. Therese Guild Sunday by celebrating Mass together with the Parish
Donate craft items and volunteers at the Annual School Craft Bazaar
Represent Little Flower Parish at the DCCW Conference
Organize the parish Angel Tree at Christmas
Send cards to homebound, ailing, or grieving parishioner
Choose a parishioner to be honored by the Bishop as our “Women of Distinction”
The St. Therese Guild invites your participation in our important ministry in our Little Flower Parish Community.
We look forward to welcoming new members as well as welcoming back all previous members! Please join us!
A list of dates and times for our meetings and activities are always listed in the church bulletin, Father’s News to Use emails, the parish website or see us on our new Little Flower St. Therese Guild Facebook page!
Ushers
Young at Heart
Funerals
Weddings

Donate to Holy Family Food Pantry’s Thanksgiving food drive
Provide funds and volunteers for parish grounds improvement
Provide supplies and volunteers to Vacation Bible School
Provide an auction item and desserts for the Annual Silent Auction fundraiser for Little Flower School
Provide volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels
Provide desserts at a Men’s Club meeting as a thank you for all the Men’s Club does in partnering with Guild
Participate in St. Therese Guild Sunday by celebrating Mass together with the Parish
Donate craft items and volunteers at the Annual School Craft Bazaar
Represent Little Flower Parish at the DCCW Conference
Organize the parish Angel Tree at Christmas
Send cards to homebound, ailing, or grieving parishioner
Choose a parishioner to be honored by the Bishop as our “Women of Distinction”
The St. Therese Guild invites your participation in our important ministry in our Little Flower Parish Community.
We look forward to welcoming new members as well as welcoming back all previous members! Please join us!
A list of dates and times for our meetings and activities are always listed in the church bulletin, Father’s News to Use emails, the parish website or see us on our new Little Flower St. Therese Guild Facebook page!