Due to the COVID-19 outbreak we all have been undergoing uncomfortable times. All of us need to stay careful and vigilant. We are certain that COVID -19 will change our day to day lives. In my daily prayers and daily Masses that I conduct privately my intentions go out to each and every one of you.

Our churches are hereby closed and they are unable to fulfill their functions. This is a very sorrowful situation especially with the fact that this affects Lent and the Holy Week celebrations. Despite these trying times, strive to stay close to the Lord who is close to us. To the best of your capabilities, try to participate in Masses and the Holy Week celebrations through TV, the radio or the internet. The station, EWTN, and www.ocp.org will be a good source.

We know that some of you may be undergoing financial stress through lost or limited jobs. We are trying to help with Food Trucks, the next of which will take place on April 20th and May 11th. The  Diocese of Joliet with an established emergency fund (officeofthebishop@dioceseofjoliet.org) can also be a source of support.

In this difficult time we count on your help. Until we are able to resume normal functions we ask you to support our parishes by sending your Sunday envelopes and donations by mail to our office: PO BOX 190, South Wilmington, IL 60474. Once received we will distribute the funds accordingly. We are also working to establish an option to donate online through Give Central. We are extremely grateful for any and all support.

I hope that everything will return to normal soon. Until then our main source of communication is our website: www.swkrcatholics.org.  

I will keep you all in my prayers.

May God Bless you!

Fr. Stanley, Pastor

Blessed Palms will be available at the door of the Church outside beginning Saturday, April 4 at 12 noon.

May God Bless you.

Fr. Stan

The Diocese of Joliet provides live streaming Masses from the Cathedral of St. Raymond at 9:00am and 11:30am daily. Following the 9:00am Mass, there is an hour of Eucharistic Adoration. The marvel of live streaming is that it can be “called up” at any time and be available for viewing and prayer.

The Cathedral of St. Raymond will also be live streaming the services of Holy Week as follows:

Passion (Palm) Sunday, April 5^th at 10:00am

Holy Thursday, April 9^th at 5:00pm

Good Friday, April 10^th at 3:00pm

Holy Saturday – Easter Vigil, April 11^th at 8:00pm

Easter Sunday, April 12^th at 10:00am

Dear Parishioners,

Because we want to encourage you to explore your Catholic faith at home, our diocese is pleased to partner with our friends at the Augustine Institute to give you a FREE 40 Day Subscription to FORMED – the online platform that provides the best Catholic movies, programs, audio books and talks, all at your fingertips, on your Roku, Apple TV, web browser, or FORMED iOS and Android apps.

FORMED is a great way to help you and your entire family understand, live and share the Catholic faith.

Just visit https://leaders.formed.org/joliet for instant access to faith-fueling, inspiring and informative stories, teaching and more. Feel free to share this link and information with your friends and family!

Please be informed that there will be daily masses streamed from the Cathedral offered at:

• 9:00 a.m. celebrated by Fr. Burke Masters and Fr. Ryan Adorjan at https://www.youtube.com/user/dramadude12
• 11:30 a.m. celebrated by me, Bishop Pates, at https://www.youtube.com/c/DioceseofJolietI

Thank you and may God bless you.

To prevent transmission of COVID-19 regular weekday and weekend masses are cancelled until further notice.

Please read the following statement by Bishop Pates for more information.

March 16, 2020
My dear Sisters and Brothers in the Joliet Diocese,
Thank you very much for your cooperation with actions that have been taken to minimize, to the degree possible, the spread of COVID – 19 (coronavirus). Your health, as well as the health of the public at large, have been my deepest concern. It is important that all of us cooperate with public leadership to make our efforts as effective as possible in containing this pandemic.
I fully realize and feel the painful loss along with you the cancellation of Masses on weekends. Because celebrating Mass is central to whom we are, I understand that its absence creates a palpable void. However, out of genuine concern for the welfare of everyone, I believe it is prudent to cancel weekend Masses for the time being.
Certain liturgical gatherings, namely daily Mass, funerals, and weddings are permitted provided that:
1. The service may not have an attendance in excess of 50 persons. This number is the current directive of Governor Pritzker. Going forward, our point of reference regarding numbers will be those issued by the Governor of Illinois.
2. Every precaution be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.
The attached liturgical accommodations are being implemented and parishes are called to curtail or cancel other non-essential gatherings. These two directives will be ended when it is prudently advisable.
I want to strongly encourage all of the faithful to continue our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Need experienced by those served by the Church continues, even especially so, at this time of crisis. Please consider reaching out to your local parish about the possibility of providing financial support or personal assistance.
Catholic Charities, which serves many of the poor and elderly in the Diocese of Joliet, has a special need for volunteers to serve those in vulnerable situations. Please visit http://www.cc.doj.org for more information.
During this extraordinary time, our efforts throughout the community are to the benefit of all and are very much in accord with our identity as Christians. Be assured your participation contributes significantly to the common good.

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