Statements

The past nights I have watched in great personal pain as the pent-up anger of our people caught fire across our country. I saw the city where I was born, the cities where I have lived, the city I pastor now, catch embers from the city where I was educated and burn. Was I horrified at the violence? Yes. But was I surprised? No.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will preside over the Archdiocese of Chicago’s English Easter Sunday Mass broadcast from Holy Name Cathedral. Rev. Ismael Sandoval and Rev. Marek Smolka will preside over the televised Spanish and Polish language Easter Sunday Masses, respectively.

All livestreamed parish liturgies are to be celebrated according to archdiocesan and governmental directives. Per the Vicar General communication on April 7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now “recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” In view of this updated guidance, we remind all pastors and administrators of parishes and agencies that there are to be no public liturgical or sacramental celebrations (including drive-through or parking-lot gatherings for Communion, confession or blessings) until further notice.

The attached decree was issued by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, to dispense Catholics from Easter obligations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catholics are obligated to receive Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confession during the Easter season which runs from Easter Sunday to the feast of the Ascension of the Lord.

Included below and posted to our dedicated archchicago.org/coronavirus page are the Archdiocesan Guidelines for the Celebration of the Liturgies of Holy Week according to norms issued by the Vatican and the USCCB. Please review these guidelines in detail. All LIVE-STREAMED PARISH liturgies are to be celebrated according to Archdiocesan and Governmental directives.

In response to updated recommendations and guidance from healthcare professionals, we have revised our protocols regarding Anointing of the Sick. Please review the points below in full.

As all residents of the state comply with the order to stay at home and refrain from non-essential activities, we are nonetheless painfully aware that being cut off from the sacramental life of the church, especially the Eucharist, creates a great hardship for our people, indeed for all of us. However, we make this sacrifice for the common good, convinced that we, like all citizens, have a responsibility in preventing the spread of COVID-19. In fact, doing so will ensure that our people can return to the sacraments as soon as possible.

The Chrism Mass will NOT be celebrated publicly, nor will we hold our annual Day of Reflection. Cardinal Cupich and the auxiliary bishops will celebrate the Mass in Holy Name Cathedral, which will be livestreamed for the benefit of the faithful to view in their homes.

Given recent questions about funerals and wakes, it is important to clarify and reiterate current guidelines and policies, keeping in mind that those already issued by Cardinal Cupich on Friday, March 13, allow for funerals and other liturgies under certain conditions. These guidelines and policies are in effect until further notice.

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.