Hello St. James Parish Family,

The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery.

The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.

In today’s check-in you will find the link to the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper as celebrated by Fr. David at St. James, as well as the Order of Service for you to print and follow along and finally, a copy of Fr. David’s homily.

This Check-In also includes some important information from Bishop Pates. Please be sure to read this Flocknote through to the end. A blessed Holy Week to you all!

We invite all parishioners to come home for the celebrations of the Paschal Triduum online at St. James the Apostle. We begin on Holy Thursday, April 9th with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper:

Holy Thursday Order of Service

Holy Thursday Homily

ST. JAMES HOLY SATURDAY EASTER FOOD BASKET BLESSING CANCELLED

Governor Pritzker along with his coronavirus task force conducted a conference call with religious leaders of the State of Illinois. The outcome carried some significant messages, including: Church parking lot activity of any sort is banned until the stay at home directive is lifted. Therefore, any Church parking lot activity that may have been scheduled such as confessions, blessing of Easter food baskets, etc. is now cancelled.

THEREFORE, Bishop Pates will offer an Easter Blessing of Baskets of Food and Easter Meals on Holy Saturday

After the 9:00 AM Prayer Service on Holy Saturday, Bishop Pates will bless the Easter baskets and foods in recognition of the time honored traditions of the Polish and Italians among others.

The link to that service will be available at the Diocese of Joliet YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/DioceseofJolietIL

To print one of the blessings, download the documents below:

attachment1blessingoftheeasterfood

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MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM BISHOP PATES

A Dispensation from the Easter Obligation

With the state of Illinois under a “stay-at-home” order through the end of April, Bishop Richard Pates, our Apostolic Administrator has issued the attached decree dispensing the faithful in the dioceses from their Easter obligations due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The decree states that the obligation to receive Holy Communion during the Easter season is removed this year due to the impossibility of attendance by the People of God at celebration of Holy Mass.It also clarifies that the faithful initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist is encouraged to offer an Act of Spiritual Communion, in union with the entire People of God in the Diocese and throughout the world in this time of stress and difficulty.Finally, in accord with the Tradition and Teaching of the Church,  Catholic in the diocese are urged to offer a perfect Act of Contrition, in complete dependence upon the mercy and love of God, in sorrow for all sins and with a firm resolve to confess all serious sin at the next available time.

decree-regarding-easter-obligation

Closures Extended Until the End of April

In accordance with Governor Pritzker’s extension of the Stay-At-Home Directives until April 30, 2020, parishes will continue to be closed until we hear the order has been lifted.  Please visit your parish website for all updates stjamesge.org

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Call to Prayer at 11 a.m. on Good Friday

Join Archbishop José Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and archbishop of Los Angeles, in a national moment of prayer in the time of the coronavirus. Together as a nation, we will pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and seek our savior’s healing and protection.

To learn more visit: https://lacatholics.org/sacred-heart/

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

We have invited our pastoral staff members to share with you a spiritual resource that each has found helpful during our shelter-in-place days. Today we feature the recommendation from Rubi Garfias, our Parish Secretary. Rubi suggests this resource from the Little Sisters of the Poor: A Million Families, A Million Rosaries. To learn more, please click on the link below:

Little Sisters of the Poor: A Million Families, A Million Rosaries