Woodstock’s Resurrection Catholic Church celebrates 40 years

If you’re not looking for it, you just might miss it. Tucked away on 10 acres off Country Club Road in unincorporated Woodstock, Resurrection Catholic Church has served as a beacon of hope for its parishioners and those serviced by it, for the last 40 years.

At its helm is the Rev. Stephen Glab, C.R. Wearing aviator sunglasses, a white straw fedora and a warm smile, Glab maneuvered his 6-foot-4 frame through the hallways and doors of the church attempting to find an open room for our interview, most of which were occupied by volunteers and attendees of the church’s Resurrection Outreach program.

The ongoing ministry program operates twice a week in response to the emergency needs of those in the area who find themselves in a time of crisis.

“The program is designed to be a safety net for people who fall through the cracks. We don’t just operate as an office where you walk in and make an application,” Glab said. “When you come, you speak to one of our volunteers. We don’t just offer them the opportunity to gain assistance; we offer them the opportunity to tell their story. A lot of people in these tragedies don’t have anyone to talk to, to listen to the circumstances that brought them into this situation; offer them assistance and a word of hope.”

Ordained on April 17, 1982, Glab began his career as a teaching priest and thought that would be his life’s calling. Glab spent 14 years at Gordon Technical High School, now DePaul College Prep, in Chicago. He said he took inspiration from teacher Jaime Escalante in the 1988 film, “Stand and Deliver,” in terms of teaching to children in the city. He then spent 11 years at Marian Central Catholic High School before accepting the pastorate at Resurrection Catholic Church in 2009.

“In our worship, in our fellowship, in our service, there is always this driving concern that we remember that God’s love is unlimited and God’s love is unconditional,” Glab said. “Therefore, if we are to reflect the reality of the God that we serve, then our love has to be unconditional and our love has to be unlimited. Tall order. Tall order. That is the challenge that we recognize and that we are willing to accept as our journey of faith. We may not be perfect in it, but at least we know what our goal is.”

Resurrection Church boasts parishioners from all over McHenry County, served by the congregation of the resurrection and belongs to the diocese of Rockford, recognized as a personal parish.

Glab said Resurrection’s appeal is that the church provides the spiritual nourishment its attendees desire.

“We don’t ask for your ID at the door, we simply say come and worship, come and celebrate with us, come and be part of our community,” said Glab. “We warmly welcome people that come, that’s not just what I do as the pastor here; it’s the culture of our faith community. When someone comes to our church for the first time, it’s the only time they’ll ever come as a stranger.”

Andrew and Michelle Currier of Woodstock have been parishioners for four years. The couple moved to Woodstock in 2014 and did some shopping around of the local parishes looking for a spiritual home. They just welcomed their first child, a daughter, Sadie.

“Resurrection drew us in immediately,” said Andrew Currier. “I came from a large church where I felt just like another person in the pews. Michelle came from a very small church and wanted to have that sense of intimacy. Resurrection has a quaint church community that was the perfect blend for both of us.”

Andrew serves on the church’s Pastoral Council, working closely with Father Glab.

“He is one of the most involved, sincere and genuine priests I’ve ever met,” Andrew said. “He is very much involved in all the parishioners’ lives – health-wise, work-wise – he’s very involved and caring for whatever is going on.”

Andrew said he would love to see a little bit of growth in the parish thinking that many area residents don’t know who they are or where they are, nestled back in the woods.

“It’s literally a kind of hidden gem of the city,” Andrew said. “We would love for others to know we’re here. It’s one of those things you have to experience to fall in love, would love for other families to fall in love with it.”

On Sunday, Sept. 23, the public will have the opportunity to meet the community of Resurrection Catholic Church at their 40th anniversary picnic held on the historic Woodstock Square from noon to 4pm. The church will hold a 9:30am mass as opposed to their regularly scheduled 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. masses.

“We’ll be there with cupcakes and a one-month-old!” Andrew said.

“Our parishioners didn’t come to Resurrection simply to come to church, attend, leave, and leave church behind them,” Glab said. “People come to this church wanting to do more than just believe in a faith. People who come here are more than just people who come here to park themselves for an hour on a Sunday morning, they are people want to give expression to their way in a very vital and lively way.”

The picnic is free to public and will include food, entertainment and raffles. Proceeds from the raffle will be divided amongst Resurrection Outreach, Home of the Sparrow, Old Firehouse Assistance Center in Woodstock and St. Mary’s School in Woodstock.

“Normally, we have our yearly picnic on own grounds but we decided for our 40th we would take to a more public venue in order to announce to the rest of the Woodstock and county community ‘here we are, Resurrection Catholic Church’. We want people to know we offer this word of welcome, come and celebrate, come and experience hope, come and experience possibility. We’re not asking you to have an ID or pledge yourself to be a member of our church. If you come and join us, welcome.”