Remembering Pope Francis

My dear parishioners,

It is with sadness that we have received the news of the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. His passing is a great loss for the whole Catholic Church. We lost a universal Shepherd, who led the Church according to the Heart of Jesus, his master. As we mourn Pope Francis's passing, we also believe that he has gone home to eternal glory. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the core message of our faith. During this Easter, it has pleased God to call Pope Francis back home. We give thanks to God!

I invite you all to pray a Rosary for Pope Francis and the Catholic Church in your homes.

As a parish, we are invited to intensify our prayer for the eternal rest of his soul and to follow the guidelines provided by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago:

1. Mass Intentions. We will include an intention for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis at all Masses during the nine-day period of mourning (to be determined soon by the College of Cardinals). Our priests will omit the mention of the pope in the Eucharistic Prayer until a successor is named.
2. Memorial Spaces. We are creating appropriate memorial spaces in honor of Pope Francis during this time of loss. Each will have a picture, candles, a kneeler, and a book for people to write their intentions and memories. The memorial spaces will not compete with the Altar, ambo, tabernacle, presider’s chair, or things of that nature.
3. Prayers. We are encouraged to offer prayer time in our churches to allow the faithful to come and offer their prayers for Pope Francis. Both St. Nicholas Church and St. Mary Church will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day from tomorrow, April 22, through Saturday, April 26.
4. Memorial Mass. We will celebrate an all-parish, bilingual Memorial Mass for Pope Francis this Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary. There will be no 8 a.m. daily Mass at St. Mary or St. Nicholas on Saturday, April 26. (Click here for the livestream.)
   1. We will also hold Vespers in honor of Pope Francis at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at St. Nicholas Church.
5. Cathedral Mass. Cardinal Cupich will preside at a Memorial Mass for Pope Francis at Holy Name Cathedral on Wednesday, April 23, at 10 a.m. Please keep the Cardinal in your prayers during this very difficult time.

Rev. Jean-Philippe Lokpo
Pastor