ATTENTION PARISHIONERS - MASSES / ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED

Governor Pritzker has announced a mandatory shelter-in-place order for the State of Illinois. What this means for our parishes is that effective 5 pm Saturday, March 21 through Friday, May 1:

• Our Weekend and Weekly Liturgical Masses at St. Linus Parish through Easter Sunday have been suspended until further notice and no Confessions a this point - We encourage you to watch Mass Online or on TV. The Archdiocese of Chicago is broadcasting daily and Sunday Masses in English and other languages from Holy Name Cathedral and St. James Chapel this weekend. The Masses can be viewed on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel. You may wish to watch Mass on TV or listen to it on Relevant Radio. Sunday Mass at Mercy Home is televised every weekend on WGN Channel 9 at 9:30 AM. Broadcasts Masses are also available on EWTN: Daily Mass is at 7 AM and replayed at 6 PM; on Sunday at 7 AM Mass is live, then they replay it at 11 AM and 11 PM. The Word on Fire with Bishop Barron Website is posting daily mass as well.
• The Parish and School Offices and Adoration Chapel are CLOSED.
• There can be no live Stations of the Cross or Confessions or Eucharistc Adoration or any other gatherings anywhere on parish / school property, nor can any parish personnel be involved in organizing them on any other site. All Parish Events and Activities are cancelled.
• All weddings and baptisms must be postponed and can be re-scheduled only once the order is lifted. There are no exceptions to this, regardless of the size of the group. However, in case of an extreme emergency for baptism, please seek the permission of your bishop.
• Funerals and wakes must be postponed until the order is lifted.

PARISH OFFERTORY SUPPORT DURING CLOSURE - You can use our Parish Online Giving - GiveCentral to submit your contributions. Also, The Archdiocese has created an online giving page to support parishes during this time. Donors are able to make an online donation at www.archchicago.org/offertory and designate to OUR Parish - ST. LINUS. You may also place your envelopes in the mail slot of the door of the Parish Office.

It is critically important that our parishes and pastors receive the offertory support they need to remain operational and sustainable despite the suspension of weekly Masses. The Archdiocese has developed a universal online offertory page where the faithful can make an offertory donation to any parish in the Archdiocese. These donations will assist the parishes with ongoing expenses related to ministry, maintenance, staff and other pressing needs, that depend on regular offertory support from parishioners. I encourage you to contribute online to your parish at or above your usual offertory amount. Many of our parishes are suffering significant financial hardship during this challenging time. Your online support will make a critical difference.

Additionally, as we are sensitive to the financial hardship suffered by many in recent days, we have also launched a Coronavirus Emergency Fund. This fund will support members of our community who have been negatively affected by the pandemic. For example, the fund will support parents of Catholic school students who might struggle with tuition payments because of unexpected job loss, ministries providing the needy with sustenance or parish communities deeply harmed by the pandemic. Our neighbors down the street and across the Archdiocese need our support at this critical moment. Your donation can help provide them with that support.

Please visit www.archchicago.org/coronavirus/donate to support parish offertory, the Coronavirus Emergency Fund or both as your means allow. Your generosity is needed now more than ever. Our Archdiocese community has always come together to support one another during times of need, and I ask you to do so again. Please continue to pray for each other, as I continue to pray for you.

ARCHDIOCSEAN RESOURCES - Please pray for each other, and for all those affected by this virus. Check this website homepage and the Archdiocesan website www.archchicago.org/coronavirus for more information and updates.

“This was not a decision I made lightly,” said Cardinal Cupich. “The Eucharist is the source and summit of our life as Catholics. And our schools and agencies provide essential services to many thousands across Cook and Lake Counties. But, in consultation with leaders from across the archdiocese, for the sake of the safety of our students, parishioners, and all the women and men who serve the people of the archdiocese, it is clear that we must take the better part of caution in order to slow the spread of this pandemic.”

CARDINAL CUPICH'S MESSAGE - APRIL 1, 2020

May God bless you and your families and Thank You for your understanding!