Tax Credit Scholarships will be available
Religious Ed Fish Fry on March 15
St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket Parishes
February 26, 2019
Dear Families,

Believe it or not, Ash Wednesday is next week.  We will join in the St. Emily parish mass at 7:00 PM.  This means that dismissal will be when mass is over, about 8:00 PM, from the church.

Of course, you are most welcome to join us and to sit with your child's class.

There is more information about Ash Wednesday at both parishes here.

A committee has been working on putting on a Fish Fry to benefit our Religious Education program.   See below for the details about the food, the fun and how you can be involved.

There will also be a St. Joseph Table on March 10.  We hope to see you there!

mcloraineThe information about the McLoraine Scholarship, which is awarded to St. Emily parishioners who wish to attend Catholic high schools, is here. Please look it over and apply!

In addition, if you thought you could never afford Catholic school tuition, you will want to check out the information about the Tax Credit Scholarships.  Due to a generous donation by a parishioner, there are funds available for qualifying families.

Women of the parish are invited to the next Christ Renews His Parish weekend and to the Women's Club tea. 

As you can tell, winter isn't quite finished, you might want to subscribe to the Emergency Closing Center notifications in the event that we need to cancel.

safedismissalLastly, I must speak once again about our dismissal so that we can keep it safe and orderly.
  • You must come inside the gym, wait until all the classes have been able to line up, then come up to the line and let the catechist know that you are picking up your child.  Don't just nod and expect your kid to run to you.  The catechist needs to know where the kids are going.
  • Please don't give your child contrary instructions.  You put your child in a very uncomfortable situation that causes them a lot of stress - when adults here are telling them one thing and you are saying another. Kids cry. Why provoke that?
  • Please follow the guidance of David and Rick as they keep order in the lot.
Thank you to everyone who is already up to snuff on these procedures.  We don't want to have a child lost or injured. The cooperation of all insures that.
ashAsh Wednesday
Please join us at St. Emily or St. Thomas Becket on March 6

At St. Thomas Becket

6:30 AM
Prayer Service with Distribution with Ashes (English)               
9:00 AM
Mass with Distribution of Ashes (English)
12:00 PM      
Prayer Service with Distribution of Ashes (English)
6:00 PM            
Mass with Distribution of Ashes (Bilingual)
8:00 PM 
Mass with Distribution of Ashes (Polish)
 
At St. Emily

6:30 AM 
Prayer Service with Distribution of Ashes
8:30 AM
Mass with Distribution of Ashes
12:00 PM
Prayer Service with Distribution of Ashes
5:00 PM
Prayer Service with Distribution of Ashes
7:00 PM
Mass with Distribution of Ashes

Please remember that Ash Wednesday is a day of abstinence from meat.  All those who are between the ages of 18 and 59 (unless pregnant, nursing or ill) are obliged to fast. This means eating one meal, with the possibility of two smaller meals that do not together equal a meal.

fishfryWe're Having a Fish Fry!
Friday, March 15 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM
To benefit the Religious Education Program

Come and join in the fun. 
There will be fish, mac'n'cheese, coleslaw and lemonade. $12.00 for adults and $8.00 for kids. ($5.00 for the mac'n'cheese plate only.)

It will be BYOB.

There will also be games for the kids.

In Hajdu Hall at St. Emily.

All the proceeds will go to benefit the Religious Education program.  (Your tuition pays only a portion of the total costs.)

Ways to be involved:
stjosephtableSt. Joseph Table
March 10 at 12:00 PM

Gather in the St. Emily gym for a wonderful, traditional celebration of the St. Joseph Table.

The table will feature meatless dishes and wonderful desserts.  Your free will offering will benefit our St. Vincent de Paul Society.  (According to the custom, a St. Joseph table is for the sake of the poor.)

taxcreditApplying for a Tax Credit Scholarship
A way to afford a Catholic School education for your child

Through the "Invest in Kids Act," tax credit scholarships are available to Illinois children, in grades K-12, from low-income households who want to attend private schools, including our 209 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

This program started during the 2018/19 school year and many families in our Catholic schools are benefiting. The scholarships are funded by donors who receive a 75 percent credit on their Illinois state income tax as a result of their donation.

The scholarships offered through the program could cover up to 100 percent of tuition and eligible fees for one year and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis, subject to the availability of funds.

To find out more about eligibility and application, go here.
emergencyclosing
Emergency Closing Information
Know how to be informed

We hope that all our Wednesdays are sunny and dry, but it is Chicago and we realize that winter weather is no joke.

If we find it advisable to close, we will send a blast email to all families that day.

We will also post any closings at the  Emergency Closing Center.  Please check there to make sure.   You can also sign up there for email alerts that tell if and when the Religious Education program cancels.

Dates to Save
  • March 6 - Ash Wednesday. Class time includes mass at 7:00 PM.
  • March 10 - Parish St. Joseph Table
  • March 15 - Fish Fry sponsored by the Religious Education program
Quick Links
St. Emily Parish
Catherine Crino, DRE
847-299-5865
St. Thomas Becket Parish
Renata Sosin, CRE
847-296-9051
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