Fr. Simon's Letter - June 16, 2024

Last Sunday was a glorious day. We basked in the sunshine and lifted our hearts and voices in gratitude and praise for the gift of Msgr. Pollard’s priesthood to the Church in Chicago and to Queen of All Saints. It was a perfect celebration that also marked the end of the school year and the beginning of summer at QAS. I am grateful to the members of the Men’s Club, the Filipino American Community Association and the Scouts for putting on a show. Even Cardinal Cupich graced us with his presence and enjoyed the afternoon.

Now that our long season of celebrations has ended, we return to the Ordinary Time of the year in the Church’s calendar. During this liturgical season, the Church gifts us with the opportunity to spend some quiet time, not away from the Mass, but drawing closer as a family through the shared experiences of our faith. “Ordinary” comes from a Latin word meaning ordered, numbered, or counted – but NOT boring. If Ordinary Time is ordered or numbered time, what are we ordered toward? What are we counting to? Ultimately, Ordinary Time is moving us, as a pilgrim Church, toward the return of Christ. But until then, we move through the year toward the final Sunday in Ordinary Time in the fall, the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe.

These 33 or 34 weeks of Ordinary Time allow us to experience the life of Christ and the life of the Church without the intense focus of an event. We can, and should, soak in this time. During this season our Sunday readings lay out for us the journey Christ took in his life. We read about his miracles, his prayer time, his friendships and sorrows. We become immersed in his day-to-day life. This is our chance to grow closer to him in the “ordinary” events of life and to be continually converted. The appropriate liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green, as green is the color of growth; we are called to grow in our faith, grow closer to Jesus, grow deeper in love during this season. Our faith is not stagnant. It’s alive! 

We are aware that life is what happens while we are busy making other plans. This is Ordinary Time - the time of life that passes, almost silently, while we are distracted with vacations, summer camps, back-to-school planning, scheduling Thanksgiving meals with all the extended family, fretting over that post-holiday credit card bill, and everything else on the calendar. But these are the weeks that God wants to spend some time with you, Jesus wants to give himself to you, the Holy Spirit wants to pour himself into you…even during this “ordinary” time! 

The summer also marks the beginning of construction at QAS. We will be working on the east transept of the basilica, as well as some masonry work on the southeast side of the Lemont building, and various other odds and ends - a building as old as ours needs regular maintenance and repair.

In two weeks, on Saturday June 29, Queen of All Saints parish will host the parishes in Vicariate II for the National Eucharistic Revival celebrations in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Guests from many area parishes as well as pilgrims of the Eucharistic Revival will gather at our 5 pm Mass. After the Mass, there will be a Eucharistic procession around the basilica and the field, stopping at seven altars for prayer and concluding with benediction at the seventh altar in front of the main door of the basilica. I invite you all to come and be part of these celebrations.

As many of you may know, I will be leaving for my six-month sabbatical at the end of June. I will continue to pray for all of you as I take this time to rest, learn and pray. Fr. Nate will be the administrator of the parish in my absence, and I am confident that he will lead our community with faith and integrity.

A warning: There are some dishonest people who send emails, text messages and even phone calls in my name letting you know that I am in some sort of trouble or stranded and need help. They will ask you to send gift cards or some sort of financial help. Please do not fall victim to such requests. I WILL NOT contact any parishioner directly asking for assistance. Should I find myself in trouble or stranded, the rectory and parish office will be the first to know. Please contact the rectory or parish office if you receive any such requests. 

Blessings!!