Lenten Opportunities and Holy Week Schedule

LENTEN REGULATIONS – DURING LENT

  • Fasting: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, those who are 18 but not yet 60 are allowed only one full meal. Two smaller meals are allowed as needed, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
  • Abstinence from Meat: Those who are 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES RICE BOWL – DURING LENT

  • Each Lent, Catholic families across the country unite to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl, families learn about how our sisters and brothers across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and climate change, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all.
  • There will be a collection for the Rice Bowl at each weekend Mass in Lent. If you would like a Rice Bowl to put your spare change in during the week, please pick one up at the Pastoral Center or in the back of the churches.
  • MORE INFORMATION

THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK – DURING LENT

  • The book Daily Reflections for Lent is also available for you in the vestibules or in the back of the churches.
  • It is a very good book with reflections to help us meditate every day during this Lenten season. For example, on Ash Wednesday, the topic on that day is “Why We Fast.” It says: “Throughout the Bible, fasting is demonstrated as a powerful form of prayer, helping us to discern God’s will, express sorrow for sins, grow in humility, and more. Fasting also helps us to become detached from earthly things and pleasures and focus more on God the Creator of all that is good.” Please take the book home or give the little book as a gift for someone to help them pray and focus on the love and mercy of God during this Lenten Season.

CONFESSIONS DURING LENT – SATURDAYS AND APRIL 12

  • Sacrament of Reconciliation / Confessions on Saturdays from 3:30 to 3:50 PM at St. Cyprian Church
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation / Confessions on Saturdays from 4 to 4:45 PM at St. Celestine Church
  • April 12 – Confession for those who speak Polish (Polish–speaking priest will be available) on Saturday, April 12 from 3:30 to 5 PM at St. Celestine Church

STATIONS OF THE CROSS – FRIDAYS AT 7 PM

  • We will be praying the Stations each Friday at 7 PM during Lent – It will alternate at each church – There are 14 stations that each depict a moment on Jesus’s journey to Calvary. The object of the Stations is to help us to make in spirit, a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ’s sufferings and death, and this has become one of the most popular of Catholic devotions. It is carried out by passing from Station to Station, with certain prayers at each and meditation on the various incidents.
  • March 7 at St. Celestine Church
  • March 14 at St. Cyprian Church
  • March 21 at St. Celestine Church
  • March 28 at St. Cyprian Church
  • April 4 at St. Celestine Church
  • April 11 at St. Cyprian Church
  • April 18 – Shadow Stations at St. Celestine Church

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY – MARCH 12, 19, 26 AND APRIL 2, 9

  • Lenten Bible Study on The Gospel of Luke with Fr. Stan at 6:30 PM on Wednesdays in the Fireside Room at St. Celestine Pastoral Center on March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 and 9.
  • MORE INFORMATION

LENTEN MISSION – MARCH 17 AND 18

  • Lenten Mission on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 at 7 PM at St. Celestine Church with Fr. Matt O’Donnell, Pastor of St. Moses the Black Parish – “Pilgrims of Hope”
  • MORE INFORMATION

LENTEN FUNDRAISERS – MARCH 21 AND APRIL 4

  • Friday, March 21 – Join us for a Lenten Pasta Dinner from 5 to 7 PM in the Annex and Gym at St. Celestine.
  • Friday, April 4 – We will have a Parish Fish Fry from 5 to 7 PM in the Annex and Gym at St. Celestine.
  • MORE INFORMATION

DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR – APRIL 4

  • A Holy Hour will take place on Friday, April 4 at 3 PM at St. Celestine Church
  • MORE INFORMATION

HOLY WEEK – LABYRINTH – APRIL 13-18

  • In the Gym and Annex at St. Celestine
  • Palm Sunday, April 13 from 9 AM to 5 PM
  • April 14—17 from 4 to 9 PM
  • April 18, Good Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM
  • MORE INFORMATION

HOLY WEEK – RECONCILIATION SERVICE – APRIL 14

  • Parish Reconciliation Service at 7 PM at St. Celestine Church
  • MORE INFORMATION

HOLY WEEK – TAIZÉ PRAYER SERVICE – APRIL 16

HOLY WEEK – TRIDUUM – HOLY THURSDAY – APRIL 17

  • Morning Prayer at 8 AM at St. Cyprian Church
  • Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 PM at St. Celestine Church
  • Pilgrimage or Visit to different Churches following Mass – More information to be posted!

HOLY WEEK – TRIDUUM – GOOD FRIDAY – APRIL 18

  • Morning Prayer at 8 AM at St. Celestine Church
  • Good Friday Service at 3 PM at St. Cyprian Church
  • Shadow Stations at 7 PM at St. Celestine Church

HOLY WEEK – TRIDUUM – HOLY SATURDAY – APRIL 19

  • Morning Prayer at 8 AM at St. Cyprian Church
  • Easter Basket Blessing at 11 AM at St. Cyprian Church
  • Easter Basket Blessing at 12 Noon at St. Celestine Church
  • Easter Vigil at 7:30 PM at St. Celestine Church

EASTER SUNDAY – APRIL 20

  • Masses at 7:30 AM and 11 AM at St. Celestine Church
  • Masses at 9 AM and 11:30 AM at St. Cyprian Church

Regular Parish Mass / Reconciliation Schedule – Two Worship Sites

St. Mother Theodore Guerin is one parish with two worship sites: St. Cyprian Church and St. Celestine Church. The parish school is St. Celestine school.

St. Celestine Church
3020 North 76th Court in Elmwood Park, Illinois 60707

  • Saturday at 5 PM
  • Sunday at 7:30 AM and 11 AM
  • Weekdays – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 AM
  • Reconciliation / Confessions on Saturday from 4 to 4:45 PM

St. Cyprian Church
2601 Clinton Street in River Grove, Illinois 60171

  • Saturday at 4 PM
  • Sunday at 9 AM
  • Weekdays – Tuesday and Thursday 8 AM
  • Reconciliation / Confessions on Saturday from 3:30 to 3:50 PM

Live-Streamed Masses

We live-stream the 11 AM Sunday Mass on Facebook. You are welcome to watch and listen to our previous liturgies and services on our YouTube Channel anytime.

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION – My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

View Previous Masses / Prayers in our YouTube Channel

Holy Day Schedule

Please check the current Bulletin for specific Mass times for Holy Days.

St. Celestine School Mass Schedule

During the school year, our parish school children attend the 8 AM weekday Masses at St. Celestine Church according to this schedule:

Mondays – Grades 1, 4 and 5
Wednesdays – Grades 2 and 3
Fridays – Grades 6, 7 and 8

The students are seated in the sections of pews immediately to the left and to the right of the main sections of pews off of the center aisle.

Check the school schedule for the all-school Mass schedule.