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Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mother Teresa Parish, Greetings of Christ’s peace to all! In the midst of a global pandemic, we have experienced a national civic unrest crisis. We all agree that the death of George Floyd calls for racial justice and for systemic change. However the violence and looting came alongside the peaceful protesters have caused much fear and destruction in our city and neighborhoods. Many roads have been blocked by Chicago police and state troopers and many businesses have been closed their doors again. We are against violence, but for peace and justice. For the past ten days, every day we are confronted with news of riots and warnings of possible violence in our neighborhoods. This might continue for the near future. Amid all this, you probably also have heard by now that our churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago are allowed to reopen as early as the weekend of June 6 and 7. While this is good news, a sign of hope, we are still in the middle of two global and national crises. With abundance of caution for the safety of our parishioners and for others, after some prayerful consideration and consultation, taking seriously the words of our Bishops—“it is more important to reopen right, rather than fast,” I have come to the following decision for our parish’s reopening for public mass: St. Barbara Church reopens on the weekend of June 20 and 21 for public mass. By then, our Church would be allowed to have about 250 people for each mass (20% of the seating capacity). We will resume all three of our Sunday masses (5pm, 6am and 9:30am). Based on our attendance before COVID 19, we should not have any problems with the limited number of people that our Church is allowed to have. St. Therese Church will reopen on the weekend of June 27th and 28th. We will have our 8am and 10:30am mass. We will not have a problem with the number of people attending the 8am mass. We will closely monitor the 10:30am mass by using both an email and a phone reservation system. Public weekday masses will be resumed on Monday June 22nd. The schedule remains the same: 8am Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at St. Therese and 8am Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at St. Barbara. Below are a few more pointers you need to know:
Blessings! Fr. Francis Li
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Pentecost blessings to all and happy birthday to our Church!
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Spirit; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings of Christ’s peace! Beginning on Sat. May 23rd, our parish was certified to celebrate baptisms, weddings and funerals with no more than 10 people in attendance based on the guidelines from the State authorities and the Archdiocese. Starting on May 31st, St. Barbara Church will be reopened for PRIVATE prayers and devotions on Sundays from 9:30am to 11:30am. St. Therese Church will not be reopened until further notice. To arrange for a baptism, a wedding, or a funeral mass, please contact our parish offices. Below are some general rules you need to know:
By the way, if you haven’t done so, please click here to sign up to our new email system. Peace Fr. Francis Li Dear St. Mother Teresa Family, I pray that you and your loved ones are healthy. As you may have seen, Cardinal Cupich recently shared our multi-phased plan for reopening churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Specifically,
Our Mother Teresa Parish Reopening Plan First and foremost, it is important for everyone to understand that our efforts will prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all while maintaining due respect and reverence for the sacraments and liturgical norms of our faith. I will assemble a Parish Reopening Leadership Team with parishioner co-captains to lead our efforts. Together, we will attend required training from the Archdiocese to ensure that our parish reopening plan conforms to the guidelines developed by the Archdiocese in collaboration with civil and healthcare authorities. We will also receive a starter kit of protective and cleaning supplies, as well as guidance on purchasing/maintaining supplies ongoing. Volunteers Needed We will need volunteers to assist with various aspects of our parish reopening plan. Importantly, leadership team members and volunteers must not be part of a “vulnerable population” (that is, not over the age of 65; no underlying medical condition such as diabetes; lung disease; undergoing cancer treatment, etc.). I ask all of you who are younger than 65 and healthy with no underlying health conditions to consider assisting with one of three reopening teams:
Timing for Our Reopening As I mentioned, the Parish Reopening Leadership Team members and I will need to complete required training, which will take place the week of May 17. Once we complete the training, we will need to review and complete tasks assigned to all parishes as part of a reopening certification process to be approved by the Archdiocese. Our parish, like all others in the archdiocese, will move forward at a pace and timing appropriate for its own situation. Following our training and certification approval, at St. Mother Teresa Parish,we will only open our churches once the Reopening Leadership Team and I feel confident that we have the right volunteers in place to make it possible to reopen. Again, the need for parishioner assistance cannot be overstated. The guidelines and measures required to reopen are designed to protect our wellbeing and that of the of our broader community. As Cardinal Cupich has noted, from the first pages of Scripture we learn that we indeed are “our brother’s keeper.” Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed, “that they all may be one” (Jn 17:21) and commanded us “love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (Jn 13:34). Our collective patience, willingness to help and the care we take to reopen is a demonstration of our unity and love for one another. May God grant you His peace during this difficult time and may He manifest His love and presence to you in abundant ways. If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected] or at 312-842-6777. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Francis Li READ THE ARCHDIOCESE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HERE Cancellation of Mass is leading to significant losses in our offertory income, which is placing all our ministries and operations at significant risk. Many people in our parish and community depend upon your regular, weekly offertory contributions and, during this current challenge, they are needed more than ever. Please consider giving online at Give Central (see giving button on the bottom of this website) where you can make a weekly offertory contribution to our St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish/St. Barbara Church family and keep the vital ministries and services we provide going. We ask you to prayerfully consider maintaining your regular weekly donation level or even increasing it during these times. If you prefer to make an offertory donation through check, please mail it to parish office. The fact that this pandemic is occurring during our Lenten journey offers each of us important reminders about the role of faith, hope and charity in our daily lives and in whom we place our trust. I believe we are being called by Jesus Christ to a renewed sense of solidarity. This is a time for unity in prayer, not for isolation; it is a time for hope, not despair; it is a time for generosity, not self-focus. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). May God grant you peace during this difficult time and may He manifest His love and presence to you in abundant ways. Thank you for your continued support of our Parish. Sincerely yours in Christ, Father Francis Li We warmly invite you to celebrate this special weekend with us by praying along the mass at this link, which will be launched today at 5pm and available afterwards.
Meditate on the mysteries of the birth and salvation of Jesus for our souls as praying Rosary is the fragrance to praise God and honor Mother Mary.
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St Mother Teresa Parish, hope this note finds you well and healthy!
As we continue the journey of Easter Season, the month of May invites us to offer our Heavenly Mother, Mary, special devotions and honor, and to turn to her for intercessions and protections. Amid the COVID-19, Pope Francis calls us to pray rosary and the U.S. Bishops has announced that we will re-consecrate our nation to the care of our Blessed Mother (please see the invitations below). In honor of Mary and in solidarity until the universal Church, our parish invites you to join us in the following dates to pray rosary together in ZOOM.
Mary, Mother of All Nations, pray for us! 1. lnvitation from Pope Francis The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with panicular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this "family" aspect, also from a spiritual point of view." 2. Invitation from United States Confere-nc.e of Catholic Bishops "As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the global pandemic of the coronavirus, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the USCCB has announced that the U.S. bishops will Join the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 1 in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of our Blessed Mother." "Through a collective dedication or entrustment of a nation to Mary, an act of oonsecralion is meanl to be a reminder to the faithful of the Blessed Mother's witness to the Gospel and to ask for her effective intercession before her Son on behalf of those in need: Click here for more information When the world was starting to see a shortage of hospital supplies due to COVID-19, members of the Youog Adult Ministry (YAM) began making and giving out homemade masks for family members and friends. After a few weeks, loeal hospitals and Mayor Lightfoot's new Initiative,"Chicago Together! Make a Mask, Give a Mask, Wear a Mask!" were accepting homemade masks too. Members of YAM haven't been able to get together for over a month, with the Lenten Reconciliation Scnrice, Easter Egg Hunt, and YAM-led mass canceled due to COVID-19. To re-connect, members of YAM had a virtual Happy Hour last week with fellowship, adult beverages, and making masks together (virtually). One of Y AM's own, COVID-19 front-line worker Sam was grateful and excited to receive the donations!
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