Welcome to St. Francis of Assisi Parish
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Thank you for visiting our website, we hope you will find it helpful. Whether you are a regular parishioner or a visitor we want you to know how welcome you are. If you are visiting us from another part of the country, or from another parish in the Joliet diocese, or from another part of the world we want you to know that the priests and people of St. Francis of Assisi welcome you to our parish. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
Yours in Christ
Fr. Herb Essig, Pastor
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PER BISHOP PATE'S DIRECTIVE: THE CHURCH AND PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER IS LISTED.
ALL RE CLASSES ARE CANCELLED FROM
MARCH 16TH THRU APRIL 11TH.
Diocese of Joliet Implements Temporary Wage Reduction in Reaction to COVID-19
03/24/2020
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On the recommendation of the Diocesan Finance Council, Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Joliet has authorized a temporary reduction in compensation and hours for the diocesan and parish employees.
The Diocese of Joliet has made this decision with the following goals in mind: (1) to avoid laying off diocesan or parish employees as a result of the crisis; (2) to maintain benefits for our parish and diocesan employees; and (3) to maintain liquidity at the diocesan level to continue to meet the needs of our parishes and many ministries throughout the seven counties of the Diocese of Joliet.
Precipitating this decision are the anticipated losses in revenue to our parishes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the governmental restrictions undertaken to halt the spread of the disease.
It is understood that this is a significant sacrifice by our employees and priests. It is hoped that by taking these short-term steps now, the long-term viability of our Catholic institutions in the Diocese of Joliet can be sustained.
“The Diocese of Joliet deeply regrets taking this step especially in view of the outstanding corps of priests and other ministers with whom we are blessed,” stated Bishop Pates. “Our goal is to return to normal operations as soon as possible.”
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St. Francis of Assisi televised weekend Mass can be seen on the Sunday at 1:00pm on Comcast channel 6 and on AT&T U-verse channel 99. The Sunday service is re-aired on every Wednesday at 12:00pm.
You can watch Mass on EWTN’s live feed here. It looks like they have Mass at 8 am EST and 12 pm EST on Sunday. Daily Mass throughout the rest of the week is at the same time. Here’s their schedule.
You can also watch Mass at Mercy House.
Statement from Bishop Pate
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 21st and has the following implications for the parishes/schools and institutions in the Diocese of Joliet. These restrictions remain in place until April 7th 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
The Holy See, through the Apostolic Penitentiary, has offered two recourses for the faithful:
a) “Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness (that which the penitent is at present able to express) and accompanied by votum confessionis, that is, by the firm resolution to have recourse, as soon as possible, to sacramental confession, obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (cf. CCC, no. 1452).”
• perfect contrition requires
• the love of God
• the sincere desire for forgiveness
• the ardent commitment to receive the sacrament of reconciliation when available
Saints often made an act of spiritual communion when they couldn’t receive the Eucharist at Mass.
For various reasons we may be prevented from receiving the Eucharist at Mass. We may have broken the one hour fast, be in a state of mortal sin, or we could even be homebound, unable to leave our home to attend Mass.
In these cases the Church encourages us to make an act of “spiritual communion,” where we unite ourselves to God through prayer. It is a beautiful way to express to God our desire to be united with him when we are unable to complete that union in the reception of Holy Communion.
Countless saints incorporated this type of prayer into their daily lives, not being satisfied with receiving Jesus in the Eucharist once a week or even once a day. Making an act of spiritual communion for them was an essential part of life and drew them closer to God on a daily basis.
St. Josemaria Escriva encouraged everyone to make a spiritual communion as often as they could, “What a source of grace there is in spiritual communion! Practice it frequently and you’ll have greater presence of God and closer union with him in all your actions.”
Padre Pio also had a habit of making a spiritual communion throughout the day outside of the celebration of Mass. He desired to be always united with Jesus Christ in everything he did.
Below is a traditional prayer of spiritual communion that many saints have prayed over the years. It can be prayed if you find yourself at Mass unable to receive the Eucharist, or even in the midst of your daily work, lifting up your thoughts to God.
The ultimate goal of our lives should be communion with God and an act of spiritual communion can help a person draw closer to that goal.
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into 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.
