Vicariate I

https://www.archchicago.org/coronavirus
Please visit this link for individual updates.............................

Dear Friends in Christ,

During this time of uncertainty and anxiety, I pray that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. This crisis challenges us to act responsibly by following the social isolation guidelines while striving to stay close emotionally and spiritually to our families, our friends and our communities. Please join me in praying for those affected by COVID-19, as well as our first responders, health care workers and individuals who have lost income due to precautionary closures.

Times such as these highlight the need for the spiritual sustenance and community connectivity our Archdiocese parishes provide every member of our Catholic community. To protect the safety of our community, most pastoral services are currently being performed virtually. I invite you to visit our website, www.archchicago.org for up-to-date information on televised liturgies and other resources.

It is critically important that our parishes and pastors receive the offertory support they need to remain operational and sustainable despite the suspension of weekly Masses. The Archdiocese has developed a universal online offertory page where the faithful can make an offertory donation to any parish in the Archdiocese. These donations will assist the parishes with ongoing expenses related to ministry, maintenance, staff and other pressing needs, that depend on regular offertory support from parishioners. I encourage you to contribute online to your parish at or above your usual offertory amount. Many of our parishes are suffering significant financial hardship during this challenging time. Your online support will make a critical difference.

Additionally, as we are sensitive to the financial hardship suffered by many in recent days, we have also launched a Coronavirus Emergency Fund. This fund will support members of our community who have been negatively affected by the pandemic. For example, the fund will support parents of Catholic school students who might struggle with tuition payments because of unexpected job loss, ministries providing the needy with sustenance or parish communities deeply harmed by the pandemic. Our neighbors down the street and across the Archdiocese need our support at this critical moment. Your donation can help provide them with that support.

Please visit www.archchicago.org/coronavirus/donate to support parish offertory, the Coronavirus Emergency Fund or both as your means allow. Your generosity is needed now more than ever. Our Archdiocese community has always come together to support one another during times of need, and I ask you to do so again. Please continue to pray for each other, as I continue to pray for you.

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Cardinal Cupich
Archbishop of Chicago

Pope Francis announced early Friday morning that he has named Father Michael McGovern as the Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville.

The Holy Father also announced that he had accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward K. Braxton, who was installed as the Bishop of Belleville in 2005.
 
"We congratulate Bishop-elect McGovern on his appointment to the Diocese of Belleville,” said Cardinal Cupich. “He has served the People of God and the Church with humility and distinction for more than 27 years. We are confident he will be a strong and compassionate leader for the Belleville diocese, and we look forward to working with him." 
 
“I am humbled and honored by the Holy Father’s appointment,” said Bishop-elect McGovern. “I have much to learn about being a shepherd of a community as bishop; I am grateful to the bishops and priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago who have been such good role models for me.”
 
Bishop-elect McGovern, a native of Evergreen Park, Ill. attended Christ the King Grammar School and St. Ignatius College Prep. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1986, and from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary earning an S.T.B in 1993 and an M.Div. in 1994. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1994.
 
Bishop-elect McGovern has had several parish assignments in the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as leadership roles supporting the Incardination Committee, Lay Ecclesial Movements, Extern and International Priests, Presbyteral Council, Priests’ Placement Board, and the College of Consultors. He has recently served as the Interim Episcopal Vicar for Vicariate I since the appointment of Bishop Alberto Rojas as Bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino. 
 
Bishop-elect McGovern is expected to begin his ministry in the Diocese of Belleville later this year. Please join in congratulating Bishop-elect McGovern and praying for his forthcoming ministry leading the faithful of the Diocese of Belleville.

Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church

• January 1: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

• Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: The Solemnity of the Ascension

• August 15: The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

• November 1: The Solemnity of All Saints

• December 8: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

• December 25: The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

General Mission Goals of the USCCB

The Gospel of Christ and the teachings of his Church guide the work of the USCCB. The work of the Conference is rooted in three general mission goals and organized into three key areas of responsibility.

• To act collaboratively and consistently on vital issues confronting the Church and society
• To foster communion with the Church in other nations, within the Church universal, under the leadership of its supreme pastor, the Roman Pontiff
• To offer appropriate assistance to each bishop in fulfilling his particular ministry in the local Church.

http://www.usccb.org

(click graphic for PDF of map, as of 12/18/2018)

Most parishioners likely have never heard of the Vicariate I Ministry Commission, nor how it benefits their parish. Simply put, the Ministry Commission is a group of mostly volunteers from different parishes across the NW suburbs. Commissioners arrange for basic training, formation and other programs for ministries in our parish, sometimes in both English and Spanish. For example, the Eucharistic Ministers who serve at parish Masses received training provided by the Vicariate I Ministry Commission. At this training, they learned about the theology of the ministry, explored their calling to the ministry, and more about the ministry’s history.
Ministry Commission programs are offered at no or low cost. Where do the Commission’s funds come from? Each parish in the Vicariate pays a stipend to the Commission and those monies are used for speakers and trainers for the various programs. This takes the burden off individual parishes and provides more formation opportunities for their parishioners.

The Archdiocese of Chicago is divided into six vicariates. (Your parish name) is located in Vicariate I, the largest vicariate in the archdiocese by area, roughly spanning from Antioch in the north, to Bartlett and Elk Grove Village to the south and from Barrington in the west to Lake Forest to the east. Vicariate I is further divided into six deaneries. Deaneries I-ABC encompass the northern parishes (mostly Lake County) and Deaneries I-DEF takes in the southern parishes (mostly NW Suburbs.) The two Commissions, ABC & DEF, have existed for over 20 years and collaborate effectively. No matter in which deanery your parish is located, all parishes are welcome to take part in the Commission programs.
Examples of Ministry Commission-sponsored programs include, but are not limited to,

Ministry of Care training in English and Spanish, Lector and Eucharistic Minister training in English and Spanish, Bereavement Ministry, Adult Confirmation, Young Adult Ministry activities (i.e., Theology on Tap or Winter Wine series), and Peace and Justice programs.

Vicariate I Ministry Commissions began initially as one Commission serving the entire Vicariate, which is more than 50 parishes. Later, due to the large number of parishes and also the expansive geographic area, the Commission divided into two, one serving Deaneries ABC, and the other serving Deaneries DEF.