Junior high and high school students baby sit during the Sunday 9:30AM Mass for one or two children two to four years of age with assistance and supervision by adults.  Children are supervised in the Joshua Room.

Persons assist in planning and implementing the quarterly blood drives.

FOOD DRIVE ITEMS:

Please choose any of the needed items from the list below for any of our parish wide food drives: 

-Dry Pinto Beans
- Lentils
-White Rice
-Oatmeal
-Flour
-Sugar
-Peanut Butter
-Jelly
-Body Wash
-Tooth Brush
-Tooth Paste

Through the generosity of parishioners thousands of pounds of food is collected during the holidays for those who are in need.  Persons assist in the collection of goods for our sharing parish and others in need.
In addition to holiday food drives, food is collected weekly to help assist at the St Blaze Food Pantry in Summit, IL.  Parishioner weekly distribute to families in need.

Ministry of outreach which offers Christmas gifts to less fortunate families and children in and outside of the parish community. Volunteers organize gift tags for the Giving Tree and sort returned gifts to be distributed.

This modern-day slavery has become a global crisis with an estimated 36 million victims. By force or coercion, victims are compelled to work agains their will in a wide range of settings including factories, brothels, houses, streets, farms, and fishing boats.  Our parishioners work to prevent the horrors of human trafficking primarily through awareness, education and advocacy  with various agencies.  We also work with Christian partners to help restore victims.

Anti-Human Trafficking

For information from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, please visit Become a Shepherd.
Stop human trafficking and exploitation. Protect, help, empower and restore dignity.

National Human Trafficking Hotline 
1-888-373-7888.

For more information, please contact Kim Duda at kduda@ourladyof the woods.org or Jan Swiderek at [email protected]

As much as we’d like to believe that slavery and human trafficking are only horrific aspects of our collective past, today there are nearly 36 million children, women, and men worldwide held as slaves in forced labor and sex trafficking. Of that 36 million, nearly two million are children that are exploited in the commercial sex industry.

The latest report from the International Labour Organization was released in May 2014 and estimates:

-Illegal profits made from all forms of human trafficking worldwide amount to $150 billion per year;
-Two thirds of the profits, amounting to an estimated $99 billion per year,
are generated by commercial sexual exploitation exacted by fraud or force;
-One third of the profits, $51.2 billion, are made from forced labor exploitation.

Our mission is to provide technical and emotional support for those who are unemployed, or who seek to improve their current employment status. Through networking, improving job-seeking skills, and morale encouragement, we assist those of all faiths, and all communities, to realize their full potential in the job market.

Here’s what the ministry does:

• offers support and inspiration to others
• offers practical job hunting information
• shares the expertise and experience of others
• offers networking opportunities with others
• shares job search techniques
• shares information to aid job-seekers in finding employment
• share job leads as they become available

Here’s how you can help:

• plan the meetings
• contact and arrange for guest speakers
• advertise the meetings (local newspapers, local TV stations, area church bulletins, and by word of mouth)
• listen to and support meeting attendees
• share experience and information with meeting attendees
• spread the word

Please contact Christine Collins at 708-269-6315

The Hope Employment Support Ministry first began in 2001 at St. Mary’s Parish in Mokena as St. Joseph the worker ministry. One year later, the group changed its name to the St. Mary Employment Support Ministry. To serve an even larger community it joined forces in 2006 with a similar group at St. Elizabeth Seton in Orland Hills. During their first year, the Hope Employment Support Ministry was presented with the Christifideles Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago for their exemplary service to the parish. Since that time HOPE has enjoyed support from people of many faiths in the surrounding communities.

The HOPE Employment Support Ministry meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish Center at 167th and 94th Ave in Orland Hills.

Persons who prepare lunches which are distributed to the less fortunate by Port Ministries. Preparation takes place monthly at our parish.

Persons who assist the homeless either at local sites or as cooking team volunteers.

 Parishioners participate in a one day service project which improves the homes of elderly, disabled and low-income residents in nearby communities. Projects vary and experience is not necessary.

Ministry of outreach which offers an Easter basket to less fortunate children in various Catholic and community organizations. Volunteers organize and distribute baskets.

Veterans gather to support one another by remebering all those who have and continued to serve in the armed forces.  Throughout the year various events take place to honor and/or pray for our Veterans.