Women’s Ministries

Together with our friends at St. Jude Parish, we are happy to present the author of “Magnify,” Kaylene Brown, for a work shop on January 7, 2023 as a kickoff to this study. The workshop will begin with 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Jude (10811 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria) and then move to their school gym for a light breakfast and talks. Cost to attend is $10 (payable at the door) and covers purchase of the book. If you’d like to join the St. Philomena women in this study, please register on our event page. 

The journey through “Magnify” is meant to be flexible. One way women from St. Philomena can choose to participate is through weekly check-in sessions in our parish center led by our parishioners. We offer a variety of days and times to try and meet the needs of women who desire this type of interaction:

• Tuesdays, 2:15 p.m. (first meeting, Jan. 17)
• Fridays, 8:15 a.m. (first meeting, Jan. 13)
• Sundays, 8:15 a.m. (first meeting, Jan 15)

If you’d like to begin the journey, fill out the form below or on the event page via the link above and someone will follow up with you. 

When we Meet

In the Parish Center banquet room on Tuesdays (we do not meet when school is not in session) from 8:00 – 9:45 a.m. Our first meeting for fall 2022 will be Tuesday, September 6.  

Study

Speakers, scriptures, round-table discussions related to being a wife, mother, daughter of God and builder of the domestic Church.

Fellowship

Moms rotate bringing a snack to share while childcare is provided for children walking through 4 years old.

Meeting Resources

• 09/20/2022 Notes from the Session
• 09/06/2022 Welcome to Tiny Tigers
• 05/11/2022 Summer Ideas
• 04/27/2022  Recipes1  Recipes2  Recipes3  Recipes4  
• 03/30/2022 Hidden Rosary Craft 
• 03/09/2022 Helping Kids Prepare for Mass
• 1/19/2022 Growing up Social Cliff Notes
• 1/19/2022 Growing up Social, Child Milestones, Discussion Questions
• 1/19/2022 Managing the Emotions
• 11/17/2021 Presentation 
• 11/3/2021 Keeping Cool When You Are Feeling Hot 
• 11/3/2021 Read, Meditate, Pray, Contemplate
• 10/27/2021 Lectio & Visio Divina Handout
• 10/27/2021 Praying the Rosary with Your Kids

Finding Your Fiat’s name comes from Mary’s “yes” to God as a young teenage girl that changed the course of history for all nations. Inspired by her courage to participate in God’s plan, we too look for the opportunities to say “yes” to the Lord each day as we love Him and our neighborhood. 

Each gathering begins with music and an activity, a lively conversation with our scripture reading, virtue and saint, dinner and a hands-on project. In the past we learned how to make rosaries, embroider designs, the art of handwriting and baking. 

Meeting dates during the 2022-23 school year are: September 14, October 12, November 9, February 8, March 8, April 19.

If you have questions contact Jenny Witt at jwitt@stphils.com or 309-682-8642.

We will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the parish center banquet room on these dates (except for December 2) in 2022-23:

• September 28 – BINGO

• October 26 – Hospitality

• December 2 – Advent by Candlelight (different start time and information will be shared)

• February 15 – Eucharistic Revival

• April 19 – Plants, Plants, Plants

Advent by Candlelight

The first Friday of Advent we hold an Advent by Candlelight event for parish women. Advent by Candlelight is an opportunity for women to set aside the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and focus their hearts and minds on Christ. Enjoy a night of food, friendship, music, and time to reflect on the Advent season. Below are links to videos from our Advent by Candlelight speakers and/or entertainers. Watch the parish communications in October and November for details. 

2021 – Michele Garvey

This method of charting equips women to be advocates of their health and to see the beauty of God’s design of the body. Married couples can use this knowledge to assist in the conception or to temporarily or permanently avoid pregnancy. In addition, the charting system allows for the collaboration with OB/GYN doctors and nurse practitioners for the management of fertility disorders and diseases such as hormone dysfunction, ovarian cyst, polycystic ovarian syndrome, abnormal bleeding, miscarriage, infertility, and pain.

Click here to read a guest column in The Catholic Post by Diocesan priest, Fr. Charles Klamut, on Natural Family Planning. 

Send an email to fertility@stphils.com or call 309-323-0085 to get started, or fill out the form below and someone will follow up with you.

Practitioners

Coordinator/Practitioner: Michelle Hayes, RN, BSN, FCP

Michelle discovered the Creighton model and NaPro technology in 2016 when she was going through marriage prep classes with her husband, Sean. After years of hearing doctors suggest birth control as a way to correct reproductive health issues, she was excited to hear that there could be an actual solution out there that didn’t require the use of artificial hormones. Michelle and Sean turned to instructors at St. Philomena parish to learn the Creighton Model and soon after began working with a doctor who practiced NaPro technology in correspondence with the Creighton model. 

Over the years Michelle gained insight and found solutions to correct her health issues in a natural way with the help of Creighton and NaPro technology. Up until 2019, she worked as a nurse in postpartum and pediatrics when a position opened up as a NaPro nurse for a local nurse practitioner who practiced NaPro technology. Michelle’s interest and passion for the Creighton model and NaPro technology flourished even more as she was able to first hand witness how Creighton and NaPro was changing and improving women’s health. Michelle decided to take her passion a step further and become trained to teach the Creighton model as a FertilityCare Practitioner. 

Today, Michelle enjoys assisting women and couples whether it’s through their infertility journey, family planning or just maintaining their health through the use of the Creighton model. She works remotely and teaches via Zoom but does offer in person classes, if desired.