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Dear Families,
I trust that you had a happy and holy Easter, even if it was different than we expected when we began our Lenten journey. In the midst of our dislocation and griefs, it is a wonder to remember that death is never the victor over life but that Jesus is the Lord of all creation.
In my calls to families before Easter, it was lovely to hear your appreciation for the efforts that the catechists have been making to help your children finish the Religious Education year. My gratitude to them overflows!
 This poem by Laura Kelly Fanucci was just recently published in America magazine. It might resonate with what you are feeling by this point in our quarantine.
When this is over, may we never again take for granted
A handshake with a stranger
Full shelves at the store
Conversations with neighbors
A crowded theater
Friday night out
The taste of Communion
A routine checkup
The school rush each morning
Coffee with a friend
The stadium roaring
Each deep breath
A boring Tuesday
Life itself.
When this ends, may we find
that we have become more like the people
we wanted to be
called to be
we hoped to be
And may we stay that way--
better for each other
because of the worst.
You should receive a lesson plan for each of your students either this evening or tomorrow. If you need access to the texts for the lesson, you
can find
that information is here
.
A word about the Easter collection
: As you can imagine, the financial strain on the parishes mirrors the general economic dislocation we are all experiencing. The Easter collection is always a major source of revenue in any parish budget. We know that your own family's needs might be great, but your help in supporting your parish will ensure that ministries continue during this emergency and resume seamlessly when we can gather again.
You can donate electronically to
St. Emily here
and to
As we began Lent, we gave out pledge sheets for students who wanted to help feed others through Read to Feed. If you have pledge money, please mail a check to St. Emily, 1400 E. Central Road, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 to the attention of Cathy Crino. I will see that it goes to Heifer International
.
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