Receiving Holy Communion on the Tongue RESUMES:

Just recently, we received a word from the Archdiocese that the option to receive Communion on the tongue is permissible now to those parishioners, who would like to receive it this way, but only if we follow some very strict procedures described below.  Please note, that it is still preferred that you receive Communion on the hand with your palms open to receive the Holy Eucharist, as it is the safest way to distribute/receive Holy Communion at this time.

At this time, the distribution of the Holy Communion on the tongue will take place during WEEKDAY Morning Masses only,  Monday to Saturday at 8:30 AM.

Depending on the number of available Extraordinary Ministers of Communion who are willing to help with this specific Communion Station, it is our hope to start the distribution of Holy Communion on the tongue during the WEEKEND MASSES sometime in October.

We are going to implement the following procedures for Distributing Holy Communion on the Tongue:
 

1. We are establishing a dedicated Communion Station for those receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, separate from those coming to receive Communion in the hand.  This station is going to be located on the right side of the Church where the Holy Family is located.  Thus, those who would like receive Holy Eucharist on the tongue need to be seated in the right section of the Church, where the station is going to be located.

2. Communicants must move forward to the designated station in single file maintaining six feet between each person assisted by markings on the floor;

3. The minister distributing Holy Communion wearing a mask/face shield is going to stop distributing Communion after every Communicant, to thoroughly sanitize his/her hands, before continuing with the distribution of Communion to the next person;

4. Those receiving Holy Communion are required to sanitize their hands from a sanitizer offered by an usher, then remove the strap of the mask or face covering from one ear, letting it hang from the other ear, and exercising care not to touch the face, clothing or any other surface after sanitizing the hands;

5. After having sanitized his/her hands, the communicant can approach the priest or extraordinary minister, and receive the Host on the tongue;

6. The communicant needs to step six feet to the side, replace the mask over the mouth and nose and return to his/her seat;

Please be patient, as all Ministers will be taking their time to strictly follow all the necessary safety procedures. 

On August 12th, we raised a new flag that was presented in honor of Bob McDonough, who served in the U.S. Army.  He worked for the Chicago Fire Department.  We remember and pray for all those worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect our country.  We pray that the Lord bless them, for their unselfish service to preserve our freedom, our safety, and our country’s heritage.  The flag was donated by Chester S., whom we thank for the honor of flying his flag.

If you have a flag from a veteran’s funeral that you would like to have flown from our pole, we would be happy to accommodate you at the next available opportunity. Please call the Parish Office for details.

Parishioners are asked to bring their own face masks or face shields that must be worn by all during the duration of all services, to sanitize their hands, and to maintain social distancing at all times.  Per Cardinal Cupich, the dispensation from attending Sunday Mass and Holy Day of Obligation is still in effect.  If you have had fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell or been in close contact with anyone confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days, please Livestream Mass from your home! 
 
Weekday Masses:
Monday through Saturday, 8:30 AM in Church
- no reservations required for weekday Masses;
- you will be asked to sign in your name and  
  telephone number;
- all weekday Masses are streamed LIVE;
 
Weekend Masses:
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM in Church

Sunday:    8:00 AM in Church 
                 9:30 AM in the Bernardin Center
                11:00 AM in Church 
 
- The 9:30 AM Mass in the Bernardine Center give us adequate time to disinfect/clean the Church
- reservations are required for all Weekend Masses;
 
Private Prayer in the Adoration Chapel:
- every Tuesday from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM
- every Wednesday from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM
- no reservations required;
 
The Sacrament of Reconciliation:
- every Saturday from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM
- there will be two priests available;
- only “behind the screen” confessions; 
- no “face to face” confessions available;
- no reservations required;
 

Sunday Mass Reservations:

1. Go to the following link:

2. Call the Parish Office during the regular business hours: 708-597-3180.

Parishioner Reopening Guide

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Incarnation. 

Since COVID-19 hit, there have been a lot of changes to the way that Incarnation Parish operates.  

- Since March, the Holy Mass has gone online to accommodate those who cannot attend or do not feel safe.  

- In-person Masses have reduced the seating capacity and we strictly follow the safety procedures, from disinfecting the whole Church after every single Liturgy, wearing face coverings by all, to sanitizing our hands before Masses and receiving Holy Communion.  

- The Sunday collections drastically declined at the beginning of the Pandemic, but have almost returned to our average projections.

However, the second collections are still almost non-existent.  Collections such as those for our Building Maintenance Fund, Religious Education Scholarship Fund, Youth Ministry, etc. were all considered when we created our operating budget for this fiscal year.

While our First Collection is extremely important, the Parish has also relied on the second collection to help reduce the normal operating functions of our buildings and ministries.  The St. Vincent de Paul Society that helps those in need of assistance, also relied on the generosity of our community through the second collections along with those collections that we participate in for the benefit of Archdiocesan groups.

During this difficult time, I ask that you consider extending your stewardship to these causes along with the support you are providing for our Parish. This is CRUCIAL to continue our Mission/Ministry at Incarnation entrusted to us by the Lord.

I welcome those who can drop off their weekly envelopes at the Rectory’s donation box (located outside of the Parish Office door) or the donation boxes by the entrance to the Church and Adoration Chapel.

For those who cannot join us in Church, please consider mailing your weekly envelopes via US mail to the following address:

Incarnation Catholic Church
5757 W. 127th Street,
Crestwood, IL 60418-2402

I also encourage you to consider electronic giving. It’s easy to give:

Go online at:

www.faithdirect.net (our Parish Code IL912)

or text $ amount to 708.505.8432.

Together, we can make a difference and continue our Mission.  Thank you so much for your support and your prayers!

Fr. Arek Falana - Pastor






​​​​​
Holy Mary “Health of the Sick,”  You always kept Your faith firm as You stood near the Cross as Jesus suffered. You know what we need.  We are certain that You will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of our trial.

We seek refuge under Your protection, and we trust, that You help us to conform ourselves to the will of God the Father.  Amen.

Join our YOUTH GROUP!

Fr. Arek visited Train Youth Group in Tennessee with our Youth Minister Michael J. and chaperones Eileen and Jeff C. as they completed their participation in the Mission helping with household work for the needy.

On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, they started the day with the celebration of Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Gatlinburg, TN., asking the Lord to shape their hearts after His Sacred Heart and then we had delicious breakfast. It was wonderful to hear our teens sharing their experience as they worked and had great fun as well.

We are happy to share with our parish community that the long-awaited statue of St. Michael the Archangel has been completed and is on display in our church. 
 
May St. Michael the Archangel and all Saints intercede for our parish, for our Archdiocese, and the whole Church.  May their example inspire us to imitate Jesus in our own life.

We also welcomed the first-class relic of St. Faustina Kowalska to our Parish! In the specially built reliquary in our Church, you can also find the following first-class relics:

- True Cross of our Lord Jesus
- St. John of the Cross
- St. Simon Stock
- St. Germaine
- St. Maria Goretti
- St. Brother Albert Chmielowski
- Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos
- Bl. Sister Bernardyna Jablosnka

COMING UP: St. Vincent de Paul!
 

May God continue to bless our Incarnation Family, and may the Saints intercede for us.

Handing on our faith to the next generation of Catholics is one of the most important responsibilities we share as the Church.  

Incarnation Parish Religious Education Program (REP) is dedicated to this mission!  

Our goal is to build a community where young disciples and their families not only learn more about the life-saving message of Our Lord Jesus, they truly encounter the love and mercy of Christ through our wonderful catechists, aides, and board members!  

REP meets from September through May, on Sunday mornings or Monday afternoons.  Over 260 kindergarten through eighth graders currently join in prayer, music, art, and study - bringing our Catholic faith alive!  Every grade lives the mission of Jesus by doing service, in our parish community and beyond. From our first graders who make cards for the nursing home, to our third graders who pray the rosary, to our seventh graders who serve as junior catechists, all our young disciples learn the importance of "washing feet."  We also worship together and learn about the Holy Mass: all our grades attend "class Masses" with their catechists throughout the year, to deepen their understanding of and relationship to the Eucharist.  

From our dedicated catechists who have been teaching for over thirty years, to our high school helpers, everyone in REP is welcome to share their time and giftedness!  And our REP Board is amazing - hard working and strong in their faith.  Every summer they gather for an overnight retreat, spending time in prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth.  

Please keep our religious education program, our children, their families, our catechists, aides and staff, in your prayers - that the Holy Spirit of God continue to bless us and inspire us. 

Also please stop by the Religious Education office to register your child(ren) to our wonderful program, call at 708.388.4005 for more information or check out our REP web page by clicking HERE.

Kathy McNicholas - Pastoral Associate & Director of Religious Education Program


 

Click on the following image to pray with us a Catholic Devotion of Your Choice:

Videos also include a children's friendly 3-part series on "Saintly Heroes."

1. Visit our official Facebook page, click ‘like’
    and make sure to ‘follow’ us.

2. Text @2g77e to the following phone
     number: 81010 to receive parish updates
     and weekly inspirational text messages.

3. Keep visiting our website at    
    www.incparish.com
    to view our recent bulletins and parish
    information.

4. Follow us on Instagram    
                                    @IncarnationCatholic

We welcome back these beautifully restored statues of the Holy Family, that were part of the original Incarnation Church over 25 years ago.

Answering the call for the New Evangelization, all leaders and members of all ministries from Formation/Education, Spiritual Life, Parish Life and Human Concerns Commissions participated in the spiritual and evangelical renewal program “Alpha” that was adopted to the needs of Incarnation Parish and given our own name of “Journey to the Heart of the Faith.”  This faith formation in our Parish is ongoing.  We continue by offering programs to all parishioners throughout the year.  Please watch the video below: