St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket Parishes
 March 3, 2020
Dear Families,

covid-19As we continue to monitor the spread of Covid-19, we are also trying to ensure that we all stay healthy.

I am sure that you have heard about basic precautions, but I am going to repeat them here.  At the top of the list, if anyone in your household is ill, please stay home from Religious Education.  Since we don't know spread or incubation details precisely, it is better to be safe than sorry.  We trust that you have already reviewed these procedures with your family.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after use and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve, not your hand.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Scrub between fingers, the backs of hands, and don't forget under your fingernails.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Do not share eating utensils or drinking containers.
  • Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Please also read this letter from Fr. Presta detailing some changes we are making to our parish celebrations of the Eucharist during this time.

Please join us this Sunday for the Annual St. Joseph Table from 12 PM to 3 PM in the St. Emily gym.

During Lent, we are encouraging all the students to Read to Feed to benefit Heifer International .  This great organization supports sustainable agriculture, raising the standard of living in over 100 countries.

We are praying the Stations of the Cross with the students this week and next.  There will be a group at 6:20 PM and another group at 7:00 PM.  You are more than welcome to join us in church for this prayer.

Both St. Thomas Becket and St. Emily are organizing Fish Fries on the Fridays of Lent. Plan to eat, or to help out.  Details are below.

On Saturday, March 7, the students preparing for First Communion will be receiving the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Please check below for a few lost (and found) items.  It you recognize one, you can pick it up in the Religious Education office.

McLoraineSt. Emily is fortunate to have an endowment fund, the McLoraine Trust, which provides scholarship funds for St. Emily parishioners attending Catholic high schools.  If you have an eighth grader, it is worth checking it out.  Information is here.    Application form is here. 

heiferRead to Feed
Our Lent Project Will Benefit Heifer International

Heifer International is a wonderful organization that provides breeding pairs of animals to help raise the standard of living in communities in over 100 countries.

Read to Feed is a way for kids to help buy the animals.  It is like a track-a-thon, but instead of getting pledges for running or walking, kids solicit pledges for how many books/chapters/pages/minutes they read.

Tomorrow night, your child will be coming home with a packet to get started.  We hope that you encourage this act of charity.

We'll be handing out envelopes to collect the money closer to the end of Lent.
 
fishfryFish Fry to Benefit Religious Education
Check out the Friday of Lent
Sign up to help staff the St. Emily Fry on April 3

Both St. Emily and St. Thomas Becket parishes are sponsoring Fish Fries during Lent.

Bring your family to enjoy the freshly cooked food and community fun.

The St. Thomas Becket Fries begin this Friday evening.

The St. Emily Fish Fry directly benefits the Religious Education program.  It is on April 3.  See Cathy Crino to volunteer or to sell ads.

Word of mouth is key!  Tell your friends and neighbors and invite them to join you!
lost
Lost and Found
Look familiar?

If your child lost either a glove or a water bottle in the last two weeks, we might have it.

Just come to the RE office during class on Wednesday to claim it.

Thanks!
Dine and Share
Support St Emily School on March 10 at Lou Malnati's

St. Emily School is hosting a Dine and Share event at Lou Malnati's in Mount Prospect and in Buffalo Grove next Tuesday, March 10.  

familymass
Family Mass
Join us on March 14 at 5:00 PM

Family Mass is a great opportunity to not only worship together, but to minister together.  It is a joyful and spiritual lift.

Each month, different families sign up to be the greeters, readers and gift bearers for our community.

The next Family Mass is Saturday, March 14 at 5:00 PM.   Sign up here for the ways you and your child can participate.
matthew
winterEmergency 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 is cancelled.

Dates to Save
  • March 7 - First Reconciliation at 1:00 PM
  • March 10 - Confirmation Rehearsal at 7:00 PM
  • March 15 - Confirmation at 2:00 PM
  • March 25 - Spring Break - no class
  • April 3 - St. Emily Fish Fry to benefit Religious Education
  • April 4 - First Communion Retreats
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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