Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On May 31, Cardinal Cupich said the following as part of his Chicago Catholic column;
“People of color suffer discrimination and indignities not only from racist individuals, but from the very structures erected by our society that were meant to protect the vulnerable.
Americans must realize that beneath the outrage is the same aspiration all people have to freely pursue a life of meaning and flourishing. The death of George Floyd was not the sole driver of the civil unrest our nation is witnessing today. It just ignited the frustration of a people being told repeatedly in our society: “You don’t matter”; ‘You have no place at the table of life’ — and this painful frustration has been building since the first slave ships docked on this continent.
This is where our conversation about healing should begin, not with simple condemnations, but with facing facts. We need to ask ourselves and our elected officials: Why are black and brown people incarcerated at higher rates than whites for the same offenses? Why are people of color suffering disproportionately from the effects of the novel coronavirus? Why is our educational system failing to prepare children of color for a life in which they can flourish? Why are we still asking these questions and not moving heaven and earth to answer them, not with words, but with the systemic change it will take to finally right these wrongs?”
It is very difficult to answer the questions that the Cardinal posed, but if we work together as one Church we can, as the Cardinal said, right these wrongs. The Department of Parish Vitality and Mission will continue to provide resources that can directly address these issues in addition to resources that can the souls of parishioners – allowing us to find the love in our hearts for one another just as Jesus loved us all.
Sincerely, FrP
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A Reflection on George Floyd from Bishop Joseph Perry
What a disturbing video capture, in view of the world’s eyes, of George Floyd detained by a police officer kneeling on his neck till life was crushed from him; a frightening emblem of relations white-and-black reinforced by similar atrocities embedded in memory of recent days; lest we forget other black men, young and old, grandfathers, great grandfathers, great-great grandfathers, ancestors whose necks were locked in chains during the Middle passage, then by ropes from a tree, a litany of men our brothers demeaned and emasculated. Is this the message of America towards its black citizens? Is this the fundamental assessment of whites towards blacks? Is this the closeted attitude of a nation calling itself free towards blacks and other groups this nation throws to the sides? And, so we pray, and we pray some more, and we pray still, hoping for deliverance in this vale of tears.
Remarks of Cardinal Cupich for Governor Pritzker’s meeting with faith leaders
Governor J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle were joined by Cardinal Cupich and other faith leaders on June 2 to call for peaceful action amidst the current protests and demonstrations. Please see Cardinal Cupich’s remarks.
Resources from USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
At usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism are many resources to share with your parish and school communities, such as the pastoral letter against racism Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, which people can be encouraged to read along with its Study Guide, as well as Everyone Belongs – a children’s book on the reality of racism and our Catholic response.
Archdiocese Announces Phased Plan to Open Churches
A plan to prudently and gradually resume the full scope of public sacramental celebrations, liturgies and faith practices, has been designed. The Plan envisions a set of required measures and phases. There will be an ongoing review of the Plan so that adjustments are made in accord with new data. The basics of the Plan are as follows:
- A robust communications effort to inform parishes and parishioners of the Plan and any updates to it.
- Each parish needs to recruit non-vulnerable volunteers at the parish level to assist the pastor in implementing the Plan.
- The selected volunteers are to complete training by way of a webinar.
- A required certification of readiness to reopen will be required of each parish at each phase. Each parish is to complete an implementation template confirming completion of all action steps and demonstrating that there are a sufficient number of trained volunteers to execute it.
- Phase I allows for parishes to reopen for Baptism, Reconciliation, Weddings and Funerals.
- Phase IA allows for parishes to reopen for private prayer and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Phase II allows for reopening for weekday and weekend Masses.
- All gatherings have an attendance limit of 15 to 20% of church capacity.
- Through ongoing discussions with pastors, health care professionals and civil authorities, there will be a review of the Plan as we progress with an eye to making adjustments in accord with new data.
For more information, including a letter from Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, please click here.
Virtual PreCana
The Archdiocese of Chicago is thrilled to offer live PreCana sessions virtually in English, Spanish and Polish!
Participants enjoy the benefit of live interaction with other couples as well as the ease of having private conversations in the comfort of their own homes. Those who participate do not need to be living or getting married in the Archdiocese of Chicago to fulfill their PreCana requirement through these virtual sessions. For more information, including how to register, please visit pvm.archchicago.org/virtual-precana.
Virtual Grief Groups
Each online grief group consists of a small group of adults (18 years of age or older) who have lost a family member or a friend. In the absence of our usual in-person parish life, our online grief groups are places to share stories and feelings with others who have also experienced loss. Our online grief group facilitators are not counselors and do not give advice, but they will be present to listen and to guide each grief group in prayer and discussion. As Jesus comforted Martha and Mary after the death of their brother, Lazarus, a grief group is a place of comfort in our tradition. If you have experienced loss and are interested in joining us, please sign up here.
Virtual Prayer Groups and Book Clubs – You Can Still Register!
During these extraordinary times we wish to offer the following virtual initiatives as a means for our parishes to build community and fortify our faith together. You do not need to be Catholic or live in the Chicago area to join – all are welcome!
Virtual Prayer Groups
Small groups that connect regularly to pray, read and reflect on scripture, share prayer intentions and share helpful tips/resources (meet approximately twice a week). Small prayer groups will meet English, Spanish and Polish.
Book Clubs
Small groups read a selected book and meet about once per week to discuss them.
The following Virtual Book Club opportunities are currently available. Please click here to register.
For parishes or groups that would like to start their own book club, a few recommended books are as follows (most come with a study guide or one can be easily found).
Papal Documents (all available for free on the Vatican website) – “Evangelium Vitae,” “Gaudete et Exsultate” and “Laudato Si”.
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Liturgy Training Publications has developed further prayer resources for use during the crisis. Among them are the Liturgy of the Hours for every Sunday, and resources for the sick and dying. (Link)
Music Licensing
For information regarding music licensing for streamed or recorded Mass click here.
Praying Through the Pandemic
Praying Through the Pandemic is a flexible resource for individual or group prayer, focused on praying about—and through—the COVID-19 pandemic. Available in English – Spanish coming soon. Click here.
Prayer and Worship Resources
Ongoing Prayer Resources
- The Office for Divine Worship has additional prayer resources here.
- Liturgy Training Publications (LTP) has responded to the current COVID-19 situation by developing opportunities to pray at home in English and Spanish. (Link)
- Magnificat is currently offering complimentary access to its at-home prayer resources (English | Spanish)
- Daily Catholic Gospel is a free daily email resource providing reflections on the Gospel of the day (English/Spanish)
- Liturgia de la horas / Spanish liturgy of the Hours (Spanish)
- Liturgy of the hours (Link 1) (Link 2)
- Pray the Rosary with a Seminarian from Mundelein Seminary every Wednesday (Link)
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Cor Night – June 23
"Come with me to a quiet place, and let us rest awhile."
Mark 6:31
Cor Nights are prayer nights for young adults that are meant to be a time to rest and find peace in the calming atmosphere of God's presence. Live praise and worship music will be playing, a reflection on a Scripture passage will be shared and you can comment your prayer intentions as we go. Come to a time and space for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and bring about peace and healing (cor means "heart" in Latin).
This event will be live streamed on the Chicago Theology On Tap Facebook page. Feel free to invite friends!
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Chicago’s Housing Crisis: A Catholic Response
Access to safe and affordable housing has long been upheld in Catholic social teaching as a fundamental human right. How, then, does our community of faith respond to unjust housing policies that cause gentrification, displacement, and economic harm? How is affordable housing connected to other social ills, such as systemic racism and mass incarceration? Join us at 7pm on Wednesday, June 17 on Zoom as we discuss the affordable housing crisis in Chicago and how the Catholic community can respond. We are delighted to be joined by Bishop Mark Bartosic, Auxiliary Bishop of Vicariate II, as well as community members engaged in affordable housing campaigns supported by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. To register for this event, please sign up at tinyurl.com/chicagohousingcrisis. Please note that registration via Zoom is required to attend. Each participant will be issued a unique access code. For questions or more information, please contact us at ohds@archchicago.org.
Event Flyer (PDF)
Just Mercy Film
Just Mercy is available to rent for free across digital platforms in the U.S. during the month of June. This powerful film is based on a true story of lawyer Bryan Stevenson on his path to help free Walter McMillan, a death row inmate in Alabama wrongfully convicted of murdering a white woman. Catholic Mobilizing Network is seizing this moment of educational opportunity by hosting a Just Mercy Virtual Reflection and Discussion via Zoom next Thursday, June 18th from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Central Time. The discussion will be guided using reflection questions from the Just Mercy Catholic Study Guide CMN published earlier this year.
Catch Laudato Si' Week Speaker Series on YouTube!
If you were unable to join us live for our Laudato Si’ Week Zoom Speaker Series, we are excited to share that we have posted each session to YouTube. Check out our Laudato Si’ video playlist here. For additional resources to help with caring for our common home, visit archchicago.org/creation and usccb.org/environment.
Cloth Masks
Looking to buy a cloth mask and support a local, women-owned co-op? The worker-owners of Living La Fiesta (LLF) have been intensely affected by COVID-19. The majority of the worker-owners are immigrant women who support their families. In order to continue doing so, they have shifted from preparing food to making homemade protective masks for members of the general public, given Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan currently requires all Illinois residents to wear masks in public. Every dollar goes directly to LLF and its worker-owners. (Link)
Mental Health Resources
Due to COVID-19, anxiety and depression are on the rise; however, resources are available.
National Pastoral Migratoria
National Pastoral Migratoria has put together a series of virtual training and learning opportunities for this year’s Institute. See the flyer for the different opportunities both in English and Spanish. For more information or to register, contact Yohan Garcia at 312.534.8371 or ygarcia@archchicago.org.
Pastoral Migratoria “Asamblea Virtual”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our Immigration Ministry has continued its ministry of accompaniment. Biweekly on Saturdays, the ministry convenes a virtual assembly for parish leaders via Zoom from 12 – 1:30 p.m. (Next date: June 13) For more information, contact Miguel Salazar at msalazar@archchicago.org.
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Fall Religious Education
As announced at Tuesday’s Together this week, on-site religious education will be an option for parishes to consider for the fall. Each parish can discern whether on-site is the best, safest and most feasible option for the fall. Some may discern that virtual or other at-home programs may be ideal.
To help you in this process:
- The Office of Lifelong Formation is coordinating closely with the Office of Catholic Schools to provide consistent guidelines on how to address specific needs, such as social distancing and personal protective equipment. These guidelines for schools and parishes will be offered as soon as possible.
- The Office of Lifelong Formation will schedule a Town Hall for parish catechetical leaders this month to provide initial guidance and tools for planning your fall programs.
Resources for Confronting Racism
As the crisis of racial injustice continues to reverberate throughout our city and nation, we are called to reflect upon and respond to the sin of racism in accordance with the Gospel and Catholic Teaching. The following Catholic resources can be used to help your community grapple with this call.
Open Wide Our Hearts – USCCB Pastoral Letter Against Racism and Related Materials
The following resources can be used to reflect on the US Bishops 2018 document against racism:
- Racism reflection and discussion guide (USCCB) (Link)
- Webinar series from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) (Link)
- Educational Resources on Combating Racism for children, youth and adults (USCCB) (Link)
Just Mercy – Catholic Study Guide
The film Just Mercy is streaming for free on multiple platforms throughout the month of June. Catholic Mobilizing Network offers an online study guide which includes reflection questions, Catholic Teaching, prayer and information on collaborating organizations.
Racial Justice Resources from the Ignatian Solidarity Network
As a Catholic network inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the witness of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador and their companions, the Ignatian Solidarity Network believes in the dignity of each and every person. They offer these resources from a Catholic, Jesuit perspective.
At the Table – A Life Night Series on Racism for Teens
At the Table presents the sinful reality of racism and equips teens with Scriptural and doctrinal responses that will empower them to work toward self-awareness, empathy, and solidarity. Throughout this Life Night series, teens will become more prepared to live in the diverse beauty of this world that God has created by working toward racial justice in their daily lives.
Addressing Racism and Civic Unrest with Teens – June 12
In light of the important current unrest around the death of George Floyd and racism in our society, Darius Villalobos, Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, is offering a special session for ministers in the Archdiocese of Chicago on addressing the current reality with teens. Offered on Friday, June 12 from 1 – 2 p.m. (Link to join)
Please contact yyam@archchicago.org with any questions. All are welcome!
Upcoming Webinars
FREE Virtual Eucharistic Conference – June 12 – 14
Eucharistic Conferences have been a staple in the Church for spreading the rich teaching of our Catholic Faith on the Real Presence. With belief in the real presence waning in our Church, Virtual Eucharistic Conference may touch the hearts of the faithful and inspire a deepening devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. The incredible presentations and testimonials in this FREE Virtual Eucharistic Conference will inspire all who listen to a greater appreciation of Christ in the Eucharist.
Frazzled but Faithful – Parenting Through Pandemic (and After)
Recent events have challenged our faith and family life in ways no one could have predicted. What can families do to draw closer to God and each other? In this June 17 webinar, Dr. Greg Popcak and his wife, Lisa, will join Sr. Terry Rickard to explore practical ways your family can experience a more joyful, peaceful, and grace-filled home life even through difficult times.
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