Palm Sunday - April 13, 2025
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Blessing and Distribution of Palms at all Masses
St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street Directions & Parking Info 5 PM Vigil Mass on Sat. April 12, 2025* 5:30 AM (Rosary), 6 AM Mass* 9:30 AM Mass If weather permits, we will bless the palms at the Church front steps and then process around the Church 11:30 AM Indonesian Mass St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church at 218 W. Alexander Street Directions & Parking Info 8 AM Mass* 10:30 AM Mass If weather permits, we will bless the palms in the Prayer Garden, and then process to Church. 11:45 AM Living Stations of the Cross performed by the students of the parish school, St. Therese Chinese Catholic School. Also called "Passion Sunday" is the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus's entrance on a donkey into Jerusalem welcomed by people waving palms. * Palms will be blessed and distributed at the beginning of all the Masses. At 5 PM, 6 AM and 8 AM Masses, we will bless the palms at the Church entrance area and then process to the front of the Church and then return to your pews. |
Holy Thursday - April 17, 2025
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Holy Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday, is the first day of the Paschal Triduum and ends the Lenten season. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ's Paschal Mystery. On Holy Thursday, we commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus. This was when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, teaching them that to serve others sacrificially. The Last Supper is also considered to be the First Mass as Jesus instituted the Eucharist. St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street Directions & Parking Info 7 PM Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (Pastor) Father Li will wash the feet of 12 people. There will be the presentation of the oils at the beginning of Mass. The Holy Communion will be transferred to the side of the altar at the end of Mass. After the Mass, at 8:45 PM, the Visitation of the 7 Churches will begin. Anyone (any age) interested can join this unique pilgrimage tradition! Pilgrimage Guide will be distributed at the start. We drive together in separate cars and meet up at the churches to view the inside and pray together for about 15 minutes each. Those who cannot drive can ride in the school bus (space is limited) and suggested donation is $15/person - please contact [email protected] to save a seat. The bus will return back to St. Barbara Church at the end, estimated time is 12:15 AM (next day, April 18). |
Holy Thursday Seven Church Visitation
St. Barbara Church 2859 S. Throop St.
Basilica of St. Hyacinth 3636 W Wolfram St.
St. Andrew 3546 N Paulina St.
St. Alphonsus 1429 W Wellington Ave.
St. Clement 642 W Deming Pl.
St. Vincent de Paul 1010 W Webster Ave
St. Teresa of Avila 1950 N Kenmore Ave.
St. Barbara Church 2859 S. Throop St.
Basilica of St. Hyacinth 3636 W Wolfram St.
St. Andrew 3546 N Paulina St.
St. Alphonsus 1429 W Wellington Ave.
St. Clement 642 W Deming Pl.
St. Vincent de Paul 1010 W Webster Ave
St. Teresa of Avila 1950 N Kenmore Ave.
Good Friday - April 18, 2025
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On Good Friday, we commemorate the crucifixion and death of our Lord. A day of sorrow yet it is called "good" as we know this day leads to Easter. It is the essence of sacrificial love.
St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street Directions & Parking Info 3 PM Stations of the Cross 7 PM Veneration of the Cross and Communion Service (There will be a collection for the Holy Land). The congregation approaches the altar to pay respect to the cross through a kiss, a touch, or a taking of the knee. There is no Mass as the priests do not consecrate the bread into Eucharist. The Communion passed out was consecrated on Holy Thursday. This is why the Holy Communion was transferred to the side of the altar at the end of Holy Thursday Mass. Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence. For more details on what that means, see the FAQs. |
Holy Saturday - April 19, 2025
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St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street Directions & Parking Info 10 AM Decoration of the church 11:30 AM Święconka Easter Basket Blessing - bring your baskets and your family to this sweet (and savory!) family tradition of ours. St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church at 218 W. Alexander Street Directions & Parking Info 10 AM Decoration of the church 7:30 PM Easter Vigil Mass Easter Vigil commemorates the last day of Jesus's death. "He descended into Hell" as the Apostles' Creed. This was when Jesus's harrowing of hell and releasing the good souls who died before him. When He rise on Easter, all the good souls rise with him! He is our Savior! New Elects receive the sacrament of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. |
Easter Sunday - April 20, 2025
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On Easter Sunday we celebrate that "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures". St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street Directions & Parking Info 5:30 AM (Rosary), 6 AM Mass, 9:30 AM Mass St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church at 218 W. Alexander Street Directions & Parking Info 8 AM Mass 10:30 AM Mass followed by Easter Egg Hunt Kids at 11:30 AM. Kids, bring your baskets! 12 PM Brunch with Easter Bunny ($10/person or $25/family). |
Frequently Asked Questions
What to wear?
Generally, you will find people wearing casual clothes and some wearing suits and dresses. As Easter is a special time of year, you may find most people do "spiffy up" for the special occasion. Some event may have an outdoor component so plan accordingly to weather.
Where can I park?
For St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street see Directions & Parking Info and for St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church at 218 W. Alexander Street see Directions & Parking Info.
How can I focus on the 3 pillars of Lent?
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving/acts of charity. Here are some ideas:
Generally, you will find people wearing casual clothes and some wearing suits and dresses. As Easter is a special time of year, you may find most people do "spiffy up" for the special occasion. Some event may have an outdoor component so plan accordingly to weather.
Where can I park?
For St. Barbara Catholic Church at 2859 S. Throop Street see Directions & Parking Info and for St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church at 218 W. Alexander Street see Directions & Parking Info.
How can I focus on the 3 pillars of Lent?
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving/acts of charity. Here are some ideas:
- Prayer:
- Every Monday at 4 PM, join us for Street Rosary and at 5 PM join us for Eucharist Adoration at St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church.
- This Lent, our parish has been reading the book "33 Days to Eucharistic Glory". You can pick a copy up at the church entrance.
- On Tues. April 1, join us in the monthly Parish Outreach to pray the scriptural Rosary with the residents of Senior Suites Bridgeport at 5 PM at 2825 S. Halsted, 6th floor Community Room.
- Our parish had also been meditating on the Stations of the Cross every Friday (St. Therese Church: Mar. 7, 21, & Apr. 4 and St. Barbara Church: Mar.14, 28 & Apr. 11)
- And of course, spending time on individual prayers or joining one or more of our Holy Week events listed above.
- Fasting: Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting. Remember, fasting without prayer is dieting! Dedicate prayer time on Good Friday to connect with our Lord and the great sacrifice He made for you. On the Fridays of Lent, we remember the sacrifice of Christ on Good Friday and unite ourselves with that sacrifice through abstinence and prayer.
- Those between the age of 14 - 18, abstain from eating meat but do not have to fast.
- Those who are 18 - 59 years old should eat only 1 meatless meal for the day. Two smaller meatless meals can taken if needed to keep up strength but they should not add up to a full meal.
- Meat is defined as chickens, birds, cows, sheep and pigs.
- Fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals), shellfish, gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs are permitted.
- While fish, lobster, and other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of abstinence, indulging in the lavish buffet at your favorite seafood place sort of misses the point. Abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent is a penitential practice.
- Soups and sauces made with meat but does not contain not containing pieces of meat can be consumed.
- Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill, and women who are pregnant or nursing. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.
- Almsgiving / Acts of Charity:
- Every Lent, our parish collects funds in the CRS Rice Bowl helping communities around the world affected by hunger and poverty. You can pick up a rice bowl at church or give online here.
- You can donate to the upkeeping of our churches and the services we provide by going to GiveCentral.
- Join the parish on as we team up with the Sisters from the Missionaries of Charity. The Sisters operate the St. Joseph's Home soup kitchen at 115 N. Oakley Blvd. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Parish Office either by email or by calling 312-842-6777 (STWS) or 312-842-7979 (SBWS). Our parish go once a week but the soup kitchen is open every day. To volunteer separately, the Sisters directly by calling (773) 847-8771.
