COVID-19 Updates
BREAKING NEWS:
Please take a moment to fill out this survey about Fr. Tom Refermat, our associate pastor. The results of this survey help with staff development and performance reviews for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
August 18th, 2021
The City of Chicago announced yesterday afternoon that face coverings are required in all indoor public spaces for all people over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status. Therefore, masks are now required indoors for all clergy, staff, volunteers and parishioners inside archdiocesan facilities in the City of Chicago, including Masses, liturgies and all activities/events within our parishes…
August 3rd, 2021
Beginning now, it is strongly recommended that all persons entering Archdiocesan facilities be masked regardless of their vaccination status. This applies to parish offices, schools, churches and other public spaces…
This Friday, June 11th, the State of Illinois will enter phase 5 of the Restore Illinois reopening plan. Today we received new guidance from the Archdiocese of Chicago about what this means for our in-person liturgies…
July 11th & 12th, 2020
This weekend we celebrate the feasts of St. Benedict of Nursia, our parish patron, and St. Kateri Tekewitha, the patron of the Kateri Center which serves our Native American Catholic Community. We are pleased to announce that we will celebrate these feasts by opening our doors for public Mass for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic…
We have entered Phase 1 of the re-opening process. This includes the celebration of Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and Reconciliation with 10 people or less. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered Saturdays at 11am. Funerals and Weddings may be scheduled by contacting the parish at 773-588-6484…For the scheduling of Baptisms, please contact Elaine Lindia, Pastoral Associate, at (773)509-3806 or at elindia@stbenedict.com.
Fr. Steve talks about the plans for re-opening plan for our church, following the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
May 13, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ, These fifty days of Easter, leading to Pentecost, are marked by unprecedented suffering, as humanity has fallen victim to a perilous contagion. In addition to the threats to our physical wellbeing, we are suffering spiritually as the Covid-19 pandemic has required restrictions of our worship and active participation in the sacramental life of the Church. Surely, there have been moments in history when governments and rulers have persecuted Christians and banned their public worship. This is not one of them. Rather, the present restrictions come in response to an extreme medical emergency as local, state and federal authorities – specifically public health officials – legitimately fulfil their responsibilities to safeguard human life and the common good…
Our recent efforts to stay connected with parishioners was featured in a very short video story by the Associated Press. Click to watch.
UPDATE: March 21st, 2020 at 8:00am
In order to help our community remain connected to the Sacrifice of the Mass, we will live-stream Mass today, daily. After the initial broadcast, all videos will be made available on our parish website.
This Mass will take place in the school chapel, and will not be open to the public. All public worship in the main church has been suspended until further notice. Per instructions issued by the Archdiocese of Chicago, all church building must remain locked until the shelter-in-place order has been lifted.
UPDATE: March 13th, 2020 at 1:57pm
Based on current guidelines from local public health departments, which recommend the cancellation of public gatherings involving 250 or more people, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, mandated the suspension until further notice of all liturgical services effective Saturday evening with the regularly scheduled weekend services. In addition, he has mandated the closing of schools operated by the archdiocese, and to close the Pastoral Center and related agency offices until further notice.
Priests will celebrate Mass privately for the good of the People of God, the church and the intentions of the day.
“In this time of legitimate concern for the safety of ourselves, our loved ones and those at the margins of society, we must hold fast to the knowledge that the impulses that come from God bring courage, consolation, generosity and solidarity,” said Cupich. “Instead of allowing this moment to trap us in fear, we must find unity in advancing all that is good in our common humanity. This means staying spiritually and emotionally close to one another, in our families, our friendships and our communities.