5th Sunday of Lent March 28-29, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

During these challenging times, St. Josaphat Parish is here for you!   My hope is that this will be a time of spiritual renewal for all of us. It certainly has been for me so far.

Since the Parish Office is closed, Deacon Arthur, seminarian Theo and I have been working our Helping Hands Outreach every morning. (We're one of the few that hasn't closed in our area.) Our attendance has gone up from 35 to 50 per day, and our guests are hungrier than usual. Costco has run out of the turkey we use, and Aldi can't promise our normal supply of ramen cups. We welcome families to make sandwiches and drop them off, just email me to coordinate. Of course, donations always help.

We've also been celebrating daily Mass in the rectory chapel, creating "Saint of the Day" videos for the children, and trading off dinner preparation duties. I've been on Zoom meetings with various Archdiocese teams and our parish staff to work on how to best serve you under these circumstances. As a result, I've been researching online resources to make available to the parish. Our Gospel of Matthew Bible Study has gained some new participants since we moved online. (Hope you can join us on Wednesday at 9am.) It's a busy time, but also a fruitful time.

Members of our parish have come together as a "Shelter in Faith" team making phone calls to our "wiser" parishioners and those with babies (and hope to cover the entire parish eventually.) Thank you to Kris Kause for helping with this! Kelly Smith and Laura Burstein are coordinating Care Bags for residents of Symphony and Little Sisters. We are grateful to them! Our gratitude also goes out to the Fairfield family for stuffing our Easter mailing. If you are in need of anything, or want to help out where you can, please email grace@stjosaphatparish.org.

Our day-to-day may have changed, but what hasn't changed are my prayers for you and our parish. I have been especially praying that our older parishioners have the care and companionship so they do not feel alone, and our mothers with young ones have the patience they need with everyone at home. If you have a special intention for me to pray for, please email me at frfrancis@stjosaphatparish.org.

God Bless,
St. Josaphat Mass Livestream
Click this link for the livestream of this Sunday's 10:00 am Mass. We will be livestreaming over Facebook and you do not need to be a Facebook member to watch. The livestream will not be "on" until 9:55 am. Last week some people had issues with audio volume. Be sure to check the volume controls on your device, any speakers, and on the Facebook video itself.

If you want to watch the video after Mass is over with Closed Captioning, click this link . We will send an email to all parishioners when this enhanced video is posted on the website.

March 29, 2020 Mass Readings
From Our Pastor Fr. Francis Bitterman
As we move closer to Holy Week and the celebration of Easter, it is our normal custom to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation together as a way of preparing ourselves to enter into the mystery of Jesus’ passion, READ ON...
Gospel Reflection Tim Berryhill
In today’s Gospel, we see a very intimate side of Jesus. We regularly read about Jesus healing the sick and infirm, but this healing has a different character. Jesus heals READ ON...
To receive communion
Since we can't receive communion at this time, perform this Act of Spiritual Communion to invite Jesus into your heart.
Bringing Home the Word is our weekly Bulletin insert with reflections on that week's readings.
This Week's Mass Intentions
Fr. Francis is praying his daily Mass for us and these intentions:
This Sunday
+John Kardasz
+ Rose Silverayan
+ Elizabeth Rusin
+Patricia Ann Koerber +Peter Daprato

Monday - +Russell St. Germain
Tuesday - Living & Deceased Mothers/Fathers
Wednesday - +Peter DaPrato
Thursday - Patients with Coronavirus
Friday - Health Care Professionals

Next Sunday
+Jerry McKay, +Robert Ackles, +Anna Piazza
Please Pray For:
Luisa Ramirez, Gregory & Mary Worny, Mark Andrews, Reidunn Ostergaard, Erick Urbaniak,
Peggy James, Anna Marie Caponigri, Rose E. Herlien, Marcella LeSage
Your Sunday Offering
Text "SUNDAY" to 312.625.5666
Text "NPH2020" to 312.625.5666
Emergency Donation

NPH has had to cancel a significant number of fundraising efforts and estimates the financial impact to be well over $1 million in the next few months.

Now more than ever, we need your help to continue the important work of NPH USA and support of our kids. 
Gifts of Time
“From the very beginning, Christians have brought, along with the bread and wine for the Eucharist, gifts to share with those in need” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1351).  Do you have some time to share with others over the upcoming weeks? How about some time to pray? Please email the Office grace@stjosaphatparish.org if you would like to join our new Prayer Chain and/or if you could run errands or make phone calls during these weeks.
Please Join Us This Week
Wednesday, 3/25 9:00 am Bible Study on the Book of Matthew with Fr. Francis Zoom Link

Friday, 4/3 9:00 am Women's Group Virtual Gathering facilitated by Kim N.

Sunday, 4/5 10:00 am Palm Sunday Mass Livestream Facebook Link