PARISH NURSE

Our Lady of the Wayside has a parish nurse on staff. The nurse does not perform hands-on clinical care. Rather, the nurse performs healthcare assessments through interviews and observations, which may include taking blood pressure, reviewing medications, nutrition, ability to perform basic activities of daily living and environmental safety issues. The nurse seeks out healthcare services and community resources and counsels individuals and families on healthcare concerns and available resources. Ongoing support and encouragement are provided through periodic visits to members at home, in hospitals or in nursing homes. Working with the pastoral staff, the nurse addresses health and wellness issues of individuals and groups across all dimensions - spiritual, physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and vocational.

BLOOD DRIVES

Our Lady of the Wayside sponsors occasional blood drives organized in cooperation with LIFE SOURCE. Watch the Bulletin for details.

FUNERALS

Contact the Parish Office to make funeral arrangements. Our Lady of Wayside has several funeral ministries that support parishioners including Bereavement, Funeral Choir and Funeral Lunch. Ministers of Bereavement assist in planning and celebrating the various parts of the funeral process, provide luncheons by request and provide post funeral support.

ST. VINCENT DePAUL SOCIETY

OLW’s St. Vincent de Paul Society provides emergency assistance, counseling, support, and referral services in case of illness, fire, loss of job or other emergencies. Contact the Parish Office for more information.

MEALS ON WHEELS

Meals on Wheels is a group of volunteers that take meals to shut-ins. Contact the Parish Office for more information.

MINISTER OF CARE

Ministers of Care tend to the needs of the homebound, hospitalized, and nursing home residents by bringing Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, as well as providing friendly companionship.

ST. MARK'S SHARING PARISH

Our Lady of the Wayside and St. Mark's of Chicago's west side are sharing parishes. Two and a half percent of our weekly collections are sent to St. Mark's. Donations of clean, mended, ready-to-wear clothing and non-perishable food items are taken to St. Mark's on the second Sunday of each month. If you would like to volunteer to receive or deliver donations, please contact John and Lynne Toomey (receiving) or Bill Cleary (delivering).

Each Advent, Our Lady of the Wayside collects gifts for the members of our sharing parish, St. Mark's. Look for the Christmas tree with the tags in the back of church.

EMPLOYMENT MINISTRY

Our Lady of the Wayside, St. James and St. Edna parishes of Arlington Heights are in a joint employment ministry called S.H.A.R.E. that helps with the job search process. Visit www.parishemployment.com for more information. Click here for the upcoming St. James Job Ministry Event Calendar.

Our Lady of the Wayside is also one of over 25 member parishes of St. Hubert's Job Network. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at St. Hubert's in Hoffman Estates. Visit www.sainthubert.org/Parish_Organizations for a full schedule of events.

Email the OLW job ministry team at

Prayer for the Unemployed
Lord, I am not certain where this job search will lead me, nor for whom I may toil, nor what I may be asked to do. I pray that you would provide me the guidance to do what is right; to find a righteous and worthy opportunity; to earn my pay and to contribute to my fellow workers, and to our society. Give me the strength to continue my quest; to provide for my family, and to carry your word through my actions and deeds. Provide me with the opportunity to help others and to recognize the help I receive. I ask that you help all those searching, who seek your anointing to become re-employed and to assist all others in their moment of need. And Lord, bless those less fortunate than I, those who have so little, when I have so much. In your name I pray. Amen.

ELIZABETH MINISTRY

The Elizabeth Ministry is an international movement designed to support women and their families during the joys, challenges and sorrows of the childbearing years and beyond. The areas include, but are not limited to: pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, regretted abortions, infant or child death, crisis or special needs, adoption, fertility and infertility. To contact a minister, please complete a card from the banner in the back of church or contact the Elizabeth Ministry Coordinator at

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

Marriage Encounter is an opportunity for married couples to reconsider the most important part of their lives, their marriage. It is a time to become reacquainted and to learn or relearn how to talk and listen to each other. Visit www.wwmechicago-gary.org for more information.

SEPARATED AND DIVORCED

This is a non-denominational group of men and women in various stages of divorce and separation. There are no fees or cost. We chose the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous as our pathway to recovery. It has been our experience that anyone who consistently tried to follow this program has grown spiritually and emotionally. They got better! As one member said, "This group has brought about a change in my life that at one time I would not have thought possible." This is a story that has been told over and over during the 19 years of the group's existence. The group meets every Sunday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the Rectory Meeting Room. Contact Deacon Foley for more information.

RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE

Respect Life provides information on current concerns and legislative alerts to parishioners, as well as prayers and other needed support to those affected by life issues. Contact the Committee Chair for more information at