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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Please know that all of you are remembered in our daily prayers. I also encourage all of you to spend extra time in prayer during these days as we continue to struggle at this difficult time. Please note the following:

1. Monday through Friday, you are able to participate in daily Mass after 9am by going to our website www.icelmhurst.org Facebook page parish Facebook our Click here to access our YouTube Channel
2. Sunday Mass will be available as of 5pm on Saturday evening. At all these liturgies, we will lead you in making a spiritual communion.
3. If you have a special prayer intention, particularly for anyone who is sick, please email Fr. James at [email protected] We will pray for these intentions during the Masses celebrated during this time. 
4. Both adults and children are encouraged to utilize the many resources for your spiritual growth during this time listed below, including Formed.org, Magnificat, and Living Faith. 
5. Anyone admitted to Elmhurst Hospital will receive the Sacrament of the Sick if requested or needed. In a previous message, I shared with you the information that one of our priests has been fitted with the proper equipment to handle the needs of the entire hospital.
6. Our parish offices at the present time are closed. In the event of an emergency, please call (630) 530-8515.
7. We are doing our very best to get updates to every parishioner. If you know of a parishioner who is not getting our email messages, please let them know what we are doing.
8. The Church is currently closed to the public. It will not be open for private prayer on Sunday mornings.  
9. There are several parishes who are offering Masses live-streamed around the country. Here are a two for your convenience: 
   • Click here to access Mass, the Rosary, and the Breviary at St. John Cantius
   • Click here to access Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral, New York
10. You can follow the readings for Mass each day, by clicking here and selecting the date on the calendar on the right.

Below is the latest information that we’ve received from Bishop Pates. Unfortunately, as you will read, our celebrations for Holy Week and Easter will only be available for your participation through the resources mentioned above.
 
May Mary, our Patron, and St. Joseph, our Protector, continue to watch over us during these days.
 
Father Tom Paul

Thursday, April 2nd, Mass will be available online in English at 9am and in Spanish at 9:30am. 

5 times a day, our church bells will ring. At these times, please pause and pray for the following intentions.
 

March 19, 2020
 
My dear Sisters and Brothers in the Joliet Diocese,
 
Because of the rapid spread of the virus and in accord with the actions taken by the neighboring dioceses, all Church services, beginning with weekend Masses, daily Mass, Stations of the Cross, etc., in the parishes and institutions in the Diocese of Joliet will discontinue immediately. This will remain in effect until it is prudently advisable to resume them. The diocese will make the decision as to when to resume them. 
 
The ceremonies of Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday Celebration on April 4th through Easter are canceled in the parishes and institutions of the Diocese of Joliet. This radical step is most painful but is undertaken in the interests of the health of our parishioners and the broader community. I know it was ever so difficult for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to take this same step at the Vatican. If this should be changed, I will notify you immediately.
 
The diocesan, parish and institutional offices are to be closed except for priests and deacons to attend the pastoral needs of our parishioners. Exception can be made for essential personnel at the diocesan and parish level on a very limited basis.
 
March 21, 2020
Dear Priests, Deacons, Religious and all members of the Joliet Diocesan Community,
Governor Pritzker has issued an order mandating a “stay in place” for all citizens of the State of Illinois.
The order is effective at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 21^st and has the following implications for the parishes/schools and institutions in the Diocese of Joliet. These restrictions remain in place until April 7^th or otherwise notified by the Governor.

• 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 bishop.
• Funerals and wakes must be postponed until the order is lifted.
• (Note: Priests can – and are encouraged – to continue celebrating Mass privately and to livestream their Masses for their parishioners, if possible. Moreover, anointing of the sick and confession/absolution guidelines will be forthcoming.)
• Parish offices must be closed until the governor’s order is lifted.

It is clear that the response to COVID-19 is fluid and we will keep you apprised of developments and provide additional information as it becomes available.
I am fully aware that these and previous measures are disconcerting and disrupting that which is central in our lives. It is painful for all of us. At the same time, we recognize them as essential in order to eliminate the scourge of the virus.
Let us join in prayer to the loving and caring God that He be with us in these trying moments and lead to the elimination of this virus. We pray also for those suffering from the virus and for those that lost loved ones to the illness and all those serving at this time, especially the health care workers.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Richard E. Pates
Apostolic Administrator
Diocese of Joliet