A NOTE FROM THE ST JULIANA PASTOR
As we embark upon another week in our surreal world, I want to let you know I am continually praying for you and offering Mass for each of you. Interestingly, I feel very much connected to you. That’s one of the beautiful powers of prayer!
If you have any specific prayer requests, please do not hesitate to email me and let me know. Father Emanuel and I will add these intentions to our daily Mass and prayers. And, again, if you are in need of the Sacraments of Anointing of the Sick or of Reconciliation, please email me. If you need to talk, I am happily available for that as well. You can call the parish office (773-631-4127) or the emergency number (847-507-2585) and I will respond to your message as soon as possible.
NEED ASSISTANCE OR LOOKING TO HELP?
If you need help for any reason, be it grocery shopping or picking up medication or whatever, please reach out to the parish. We want to help you and will coordinate getting the assistance you need. Please call and leave a message (773-631-4127) or email me.
Knowing that there are seniors who need help but might not receive this electronic message: if you have a neighbor or know of someone who needs help, please communicate this information to them and even reach out to us on their behalf.
Finally, we have had many people contact us wanting to help and volunteer their services. Thank you for this. If you would like to be added to our list of volunteers, please email me or call the office.
MEET YOUR HOLY WEEK VIRTUAL TEAM
Get to know those who will bring you our Masses and liturgies on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday , here at Saint Juliana Parish in Chicago! Here are some bios of the people you will see on the screen and behind the camera. Each Mass will be posted on Facebook on the following days and times.
Rev. James Wallace (CELEBRANT)
Fr. James has been the Pastor of Saint Juliana Parish in Chicago since July 2016. He is from Winnetka, IL and attended Saints Faith, Hope & Charity School, New Trier High School and George Washington University in Washington DC, where he obtained his degree in political science in 2007. While in college he heard the call to become a priest and decided to enter seminary immediately upon graduation. After completing a year of pre-theology at Mundelein Seminary, he continued his priestly studies and formation at the Pontifical North American College, America's seminary in Rome, and in 2016 earned a license in canon law (JCL). Father James is a huge sports fan, Cubs, Hawks and particularly the Chicago Bears, and is an avid reader of spirituality, theology, and history.
Glenn deCastro (MUSIC DIRECTOR)
Music will be brought to you by our Music Director, Glenn deCastro. Please feel free to practice the songs now and sing loud and proud for our Lord as you watch the Virtual Services/Masses. Here are all the recordings that you can enjoy now and throughout this Virtual Mass Season. Music can help us celebrate. Music can help us heal. Music can help us forget our troubles and remember the good times. Music can help us pray. I invite you to pray with me in song through these videos of the music for the upcoming virtual Masses and Services. Even if you don't sing, I invite you to listen to the words and reflect on them. If you'd like, you can play the videos in the background of your activity and allow the message of each song to wash over you and soak in. And if you DO sing, great! Use your voice to spread the message of God's mercy and love.
Josh Plier (Lector/Commentator)
Josh Plier has been a lifelong parishioner, attending the CCD program at Saint Juliana Parish while attending Brickton Montessori School through 8th grade. He attended Notre Dame College Prep and is currently a freshman at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, studying architecture. Josh spends his free time expanding his art/architecture portfolio, attending car meets, bi-monthly road trips to Iowa to visit his girlfriend, building things with his brother and spending time with loved ones. Josh began his 4th year working for the Chicago Cubs in January at their annual convention, and looks forward to baseball season to begin once again. Josh is also an avid Blackhawks fan and enjoys a good music festival.
Christine Boldt (Lector)
Chris Boldt is a neighborhood Chicago girl through and through: attending Queen of Angels and Saint Eugene schools, Resurrection College Prep, and DePaul University. She and her husband Jim have been grateful to call Saint Juliana Parish "home" since ‘98, and their children Elyse and Jimmy are proud graduates of Saint Juliana School. Chris has been a teacher since 1990: beginning at Saint Tarcissus School in 1990 and at Saint Juliana School since 1999. Chris teaches junior high, is the coordinator of the school's Extended Care Program, and has served as Cheerleading Moderator and Fine Arts Association board member. Chris's commitment to the parish extends to her role on the Pastoral Council. In addition to love of family, students, and parish, she enjoys exercising, antique flea markets, Beatles and Sinatra music, Notre Dame football, and everything Cubs!
Steven Silich (Lector)
Steve Silich a Saint Juliana School graduate and life-long member of the parish community. His catholic education continued on to Notre Dame College Prep and Marquette University in Milwaukee. Steve serves on the Saint Juliana Pastoral Council, and is also a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. Steve was a member of the Chicago Police Department for 12 years at which point he retired and with his wife Lauren opened their first Chick-fil-A restaurant in downtown Chicago. The Silich Family lives in Edison Park and both of their children attend Saint Juliana School. Lily is in the 6th grade while Ricky is in Pre-Kindergarten. Steve's favorite teams are the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and enjoys supporting his alma matter, watching Marquette basketball. Hobbies are golf, reading and spending time with his family.
David Plier (Director/Producer/Editor)
Dave has been a Parishioner since 1997, when he became engaged to his wife Lori, a lifelong Parishioner who also attended Saint Juliana School. Dave attended Saint Beatrice School, Holy Cross High School and the University of Minnesota. Dave and Lori have three kids: Josh is a Freshman at SAIC, Emma is in 8th grade and Alex is in 2nd grade at SJS. Dave is the Co-CEO of Retail First Corp., talk show host on WGN Radio and is Chairman of The Museum of Broadcast Communications. He is also a music minister, led the Saint Juliana Pastoral Council for 7 years under three pastors, currently serves on both the finance committee and marketing team, and is involved in the remodeling and re-imagining of the parish and school campus. Dave enjoys boating up in Wisconsin with his family and is a longtime Cubs and Blackhawks fan.
PLEASE NOTE: During the filming of Holy Week Masses and Liturgies, CDC and Archdiocese of Chicago guidelines were followed as it related to social distancing, hand washing/sanitizing, with a limited number of people present in our Church at one time, and some elements were filmed out of sequence. For safety purposes and to limit time away from their families, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Stations of the Cross, Good Friday, Blessing of the Baskets and Easter Sunday were filmed over a 6 hour period in one day.
ADDITIONAL SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We are continuing to post daily the Mass readings and a reflection by yours truly, called “The Daily.” We will continue the virtual Sunday Mass on the weekends, which many of you have watched. And Glenn DeCastro, our fabulous music director, has posted music recordings as well. Lastly, you can continue to read our bulletin and newsletters online which also contain prayerful content and other information
A FINAL REFLECTION
I’ve read lately a few accounts of the heroism undertaken by ordinary men and women during times of plague and disease in history. Saints Catherine of Siena , Aloysius Gonzaga, and Damien of Molokai, just to name a few, all ‘made their mark’ in circumstances similarly precarious to ours. There is even a group known as “The Martyrs of the Plague of Alexandria.” May these saints pray for us and may we ourselves become saints by the unique actions we take during the time of the Coronavirus. God bless you all. I miss you but I remain,
Yours in Christ,
Fr. James Wallace, Pastor
PLEASE HELP & DONATE
Cancellation of Mass is leading to significant losses in our offertory income, which is placing all our ministries and operations at significant risk. Many people in our parish and community depend upon your regular, weekly offertory contributions and, during this current challenge, they are needed more than ever.
Please consider giving online at Give Central where you can make a weekly offertory contribution to Saint Juliana and keep the vital ministries and services we provide going. We ask you to prayerfully consider maintaining your regular weekly donation level or even increasing it during these times.
