HOLY WEEK AT HOME
Many of you have recently received our Easter mailing. PLEASE NOTE that this mailing was prepared and delivered to bulk mail prior to the start of Lent, before we received the directives from the government and Cardinal Cupich that Masses were suspended and the church must remain closed until further notice.
Unfortunately, we remain under those directives, and will not be celebrating Holy Week and Easter as it was planned when the mailing was created. We invite you to see the links below for our Holy Week and Easter offerings under our current circumstances. We apologize for any confusion.
As we stay at home during this holy time, let us come together in Spirit and truly enter into the traditions and events of Holy Week. Times below indicate when links will be available.
General Holy Week Resources (Website)
PALM SUNDAY – APRIL 5, 2020
We celebrate the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem in Glory!
Parish Bulletin – Palm Sunday – April 5, 2020 (PDF)
Mass with Fr. Carl on Saturday, April 4 at 4 PM
Our YouTube Channel
Ideas for celebrating at home:
- Place a branch on your door – any greenery will do!
- Families can process around their homes, waving branches or colored pictures of palms (PDF)
HOLY THURSDAY – APRIL 9, 2020
We remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ commandment of Love!
Holy Thursday Morning Prayer (PDF)
City of Jerusalem at 12 PM
Our YouTube Channel
A Triduum Reflection from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Fr. Carl’s Message at 4 PM
Our YouTube Channel
Mass at Holy Name Cathedral
Archdiocesan YouTube Channel
We will embed all these videos on this homepage once available!
Ideas for celebrating at home:
- If there are multiple people in your household, wash each other’s feet in love and service, with simple materials you have on hand – Footwashing Service (PDF)
- Pray and reflect as you break bread this evening – Holy Thursday Bread Recipe (PDF) and Bread Breaking Service (PDF)
Holy Thursday Night Prayer (PDF)
LIVE Adoration from 8:30-10 PM (Music on Spotify)
GOOD FRIDAY – APRIL 10, 2020
We remember Jesus’ suffering and death, and lift up our prayers for the world!
Good Friday Morning Prayer (PDF)
Reading of the Passion at 3 PM
Our YouTube Channel
Service at Holy Name Cathedral
Archdiocesan YouTube Channel
Virtual Stations of the Cross at 7:30 PM
Our YouTube Channel
We will embed all these videos on this homepage once available!
Good Friday Night Prayer (PDF)
EASTER VIGIL – APRIL 11, 2020
We wait in vigil with the whole world, remembering our salvation story!
Holy Saturday Morning Prayer (PDF)
Blessing of the St. Giles Easter Candle at 7:30 PM
Our YouTube Channel
Easter Vigil at 8 PM at Holy Name Cathedral
Archdiocesan YouTube Channel
We will embed all these videos on this homepage once available!
Ideas for celebrating at home:
- Light a candle or make your own! – CLICK HERE (WEBSITE)
- Easter Vigil at Home (PDF) – Archdiocesan Prayer Service
St. Giles YouTube Channel – Masses & Messages
RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS
CARDINAL CUPICH’S MESSAGE TO FAMILIES – APRIL 1, 2020
ATTENTION PARISHIONERS – MASSES / ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED – In response to a directive from Cardinal Cupich as well as the Shelter in Place order from the Village of Oak Park and Governor Pritzker, all public liturgical services at St. Giles Church are cancelled until further notice.
We will post regular reflections and messages along with weekend Masses via our parish YouTube channel and Facebook page. You may also wish to watch Mass on TV or listen to it on Relevant Radio. Mercy Home offers a Sunday morning broadcast of the Mass at 9:30 AM on WGN. 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. Also CLICK HERE to see Livestream Resourses and Prayers.
Unfortunately, due to these circumstances and in keeping all safe, the church will NOT be open for prayer visits. The St. Giles Parish Center Office, at 1025 Columbian Avenue, will be also CLOSED until further notice.
All parish gatherings are also canceled until further notice. All school events on the parish campus, including all athletic practices, are canceled until further notice.
Easter Sunrise Shoeboxes are still ONGOING – Parishioners are encouraged to continue assembling them at home as a family Lenten project but should hold onto them until Church reopens and Masses resume. They can bring them to the Parish at that time.
As soon as we have any change in status, we will update this website as well as our social media outlets.
Bells Call to Prayer (Printable PDF)
St. Giles Parish will be ringing their chimes 5 times a day (9 am, Noon, 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm) as the Cardinal has instructed with specific prayers suggested for each time. Below are the prayers and intentions for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Bells Call to Prayer:
9 am – Prayer for those infected with the virus and all who are ill
Lord, place your healing hand on those who suffer illness. Bring them to full health and ease their anxious hearts. May our prayer and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary encourage them that they are not alone. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
12 pm – Prayer for health care workers and those attending to the sick
Lord, we are ennobled by those who put their lives at risk in caring for the sick. Keep them safe and embolden them when they are weary. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
3 pm – Prayer for first responders and essential workers
Lord, we pray for those who run to danger to keep us safe and those who serve the common good. Embrace them with your mantle of protection and comfort the fears of their families. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
6 pm – Prayer for people of every nation and their leaders
Lord, the pandemic opens our eyes to see each other as brothers and sisters in one human family. We pray for people of every nation and their leaders, asking that they be inspired to seek the good of all and quell the voices of division. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
9 pm – Prayer for those who have died today
Lord, we grieve the passing of our sisters and brothers who have died this day. We commend them to your tender mercy, confident that nothing, not even death, will separate us from your love. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
REMEMBER TO BE CHRIST FOR ONE ANOTHER!
We are a vibrant, engaged Roman Catholic Parish community of the Archdiocese of Chicago first established in 1927 to serve the areas of North Oak Park and the Galewood section of Chicago, but are now enriched by parishioners beyond these geographic borders. Many families in the parish have roots going back several generations while new parishioners continue to join us, seeking fellowship, service opportunities, sacraments, and religious formation.
Each week we work together to create numerous ways to live our 3 W’s: Worship, Welcoming and Walking the Way, motivated by gratitude for God’s many blessings. Through such a lifestyle the parish community supports 50 plus ministries and organizations for adults, teens and youth, a School (Pre-3 through Grade 8), and Religious Education Program (Pre-3 through Grade 8).
While we hope this site will be helpful and informative, we look forward to seeing you soon to join with our community in service and worship!
