Adults gather for a class at Providence Family Services in Chicago.
Providence Family Services, 1540 North Monticello Avenue, Chicago, provides bilingual support and direction to residents of the West Humboldt Park community in northwest Chicago. The ministry aims to help clients grow toward wholeness and gain awareness of personal gifts.
PFS achieves its mission through five programs: bilingual professional counseling, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, after-school homework help, basic computer classes, and citizenship classes. Those served live at or below the poverty level and would not be able to find these services elsewhere. Clients pay modest fees for service, but those without means are never turned away.
Sister Patricia Fillenwarth founded the ministry in 1994 and continues to direct the Center.
Between September 2010 and August 2011, 229 individuals received counseling; 94 adults participated in English as a Second Language instruction; 14 adults learned computer skills; and 53 children received after-school homework help.
Providence Family Services is a program of Guerin Outreach Ministries, Inc.
This girl gets help with her homework as part of the after-school homework club at Providence Family Services in Chicago.
For more information, contact Sister Patty Fillenwarth, SP, counselor, by phone at 773-235-8264 or by e-mail at pattyfillenwarth@sbcglobal.net.
Members of the Providence Family Services Advisory Board are Joseph Burns, Mary Spalding Burns, Martha Cruz, Frances Ginther, Annette Maggio, Magdalena Martinez, Jessica Ramirez, Victor Ramirez, Paul Staunton, Alex Trejo and Jose Valquez.
