Celebrate Mardi Gras with St. John Brebeuf February 22

CAPTION

Maria Fatima Fernandes, John Mazur, and Denise Gillespie, three long time St. John Brebeuf supporters, will be honored at Mardi Gras, the 26th Gala scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. in the Rev. Thomas P. May Ministry Center, 8305 N. Harlem Avenue. Tickets are $50 per person and are available at the St. John Brebeuf School Office or at www.sjbschool.org/gala.

Mardi Gras, the theme of the 26th Gala, which benefits St. John Brebeuf (SJB) School, will honor three long time supporters. Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. in the Rev. Thomas P. May Ministry Center, 8305 N. Harlem Avenue, tickets are $50 per person and are available at the St. John Brebeuf School Office or at www.sjbschool.org/gala.

John Mazur will receive the 2019 St. John Brebeuf Sheila Harrington Spirit Award. Instrumental in the day to day operation and the success of St. John Brebeuf School and Parish, Mazur has been a part of St. John Brebeuf Parish for almost 30 years, committing his life to the ministry of serving others in school and parish life. He has also served as Scoutmaster for Troop 175 where he helped young scouts—including his own sons—attain the rank of Eagle Scout. He has been recognized for his service to others by many other organizations including the Holy Name Men’s Club, Knights of Columbus, and the Village of Niles.

Denise Gillespie will receive St. John Brebeuf School Parish Apostle Award. As a teacher, Gillespie has contributed to the growth and development of Kindergarten students for 10 years. A leader for her students and colleagues at SJB, she was a member of the SJB Technology Implementation Committee. She participated in the Data Wise Institute at Harvard University Graduate School of Education and brought the program back to SJB. Among other leadership activities, she completed the Archdiocese of Chicago Leadership Academy and the Early Childhood Leadership Academy programs.

Maria Fatima Fernandes will receive St. John Brebeuf Parish Apostle Award for Religious Education. Fatima, as everyone knows her, has a history of working with children and is very active in many aspects of the parish where she has been a member for more than 20 years. A beloved teacher in the Religious Education program where she tirelessly shares her belief that all children are “Bundles of Joy,” blessings filled with the love of Jesus, she has served in the extended day program, the GLADD (Giving Love Apostolate to the Developmentally Disabled) program, and the Children’s Liturgy of the Word.

Each year, Gala donations contribute to assist school families in need, enhance facilities, and expand educational enrichment for the school. The donations raised by Gala in recent years have been used to construct a new playground for the school and to purchase a new 3-D Printer for the S.T.E.M. Laboratory.

The SJB Parish is home to 3,000 families. St. John Brebeuf School also supports St. Martha’s Church in Morton Grove, and St. Isaac Jogue Church in Niles.

For more information about St. John Brebeuf’s Gala 2020, email gala@sjbschool.org, visit www.sjbschool.org/gala or call the SJB School Office at (847) 966-3266. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sjbschoolniles and “Follow” us on Instagram and Twitter at @sjbjaguars.