CLICK HERE to print Fr. .Al's Letter

Dear St. Joseph Parish Family,

In addition to Bishop Pates’ message, I too want to add a couple of words to encourage the mutual support of the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, of which our parish is a vital part. Let us support one another on both the spiritual and material levels. Prayer, particularly the Holy Rosary, is a lifeline for us all. “Be not afraid!” These words of our Lord were spoken to St. Peter and the other apostles as they were filled with fear in their storm-tossed boat on the Sea of Galilee. St. John Paul II, on becoming a successor of St. Peter in October of 1978, began his papacy with the same words ~ “Be not afraid.” Even though we are currently “socially distant” we are, in reality, spiritually united.  Fr. James Radek and I continue to celebrate Mass daily for the previously scheduled intentions, and for all our parishioners.

We are here for you, mostly with an online presence. Here are a few of the ways our staff continues to serve our beloved St. Joseph Parish:

We have compiled resources for prayer at home, including help for parents to pray with their children, and a growing list of several LiveStream Mass times in our area and throughout the country. (One may even enter into the celebrations with the Pope in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.) We are also creating, with the help of  parishioners, online video meditations and services for prayer for your household.

Please visit our website www.stjosephdg.org for access to these resources, COVID updates, and electronic bulletins. I encourage you to participate in Mass from home and be mindful of the power of the practice of a spiritual communion when participating in live-streamed Mass. The prayer to receive spiritual communion while participating in a live-streamed Mass is as follows:  

"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."

Religious Education students, grades Pre-K through 6 continue to follow the Faith and Life curriculum at home and grow closer to Jesus through Mary by way of the family rosary. A weekly newsletter is being emailed to parents that includes Diocesan and Parish updates and resources to enrich their faith life at home. Communication is being sent to foster special prayer opportunities and family faith support.

Our Confirmation students are being emailed lesson plans.This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to “homeschool” their teens and foster discussion about our faith. Our High School teens continue to meet every Wednesday night via Zoom to grow in our faith together as we pray the rosary. Each week individual intentions are offered along with intentions for our St. Joseph Parish family. The prayers of our young people are powerful.

Our St. Joseph School teachers have created an e-learning curriculum. They are busy preparing new lessons and finding ways to help students stay focused during these unusual days. The response from parents has been very positive.

Staff members are personally calling our homebound and senior parishioners checking to see if they have any needs we can fulfill. Most importantly we are assuring them of our continued prayers.

Our St. Joseph Food Pantry remains open and is actively serving the needs of our community. If you or your family are experiencing financial hardship at this time, please let us know how we can help. Additionally, if you are struggling to get by out of fear of leaving your home, and do not have family or friends nearby who can assist you, or know of someone else in this situation, please call the Parish Office at (630) 964-0216. 
 
In response to Governor Pritzker’s executive order, and to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Parish Center will be closed to the public. Limited parish staff members will continue to work in the parish office, and can be reached by phone or email. The parish center phone will be answered Monday through Friday 9:00am -1:00pm.
 
As with many of you, we too are facing financial challenges. We have been reviewing all expenditures and looking for various cost saving measures. We have implemented Bishop Pates’ requirement that full-time parish employees, including priests, take a one-third pay cut, at least for the month of April. This does not include school teachers under contracts. Many of our part-time employees will be on temporary unpaid furlough. In addition, we have suspended our custodial services and reduced the disposal service pick up.

The parish relies on your generous stewardship to continue to fully support its ministries so that they may proclaim the good news of Jesus in our community and touch the lives of many. I would like to personally thank all of you who have continued to financially support our parish during this challenging time. I am grateful for the checks that have been coming in by mail daily and the increased sign-up for online giving.

Due to the suspension of the March 15, March 22 and March 29 Masses, we currently have a shortfall of  Sunday offerings for each Mass of approximately $12,000 per weekend. As we continue to suspend Mass, this number will rise.

With that in mind, I humbly ask that you continue your generous support through your financial gifts to the extent you are able. If you are an envelope user, you may either mail in your weekly donation or take this opportunity, as many of our parishioners have, to set up automatic stewardship from your checking account or via credit card. Please visit our website www.stjosephdg.org/give to learn more.

On behalf of our entire faith community at St. Joseph Parish, our prayers go out to everyone impacted by the Coronavirus. Together we pray not only for those who have contracted the virus but those whose employment and source of revenue has been affected.
 
The health and well-being of each of you, your families, and our nation remain in my prayers. May we continue praying for each other.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
Father Al Heidecke
Pastor
 
CLICK HERE for the 3/27 letter from Bishop Pates