Each weekend, music is an integral part of our liturgies, and St. James strives to create music that is rich with quality, enthusiasm, and participation. Join one of our ensembles, and be a part of a dedicated community of devoted musicians.

Unless otherwise noted, please contact Tam Conseur, Director of Music and Liturgy, for more details on how to join a group.

Contact:
Tamaron Conseur
224.345.7204
[email protected]

Each weekend, music is an integral part of our liturgies, and St. James strives to create music that is rich with quality, enthusiasm, and participation. Join one of our ensembles, and be a part of a dedicated community of devoted musicians.

Unless otherwise noted, please contact Tam Conseur, Director of Music and Liturgy, for more details on how to join a group.

Contact:
Tamaron Conseur
224.345.7204
[email protected]

Music Groups

Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil Mass – St. James Collective

The St. James Collective is a Praise and Worship group featuring singers, guitars, violin, piano, bass, and drums. The Collective ministers year-round at the Saturday 5:00 PM Mass and at various other Liturgies throughout the Liturgical Year.

7:00 AM Mass – Cantor and Organ

8:30 AM Mass – Traditional Choir and Organ

The Gallery Choir is our traditional choir serving at the 8:30 AM Sunday liturgy year round. Accompanied by organ, the choir sings a wide variety of music ranging from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and selections from modern choral repertoire.

Rehearsals:

• Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30 PM in church music room
• Sunday mornings, 8:00 AM in the church choir loft

10:00 AM Mass – Contemporary Choir

The 10:00 Choir is a contemporary ensemble serving at the 10:00 AM Sunday liturgy year-round. Accompanied by piano and other instruments (drums, bass, guitar, etc.), the choir sings a variety of music from praise and worship and gospel to classic choral literature.

Rehearsals: 

• • Thursday evenings, 7:00-8:30 PM in church music room
  • Sunday mornings, 9:15 AM in church music room

11:30 AM Mass – Contemporary Choir

The 11:30 Choir gives praise to God through both lively and prayerful worship music year-round. Accompanied by piano, guitar, drums, and percussion, the choir sings primarily contemporary music with some occasional traditional songs. For more information, please contact John Towner through the parish office, or send an email to [email protected].

Rehearsals: 

• Thursday 7:30-9:00 PM in the band room
• Sunday 10:40 AM in the band room

Sunday 5:00 PM Mass – Praise & Worship Ensemble

The Praise & Worship Ensemble for Sunday 5:00 PM Masses features music from contemporary worship with piano, guitar, bass, drums, led by Worship Leader Craig Colson.

Parish Children’s Choir (Elementary School)

The Children’s Choir is open to boys and girls, grade 2-5. Students from any elementary school or homeschool are eligible to join.

School Year Schedule

Our Children’s Choir year begins shortly after the start of the school year. The choir rehearses Tuesdays in the School Music Room. We collaborate with the Religious Education program so students can seamlessly take part in choir rehearsals on Tuesdays.

We sing once a month at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass from October through April.

Celestial Voices (Middle School)

This ensemble is for students in grade 6-8. We meet on Wednesdays after school and sing once a month at the 8:30 am Mass.

More Information

Contact Natalie Conseur, Director at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist to the faithful. Members of this ministry must:

• Regularly share in the Eucharist
• Be Confirmed and committed to our faith
• Attend a deanery training and a specific training for St. James

After training, Eucharistic Ministers join a Mass team to distribute the Eucharist every other week. Contact Gary Hammelmann for information regarding upcoming training sessions.

Contact:
Gary Hammelmann
847.392.1330
[email protected]

This team highlights the glory of God by decorating the Church for Sundays, feast days, liturgical seasons, sacramental celebrations, prayer gatherings, and special occasions.

Contact:
Kathy Borresen
[email protected]

Greeters help provide a kind, familiar welcome as we receive people into our parish community. Volunteer duties include serving at specific Mass times, distributing liturgy materials, and offering a friendly attitude and welcoming smile. All ages can participate in this ministry.

Contact:
Christine Avell
[email protected]

Lectors take an active role in the liturgy and proclaim the Word of God during first and second readings. To become a lector at St. James, volunteers must:

• Complete training at a Vicariate session
• Meet with St. James coordinator to discuss expectations and procedures.
• Proclaim readings at their assigned ​​Masses, Holy Days, and holidays. Lectors typically read once a month.

Contact:
Katie Sowa
847.977.6749
[email protected]

Liturgy writers prepare the general intercessions for Mass. Contact Maxine Nugent or Susan Chappell to provide feedback on our liturgies.

Contact:
Maxine Nugent
[email protected]

Susan Chappell
224.345.7221
[email protected]

Mass Coordinators at St. James serve at weekend Masses and special seasonal Masses by ensuring an organized and respectful celebration of the Mass—the center of our Catholic spiritual life. Responsibilities of Mass Coordinators include:

• Organizing and guiding parish volunteers who serve at Mass
• Staffing each Mass
• Preparing the Eucharist and associated articles
• Purify vessels after each liturgy

For more details on training or serving as a Mass Coordinator, contact Bonnie Minaglia.

Contact:
Bonnie Minaglia
847.372.0960
[email protected]

Sacristans perform a simple but important task of ensuring that the linens, vestments and sacred vessels are clean, prepared and made available for Mass. Additionally, they ensure that the supply of wine and hosts are ready prior to the liturgy.

Contact:
Norma Aguila
847.577.1646
[email protected]

The St. James Usher Ministry serves at the celebration of the Mass so everyone may feel the hospitality of our community while we ensure the convenience, comfort, safety and well-being of the congregation. All ages and families can serve as ushers, and scheduling is flexible. Contact Tom Fitzgerald or Tim Allaire to sign up.

Contact:
Tom Fitzgerald
847.987.1320
[email protected]

Tim Allaire
847.791.0373
[email protected]

Bring the Holy Eucharist to parishioners who are unable to leave their homes. Volunteers must complete a mandatory training session and follow Archdiocesan guidelines.

Contact:
Charles Perron
[email protected]

Transport St. James parishioners who can’t drive themselves to Mass. Due to COVID-19, a limited number of drivers are available, and masks are required for drivers and passengers. View volunteer guidelines or apply to volunteer or receive a ride below.

The Bereavement Ministry assists the family of the deceased with planning the funeral Mass. Bereavement ministers are scheduled through the St James Parish office once the parish has been contacted of a death. The bereavement minister meets one on one with the family and guides the family in planning the funeral liturgy.

If you are searching for a ministry where you can share your talents of loving compassion, great listening skills, support and understanding with those who are grieving please consider this wonderful ministry. You will have training and will be asked to attend an Archdiocese-sponsored bereavement training in the future.

Contact:
​​Flo Trunk
224.345.7200
[email protected]

Help welcome new families to St. James and help our parish family grow and flourish.

Contact:
Mike Bilski
224.345.7200
[email protected]

Provide lunches for homeless men and women in Chicago’s uptown neighborhood. Volunteers are needed to make the lunches and transport donations to local shelters.

Contact:
Kevin & Geralyn Walsh
847.361.1480
[email protected]

Help provide hospitality, food, and overnight emergency shelter for men and women experiencing homelessness. The winter season of PADS runs between October 1 and April 30, and St. James provides dinner for guests twice per month during the winter. If interested in volunteering, fill out this form and someone will get in contact with you.

Contact:
Jeanne
224.345.7200 ext. 8513
[email protected]

This emergency resource provides short-term financial assistance to parishioners and community members in our parish boundaries. To volunteer or receive assistance, contact the Parish Office. All requests for assistance are kept confidential.

Contact:
Marcia Fung
224.345.7200 ext. 8517
[email protected]

St. James Caregivers Ministers is a once-a-month program to help the people who give care to family members, at home or with their loved ones. It is a time for the Caregivers to learn to care for themselves – with prayers, quiet and discussion. We meet every 2nd Friday of each month at 1:00 PM in the senior/teen room on the lower level of the church.

Contact:
Sue French
847.259.5282

St. James Earth Shepherds is passionate about stewarding of God’s Creation, supporting individual and parish-wide efforts to live more sustainably, and coordinating initiatives to care for the environment. Parishioners of all ages are welcome. Contact Bonne Cimo to learn more and get involved.

Contact:
Bonnie Cimo
[email protected]

This ministry reaches out to women who are in their childbearing years, offering visits, prayer, and support to those who are pregnant, considering adoption, dealing with infertility, or have experienced a miscarriage or the loss of a baby.

Contact:
Melissa Bertram
224.345.7200
[email protected]

Are you struggling with a loss? Having a hard time coping? Join other parishioners for conversation and sharing as we seek to overcome grief together.

Contact:
Mary Jean Jarosz
[email protected]

St. James has joined with St. Edna’s and Our Lady of the Wayside to provide support, education and awareness to our parish communities on issues related to mental health. We seek to break down the social stigma surrounding these issues, provide information, local resources, and emotional and spiritual support.

If you or a loved one feel unsafe or are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, indicate it is a mental health emergency, and request an officer trained in Crisis Intervention.

Other Resources in a Mental Health Emergency:

• 24-hour crisis line: Ascension Illinois Center for Mental Health, 847-952-7460, dial 9
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 or text TALK to 741741
• Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to: 741741. Trained crisis counselors respond

Contact:
Jan Staley
[email protected]

Tracy Sherva
[email protected]

Kathy O’Neill
[email protected]

The St. James Peace and Justice Community, rooted in the Gospels and inspired by the Holy Spirit, is a guiding voice for peace and justice by: educating the faithful on the Catholic social teachings, supporting and complementing parish ministries, and empowering people to transform lives and society, both locally and globally.

Contact:
Matt & Sarah Tipperreiter
[email protected]

This ministry at St. James creates a wide variety of shawls for anyone in need of prayers or blessings. We pray as we knit or crochet, and get together once a month to bless the fruits of our labors. All are welcome to join in this ministry. We meet on the third Sunday of every month at 1 PM via Zoom.

To join the call, contact us via email.
To receive a shawl please contact the Parish Office at 224.345.7200 or Gail at 847.818.1431.

Contact:
Lia Douglas / Mary Lou Gleason
[email protected]

The mission of the Respect Life Ministry of St. James is to transform society into a Culture of Life where every human being is valued and protected from the moment of conception until natural death. We seek to convert hearts and minds on all life issues, including: abortion, post-abortion aftermath, chastity, capital punishment, artificial contraception, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and human cloning, and vaccines developed from the tissue of aborted babies.

Contact:
Mike & Marybeth Schoenwald
847.392.5506
[email protected]

Stepping Stones is a domestic violence ministry raising awareness, promoting understanding and preventing relational abuse by educating communities and providing referrals to victims and survivors of emotional, financial, physical and sexual abuse. Ministry members meet throughout the year planning parish and community events with a particular focus on Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) and Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (February). They work in partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago Domestic Violence Outreach (ACDVO) and its parish members.

Everyone deserves to be in safe, healthy relationships. If you or someone you know
may be in an abusive relationship, a path to safety exists. Get help.

If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

National and Local Hot/Helplines
National Domestic Violence Hotline…………………………………….800-799-SAFE [7233]
National (Teen) Dating Abuse Helpline…………………………………866-331-9474
WINGS Emergency Shelter & Crisis Line…….…………………………847-221-5680

See Full Helpline Directory Here
See Full Lending Library Resources 

Contact:
[email protected]