Saint Joan of Arc Parish

Saint Joan of Arc
Parish

9248 North Lawndale Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60203
(p) 847.673.0409

We are a vibrant parish community within the Archdiocese of Chicago...

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Altar Server Ministry

Does your child have a strong desire to be an Altar Server and serve at Mass?  Will they be in 5th grade or higher in the Fall?  They must be able to arrive 15 minutes before Mass, act with respect toward the Liturgy, and be alert and attentive.

If you are interested, pick up a copy of the Altar Server Commitment Form in church or click here to print a form, and return it to school or the parish office to be scheduled for training.

Our altar servers are young people wishing to be part of a team who work together for an orderly and prayerful celebration of Mass.  Regular attendance at Sunday Mass is an important element and an expectation.  Altar serving should be a joyful activity, and can draw both the server and their family into a deeper experience of their faith.  Servers should plan to serve at least once a month.  A schedule is generated for a month or two in advance, based on your preferences and specific date availability.

We are grateful for your service to this ministry as an altar server and look forward to working with you.

If you have any questions regarding altar servers, please contact Tricia Kane at [email protected] or the parish office at 847-673-0409.

Easter 2018

Dear St. Joan of Arc Community,

Happy Easter!  Easter is the day of Resurrection, a day of new hope, of new beginnings, and of new life.  This is a time to celebrate, for Christ is victorious over sin and death.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so too can we rise from the ashes of Lent to new life in the Spirit of the Risen Christ.

The empty tomb reminds us that we have a future and we can move forward past the stones that block us from encountering the Risen Christ.  Do not be afraid, for nothing can keep you from the love of Jesus.  Our Easter liturgies remind us to trust in God’s love and to be a people unafraid of living in the joy and hope of the Resurrection.  Holy Week is a unique time of grace in our lives and our Triduum liturgies on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were prayerful and filled with a wonderful spirit. And Easter morning was just amazing. I am so grateful for all who came and worshipped with us and also to our staff and volunteers who joined together so generously and joyfully to help us all experience the joy of the Easter Season.

Let us live in Easter joy, unafraid and at peace, for Jesus Christ is Risen!  Let us pray for each other, our parish, our school and our world.

And check out our new parish Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/sjaevanston/

On behalf of the entire staff, a Blessed Easter Season to you and your whole family!

Fr. Dan Costello
Pastor

Holiday Giving Tree – Choose a Family

Holiday Giving Tree

The annual St. Joan of Arc Giving Tree is a long parish tradition to bring Christmas joy to those in need.  This year we are provide gifts for the children of 40 needy families at our Sharing Parish of St. Agnes & 4 WINGS families.

Please help by choosing a family from the online Giving Tree.  You will find wish lists for specific families, suggested gifts, and a variety of gift cards which are at the end of the signup list, along with detailed information.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C48ADA82BA02-stjoan

Thank you for participating.  All gifts need to be returned on December 17th before the 10:30 AM Mass.

If you would like to return the gifts before December 17th or have any questions, please contact Cathy Dooley at 773-919-3011 or Jill Miller

Light of the World

light of the world

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Is the Light of the World Parish Retreat for me?
This retreat is for EVERYONE!  Whether you have been walking with Christ for a long time, just beginning to explore your relationship, or looking for a “way to come back”, God has something for you at the Light of the World Retreat. Come encounter and experience God’s love. Retreat Dates & Times - SJA Parish Hall
Friday evening, Feb 16 7 pm - 9 pm
Saturday, Feb 17 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Sunday, Feb 18 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Monday evening, Feb 19 7 pm - 9 pm
Please know that what you will gain from attending the Light of the World retreat will far outweigh your investment in time and commitment.
What is the Light of the World Evangelization Retreat?
Sometimes we move so fast through life, that we need some time to sit quietly and allow for our souls to catch up to us.  The Light of the World has changed and transformed the lives of thousands of Catholics around the world.  This on-site retreat at SJA will take us on a journey to encounter God’s love as we explore the person of Jesus Christ – His claims, His promises, and His Church – together with fellow parishioners. There will be amazing talks, quiet moments, great food and fellowship!  The weekend unites all three priority building blocks from our Parish Transformation process:  Catechesis, Call to Holiness, and Communio. The retreat will touch your heart, open your mind, and deepen your faith. Light of the World Evangelization Ministries (LOTWEM) ​brings a powerful plan for evangelization and renewal to your Catholic parish -- it's a comprehensive process. It begins with the kerygmatic Light of the World Retreat, which is designed for all adults 18 years and older. After this Catholic retreat, the process continues with Small Faith Communities, and it extends into all the areas of your parish. To learn more about this nationwide ministry now in 29 states, please visit www.LOTWEM.org
The Details…..
There is no fixed cost for this special retreat.  All meals and snacks are included.  You do not need to prepare or bring anything with you, but feel free to bring whatever will make you more comfortable for a day in the auditorium.  The dress is casual and the environment relaxed.  At the end of each day you will return to the comfort of your own home. The retreat consists of a series of presentations, each building on the one before to complete a journey of discovering the “Good News.”  For this reason, we ask that you please plan to attend the entire retreat. There will be inspired teaching, humor, hearing how others have come closer to Jesus, time for quiet prayer, and renewal of sacraments.  There will be opportunities to make new friends through the shared fellowship.  There is no anticipated response to the weekend, only the assurance that the Holy Spirit will meet you right where you are.  You need only trust in God’s faithfulness. For questions or more information, please contact Valerie Walker at [email protected] or 847-673-0409
I wish I could participate, but I just can’t commit to a whole weekend at this time.  How can I help?
If your current life circumstances prevent you from attending this weekend, please know that there are other ways that you can still participate in this important parish event: • Consider how you might offer some of your time so a spouse or other adults are able to attend (babysitting the grandkids or the neighbor’s kids, offering a ride or to walk the dogs, etc.) • There will be opportunities to help prepare and serve food for the retreatants. • PRAY for those who are attending, for those who want to attend but are hesitant, and for the retreat team • INVITE a friend or neighbor to attend.  Although it is a Catholic retreat, all are welcome.

A Blessed New Year, Everybody!

The first reading today offers us a terrific approach of how to begin this new year: blessing each other. God spells out clearly to Moses to teach this blessing upon his people:

“Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!“

Can you imagine beginning every conversation, every text, every email, every tweet, every letter, every whatever…with such a greeting in our hearts? While that may be an unrealistic expectation, I bet the more often we carry ourselves and approach each other with such a perspective in our hearts, we would be reflecting more sincerely the desire God expressed to Moses, and also to us.

Did you notice an increased attendance at weekend Masses through Advent? I sure did. It occurred to me how much we need each other in our parish, as well as in our workplaces and homes. Whether you are new to the parish or have been part of SJA for decades, please know that you are welcome and that you are needed, because we are about building up the Body of Christ around here and that includes all of us good souls! We have many voices among us, some may be stronger than others, and we need them all. We need you and thank you!

I pray that we continue to value the blessings we enjoy in being the parish that we are, unified in the mission of Jesus Christ in our parish and school and community. As Catholics, may we seek to include the graces of the Sacraments to sustain our lives, especially through the nourishment of the Eucharist regularly, and the experience of God’s loving mercy in Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Body of Christ needs you to be the Body of Christ. Those aren’t just pietistic words…that’s living out the calling each of us received at Baptism. And as it happens, miracles become apparent and our lives are changed.

Thank you for your generosity and kindnesses shown to our parish/school staff and me. We are grateful to be serving in our parish and school, and the spirit of generosity and pitching in together is a great strength in our community. May this coming year be full of the Lord’s abundant blessings upon all of us as we continue the mission Jesus invites us to accomplish in His name.

Pastor’s Christmas Message

Do you enjoy gifts?  Most people do. This is one reason why Christmas is so popular.  Our Advent Season of waiting and watching gives way to the joy and holiness of Christmas Day and all it brings: the tearing of wrapping paper, the precious time with friends and family, Christmas Mass, and an extra good meal!

Reflecting upon this past year, we have received many blessings as a parish: a renewed church sanctuary, a new pre-school playground, plenty of much-needed repairs and improvements in our school building, and new friendships and relationships across the parish.  Our Parish Transformation process has given birth to spiritual growth opportunities.  We can look forward to this continuing in 2017 with more events and resources, including a special parish retreat which will be offered next Lent and more formally detailed in early 2017.  The positive movement of the Spirit in our parish will continue to encourage the best from each of us as we increase our awareness of and responsibility to share the mission of Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord provides through the dedication, prayers, and generosity of our parishioners.  That positive Spirit is so often manifested in the many parishioners who volunteer their time, talent and treasures in parish and school functions and we are all so very grateful for the life-giving presence they offer to our parish and school community.

The heart of Christmas is the gift of Jesus Christ who saves us.  He is the gift who overwhelms us with his love and peace, and guides our hearts. May I ask that you prayerfully consider your Christmas gift to St. Joan of Arc this year?  With our school enrollment declining, our budget is particularly tight and our obligations will reduce our available savings.  I am very grateful for your assistance in support of our parish and school.

This Christmas, may we be overwhelmed again by the sheer enormity of God’s gifts to us.  May your heart be full of praise and gratitude and may 2017 be full of the Lord’s graces and blessings upon you and your family. 

Merry Christmas!

Fr. Dan