Eter 8 Nity to raise funds for crisis line

“Eter 8 Nity,” a group of nine priests, one deacon and one lay man from the Roman Catholic Diocese of  Joliet, will present their annual fundraising show next month.

Shows will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at St. Mary’s Church, 303 W. St. Mary St., Minooka.

The show is to help raise funds for The Upper Room Crisis Hot Line.

The priests present a variety show with Rob Weierman, Lockport, as the MC and Tom Labanauskas, Homer Glen, as the accompanist.

The priest/entertainers are the Reverends Mark A. Fracaro, Minooka; Lee Bacchi, Joliet; Gerry Riva, Woodridge; Peter Jarosz, Lombard; Jay Comerford, O. Carm, Darien; Dennis Paul, Bloomingdale; John Kret, OSA, New Lenox; Dindo Bilotte, Naperville; and Scott McCawley, Elmhurst.

The Upper Room operates out of a house on the University of St. Francis campus. Sister Mary Fran Seeley, OSF, is the founder and director of the line.

The line’s mission is to be a listening ear and resource for Catholic priests, deacons and brothers in need of some direction. The line has received calls from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and the Philippines.

In the next couple of years there are plans to expand the service into three more countries. The line is staffed 24/7/365 by volunteers. For information about volunteering or coming to the show, call (815) 727-4367.

Because the show this year is on Veterans’ Day weekend, it will focus on American songs written for those in service. There will be an honor given to all those who have or are serving, and a special mention will be given to the priests of the Diocese of Joliet who have also served our county.

Father Ron Nietszke, an active Navy Reserve Chaplain, will speak.