April 5, 2020

St. Matthew Parish 1555 Glen Ellyn Road

Glendale Heights, Illinois 60139

St. Matthew Parish Glendale Heights, Illinois Page 2 (630) 469-6300

My dear family of St. Matthew!

As we continue to “Shelter in Place” with our office closed and our events cancelled, especially missing the gift of our gathering for Sunday Mass most especially during these most holy days of Holy Week and Easter coming up, I would like to share with you some of the progress that is nevertheless happening despite all of that and the necessity of it. Life goes on, and we continue to pray for the slowing of the spread of the Coronavirus here and throughout the whole world and ask for mercy, grace, peace and joy for those who have succumbed to the disease and passed over from this life to the next.

First, the Principal Search Committee process continues, and here’s the good news! Since our current Principal for our St. Matthew Parish School is retiring at the end of this school year, the team of seven whom I asked to help me hire a new Principal for next year have been meeting via electronic tele-conferencing — something quite new to me and to most of us, I think! We have sifted through 17 — yes, 17! — candidate applications, we have chosen six of them to interview, and we have thus far as of today (3/31/20) already interviewed three possible candidates. I am personally very pleased so far with these candidates and our interviews! I am quite confident that in the near future I will be able to announce a new Principal!!! THANK YOU to the 101 people who responded to our Principal Search survey and helped us develop a Principal Profile that reflects the greatest and desired characteristics our community, that is, our school and parish family, wish to see in a new Principal. That profile helped us formulate our interview questions and, most especially, will help us in the final discussions and analysis as we confidentially share our opinions with one another so that, in the end, we choose the best fit for St. Matthew Parish School and I am able then to hire with confidence our new Principal! Keep watching closely for that announcement — soon after Easter, I am hoping!

Second, during this “Shelter in Place” time, or rather, days right before the Governor’s order, we were able to complete an enormous cost-saving replacement of lights on our property. Back in mid-February, we received a quote on changing out a great number of our lights to cost-saving LED lights. We received this recommendation from our Diocesan offices and all parishes around the Diocese were encouraged to look into it for each of our facilities. So we did! Our volunteers from our St. Matthew Buildings and Grounds Committee working together with Al, our Facilities Manager, and Annabelle, our Business Manager, agreed upon a proposal, the contract was signed, and then the work was done, only days or even just one day before the Governor called us to stay in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Once things come back to normal, you’ll be able to see the change on our campus — maybe even already, if you happen to drive by once the sun has set or during the night up until dawn you can see how more brightly lit our parking lots are, and, once inside our buildings, many of the previous fixtures have been replaced with these new greatly cost-saving LED lights.

Let me just give you some highlights of this change in lights — it’s awesome news for us! 55 lights upgraded inside our buildings, and 69 lights upgraded outside our buildings! And here’s the BOTTOM LINE, our cost savings “payback” is just based on our OUTSIDE LIGHTS, since the inside lights are at such a low cost.

For the outside lights, calculating 12 hours per day per every seven-day week, gives a total of about 16,986 total Kwh (kilowatt-hours) saved annually. Therefore, since the outside lights themselves cost us a total of $4,874.00, the estimate is that we will have a TOTAL Return on Investment roughly calculated to be in about 6.5 months! And the savings are ALREADY HAPPENING as you are reading this! Now, overall, which means BOTH outside AND inside, the new lights cost us $5,395.15. So the OVERALL SAVED is roughly 24,777 Kwh annually, which means an OVERALL ESTIMATE of paying for all of the initial cost in about 6.35 months! From that point, then, we start “saving” (or rather diminishing the amount of money we need to pay for electricity because we are using much less of it) so that in 9.5 years (excluding the 6 months or so to “pay” for the lights themselves), we will have “saved” (not paid out for electricity according to the previous light fixture demands) approx. $47,700.00 (based on the manufacturers 10-year warranty), which we should realize over the next 10-year period! How AWESOME IS THAT!!!

Just to summarize: almost $50,000 saved in lower electricity costs in the next 10 years, or about $5,000

annually! In addition, the 10-year manufacturer’s warranty means any of those lights, if they should cease operating, will be replaced at no cost. But, as designed, these new lights, both inside and outside, do NOT need to be replaced, which is an EXTRA SAVINGS in terms of no need to replace them out as often as the previous bulbs which usually did not last as long. So in this time, when we must be looking at cost savings even more carefully, I am extremely, extremely happy that we are already doing that, right now at this very moment as we wait for that time hopefully soon to return to our fully open and active ministry as the St. Matthew parish family! Continuing prayers for shalom and joy and good health for all!

In the living, loving, giving and caring Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Fr. Gregor

Rev. Gregor Gorsic, Pastor (630) 469-6300 ext. 312

www.stmatthewchurch.org Page 3 Palm Sunday April 5, 2020

REPORTING SEXUAL ABUSE Anyone with reason to believe that a child has been abused or is being abused should report their suspicions to civil authorities. Contact: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services: 1-800-25ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) or local police.

The Diocese of Joliet Victim Assistance Coordinator is available to help victims/survivors of child sexual abuse by a cleric, employee or volunteer of the Catholic Church. The Victim Assistance Coordinator will report to Bishop Conlon and coordinate efforts of pastoral support and outreach to assist in the healing process. The Victim Assistance Coordinator can also assist in making a report to civil authorities. Contact the Diocese of Joliet Victim Assistance Coordinator at 1-815-263-6467.

Schedule of Events WEEK OF APRIL 5, 2020

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Monday, April 6, 2020

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020

Good Friday, April 10, 2020

Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020

St. Matthew Council of Catholic Women

Sisters in Christ

CCW’s Love Letter to All Parishioners The Coronavirus has changed our Way of Life —

What can we do? Pray. Be thankful to all who are doing their best to protect us. Be grateful to those who are still working to provide the services we need. Call family, neighbors and friends, they are probably home. Pull out those old games that require sitting down together - chess, checkers, monopoly, trivial pursuit. Read a book, read another book. Watch on old movie - have a good laugh, have a good cry. We are all in this together - we will persevere! We all look forward to the day we come together for Holy Eucharist - give hugs and thank God again and again and again. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you With love, St. Matthew CCW

Thought for the week — April - LENT - Hope and Faith

Hope springs eternal is not an empty cliché. It is a universal truth. … Gratitude is the heart of Faith - it is our first step in our relationship with God.

We are pleased that so many parishioners have already pledged a gift to the 2020 Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal (CMAA). Your support will allow us to Be Kind and Merciful as, together, we do God’s work here on earth. Every gift brings us closer to our parish’s 2020 CMAA goal of $65,800. If we raise more than our goal, 70 percent of the amount over goal will be returned to us for our needs. This is an amazing opportunity for our parish. Please prayerfully reflect on your pledge to this year’s CMAA and make your gift today. You can return the pledge card you received in the mail from the diocese, make a gift online at jolietdioceseappeal.org to text “Donate” to 815-205-1949 from your mobile phone.

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CONTINUING THE MISSION Today is our Capital Campaign Collection, Continuing the Mission. The envelopes have been misdated in your envelope package. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Important information regarding the Sacrament of Confession When the Sacrament of Confession is not readily available, and when the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition – coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, expressed by a sincere request for forgiveness and accompanied by the promise to confess when the opportunity returns – obtains forgiveness of sins, even mortal ones (please see the Catechism, no. 1452).

St. Matthew Parish Glendale Heights, Illinois Page 4 (630) 469-6300

Mass Intentions Sunday, April 5, 2020 8:00 AM † Joan Kordzinski (Family) 10:00 AM † Eustacia Ramiro Galiza (Ramiro Family) 12:00 PM † Brandon & Lyndon Calso (Marilyn & Orly Liwanag) 1:30 PM St. Matthw Parish Family 6:00 PM † Gregorio Andres (Family) Monday, April 6, 2020 7:00 AM † Lyn Colobong (Marilen Ramiro) Tuesday, April 7, 2020 7:00 AM In Thanksgiving (Ramiro Family) Nathaniel & Cynthia Silva (Silva Family) Wednesday, April 8, 2020 7:00 AM Lolita Villanueva (Silva Family) 8:45 AM † Luz Villaflor (Dolly & Vicky Villaflor) Holy Thursday, April 9, 2020 Good Friday, April 10, 2020 Holy Saturday, April 11, 2020 8:00 PM Intentions of the Presider Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 8:00 AM St. Matthew Parish Family 10:00 AM Intenions of the Presider 12:00 PM Intentions of the Presider 1:30 PM Intentions of the Presider

Scripture

Readings

for the Week of April 5, 2020 Sunday

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Mt 21:1-11; Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20,

23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14—27:66 or Mt 27:11-54

Monday

Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11

Tuesday Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17;

Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34;

Mt 26:14-25

Thursday Holy Thursday

Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Ps 89:21-22, 25, 27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21

Evening Mass: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15

Friday

Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord Is 52:13—53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25;

Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1—19:42

Saturday Holy Saturday

Vigil: Gn 1:1—2:2 or Gn 1:1, 26-31a; Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 or

Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20-22; Gn 22:1-18 or Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10,11;

Ex 14:15—15:1; Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18; Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12,13; Is 55:1-11; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Bar 3:9-15,32—4:4; Ps 19:8, 9,

10, 11; Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Ps 42:3, 5; Ps 43:3, 4 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or

Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19; Rom 6:3-11; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mt 28:1-10

Sunday

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23;

Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Mt 28:1-10 or

Lk 24:13-35

Diane Ramonas, Steve Miles

Would you like to remember a loved one, an anniversary, a birthday, or

special intention in a very special way?

Consider making an offering of $25 to St. Matthew in your

loved ones name and we will light four 7-day candles

near our Holy Family statute. Also, each week that the

Holy Family candles are sponsored in someone’s name, we will make

special mention of the contribution and the candle memoriam in the

bulletin.

Remember your loved ones, a special anniversary, birthday, or in

thanksgiving. For more information, please contact the parish office.

Bequests Please remember the good works of our parish in your will. Contact

Fr. Gregor on how you can accomplish this.

Dalis Ramonas

www.stmatthewchurch.org Page 5 Palm Sunday April 5, 2020

If you are planning surgery or are ill and

would like to receive the Sacrament of

Anointing, please call the parish office to

schedule an appointment with one of our

priests.

Sunday Collection Week of March 29, 2020

Needed for Expenses…………….……. $14,885.00 In Pew/By Mail Collection……………… $1,981.00 Online Giving…….………………….……..$2,323.60 Total Collection…………………………...$ 4,304.60 Difference………………………………- $ 10,580.40

Cumulative Report for Year ending June 30, 2020 Weekly Collection Needed to Date………………………..$580,515.00 Total Collection to Date……………....$492,623.20 Difference………………………………- $ 87,891.80

As you know, St. Matthew uses OSV Online Giving! Same company that provides our envelope service to our parishioners. So, if you haven’t signed up yet or interested in doing electronic donations, follow the link below or scan the QR code:

https://osvonlinegiving.com/4325

There are many reasons to use online giving.

• Forget your envelope? Use Online Giving to keep up on offertory. Go to www.stmatthewchurch.org and click on the Online Giving link, https://osvonlinegiving.com/4325 it’s quick and easy. Your support throughout the year helps sustain our church.

• Make giving easier. Visit your church website on your mobile device, click the Online Giving link, and begin giving. Your support throughout the year helps sustain our church.

• Manage gifts. Another easy way to manage your church giving is with

Online Giving. You can manage your giving or give a one-time gift‑ right from your phone. Visit our church website and click the Online Giving link and register with our church. Your support during the year helps sustain our church.

• Safety. In times when there are concerns about exposure to disease or spreading of a virus, Online Giving is a convenient option to continue to support your church and its mission. Whether you are attending weekly mass at the parish or worshiping at home, your vital support can still happen regardless of where you are.

Shortfall from Mass Cancellations

Beginning March 14-15, 2020

Received from Online giving (Week ending 3/29)……..…..$2,323.60 From mail and drop off env:………..…...$1,981.00 Total Collection…………..…………..…...$ 4,304.60

Avg. donations per week (Actual)….$13,358.44

Shortfall since Mass cancellation Running Total since 3/14/20….....…($28,337.59)

Communique of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches Collection for the Holy Land 2020

The current COVID-19 pandemic concerns many countries and in many of them preventive measures preclude the normal community celebration of Holy Week. The Christian communities in the Holy Land, also exposed to the risk of contagion and living in contexts already full of serious sufferings, benefit every year from the generosity of the faithful from all over the world. This solidarity enables them to continue their evangelical presence, in addition to maintaining schools and social structures that assist all citizens with healthcare, education and peaceful coexistence, attending above all to the weakest and poorest. For this reason, Pope Francis has approved the proposal that the Collection for the Holy Land, for the year 2020, take place on Sunday, 13 September, near the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The celebration that commemorates the discovery of the Relics of the Cross by Saint Helen also marks a new beginning of public worship in Jerusalem, with the construction of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. May it be a sign of hope and salvation after the Passion to which many peoples are now associated, as well as solidarity with those who continue to live the Gospel of Jesus on the Land where “it all began”. Leonardo Card. Sandri Fr. Flavio Pace Prefect Under-Secretary

St. Matthew Parish Glendale Heights, Illinois Page 6 (630) 469-6300

St. Matthew is doing its best to stay connected with all our parishioners!

St. Matthew Livestream Schedule

Sunday Mass will be livestreamed at the following times on our St. Matthew Facebook pages and will remain

there for you to pray the Mass at the time you pray Mass each Sunday! Gather your friends and family! 8am – Mass in English St. Matthew Parish Facebook 1:30pm – Mass is Spanish https://www.facebook.com/sanmateo60139/

Holy Hour will be livestreamed each Wednesday at 12 Noon while we are prohibited from gathering

together. We will spend some time with the Blessed Sacrament. Please submit your prayer requests

to prayerrequest@stmatthewchurch.org

Stations of the Cross will be prayed and livestreamed on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. (check website for time)

For live stream options visit stmatthewchurch.org where you will find more information regarding our St. Matthew schedule for Holy Week

Daily Mass celebrated at the Cathedral

9:00 a.m. celebrated by Fr. Burke Masters and Fr. Ryan Adorjan at

https://www.youtube.com/user/dramadude12;

and

11:30 a.m. celebrated by Bishop Pates, at https://www.youtube.com/c/DioceseofJolietIL

Other important links

Dynamic Catholic - "AWESOME Dynamic Catholic / Matthew Kelly resources" click below!

https://dynamiccatholic.com/

Daily Prayer Resource: To join others is prayer, make an account here if you don’t have one already: https://divineoffice.org/register/

Stations of the Cross can be prayed at home using this excellent resource. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Stations.pdf

Formed – what many call the ‘Catholic Netflix’! more information can be seen on our website at

http://stmatthewchurch.org/faith-formation/ If you’d like to sign up for your FREE access, simple visit this link www.stmatthewchurch.formed.org

Daily Mass Readings can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/index.cfm

St. Matthew Mission Statement We, the members of the St. Matthew Parish community being many parts but one sacramental body, are sent by the love of God to make Christ present in the world.

Declaración de la Misión de la

Parroquia San Mateo

Nosotros, los miembros de la comunidad parroquial de San Mateo, siendo muchas partes, pero un solo cuerpo sacramental, somos enviados por el amor de Dios para hacer presente a Cristo en el mundo.

St. Matthew Parish

1555 Glen Ellyn Road

Glendale Heights, Illinois 60139 Phone: (630) 469-6300 • Fax: (630) 469-6302

www.stmatthewchurch.org • www.stmatthewschool.org Office Hours Monday - Thursday .............................. 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Friday .......................................................................................... 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Monday - Friday ....................................................................... 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Diocese of Joliet Bishop ............................................... Bishop R. Daniel Conlon Pastor ....................................................................... Rev. Gregor Gorsic, ext 312 Parochial Vicar .......................................................... Rev. Raj Kocherla, ext 311

Permanent Deacons ....................................... Dcn. Gabriel Gamboa, ext 309

Dcn. Robert Malek, ext 307

Dcn. Lindsey Parsons, ext 308

Dcn. Michael Ruddle, ext 314

Director of Faith Formation ……………………..Dcn. Michael Ruddle, ext 314 Faith Formation Office ................................................................... (630) 469-5178 Director of Music and Liturgy .................................. Christian O’Kelley, ext 313 School Principal .................................................... Gina Pestrak, (630) 858-3112 St. Vincent de Paul Society ...........................................(630)-469-6300 ext 302

Sacraments Masses

Saturday Vigil.............................................. 5:00 PM Sunday ........................................ 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 1:30 PM (Español), 6:00 PM Daily (M thru F) .......................................... 7:00 AM (W and Th)………………………….……….8:45 AM Saturday ..................................................... 8:00 AM

(Rosary after the 7:00 AM and 8:45 AM Mass)

Sacrament of Reconciliation Monday ...................................................... 7:40 AM Tuesday ........................................................ 6:30 PM Saturday ..................................... 8:40 AM, 3:30 PM

(Or contact one of the priests.)

Baptisms Second Saturday of the month at 12:00 PM. Pre-Baptismal meeting held the second Monday of the month. Pre-registration is required.

Marriages Please call the Parish office at least 6 months prior to the celebration of the Sacrament.

Parish Registration Please stop by the Parish Office to fill out a registration form.

Homebound/Sick Please call the Parish Office to notify us of anyone homebound, critically ill or in the hospital.