Rosa Mendoza Receives National Honor Society Scholarship

Congratulations to Senior Rosa Mendoza for receiving the prestigious National Honor Society Scholarship. You can read the full press release here. Rosa has served as the captain of the Girls Varsity Soccer team, captain of the Varsity Volleyball team, and as an elected officer of the Student Council.  She is also a member of the school’s choir and serves as an altar server at St. Francis de Sales Church. This fall, she plans on attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to major in Biochemistry and minor in Spanish.

Archdiocese Announces Online School to Continue Through Remainder of Academic Year

Dear Families, 

As you may have seen, Gov. Pritzker closed all Illinois schools for the rest of the year. You can read the statement from the Archdiocese here. (En Español)

The news comes as a great disappointment, especially for our Seniors. We are working on creative ways to maintain some semblance of all our year-end festivities and will keep everyone posted.

All grace lies in the present moment, no matter how helpless or frustrated we may feel. While the normal exciting events of spring will not happen, this time can give us a chance to appreciate a slower pace of life, take some time for reflection, and force us to relate to one another in new, perhaps more creative ways. 

The schedule and nature of our May events will be sent out soon. In the meantime students, there are still important things well within your control; your grades, your relationship with your families, and your perspective on this situation. 

Be at peace all, and know that de Sales is here for you.

John Kimec

Holy Week 2020 Resources

Thursday begins the Sacred Triduum, or three days, during which we live the mysteries most central to our faith. You can unite spiritually to all the Masses and Services of Holy Week and Easter Sunday on multiple different sites. You can go here if you would like to join Cardinal Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral.

Also, Pope Francis has offered a Plenary Indulgence, under the usual conditions given to us by the Church, just by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The great Novena to Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday.

I wish you a blessed Triduum and Easter.

Sr. Jane Frances

Emergency Tuition Relief Fund – Please Help!

Dear Friend of St. Francis de Sales,

First, and most importantly, we wish you well during this unprecedented time. The care, comfort, safety and health of our students, families, staff and community is our priority and foremost in our prayers. There is anxiety and worry among us all, so we turn to each other, our friends, family and faith to give us hope.

As we work diligently to educate our students and create a sense of community remotely, the current situation creates immediate need within the St. Francis de Sales community – need for tuition support, food, books, resources and more. This need demands immediate action.

We’ve heard from parents who have been laid off, some whose hours have been drastically reduced and whom aren’t sure when their salaries will normalize. In response to this need and in partnership with our dear friends Chris Cole (Class of 1971), Dr. Francis Lichon (Class of 1970) and John and Laurie Czulno (both Class of 1975), we are launching the SFDS Emergency Relief Fund for current families. The Emergency Relief Fund will give immediate relief to parents who are experiencing emergencies as a result of COVID-19. In a time of extreme anxiety and worry, tuition for a high-quality Catholic education shouldn’t be a concern.

The Czulnos, Ms. Cole, and Dr. Lichon’s generosity will match the first $10,000 in gifts received.

The reality is that the SFDS community needs all our help - now more than ever - and today you have an opportunity to support families in a critical time. With support from alumni and friends like you, our school continues to innovate, grow, and foster the next generation of leaders. Can you help support our families today and have your funds matched?

DONATE TO THE EMERGENCY FUND

Even during this challenging time, we see and feel our SFDS community. We see it in Zoom meetings and Google Classroom, phone calls and FaceTime. We see community in the actions of the Czulnos, Ms. Cole, and Dr. Lichon who step up to help current SFDS’s families in their time of need. Optimism abounds for warmer weather and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! We are optimistic about our future.

Consider joining us with a matched donation today, one that will immediately impact the life of a student at St. Francis de Sales. Thank you!

All my best,

Mary Kay Ramirez

Director of Community Outreach

DONATE TO THE EMERGENCY FUND