St. Eugene Parish

Wishing All in our Parish a Prayerful and Peaceful Holy Week and a very Happy Easter!

I know that I can safely say for each of us that I wish things could be different than they are but unfortunately, they are not. This will be a time none of us will ever forget. The one consolation, however, is that we are all in this and going through this experience together.

It is so hard not being able to meet, socialize, and pray together. It’s only been a little over three weeks now and it seems like an eternity. I just wanted to let you all know how sorry we are that Palms were not able to be distributed on Palm Sunday and, more importantly, that we are not able to celebrate the Triduum together. Hopefully, when this pandemic reaches a declining level, we will be able to distribute them. I know that many in our community have been asking about Easter Basket Blessings. Unfortunately, this beautiful practice will, also, not be able to happen per guidelines of the powers that be and that are in the best interest of our health and well-being.

As more and more parishes have been providing the opportunity to share in a virtual experience of the celebration of Mass on-line in their own parishes with their parish priests, we, too, will be providing the opportunity for all in our parish to share in the celebration of Easter Mass here at St. Eugene on your phones, I-pads, televisions, computers, etc. After 8:00 p.m. on Holy Saturday night, April 11^th, you will be able to join in celebrating Easter Mass by going to:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyyQSWuWmWfU1Ny0xAuREQ?view_as=subscriber

As faithful Catholics, I know that there are many in our community that are very concerned about not being able to make their Easter duty by going to confession and attending the celebration of Mass. Cardinal Cupich announced Sunday that all Catholics are dispensed from their Easter obligations and receiving communion during this Easter season in response to the coronavirus pandemic. He also asked that all Catholics offer an act of Spiritual Communion and attend confession at the next available time. To assist you in making this Spiritual Communion you may pray the following Act of Spiritual Communion by St. Alphonsus Liguori:

My, Jesus, I believe You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

AMEN+

I also want to thank those in our parish who are taking the time and making the effort to drop off or mail in your Sunday Contribution envelopes. As you can see by reading our bulletin, we are suffering a tremendous loss financially. Please, if you can, try to make up for the weeks this stay-at-home ban is in existence. You may not realize it but your weekly financial support is needed now more than ever and really does make a difference.

Know that you are all in my prayers at this very challenging time. On behalf of myself and our entire staff, we wish you a very prayerful and hope filled Holy Week and Easter Season. As I truly believe that God is always trying to speak to us; we might ask ourselves what He might be trying to tell us over these past few weeks? I know I become much more appreciative and grateful for the people whose paths I cross every day but often take for granted. I have learned that I can get by with much less than I thought I needed. I have seen and witnessed the goodness of people shining forth in so many ways and through so many acts of kindness. I have also come to appreciate the deeper meaning of Christ’s suffering and death…in that, without these there could be no resurrection. May our Easter this year be a true celebration of the life that is ours through Jesus Christ! Happy Easter everyone!

Fr. Rich Yanos

Here are two links to watch daily and Sunday Mass:

• Archdiocese Youtube Channel to access daily and Sunday Mass:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_O9o9CFrwBwTFWEYjRiWgg?disable_polymer=true
• Mercy Home of Chicago Sunday Mass:  https://www.mercyhome.org/sunday-mass/

In order to help the parish meet all of its operating costs, we encouage parishioneers to help in one of the following ways:

• Drop your offering into the rectory mail slot
• Mail your offering to the rectory
• Sign up for electronic giving at https://www.givecentral.org/. Detailed steps can be found in the bulletin or by clicking the Give Central link below

Donate to St Eugene Parish securely through GiveCentral