Help Catholic schoolteachers and staff get COVID-19 vaccines!
The Archdiocese of Chicago is working with Loyola Healthcare and Agudath Israel Administration to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Catholic and partnering faith-based schoolteachers and staff in the Chicago area. To help get this done as efficiently as possible, volunteers are needed to assist at four vaccine clinics in Chicago and the near-west suburbs. Both clinical and non-clinical volunteers are needed, so if you’re at least 18 years of age and you can share time with basic computer entry, you’re qualified! Interested in helping? Complete the appropriate volunteer interest form for either provider:
 
Loyola Administration Volunteer Form. Locations include:
·       Loyola Medical Center: 2160 S. First Ave, Maywood
·       Gottlieb Memorial Hospital: 701 W. North Ave., Melrose Park
·       MacNeal Hospital: 3249 S. Oak Park Ave., Berwyn
 
Agudath Israel Administration Volunteer Form. Location:
·       Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov Elementary: 3200 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago
 
Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity to serve our community. God bless you and yours during this Lenten season!

​Mary Kuziel, Rosemarie Drahos 

​Bill Anderson, Carol Betts, Gloria Bucek, Adelaide Buenafe, Hannah Butler, Marge Buttice, Jack & Delores Cappozzo, Irving Chambers, Rosario Chi, Nona Cotrell, Justine Daniel, Les Easter, Jane Fagan, Marlene Franzese, Irene Gehrke, Katie Hofkamp, Corky Johnson, Evalena Jones, Mary Elizabeth Jones, Barb Jostes, Kim Kahl, Kathy Kent, Marion & Rita King, Irene & Robert Kucharski, Theresa Kukosh, Ed & Linda Ladewski, Dorothy Lassa, Betty Maciukenas, Mickey May-Taylor, Dennis & Allison McGlone, Marge Neel, Judy Philip, John Pirelli, Phil Pursley, Kameryn Raspberry, Donald Recupido, LaCora Rodgers, Dawn Rowe, Jovita Sanchez, Liddie Sanders, Elizabeth Scampini, Chuck & Mary Seputis, Mary Slayton, Terese Styczynski, Mara Subasic, Diane Sutkowski, Carol Targia, Margaret Thorne 

​Lenten Regulations (from February 17, 2021 [Ash Wednesday] to the Paschal Triduum) Abstinence from meat 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, as well as abstinence, are prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday. 

​Stations of the Cross, Fridays at 6:00 PM DATES: Friday, February 19, Friday, March 5 & Friday, March 19.

Our Lent 2021 activities will look quite a bit different this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please take a moment to read about the differences as explained by Fr. Mike here: Brothers and sisters, we’ve told you more than a few times that COVID-19 has invaded many, many areas of our daily life. It invaded the way we’ve done church since March 13, 2020. Face coverings, face shields, hand sanitizer for all, sanitizing the pews after every Mass or service in the Church, social distancing between families who don’t live in the same home, and no congregational singing – it’s all so backward from how we have been living our lives (many of us for a good 50+ years). Well, something that we didn’t deal with last year was Ash Wednesday as we didn’t start the pandemic protocols until two weeks after. This year, we have cut back on the number of times when ashes will be distributed. There will be a morning Mass at 8:30 AM and a Liturgy of the Word service at 12:00 PM. I apologize for the cutback. I know that is hard, but it is in line with guidelines set out by the Archdiocese. As for the distribution, there were two options for us. The first was to use a cotton ball for EACH person, not using the same ball twice. The second  (which is the option we are using) is to sprinkle ashes upon each person, thereby not tracing the Cross on people’s heads. We will handle it just like distribution of communion, as we will bring ashes to the pews instead of coming forward. The words of commissioning (“Remember you are dust…”) will only be said once by the celebrant, not with each person. As far as Soup & Prayer, unfortunately, this year we will be unable to have this wonderful event. This is, again, in keeping with the guidelines set down by the Archdiocese and the State of Illinois. We apologize and are very sad for the loss of this wonderful, faith-sharing event. As for Stations of the Cross, many places have cancelled them altogether. We, however, will have three dates – February 19th, March 5th, and March 19th. At those services, only the leader of the prayer will be moving from Station to Station. Everyone else must remain in their seat. That is the biggest change. We will also be recording the Stations and posting it on the Parish Facebook page so that you can pray them at any time. There will be more instruction for Palm Sunday and Holy Week later.
​Thanks, Rev. Michael J. Novick 

​Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021
​8:30 AM Mass with Ashes Distribution Word Service with Ashes: 12:00 PM