Saint John's Benedictine Volunteer Corps

Prayer, Service, and Community Living Worldwide to Transform Lives

Saint James Parish
Chicago, illinois

Saint James Catholic Church is a vibrant parish located on the south side of Chicago. The parish reflects the diversity of the surrounding neighborhoods. Along with excellent liturgy, St. James Parish values the Benedictine commitment to hospitality. Fr. Edward Linton, OSB of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana is the pastor at St. James and site director for the SJBVC. Volunteers live in the rectory of St. James parish with Catholic students from the Illinois School of Technology and others committed to Benedictine life.

 

Work of the SJBVC

The SJBVC has been serving at St. James Parish since 2010. Volunteers work as the Volunteer Coordinator for the St. James Social Care Program supporting the work of the parish food pantry. The pantry serves over 1,600 families (about 3,000 individuals) in the 60616 and 60605 area codes every month. The pantry also hosts an empowerment program to assist certain volunteers in gaining skills necessary to obtain and maintain jobs. The St. James Social Care Program also includes a mobile food pantry once a month, a senior ministry program, and a senior delivery program.

Those Who Have Served

2010-2011: Alex Schafer

2011-2012: Charlie Swanson

2012-2013: Ted Kain

2013-2014: Ben Carey