“Gratitude” was the key word Saturday night for the St. Gerald community.
St. Gerald Parish and School, 9310 S. 55th Court in Oak Lawn, hosted a “thank you” party for all of its volunteers.
“We wanted to host this event to show gratitude for all the services our many volunteers donate to the parish and school,” parish development director Debbie Janicke said. “It is a tribute to the volunteerism. Many of our parishioners are school alumni who have moved back into the parish to enroll their children in our school.”
The 350 volunteers within the St. Gerald community — 150 of whom serve the parish, with the other 200 serving within the school — work selflessly every day, according to St. Gerald Principal Al Theis.
“St. Gerald volunteers often give to the max,” he said. “A prime example was a volunteer who came to paint the school and worked for over seven straight hours. Then when he was asked if he could do something the next morning, he responded simply, ‘I’m scheduled for surgery in the morning to correct a physical condition I have.’ Most people would not have been here helping at all under similar circumstances. That’s the kind of people we have here.”
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Volunteering since 1987 in the parish, LaVerne Losos, of Oak Lawn, said the key to volunteering is never expecting anything in return.
“It is so rewarding to help others,” she said. “We have people who have moved out of our parish and still continue to commute back and forth to volunteer.”
The event was hosted by the parish’s pastor, the Rev. Lawrence Malcolm, who decided to throw the party to show his appreciation for both the parish and school volunteers.
“St. Gerald volunteers are unique for many reasons, but certainly from their willingness to do most anything that needs to be done,” he said.
“I just love the people in our parish,” said Geri Lyczak, of Oak Lawn, who has been volunteering in the parish office for more than 12 years.
An estimated 200 of the volunteers attended Saturday night.
Some of the volunteers’ duties include outreach to the needy, office work, working at bingo on Friday nights, painting in the school, traffic control, helping at sports events, working the school carnival every August, polishing up the church, landscaping the grounds, raising money for the needy, taking liturgical roles at Mass, singing in the choir, helping the kids with studies and more.
The event took place in the Jonathan Collins Activity Center after the Saturday evening Mass. Volunteers were able to take the night off as they enjoyed food, refreshments, friendship and music by DJ Mike.
“Our volunteers are invested in the success of St. Gerald Parish,” Janicke said. “They are truly a blessing.”
Kelly White is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.