Dear Newman community,
As you may have heard, Cardinal Cupich recently announced the suspension of all liturgical services in the Archdiocese effective Saturday, March 14th. This means there will be no Sunday or daily Masses at Newman until further notice. Also, the Newman Center Lounge will be closed until further notice.
The Archdiocese has also said that, “archdiocesan churches should remain open for private prayer during a time frame best determined by each pastor.” To that end, the Newman Center Chapel will be open for private prayer from 10:00am to 12:00pm from Monday, March 16th to Friday, March 20th. I will also be available during that time for support, prayer, and individual conversation.
In an effort to remain connected and continue to grow spiritually during this time away, please follow us on social media (@jp2newman), especially our Instagram, as we will provide some resources and time of prayer through live streaming. We are planning to say a rosary around noon Monday through Friday (until we are allowed to have Mass on campus again) and a live reading of Stations of the Cross at 3pm on the remaining Fridays during Lent. We invite you to join us for these opportunities!
Know of my prayers for you and for all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and I urge you to pray to God for protection and healing during this time. Pray especially for our health care workers and those working hard to protect our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.
Finally, I urge you to stay calm while remaining vigilant and well-informed. Be attentive to communication from government, church, and university officials. These are anxious times, but with the grace of God, as well as cooperative effort and good common sense, we will persevere and continue to help those in most need.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Connor Danstrom