With the National Football League championship just weeks away, many are preparing to gather with family and friends as they watch to see which professional sports team will come out victorious. As the Feb. 8 game day approaches, a few parishes within the Diocese of Gary are preparing to host activities that same weekend, some even carrying a football theme.
St. Michael Parish Super Raffle
St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville is once again preparing to give someone the opportunity to win thousands of dollars through its annual St. Michael Parish Super Raffle. The parish will award a 1st prize ($15,000), 2nd prize ($2,500) and 3rd prize ($1,500) in addition to 30 additional cash prizes. The drawing will take place Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. and shown through a livestream on the parish’s Facebook page. Raffle tickets can be purchased by calling the parish office at 219-322-4505 or at stmichaelparish.life.
For parishioner Jen Poskin, the best part of being involved in the Super Raffle is getting to meet and talk to the people that support the raffle. She said tickets are purchased by many of its parishioners and school families and also by many others in the community who have been buying them for many years.
“Some of them are easily recognized by our office staff when they stop in to purchase their tickets once or twice a year,” Poskin said. “It’s fun to see the support coming from many different places, even former parishioners who have moved away but still support us from afar.”
Lou Bufano, who is assisting Poskin with the raffle, agreed that one of the best parts of the raffle is the connection to the parishioners.
He said, “I love the action centered around a national event and how we come tighter for fun and for the parish.”
The proceeds from the raffle supports the different ministries and activities of the parish. St. Michael has over 40 active ministries that do everything from building wheelchair ramps for those with mobility issues in the community to creating handmade blankets, hats and handwarmers for those who are in nursing home care or experiencing homelessness.
“Every person who buys a ticket is helping us to help others,” Poskin said. “The Super Raffle has evolved in size and scope over the years. We are proud that it continues to grow and each year our goal is to sell more tickets than the previous year.”
“This raffle sits at the perfect intersection of serving a huge need for money, engagement with the parishioners, and working with a team (mostly Jen) to accomplish a goal. It’s so fun!” Bufano added.
SJE Craft Beer and Wine Tasting
Melissa Villeneuve, a St. John the Evangelist Educational Foundation board member, said that typically the SJE Educational Foundation hosts the annual Craft Beer and Wine Tasting after Catholic schools week. This year, it changed the date to incorporate a football theme and coincide with the big game.
“Our events have been growing in popularity year over year,” Villeneuve said.
St. John the Evangelist School recently received Blue Ribbon status for being an exemplary, high-performing school, placing it in the top tier nationally for academic achievement, demonstrating strong student performance on state tests, and fostering a culture of faith, innovation and rigorous learning with the support of its dedicated teachers, staff and students.
This recognition, Villeneuve said, highlights the school’s success in both intellectual growth and spiritual development. And she believes this level of excellence starts at the top.
“Our principal, Katie Fredericksen, has a deep love for our Catholic faith,” she said. “She is smart, faithful, fun, and cares not only about education, but also, that our students are kind people that know and love Jesus. She regularly reminds students to stretch outside their comfort zone by reminding them, ‘They can do hard things.’"
Catholic education provides a strong academic learning grounded in faith and value, and Villeneuve credited Father Sammie Maletta who began teaching the students BCTs (Basic Catholic Teachings) over a decade ago, as part of their religion class.
“Our students know so much about their faith and can communicate it with others,” she said, adding, “Another important part about Catholic education is that we pray with each other and for each other on a daily basis. Our school and church leaders teach us to have a close, personal relationship with Jesus.”
Villeneuve hopes attendees will walk away knowing their fun, Saturday night at SJE will help fund the future of Catholic education.
“In 2025, the educational foundation was able to renovate under-utilized areas in our school, turning them into learning spaces,” she said. “We also upgraded technology in many classrooms. In 2026, we hope to remodel the concession room.”
St. Matthias Women’s Ministry Super Book Swap
TheWomen’s Ministry at St. Matthias in Crown Point is hosting a Super Book Swap on Feb. 7. The book exchange is open to all women and their friends. Participants will enjoy a delicious brunch while connecting with fellow book lovers.
Attendees are asked to bring at least three books to swap, and add a fun twist by wrapping one with the genre and a brief storyline idea written on the outside. The group is promoting it as an opportunity to discover new reads, share favorites and make new friends.
“This is our first time holding this event,” said Kelly Napiorkowski. “We have a lot of avid readers within our parish, and we are excited for the chance to include friends in our event as well. We are seeing registrations coming in steadily, so we think it will be a well-attended event.”
Napiorkowski hopes attendees will walk away with more great books for their library and a sense of what St. Matthias' parish community is like. In addition, the women will leave with a stomach filled with delicious brunch goodies and a feeling of rejuvenation with having taken time for themselves.
Napiorkowski noted the fellowship and friendships that she has made have been the highlight of her time in the women's ministry.
“The women I have met have been so supportive, motivating, and inspiring,” she said. “We come from different backgrounds and experiences, but our faith really brings us together.
St. Matthias Women’s Ministry sponsors various activities throughout the year, usually one to three events per month covering various areas of prayer, service and social. For more information, email KellyN@stmatthiasparish.net.
Chilingo at St. Paul
Tickets are on sale for Chilingo, a chili supper and bingo event, at St. Paul in Valparaiso. The fundraiser will benefit St. Paul choirs and Edge youth ministries. The event features AYCE chili, soft drink and Bingo play for $10 for adults and $5 ages 5-15. Hot dogs, desserts and additional beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased at the church office or at the door.
Dr. Stephen Schnurr said the church has hosted chili dinners and bingo separately in the past. Last year, in 2025, it hosted this Chilingo event, combining the activities.
“It was remarkably successful, particularly as it attracted attendees across several generations,” he said.
Schnurr explained that last year the parish had parents thanking organizers for offering an activity where they could take everyone to eat and be entertained for a very reasonable cost.
“Bingo wasn’t the only form of entertainment, as we had many people socializing with friends and new acquaintances,” he said.
Schnurr has served as organist and choir director of St. Paul for more than 35 years. He has witnessed children of former children’s choir members become active in the program their parents sang in.
The Chilingo event will benefit activities for youth in the parish. In particular, much of this will support the parish Junior Choir, for students from fourth grade through high school (and beyond), as the church takes them on a weekend tour each spring to sing in a cathedral in the Midwest.
“We have sung in the cathedrals of Milwaukee, Louisville, Bardstown, Toledo, Columbus, Covington, St. Louis, and elsewhere,” Schnurr said. “With fundraising like this, no student is left behind.”
To view more diocesan and parish events, visit https://dcgary.org/calendar
