ST. JOHN – The St. John the Evangelist Men’s Club presents the Sylvester Reising Stewardship award annually to a parishioner who has shown exceptional stewardship to the parish and to those in need.
Recently, the SJE Men’s Club, the Sy Reising family and the entire SJE parish family announced that the 2023 Sylvester Reising Stewardship Award winner is Jackie Krilich in recognition of her exceptional stewardship as a member of the parish. A new memorial brick with her name has been added to the Sylvester Reising Memorial at the Adoration Chapel.
Jackie and Deacon Paul Krilich, her husband of 48 years, moved to St. John from the east side of Chicago in 1986. Since their arrival in Northwest Indiana, Jackie has contributed an immeasurable amount of her time, talent and treasure to the St. John the Evangelist parish and community.
As her family grew, all eight of her children attended SJE school. Since the day her first child entered school, Jackie played an enthusiastic role in enriching the faith lives of countless students through her volunteer activities including heading up Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives, organizing the school Living Rosary and May Crowning, coordinating summer vacation bible school, leading numerous Girl Scout and Catholic Girls awards groups and directing the children’s choir.
In addition to volunteering at the school, Jackie’s list of parish activities is also inspiring. She and Deacon Paul annually coordinated the parish May Crowning. She has served as a sacristan, as a member of the Day Chapel cleaning crew and as a coordinator of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. She also served as a sacramental preparation instructor for baptism and marriage. She has led a rosary-making group, has served as a Women’s Bible Study leader and has been a co-leader of the weekly Family Rosary and Benediction service. In addition, she has volunteered at social functions such as the parish fest, including being a ‘pierogi lady.’ She continues to participate in many of these activities today.
In a bulletin announcement, the parish stated, “Jackie’s contributions to our parish over the years exemplifies both her devotion to service and to strong Catholic family values. By example, she embodies the notion of discipleship and evangelization. She shows God’s love in her daily life through her labors of love and support for others. She truly is an example for all of us.
“It would be hard to find a person more deserving than Jackie Krilich to receive the Sylvester Reising Stewardship Award. The entire parish family thanks Jackie for her service to our parish and others. In recognition of her service, the SJE Men’s Club is presenting Jackie with an engraved plaque and a gift certificate for a local restaurant so that Jackie and her family can celebrate this recognition together.”
Caption: The St. John the Evangelist Men’s Club presented the Sylvester Reising Stewardship Award this year to Jackie Krilich in recognition of her exceptional stewardship. Jackie and her husband of 48 years Deacon Paul Krilich have been members of the St. John parish since they moved to Northwest Indiana in 1986. (Provided photo)