A Legacy of Faith, A Future of Hope,
160 Years Strong

Our parish, St John the Baptist is approaching its 160^th birthday. It is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese. It is a parish filled with caring, loving, and devout witnesses to Christ and His Church. Over the past 11 months as pastor of your parish,
I have been amazed by the sense of community and love between her members. I am blessed to be part of a true community of faith where repeatedly I see members of the community coming together, with everyone pitching in for various events. I am encouraged and strengthened by the stories shared about her history and the devoted, faith-filled priests who have served at St. John’s.

Now, as we approach our 160^th anniversary, it is a good time to address current needs, as we secure a sound foundation for this wonderful parish and the many future generations of parish members. As the parish was being born in 1867, when Bishop Duggan of Chicago was asked about a parish being created for Winfield, he responded “I give you my permission to build a church, but do not go into debt.” His prophetic words were both wise and fruitful. It is in that same spirit that
I come to you seeking help in funding some current needs. I too do not want to go into debt, which in contemporary terms means securing a loan from the diocese through a capital campaign. I do not want a capital campaign but instead wish to reach out to our parish families with a list of items needing our attention and see what we can accomplish together.

I am very happy to announce officially that work will begin in June on new lighting in Church. Our present lighting system
is no longer up to code and produces minimal lighting in the church. The lighting project, estimated at $250,000 has cleared all Diocesan requirements. While the project will take four weeks to complete, it will not interfere with Sunday masses. One of our parishioners has already given $70,000 toward funding this project.

We will also be looking to address sound issues in both the Church and Chapel. In another example of working together,
a parishioner has graciously offered to restore the organ in the chapel and will completely cover the cost of this major project. The organ project will be completed within two months. 

Carpeting installed in 1989 throughout the parish office space (or old rectory) has served us well. After many decades
of use, it has reached end of life status. Unfortunately, there is asbestos underneath the old carpet which will need to be removed before new flooring may be laid.

Our church bells that call us to worship are in a state of deterioration and need to be restored. Presently we are able to use only two of the three bells. Our first restoration quote was $220,000. We have secured the services of a second bell company that will be coming in to do their own inspection and present their findings and a quote for repairs. 

Our Church currently has no easy access to a main floor bathroom. We are evaluating options of turning the old sacristy
in the back of church into a bathroom.  We are encouraged by an early contractor’s estimate that the renovation cost
for this project is very reasonable. 

There are additional projects further detailed in our “Legacy of Faith” tri-fold flyer. Some projects are more urgent than others, but they all look to the good of the entire parish community. As previously stated, not wanting to go into a capital campaign to raise the necessary funding, I instead seek to put these needs out to the parish community and look for your help in funding these investments in our future together. We will have opportunities to make a particular donation to memorialize a loved one, as well as a donor wall. 

A mailing will be sent to all parish families, or you may use the QR code in the brochure by clicking the Legacy of Faith Brochure button below to get started right away. If you are interested in memorialized donations, or have questions regarding the donor wall or any project in general, please contact Marian Johnston, Business Manager. She may be reached directly by phone at 630.668.0918 x 602 or via email at: mjohnston@stjohnwinfield.org.   



In short, we are soliciting donations to fund a wish list for our parish and the future generations who will worship here.
It is my hope and prayer that we can accomplish this holy task and raise the funds needed, giving back to God, for the
160 years he has given to the generations at St. John the Baptist. We invite you to prayerfully consider how you can participate. Just as this parish has been built on the dedication of many, so too will its future be sustained by our
shared generosity. Let us move forward together with trust in God, with gratitude for the past, and with hope for what
lies ahead.

Pax, Fr Dan