Dear Parishioners,

It is most appropriate that, on this day, I wish all of you a Happy New Year because on the First Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new liturgical year, i.e., that annual cycle of feasts and seasons which celebrates the great mysteries of our Redemption in Christ. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin adventus which means “coming” or “arrival.” This is the season that begins with a focus on, what is sometimes called, the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time.

Dear Parishioners,

In this week when gratitude is in the forefront of our minds and hearts, I wish to express my gratitude to all our parishioners who participated in our “Campaign Readiness Assessment Survey.” CLICK HERE to see a summary of the survey results. I hope everyone is as pleased with the results as I am.

I am also grateful to Lorraine Klemz who conducted the survey and met with various individuals and focus groups as part of this first phase of our campaign. In my opinion Lorraine has done an excellent job for us because she is thorough, creative, energetic and inclusive of all our parishioners.

It’s 5:10 on Wednesday morning, November 9, 2022, and as I’m looking out my kitchen window, I have a privileged view of this month’s full moon which traditionally has been called the “Beaver’s Moon.” It acquired this designation because during the light of this month’s full moon, beavers build their damns, their winter homes. On the church’s calendar today is the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the mother home for Christianity because it was the first public place of worship.

Dear Parishioners,

Our Campaign Readiness Assessment is officially underway as of Sunday, October 16, 2022. Two vibrant Vison Groups have already met and shared valuable insights with Lorraine Klemz, the director of our fundraising project. In addition, a good number of families also participated in personal interviews. The final round of Vision Groups was conducted on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. I would like to thank all those who joined in this important process and who, by their participation, helped to create the wonderful enthusiasm that is evident.

Dear Parishioners,

Years ago, while I was serving as the Director of Worship in the Diocese of Superior, WI, I was offering a presentation for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. As I consistently do, I emphasized the importance of reverence, especially when handling the Blessed Sacrament, because a lack of reverence or too casual an approach with toward the sacred elements can weaken or even destroy people’s faith in the Eucharist. An elderly woman at the workshop then made this observation, It was easier, she said, to believe in the Real Presence years ago in the “old days.” Her statement was without guile and was in no way a criticism of the liturgical reforms from the Second Vatican Council.

Dear Parishioners,

Who doesn’t love October? The temperatures are moderate. The trees are in colorful splendor. The earth is yielding its autumnal harvest of grapes, apples, squash and pumpkins. Excitement is peaked among people of all ages, but especially our youth, because of football games, homecomings, tailgate parties and the many preparations for Halloween. The sights and sounds of Christmas are beginning to emerge along with its prelude celebration of Thanksgiving. October is simply a month of abundant beauty and promise that delights the human heart.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church will celebrate 100 years as a parish in 2024. In anticipation of this significant milestone, there is an opportunity to update the worship space which hasn’t been renovated in over 15 years. The projects being considered include refurbishing the pews, painting the church and replacing the carpet and tile with terrazzo flooring. In order to continue to plan with prudence, we have retained the services of Lorraine Klemz Consulting, Inc. to assist us over the next three months with a Campaign Readiness Assessment.

Dear Parishioners,

On Monday, September 12, 2022, Ms. Mary Beth Kerner, our Parish Secretary, tendered her resignation effective September 23, 2022. She will be assuming a new position as Administrative Assistant to the Directors (one of whom is our former Pastoral Associate, Michael Lewandowski) of Evangelization and Christian Service at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Naperville. I know we all join in wishing Mary Beth the very best in her new position as we thank her for the excellent and creative work that she gave this parish for the past seven years.

Dear Parishioners,
Our parish community is exceptionally joyful today as we welcome Mr. Jack Hayes, one from among us, into ministry as a permanent deacon of the church. (A “permanent” deacon is distinguished from a “transitional” deacon. The latter is a deacon who will eventually be ordained to the priesthood. The former is a deacon who, more often than not, will remain in that ministry permanently and not be ordained to the priesthood.) Jack was officially and liturgically ordained into this ministry on Saturday, August 20, 2022 by Bishop Ronald Hicks at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet.