In the romantic comedy, Wild Mountain Thyme, that debuted in 2020 and which takes its name from the Irish tune woven throughout the film, one of the main characters played by Christopher Walken laments the possible loss of the farm that has been in his family for generations. At the deepest moment of his fear, another character, played by Dearbhala Molly, said to him, "Things end when God wants them to." Her words were intended to provide comfort and assurance to this elderly man that if he is to lose his ancestral farm, it is because God believes it is the proper time for that loss to happen. In the end, it becomes a matter of trusting that God’s providential will is always designed for our best interests.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, the Catholic bishops of Illinois, write with a sense of urgency. Unless the General Assembly acts to renew the Invest in Kids scholarship program, more than 9,000 children currently relying on this program to attend a non-public school may have their educational path disrupted. Without an extension of the program in Illinois law now, no scholarships will be awarded for the school year that will begin in September 2024. Most of these children will have to leave the school their families determined was their best chance to receive a high-quality education in a safe and wholesome learning environment. This is an injustice that should and can be avoided, but only if the General Assembly acts when it reconvenes on October 24, 2023.

Dear Parishioners,

The back cover of this quarter’s Notre Dame Magazine features the following quotation by James Carroll,

The very act of storytelling, of arranging memory and invention according to the structure of the narrative, is by definition holy. We tell stories because we can’t help it. We tell stories because we love to entertain and hope to edify. We tell stories because they fill the silence death imposes. We tell stories because they save us.

Recently, some friends and I were debating if “milleversary” is a real word. I’d never heard of it, but some insisted it is a legitimate word that means 1,000-day anniversary. Some cleverly invented alternatives like “kiloversary,” or “k-day.”

This summer I celebrated my “milleversary” here in the Diocese of Joliet. September 29 will mark three years since I was installed as your bishop. I still remember my installation Mass as if it were yesterday. It was in the midst of the pandemic. Even though my heart raced with joy and excitement as I walked down the aisle and looked around, I thought to myself, what strange days these are with the pews only 20 percent filled with masked people.

Dear Parishioners,

I am delighted to share with you the news that this past Tuesday, September 19, St Joan of Arc School was named a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Award for 2023. The U.S. Department of Education recognized 353 schools in our country as “Blue Ribbon Schools.” This means that St. Joan of Arc School is among the top ten percent of all school in this country that take standardized tests. This recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student group assessments.

As we all know, people come and go into the fabric of our personal lives and in the lives of our religious communities as well. As such, we bade farewell to Mrs. Lynne Passarella this past Friday as she completed her final hours as our parish receptionist. Lynne took the initiative to apply for this position eight years ago after leaving the previous parish in Joliet at which she was employed.

You are all aware that the Catholic Church in this country has been engaged in, what it is calling, a “Eucharistic Revival” designed to deepen peoples knowledge and love of the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist. Last year this revival was conducted on the diocesan level. As of this past June 11, the Feast of Corpus Christi, this revival has been transferred to the parish level. The following are some of the efforts we are doing toward this revival at St. Joan of Arc.

Dear Parishioners,

On August the 15th, the Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, those present at the 7:00pm liturgy called upon God to bless our newly fashioned statue of the Madonna and Child. It was a simple but festive rite at which the artist, Wiktor Szostalo, was present. It was a privilege, not only to have this international sculptor join us for the celebration, but to also have him to speak to those gathered about his background and vocation as an artist along with his unique approach to art, especially sculpture.

Dear Parishioners,
The following include several updates and reminders.

Capital Campaign

Our parish Capital Campaign, Cherishing Tradition, Creating Vision, continues to unfold in a timely manner. It serves as yet another reflection of the generosity of our parishioners. In the near future all our parishioners will receive a statement about the campaign’s progress along with a final invitation to contribute to it if they have not done so and may wish to. Eventually there will be a memorial wall in the church narthex identifying (in alphabetical order) all those who participated in the campaign. It will not list the amount of each donation, however.

Dear Parishioners,

I am delighted to welcome to our parish staff Konnor Damery as our new Director of Adult Faith Formation. I am also happy to welcome his family as parishioners -- Ayla, his wife, and his two children Eden Marie (1 yr.) and Augustine Rex (2 mo). Konnor grew up on a small farm outside of Decatur, IL while his wife was originally from Naperville. Konnor was raised Catholic. During his first year in college, while at the Newman Center of Illinois State University, his faith in Jesus Christ deepened especially as he experienced Christ in the Eucharist.

Dear Parishioners,

On July 11, 2023, our parish staff celebrated the feast of St. Benedict with Mass at 8:15 and a festive midday lunch at which Abbot Austin Murphy OSB from St. Procopius Abbey honored us with his presence. In addition to his company, Abbot Austin presented our parish with a check for $100,000.00 as the Abbey’s contribution to our capital campaign. This very generous gift from the monks of St. Procopius community will greatly assist us in our efforts to repair and enhance the place where we worship which is a major aspect of our upcoming centennial celebration.

Dear Parishioners,

St. Benedict, in full Saint Benedict of Nursia, Nursia also spelled Norcia, (born c. 480 CE, Nursia [Italy]—died c. 547, Monte Cassino; feast day July 11, formerly March 21), founder of the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino and father of Western monasticism; the Rule that he established became the norm for monastic living throughout Europe. In 1964, in view of the work of monks following the Benedictine Rule in the evangelization and civilization of so many European countries in the Middle Ages, Pope Paul VI proclaimed him the patron saint of all Europe.