We are going digital! Scroll down to see some things we have been working on to bring church to your home!
A Letter from our Shepards
Take a SIP with SPA! (Take a Shelter-In-Place with Saint Paul the Apostle!)
Dear SPA family,
This Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord that marks the beginning of Holy Week in which we commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hailed during Palm Sunday, ridiculed during Good Friday, but exalted on Easter Sunday. All of these events we will unfold this week, especially during the Triduum.
But the question is, how can we make this week holy, while staying in our homes, in order to get into the paschal mystery that Jesus endured for us? Let me share with you the thoughts of Fr. Jerry Orbos from the Philippines, who came up with a meaning for every letter of the acronym HOLY WEEK.
H – Halt! Stop for a while or at least slow down. We feel the sadness and anxiety at this moment. We hold in prayer and in our hearts all those who have been touched by this disease. And now more than ever we must lean on each other to be a church of courage, responsibility, hope, and prayer.
That’s why, please join me and fellow parishioners from around Chicagoland in prayer as Cardinal Cupich and auxiliary bishops celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass and Holy Week liturgies. All liturgies are available at https://radiotv.archchicago.org/television/broadcast-masses, www.youtube.com/user/CatholicChicago
After the Holy Week, we will return back to SPA for the virtual weekend Mass, celebrated by Fr. Joe and me.
O – Off with your worldly concerns. Turn off your cellular phones if you have to, so that you can focus on your spiritual life this week. Don’t let the world and its cares disturb the tranquility of your mind and soul this week. Let the world go by and let the Lord take care of everything.
L – Listen. If you are in the Off or Silent Mode, then you can really listen, pray and meditate. Take time to listen to God and tell Him what’s happening with your life. Allow the Father to wrap His loving arms around your shoulders once again and just listen. Is there something you are missing in your life? Is there something more you need to do in your life?
Y – Yield to God. Let go of your grip on your own life. Be on the lookout for His road signs as you travel on. Listen to His instructions and you will find your way.
W – Warm up your Relationships. Time to allow your loved ones feel that warm-and-sunny spring you, not the cold and-cloudy-winter you. Reach out to the people you have taken for granted or left out altogether. Time to call a friend or family members. Call, text, write, and smile. Use anything that will help you repair, restore and revitalize your relationships.
E – Erase the burdens of guilt and sin with a good, honest and humble examination of conscious. Heed God’s call: “Come back to me with all your heart. Don’t let sin keep us apart. Long have I waited for your coming home to me.” In response to God’s love, may we also say to God, especially this week: “Create a clean heart in me, O God. Give back to me the joy of your salvation.” Time also to erase hurts, resentments, anger, and ill feelings. Forgive people who hurt you and ask for forgiveness from people you have hurt.
E – Express your love. Whatever you do, especially this week, like praying, fasting, works of penance and deeds of charity, let them all be expressions of your love and gratitude to God. Let them be done, not out of fear or out of obligation.
K – Kneel down. In humility, kneel down in prayer before God and thank Him for suffering so much, for dying on the cross and for rising again for our salvation. Somebody died for you and me. Let us not allow this week to pass without personally thanking Him.
I hope that Fr. Jerry’s thoughts can help us to have a HOLY WEEK!
Christ is our Good Shepherd and He will continue to strengthen us. Be assured that I am praying for you and your loved ones daily. And, I’d like to repeat some of the words form the last week's letter to you because I am so fascinated with your generosity. I sincerely appreciate the assistance you provide for SPA at this difficult time for all of us. I’m in awe of all the phone calls, emails, notes, letters, cards, Facebook messages and comments, and all 👍🏻, 🙂, and ❤.
I’m truly thankful for your steadiness, patience, and amazing digital, financial and spiritual involvement with our spiritual SPA home while we are all taking the SIP.
We are the SPA Family and we are in this together!
Stay safe, healthy, and have a HOLY WEEK, blessings,
Fr. Chris Ciastoń
Please remember that there are several ways to help St. Paul the Apostle financially during the coronavirus outbreak. Thank you so much. Your generosity and it is greatly appreciated. You can:
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Mail a check to 6401 Gages Lake Road, Gurnee IL 60031.
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Donate online via .
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Donate via a text message on your mobile phone. Text "Sunday" with a dollar amount to 84321.
There WILL NOT BE ANY DISTRIBUTION OF BLESSED PALMS.
The Palms will be reserved for distribution at a later date to be determined by the USCCB and/or Archdiocese of Chicago.
I invite you to put a branch on the door of their house or on the window, to celebrate Palm Sunday.
It could be any green branch you can get. This would help, despite the social distancing, to be connected as we enter into the Holiest of Weeks. We may be physically isolated, but not separated. We are united as the body of Christ. We are the Church.
All Masses, liturgical services, events, and meetings, including the
Palm Sunday, Holy Week Liturgies, and Easter Sunday
are suspended until further notice. Our campus is closed.
April 5th through 12th
Click on the image to bring Holy Week to your Home
These prayers are not intended to replace the liturgies of Holy Week. Rather, they are a sincere effort to cultivate some of the rituals and spirit of Holy Week in our own homes when public celebration might not be possible.
March 29th Mass for the
5th Sunday of Lent
April 5th Palm Sunday
Unite with Cardinal Cupich and Catholic friends around Chicagoland for mass this Sunday at 9:30am
watch on abc 7
March 22nd Mass for the
4th Sunday of Lent
Staff Reflections
Mary Penich
Daily Reflections
Deacon Bob Birck
March 25th
"How can this be?" Deacon Bob's reflection for the Solemnity of the Annunciation
(Lk 1:26-38)
Deacon Mike Penich
Homily - Sunday 3.15.2020
starts speaking to all of us and finishes with a message to our children.
Serve Local
SPA is making medical masks with pockets for the University of Chicago. For questions and drop off contact Mary Kay Wynn 847-875-2667
Needs:
Fabric cut into 8.5 x 15.5 pieces
Elastic & Double sided tape (like scotch brand)
Wire for bridge of nose; pipe cleaner twist ties, wire used for flower arrangements
The biggest need right now is:
Elastic & Double sided tape (like scotch brand)
Prayer Together
It is the First Saturday Prayer Group’s 15th year anniversary and as a Lenten offering, for healing and conversion of the world, we started a 24/7 rosary prayer novena. People pledge to pray the rosary at a designated hour daily until Good Friday.
To be included on the list and for prayer intentions please email Arleen Siap
During this time of shelter in place we are not able to minister as we normal do, but here is a way to minister in the mystical body of Christ. Pray for those who have no family at their bedside due to Covid-19.
"Inspired by news that due to severe quarantine restrictions people succumbing to the coronavirus in Italy are dying separated from family and friends, a Catholic priest sent out an appeal to believers to daily “spiritually place ourselves beside one of the poor unfortunate men and women who are dying alone in hospitals all over the world because of this virus.”
Click the image above to read the article. At the bottom we are called specifically to pray the Chaplet of Divine mercy with an explanation of it. Go check it out! Additionally, see our virtual church (below) for more on the chaplet.
Our Virtual Church
One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic. We are the universal church; we are a community of believers. Although we may not be able to gather together, physically receive our Lord in the Eucharist or simply enjoy the company of each other, we still have prayer to unite us to each other and our Heavenly Father. Join us in prayer and know we are praying for you!
Click on the images below.
A message from
Pope Francis
We are the
Archdiocese of Chicago
Welcome!
Located in the heart of Gurnee, IL, Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church serves the communities of the greater Lake County area.
We are blessed with a dynamic, active parish, with a responsibility to bring Christ to all who walk through our doors.
With a welcoming atmosphere, and ministries for the young and old, let us welcome you home to our community and with Christ.
-Fr. Chris Ciaston
