The Community of
St. John the Evangelist
Catholic Church
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. John’s Parish, updated April 7
Cardinal’s Decree Regarding Easter Obligations
Effective Saturday, March 21 – until the stay-at-home order is lifted
- All churches and adoration chapels must be closed and locked until the order is lifted by the governor. Private prayer in any parish building must be discontinued until the order is lifted.
- There can be no live Stations of the Cross or any other gatherings anywhere on parish/school property, nor can any parish personnel be involved in organizing them on any other site.
- All weddings and baptisms must be postponed and can be re-scheduled only once the order is lifted. There are no exceptions to this, regardless of the size of the group. However, in case of an extreme emergency for baptism, please seek the permission of your pastor.
- Funerals and wakes must be postponed until the order is lifted.
- The parish office will be closed except for essential business. Please leave a message at 630-837-6500 ext.130 if you have an urgent need and we will try to assist you.
We all have to follow the guidelines and procedures stated for us by the Archdiocese and by the State. You can always find the latest information at www.archchicago.org
Definitely the celebration of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection will be so unusual this year without any congregation allowed to participate. It will be tough for you, it will be tough for the clergy.
- There are NOT to be any public celebrations, even outside including live Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.
- Easter sacraments for RCIA candidates and catechumens are to be postponed – guidance will be provided later on when they might be celebrated after this crisis subsides.
- The Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, and the Easter Vigil will be celebrated without a congregation.
- There should be no Communion services currently nor during Holy Week until we are cleared to return for public liturgies.
- Individual confessions are currently not possible; this includes virtual or phone confessions, which are never permissible, nor drive-thru confessions. Despite the good intentions around such novelty, we must attend to our underlying theological tradition of the sacrament, as well as support the stay-at-home order and its intended purpose – to keep people safe in their homes at this time.
- In keeping with longstanding pastoral practice when penitents’ access to the sacrament is restricted, they can be assured that their sins are forgiven if they make an act of contrition with a firm resolve to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation after the stay-at-home order is lifted.
- The faithful should pray particular prayers or meditate on passages of the bible that you recommend to assist them in seeking the mercy and forgiveness of God and the grace of reconciliation.
Holy Thursday – We celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. There are four basic parts to this mass. First, the reception of the blessed oils from the Chrism Mass. Second, the washing of the feet, symbolizing Jesus Christ who washed the feet of his Disciples, who would become the first priests. Third, the institution of the Eucharist (the source and summit of our Catholic Faith) and of the Priesthood. Fourth, the transfer of the Eucharist, where Jesus is taken in procession through the Church, as a symbol of his final journey to Calvary. Then, after a period of adoration until midnight, the Eucharist is removed from the Church in preparation for Good Friday.
Good Friday – The celebration of the Lord’s Passion. Good Friday is a day of fasting. Traditionally, there is no Mass and no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. Holy Communion comes from hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday. All enter and leave the church in silence. We again read the Passion story, and we venerate the Cross. This is a time for us to recognize just how much our God loves us, how he was willing to suffer anything, even death on a cross, for us. Church bells are silent. Altar is left bare.
Easter Vigil – This is the great feast of the Resurrection of our Lord, the holiest day of the year. We gather after dark with an outdoor fire; we enter a dark church; we bless holy water; we hear the great stories of how God has saved his people; sacraments are performed, such as baptisms and Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults who will become full members of the Church; and we celebrate the single greatest reality that changed the world forever – Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
As a reminder, Sunday Mass from Holy Name Cathedral is available in English, Polish and Spanish via https://radiotv.archchicago.org/television/broadcast-masses All Masses are also available at YouTube.com/catholicchicago and on the Archdiocese of Chicago Facebook page.
Other online mass sites are: https://dailytvmass.com or https://mass-online.org
And as always, you can find daily Catholic mass on https://www.ewtn.com/tv
Sunday Masses will continue to be televised on local stations in English, Spanish and Polish for the duration of our stay-at-home order.
ABC 7 Chicago will broadcast Sunday Masses with Cardinal Cupich at 9:30 a.m.
Univision Chicago (WGBO 66) will air a Spanish-language Mass at 10 a.m.
Polvision 397/679 will broadcast a Polish-language Mass at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Please share these opportunities with family and friends as an important way to stay united, as a community of faith, to the grace of Holy Mass.
Let us pray for those who are infected, may God bring them strength and health; let us pray for those who have died, the victims of coronavirus and all of our deceased brothers and sisters; let us pray for our first responders, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, doctors and nurses who offer their time and knowledge risking their own health and safety for the well-being of others; and let us pray for each other.
A humble plea on behalf of your beloved parish
I would like to personally thank all of you who have continued to financially support our parish during this challenging time. Cancellation of Mass is leading to significant losses in our offertory income, which is placing all our ministries and operations at a very significant risk. It has been three weekends already without public masses celebrated and no collection taken. This situation has challenged us with about $16,000 per week deficit in revenue. We simply cannot function without your help and generosity. Our Finance Committee will have a special online meeting this week to see how we can address this issue.
More than ever, we ask you to please consider supporting us by giving online at www.givecentral.org/location/128 where you can make a weekly offertory contribution to our St. John’s family.
OR consider giving online at www.archchicago.org/offertory were you can make an offertory donation to our parish. Please make sure to select – St. John the Evangelist, Streamwood – from the drop-down menu on the form.
If you prefer to make an offertory donation through cash or check, please mail it.
May God grant you peace during this difficult time and may He manifest His love and His presence to you in abundant ways. As always, I pray that through God’s grace you will be able to provide for yourself and for your family first and then share your gifts with our parish community.
If you have any concerns, please contact the Parish Office at 630 837 6500 ext. 130 and our Business Manager, Mrs. Mary Alice Benoit will assist you.
Thank you for your continued support of St. John’s parish.
Fr. Gregg and St. John’s Parish Staff
Cardinal Cupich has called the entire Archdiocese for common prayer and the ringing of our church bells five times a day. By pausing and lifting up in prayer all those affected by the pandemic, we can offer those in need our support and let them know that they are not alone. The prayer times have begun on Saturday, March 21, at 9:00 a.m. and continue every three hours each day, with the last bells rung at 9:00 p.m. Each of the five prayer times will be dedicated to a specific group particularly impacted by the pandemic. The prayers and intentions for each hour of prayer are below:
9:00 a.m. – Prayer for those infected with the virus and all who are ill“Lord, place your healing hand on those who suffer illness. Bring them to full health and ease their anxious hearts. May our prayer and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary encourage them that they are not alone. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
12:00 p.m. – Prayer for health care workers and those attending to the sick“Lord, we are ennobled by those who put their lives at risk in caring for the sick. Keep them safe and embolden them when they are weary. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
3:00 p.m. – Prayer for first responders and essential workers“Lord, we pray for those who run to danger to keep us safe and those who serve the common good. Embrace them with your mantle of protection and comfort the fears of their families. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
6:00 p.m. – Prayer for people of every nation and their leaders“Lord, the pandemic opens our eyes to see each other as brothers and sisters in one human family. We pray for people of every nation and their leaders, asking that they be inspired to seek the good of all and quell the voices of division. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
9:00 p.m. – Prayer for those who have died today“Lord, we grieve the passing of our sisters and brothers who have died this day. We commend them to your tender mercy, confident that nothing, not even death, will separate us from your love. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
When you hear the bells, please stop for a moment, and say your prayers. You can also set your alarms so that you can stop for a moment to join in this common prayer with people around the entire Archdiocese.
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According to the Holy See (Vatican), communion hosts that are completely gluten free are invalid. hosts must contain some type of wheat. Fortunately, there are several options for those who are intolerant to wheat or gluten. Please read more below on how you can request a low gluten host.
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