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We ask that you please remember the financial needs of the parish, both for Sundays and for Easter. We are attempting to curtail any unnecessary expenses yet bills still need to be paid. Please know that your help is greatly appreciated during this difficult time. You may mail your contribution to the Parish Administrative Center (PAC), 134 Arthur Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, drop it off in the black mail slot located in the PAC vestibule, or click the donate today button below.
A Letter From Father Tom Paul
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. Please note the following: On Monday through Friday, because of the high volume of information being posted, Mass may not be available at the exact time indicated. As of Saturday, April 4th, Mass will be livestreamed at the times indicated, however they will remain available online for viewing at any time.  
  2. Liturgical calendar
    • April 1st Mass will be available after 9am
    • April 2nd Mass will be available after 9am
    • April 3rd Mass will be available after 9am
    • April 4th Palm Sunday Vigil  Mass will be livestreamed at 4:30pm and available online after. 
    • April 5th Palm Sunday Mass will be livestreamed at 9:00am and available online after. 
  3. Click to the left to participate in the following, sorted by date: The Divine Mercy Chapel (dated 03/17/20) the Rosary (03/19/20) or the Stations of the Cross (03/25/20)
  4. 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. 
  5. 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. 
  6. 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.
  7. Our parish offices at the present time are closed. In the event of an emergency, please call (630) 530-8515.
  8. 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.
  9. The Church is currently closed to the public. It will not be open for private prayer on Sunday mornings.  
  10. 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
  11. 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.
IC's Bells Call to Prayer:

9 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 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 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 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 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


 
Excerpts from Letters From Bishop Pates
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.
 
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
 
COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS to Living Faith Kids Reflections

Dear Families and Friends,

With children home from school, we want to help families spend some special time each day with Jesus. That’s why we are making Living Faith Kids Daily Catholic Devotions free for all families to access online right now. This means you can read the colorful, kid-friendly devotions found in our print magazine online—free—through the end of March. You can get free temporary access here: 

Living Faith Kids March 2020

Please spread this bit of good news with families, teachers, parishes and everyone you know.

(In addition, the editors of our family of publications have compiled a list of resources to help parents provide social caring and interaction during periods of school closure. You can see the link below.)

https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?e=&u=91e158c51bed6cb61bb053f36&id=2641da6c56


Connie Clark
Editor, Living Faith Kids
Immaculate Parishioners are able to sign up at www.formed.org for content provided to you with our parish subscription. Lent is a special time to take advantage of this gift! We encourage you to browse around this site and utilize the many Lenten programs available.  
Sign In:
Immaculate Conception Church
Elmhurst
Be Bold! Be Catholic! 
We all know the things that make us happy….
but we don’t always do them.
Lent is an opportunity to change that.
 
This year we invite you to do something different.
 
Sign up for Best Lent Ever, a FREE, video-based email program
featuring Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute.
 
With daily emails and short videos, Matthew will help you identify
what stands between you and happiness . . .
and what to do about it.
 
Are you ready for your best Lent ever?
 
visit www.dynamiccatholic.com