Fruit That Will Last
When you step into St. John’s Catholic Newman Center on any night of the week you’ll encounter vibrant, joyful life. Why? Because every activity and ministry at Sixth & Armory are ways that University of Illinois students encounter Christ.
Core Catholic Illini ministry efforts like Tuesdays Together (our weekly free dinner and talk series for the whole community), the five transformative retreats each year, friendship-forming Bible Studies, and the beautiful liturgies that have long been a staple at St. John’s all are just some of the ways that students at the University of Illinois are equipped for lifelong relationship with Jesus and His Church.
However, all of these ministries would not be possible without the generous support from grateful Catholic Illini alumni and friends. That’s why we are excited to highlight two stories of stewardship; shining examples of fruit-givers who provide opportunities for the 12,000 Catholic Illini on campus.
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If you’ve been to Mass at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center on almost any day in the past 25 years, chances are you’ve seen Jeff and Paula Carns. |
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Since then, St. John’s has been a spiritual home while they’ve worked at the University– Paula as an Affiliate Associate Professor in the School of Information Sciences and Jeff as an accountant on campus.
“We believe that it is a special blessing to be able to worship in the place we met and wed. We continue to be regulars at St. John’s and every time we step into the chapel, whether for daily or weekend mass, we are reminded of the wonderful way that Jesus Christ and St. John’s have blessed us.”
Gratitude for these blessings now overflows into generosity, giving back to this community through their time, talents, and treasure. Jeff is a reliable fill-in Sacristan and Lector when student liturgical ministers leave campus during academic breaks. He is always happy and willing to give a helping hand to make sure the liturgies go on without any hiccups. Paula, using her expertise in medieval and devotional art, wrote an essay on the stunning stained glass windows and their deeper symbolism in the Christian tradition. You can read excerpts from this essay in last year’s Gospel in Glass series on our Instagram page.
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But perhaps most notably, Jeff and Paula have been consistent recurring donors to the Sunday collection. The impact of this type of recurring generosity really cannot be understated. Weekly investments like the Carns’ are a cornerstone sustaining our mission on campus year after year. Because of the Carns’ generosity, hundreds of students over the past two decades have encountered Christ through the life-changing ministries they support–the sacraments, retreats, and small groups just to name a few. |
For the Carns, giving back to St. John’s also means building up Catholic Illini while they are at the University and preparing them to be leaders wherever they go.
“One of the reasons we support St. John's is its important role in shaping and encouraging young people in their faith. When they graduate and move on, they can take that faith to all the different places they end up.”
Thank you Jeff and Paula for your commitment to the mission of St. John’s Catholic Newman Center and your witness of bearing fruit for current and future Catholic Illini.
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Catholic Illini graduate JunFen Vilatte (née Freihammer) has shown through her generosity that anyone, no matter what age or stage or life, can be a steward of their gifts and bear fruit that will last.
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When JunFen came to the University of Illinois she found community both at Newman Hall and through the greater Catholic Illini community. A Koinonia retreat and small group participant, and an active member of the pro-life ministry weDignify, she found her place at Sixth and Armory. |
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"St. John’s Catholic Newman Center was a place that grounded me during academic challenges and an environment that nurtured my spiritual growth.”
As a junior and senior she stepped into a servant leadership role as a Sacristan, crediting this opportunity for helping her develop a deeper appreciation for the sacred liturgy and the role it plays in her life. Not only did she grow in love for Christ and His Church while at St. John’s, she also witnessed the impact that it had on the students around her and on her relationships.
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“I witnessed the impact SJCNC had on friends' reversion back to the faith, its vibrant ministry on campus, and it's where I found my vocation to marriage!”
As a student, JunFen found it important to give back to the ministry that had supported and strengthened her and her friends, so she became a recurring donor to the Chaplain’s Fund. The generosity that began in her student years has continued after her graduation last spring and marriage to fellow Catholic Illini alumnus Dominic this past summer. |
JunFen’s commitment to the mission of St. John’s on campus stems from the way that mission played out in her life, providing her with a deep-rootedness in Christ that shapes her life today.
“Being a part of the SJCNC community strengthened my awareness of the need to stay close to Christ always."
