3020 N. 76th Court :: Elmwood Park, IL 60707 :: Parish Office: 708-453-2555 :: School Office: 708-453-8234   
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Our Parish / Prayer Opportunities » Liturgy Schedule and Reconciliation

WEEK DAY MASS TIMES - During LENT

Morning Mass Monday thru Friday at 6:30 am and 8 am in Church.
Saturday Morning at 8 am in Church.
Confessions every Saturday after morning Mass and again from 4:15 to 4:45 pm in Church.
 
ITEM COLLECTION FOR THE NIGHT MINISTRY - During LENT - February 17 through April 1

The Junior High Youth Group and the Respect Life group are combining efforts this Lent season. We will be working together to gather supplies for the Night Ministry. In the vestibules will be cardboard boxes that have inspirational messages and statistics about homelessness written on them.
See Junior High Youth Group or Respect Life for more information.
 
SEASONAL BIBLE STUDY - A Quick Journey Through The Bible - LENT / EASTER

Beginning on Thursday, February 18th, we will begin this eight-week Bible study program (eight consecutive Thursdays) entitled A Quick Journey Through the Bible at 7 pm in the Pastoral Center.
See Adult Formation / Seasonal Bible Study for more information.
 
STATIONS OF THE CROSS - During LENT

Every Friday Evening at 7 pm in Church beginning February 19 through March 26.
 

COMBINED MISSION - LENT - Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9

This is a Combined Mission with Saint William and Saint Cyprian Parishes and presented by Father Britto Berchmans, Pastor of Saint Paul of the Cross.

Location: Saint William Parish located at 2558 N. Sayre Avenue - Time: 7 pm.

Bus Service will be provided.
Pick Ups begin at 6 pm.
Call the Pastoral Center to reserve a space.

Space is limited. Reservations by First Come, First Served.

IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING

The theme for this mission is taken from Paul’s words to the wise men of Athens (Acts 17:28) and it emphasizes our total dependence on God. In our day-to-day life it is easy to forget that God surrounds us completely. Lent is the acceptable time that beckons us to become aware of this basic reality. Growth in spiritual life is not about doing many things; it is all about becoming aware of what God has done and is doing within us.

WHY GO CATHOLIC?
Living out our Baptismal Call
Monday, March 8
Growing up as a minority in a predominantly non-Christian environment, Fr. Britto developed a deep appreciation for his Catholic faith. He will share with us why being Catholic is a great gift. In this talk he will describe the lynchpins of our Catholic identity and suggest ways to live out our baptismal calling.
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
Our Personal Relationship to Jesus Christ

Tuesday, March 9
Well into his public ministry Jesus posed this question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” He poses the same question to all of us. In this session Fr. Britto will discuss what it means to have a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. Without such a relationship all our efforts to be spiritual or holy will be meaningless.

Fr. Britto M. Berchmans

Born in India, Fr. Britto Berchmans has since served the Church in various capacities in India, Italy, and the US, and is now a Chicago diocesan priest. He speaks extensively to groups on spirituality, relationships, and personal growth, and conducts parish missions. He holds multiple Master’s degrees in physics, journalism, and theology, and a Doctorate in mass communications. He has produced a six-part set of CDs entitled, Enrich your Marriage. Currently he serves as the pastor of St Paul of the Cross Parish in Park Ridge.

 

CATHOLICS COME HOME ADULT FORMATION SERIES - OFFSITE Event during LENT

During the Season of Lent, 19 parishes around the Archdiocese will be hosting a series of presentations that will help you learn the answers to questions like: How does my faith make a difference in daily life? What is ‘Catholic’ prayer? Why does the Church put such emphasis on Sunday Mass?

See Catholics Come Home page for Dates, Times, Locations and more information.

 
A ROSARY SERVICE - LENT - Monday, March 22

A service sponsored by the Respect Life Committee at 7 pm in the Chapel.
 
LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE - LENT - Monday, March 29

A communal service with individual confessions at 7 pm in Church.
 
LABYRINTH - LENT - Saturday March 27 thru Good Friday

See Prayer Opportunities / Labyrinth for more information.
 
OPERATION RICE BOWL

Saint Celestine will once again be sponsoring this wonderful Lenten Almsgiving Project. Please take one Operation Rice Bowl home with you and use it during the next 40 days as a way of remembering the poor in our midst.

We will collect them on Palm Sunday weekend on March 27th and 28th. Please call the Parish Center at 708-453-2555 for an Operation Rice Bowl. Visit their webiste at http://orb.crs.org/ for more information.
 
LENTEN REGULATIONS

Abstinence from meats is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years old and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

The special Paschal fast and abstinence are prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday.

By the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer the Church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. All of the faithful and the catechumens should undertake the serious practice of these three traditions. Failure to observe penitential days totally or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.

Our US Bishops issued in 1966 this statement on penitential observance: "On Weekdays of Lent, we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and self-imposed observances of fasting. In light of grave human needs which weigh on the Christian conscience in all seasons, we urge particularly during Lent, generosity to local, national and world programs of sharing of all things needed to translate our duty to penance into a means of implementing the right of the poor to their part of our abundance."
 
Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday at 5 pm.
Sunday at 7:30 am, 9 am, 11 am and 4:30 pm.
(Parish van is available for rides to and from the 9:00 am and 11:00 am masses. Please call the pastoral center at 708-453-2555)
 
Regular Weekday Mass Schedule
Monday through Friday at 6:30 am and 8 am.
Saturday at 8 am.
 
Regular Holy Days Schedule
Mass in anticipation of the Holy Day at 7 pm.
Holy Day Masses at 6:30 am, 8 am and 1:15 pm.
 
School Mass Schedule
During the School Year, our Parish School Children will also begin attending the 8 am weekday Masses, according to the following schedule: Mondays - Grades 1 and 5, Tuesdays - Grades 3 and 7, Wednesdays - Grades 2 and 6, Fridays - Grades 4 and 8. For these weekday Masses, the students will be seated in the section of pews immediately to the left and to the right of the main sections of pews off of the center aisle. These Masses will follow the usual, simple form of celebration as weekday Masses have in the past. We will continue to have the once-a-month all-school Masses, which usually fall on Thursdays at 1:15 pm. These are sprinkled throughout the academic year.
 
Regular Reconciliation
Saturday after the 8 am Mass and at 4:15 pm or by appointment.
 
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Children's Liturgy of the Word has been taking place at the 9:00 am Mass on the second and fourth Sundays of the month for several years now. It has been a gift to the parish and to the families whose children participate in it. The children from kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to participate. Dedicated catechists lead this age-appropriate time for children to understand the Sunday scriptures and to reflect on how they are called to live the message in their day to day activities.

What happens during the Children's Liturgy of the Word?

All gather in the main church for the gathering rite.

After the opening prayer, the Presider calls the Children's Minister of the Word and children forward and blesses the Children and the Children's Minister of the Word.

The children follow their leader toward the Minister's Room where the Sunday Scriptures are read from the Children's Lectionary; included are the Old Testament Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Gospel Proclamation, Reflection, Creed and the Prayers of the Faithful.

The children return to the assembly during the Presentation of the Gifts as together we continue to celebrate the Eucharist around the table as one family of faith.

Any questions about this program can be directed to Kim McMillan at 708-453-2555.

 


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