Happy Easter!

Christ is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Christ is Truly Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!!

Welcome to Easter at Old St. Mary’s in the South Loop, Chicago’s oldest parish, and home to the Paulist Fathers in Chicago! Again welcome, and you are welcome to come join us anytime!

The Alleluia’s are back, the font newly filled, flowers abound, the banners are hung, the cross uncovered, the new Easter candle lit and glowing – people gathered, Jesus is Risen. God be praised!

Easter is not one day, of course, nor is it only 50 days (but we’ll try like crazy to sustain the celebration for 50 days) it is an eternal feast and touches not just our every Sunday Mass from the Last Supper to now, but extends back to God himself. As I like to say it is a mystery, and we’re not going to solve this mystery anytime soon.

That’s why we hope you’ll come and join us. Look at the pages of our website. You’ll find offerings, but also spaces. Throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, we are working to “Renew My Church.” At Old St. Mary’s that means there is space for you to be with us, to be involved in what is already happening, and to help create new offerings, outreaches and connections meant to take our community out into the streets and the wider community that surrounds us.

Just as in Easter, Christ sprang from the tomb to announce the Good News to his disciples and through them to the world, so now the message continues – and we, you and me are called to be his new disciples and spread the word far and near – Christ is Risen, and it still touches all our lives today.

God Bless You!

Fr. Brad Schoeberle, CSP
Pastor