How St. John Brebeuf Celebrates Easter amid Covid-19 Pandemic

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A “Stay Home Save Lives” sign posted on the parkway at St. John Brebeuf Church, 8307 N. Harlem Ave. by the Village of Niles tells the story of Easter celebrations this year. Parishioners and the surrounding community will still celebrate Easter virtually via the St. John Brebeuf website, www.sjbrebeuf.org, YouTube and Facebook.

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Flowers adorn the special side altar used on Holy Thursday liturgy at St. John Brebeuf Church in Niles where parishioners and the surrounding community will still celebrate Easter virtually via the St. John Brebeuf website, www.sjbrebeuf.org, YouTube and Facebook.

Even though the church and campus are closed, parishioners and the surrounding community will still celebrate Easter via the St. John Brebeuf website, www.sjbrebeuf.org, YouTube and Facebook. Upcoming services and activities include Blessing of Easter Baskets, Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m., and Easter Vigil Mass (Bilingual) Saturday, April 11, at 8 p.m.

The blessing of the Easter baskets is one of the most enduring and beloved Polish traditions on Holy Saturday. Although baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday, this year the blessing will take place virtually. The three-part blessing prayers specifically address the various contents of the baskets, with special prayers for the meats, eggs, cakes and breads.

“It is in the Gospel of John that Jesus refers to himself as ‘the light of the world’,” said Fr. Michael Meany, pastor of St. John Brebeuf. “We seek to continue to bring that light to our world in new ways through these dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic even if we are prevented from physically being with each other.”

Easter Sunday, April 12, Masses will be broadcast at 9 a.m. in English and at 10:30 a.m. in Polish. The Easter Week schedule includes Monday, April 13, Masses at 4 p.m. in English, and at 5 p.m. in Polish; Tuesday, April 14, Rosary at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, April 15, Masses at 4 p.m. in English and at 5 p.m. in Polish; Thursday, April 16, Family Mass at 8:30 a.m. and Sunday, April 19, Masses at 9 a.m. in English and at 10:30 a.m. in Polish as well as the Divine Mercy Holy Hour at 3 p.m.

The parish is also involved in good works this Easter season. The Pandemic Parish project will provide unopened disinfecting wipes and disinfecting sprays as well as face coverings for the Niles Police Department. Other ways that they are helping others include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps people in need in the local community and partners with Niles Family Services and Catholic Charities to access resources, and Uncle Pete’s Ministry, which provides food for those in shelters in Chicago. Checks to support these ministries may be sent to the Parish Office, 8305 N. Harlem Ave., Niles, IL. 60714.

Finally, visit www.sjbrebeuf.org to hear St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of classical sacred music, the concert was recorded live in 2019 at St. John Brebeuf. “If you know the story, one can just feel the depth and take in the drama in Bach's St. Matthew Passion,” said Marek Rachelski, artistic director and conductor of the Niles Metropolitan Chorus and Musica Lumina Orchestra, who called it “A must for every life,” and added that everyone should experience the revered masterpiece at least once.

A community landmark since construction in 1964, St. John Brebeuf has been an integral part of Niles for the past 65 years. For more information or if you are in need of emergency help, please visit www.sjbrebeuf.org, or call 847-966-8145.