Latest Message from Fr. Paul Cao – April 21, 2024

STAFF CHANGE – As you may know, Mary Krewer has a new full-time job as a Compliance Specialist in the Safe Environment Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago starting on April 15. Mary has worked as an Administrative Assistant for almost 6 years for St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish and before that for St. Cyprian Parish. Her last day at St. Mother Theodore Guerin was on Friday April 12. I am grateful for her hard work and dedication especially during the transition when the parishes combined. I wish her well in her new job and may God bless her always as she continues to serve the people of God in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Thanks, Mary for all you do for St. Mother Theodore Guerin!

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY – This weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter and it is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. This weekend is also designated as “World Day of Prayers for Vocations.” In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd. Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He knows his flocks and his flocks know him. Jesus calls each one of us by name and he cares for each of us.

Let us pray this weekend in a special way for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life that more young men and women respond generously to God’s call to serve his Church. Let us pray also for each one of us that we might be a good shepherd to others: parents to their children, teachers to their students, friends to their friends, leaders to their constituents… and the list goes on. Let us learn from Jesus our Good Shepherd to be more loving, more caring, and more compassionate to our brothers and sisters.

Have a great week and may God bless you and your loved ones!

In the Risen Christ,
Fr. Paul Cao
Pastor of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish

Latest Message from Fr. Paul Cao – April 28, 2024

FIRST COMMUNION – Next Saturday, May 4 at the 10 AM and 1 PM Masses at St. Celestine, the children of our parish school and Religious Education Program will receive the Body of Christ for the very first time. It is a special moment for them to come to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Please keep them in your prayers that they will be blessed and strengthened by the Lord, especially in the Eucharist. I would like to encourage the parents from the Religious Education Program and our school at St. Mother Theodore Guerin to make the effort to bring your children to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist regularly. Please come to celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday. We need Jesus to strengthen us and to be nourished by his Body in order to be closer to him.

MAY CROWNING – May is the special month that the Church designates to honor our Blessed Mother. I would like to encourage every family to take the time to pray the rosary and ask our Blessed Mother to protect us and help us to be closer to her son, Jesus Christ. Let us also light a candle for her and pray for peace in our country, in Ukraine, and in the Middle East. May is also the time when we continue the tradition of crowning our Blessed Virgin Mary as our Queen and Mother.

We will have a May Crowning at St. Cyprian at the 9 AM Mass next Sunday, May 5. We will also honor Mary with a traditional procession of her image through the streets of Elmwood Park, if weather permits, immediately following the 11 AM Mass at St. Celestine, and concluding with the crowning of the statute of Mary in front of the school. This is a significant time for all the First Communicants as they dedicate their lives to the Blessed Mother. I would like to encourage all the First Communicants to be there next Sunday to join us for Mass, for the procession and May Crowning. An ice cream social will follow in the annex and gymnasium. I would like to invite each organization to please wear your uniform and join in the procession with your banners.

May our Blessed Mother intercede for us!

Fr. Paul Cao
Pastor of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish