Eucharist
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” John 6:51
The Most Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian Life and so the center of our life here at Saint Petronille. We worship with reverence the Lord truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist each and every day and invite you to join us. Mass is offered at 6:15 am Monday through Friday, 8:00 am Monday through Saturday. Our Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is celebrated on Saturday at 5:00 pm and Sunday at 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11:30 am and 5:00 pm.
Livestream
Saint Petronille Parish has a well-developed LiveStream ministry by which Mass is livestreamed daily and other events as they are announced. If you would like to assist at Mass virtually, please click the button below.
If you would like to receive your First Holy Communion, please be in touch with our Religious Education Office at 630-858-3796 or contact the Religious Education Office.
Guidelines for Receiving the Most Holy Eucharist in a Catholic Church
For Catholics
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.
For our fellow Christians
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21).
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 §4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 §3).
For those not receiving Holy Communion
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.
For non-Christians
We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.
Prayer and Adoration
Since we believe that Jesus Christ is ontologically present in the Most Holy Eucharist, we offer Eucharistic Adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament every Friday from 3 pm to 10 pm in the parish church and on the first Friday of each month from 8:30 am until 7:30 am on Saturday. Other holy hours and prayer services are held as the parish calendar lists them.
The Most Holy Rosary is prayed every day, Monday through Saturday, before the 8:00 am Mass in the church.
Sacred Music
“…be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” Ephesians 5:18b-20
The St. Petronille Choir is for musicians high school-aged and up and open to all skill levels and experience. This volunteer choir is comprised of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses and is St. Petronille’s premier choral ensemble. The choir performs traditional hymns and choral anthems. The composers performed range from contemporary, such as John Rutter, Philip Stopford, and Dan Forrest, to classical, such as Mozart, Handel, and Fauré. The St. Petronille Choir enhances the liturgy weekly at the Sunday 9:30 am Mass and major holidays and feast days. Rehearsals occur during the academic year on Thursdays from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm.
Please contact Eric Rasmussen, Director of Sacred Music for more information!
The St. Petronille Children’s Choir is for young, beginner musicians (grades 3-8) and open to all skill levels and experience. This choir will help the children develop singing skills, such as pitch matching and rhythmic skills, and will teach them how to read basic musical notation. Participation in the choir will also help foster communication skills, mutual respect, and supportive relationships essential to a successful ensemble and the development of young people of God. This introductory choir is designed to provide the foundations of musicianship for young children so that they may advance into the St. Petronille Choir or other opportunities in the Music Ministry at St. Petronille. The children’s choir enhances the liturgy approximately once a month at Mass and rehearsals occur during the academic year at the following times:
Wednesdays: 5:25PM-6:05PM for Religious Education Students (rehearsal occurs between afternoon and evening R. E. sessions)
Thursdays: 3:20PM-4:00PM for St. Petronille School Students
Please contact Eric Rasmussen, Director of Sacred Music for more information!
Cantors lead the singing at all Masses and liturgies throughout the year.
These trained singers know the liturgy well and manage their vocal apparatus as the tool to deepen the faithful’s prayer through song. Cantors are fully invested in this ministry and develop a report between them and the congregation.
Please contact Eric Rasmussen, Director of Sacred Music for more information!
Baptism
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Congratulations on the birth of your child! We rejoice with you at the gift of new life and look forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism with you. Below you will find the process of having your child baptized here at Saint Petronille. If you have any other questions, please phone our parish office at 630-469-0404 or email us.
- Baptisms will be scheduled for currently registered and active members of the parish, those whose parents or grandparents are currently registered and active members of the parish, those who have graduated from our parish school, those who live in Glen Ellyn or the immediate surrounding towns, provided that all requirements are followed.
- Baptisms are scheduled most Sundays at 1:00pm and a maximum of 6 children may be accommodated on any one particular date. Arrangements must be made by contacting the parish office in advance.
- If this is your first child, you must take an online baptism class and e-mail us the certificate of completion after you have completed the class. We will only check possible dates after we receive the certificate of completion. Please note that there is a small fee charged for this class which goes to the ministry that provides the class, not to the parish. If you have taken a previous baptism class, please provide the date and location where the class was taken.
- For baptism of children age 7 or older, please contact the parish office.
- Godparents are required to fill out and submit a certificate of eligibility which has been signed and sealed by their proper parish. You may obtain the certificate of eligibility here.
- The certificate of eligibility form is due back to us by no later than 3 weeks before the baptism date, and we reserve the right to cancel the baptism if the paperwork is not completed in a timely manner.
Canon law permits a maximum of 2 godparents: one male and one female. You may have only one godparent if you choose.
In order to be a godparent, one must be:
- Over 16 years of age
- Have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation
- If married, he or she must be in a valid marriage recognized by the Catholic Church.
- Must be a practicing Catholic (attending Mass on Sundays and living a lifestyle in conformity with Catholic teaching).
- The parish stipend for baptism is $25.00 (payable to St. Petronille Parish). This stipend does not include a separate stipend for the priest or deacon doing the baptisms, which amount is at your discretion and should be paid directly to them. If you have any questions, please contact the parish office.
Reconciliation
“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the Church. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is God’s gift to us so that any sin committed after Baptism can be forgiven. In reconciliation we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins. With absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. The Sacrament helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God. “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).
Saint Petronille offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation every week at the following times or other times as in our parish calendar: Friday 7:00 am, Saturday 4:00 pm.
During Lent, we also have reconciliation at 8:30 am on Saturdays and as scheduled. Please also feel free to be in touch with our priests to set a time for individual confession.
If you have not yet made your first Reconciliation, please phone our Religious Education Office at (630) 858-3796.
Preparation for the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation helps the individual to make a good confession, please refer to these resources for assistance:
How to go to confession and Act of Contrition
Holy Matrimony
“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” John 2:11
Congratulations! You are engaged. What do you do now?
Phone the parish office to set your date 630-469-0404 x 0. Saint Petronille Parish will be glad to celebrate your marriage with you and your family if the bride or groom are a baptized Catholic; free to marry according to the guidelines of the Catholic Church; if you are a parishioner; live in one of the towns neighboring Glen Ellyn; have parents or grandparents who are parishioners; or if you graduated from our parish school. Although Saint Petronille Parish would be glad to celebrate with anyone coming to us for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, we are not able to accommodate weddings when neither bride or groom are Catholic or if you do not have a connection to our parish as described above.
After setting your date, you will receive a detailed letter in the mail explaining the process of preparing for your marriage.
You have been preparing for your marriage all of your life. From the first moment God created you in your mother’s womb to the present day, you have been taught everlasting and deep abiding love in a multiplicity of ways. As your wedding draws close, this proximate time of preparation is equally important. Saint Petronille is privileged to share this preparation with you.
To help you in your proximate preparation for marriage, Saint Petronille asks that you participate in the following preparation events:
- Two meetings with the priest who will be celebrating your marriage. Your first meeting should be scheduled within two weeks of receiving your letter from the parish. These meetings will discuss the Sacrament of Marriage, review the FOCCUS marriage inventory and finalize requisite paperwork.
- Each of you must contact the church where you were baptized and ask them to send us a newly issued copy of your baptismal certificate which includes notations on the back. If you were confirmed and there is no confirmation notation, you will also need to contact the church where you were confirmed and ask them to send us a certificate. These should be obtained as soon as possible and mailed directly to St. Petronille Parish, to the attention of the priest preparing you for marriage.
- Take the on-line FOCCUS inventory which will be reviewed with you in your second meeting with the priest/deacon. Instructions are included in the packet of materials you will receive after you have set your date.
- Participate in the online marriage preparation course offered here. The certificate of completion must be submitted to the priest preparing you for marriage to be included in your file.
- A Natural Family Planning course offered online. A certificate of completion must be submitted to the priest preparing you for marriage to be included in your file.
- Meeting with Eric Rasmussen, Director of Sacred Music at Saint Petronille, to plan your ceremony. You should call Eric at your convenience (630-469-0404 x 2104) to schedule this meeting.
- Obtain a marriage license from DuPage County – this license may be obtained within 60 days prior to your wedding date and should be dropped off at the parish office not less than 2 weeks before the wedding date.
We all know the tremendous expenses incurred in celebrating a wedding day. Because church employees must support their families and the church must pay her bills, the church does ask for the following modest fees:
St. Petronille Parish – $300
Organist – $250
Cantor – $200-250
Altar Servers – $20 cash each
Celebrant: $100 (suggested)
If you wish to have instrumentalists at your wedding, there is an additional fee of $200-$250 per musician. All fees must be paid and all paperwork complete by not less than 2 weeks before the wedding date.
Please contact the Director (630-469-0404, ext. 2104) or Assistant Director of Sacred Music to set up a meeting to select music and discuss fees. Musical selections must be approved by the Director or Assistant Director of Sacred Music as fitting for a Sacred occasion. Music from popular shows or of a secular nature will not be permitted in the sanctuary. Instrumentalists and vocalists from outside the parish must be approved by the Director or Assistant Director of Sacred Music and will be required to rehearse at least once with the organist. Either the Director of Sacred Music or the Assistant Director of Sacred Music will be the organist for the ceremony. If you would like to have an organist from outside the parish, they must be approved by either the Director or Assistant Director and a bench fee must be paid to the parish.
Mass of Christian Burial
“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25
On behalf of the parish and staff of St. Petronille, we extend our prayerful support upon the death of your loved one.
What do I do now?
When you have experienced the death of a loved one, you will want to decide on the funeral home to assist you. Perhaps a particular funeral home helped you in the past or perhaps you just do not know where to start. There are several funeral homes near Saint Petronille Parish, we recommend phoning one of these.
After you have called the funeral home, phone our parish office 630-469-0404. We will answer the phone at any time of the day or night and are happy to come to the home to offer prayers at the time of your relatives passing. Usually, the funeral home will also be in touch with the parish to set dates and begin the planning process. Deacon John Spiezio or someone from our worship office will be in touch with you to walk with you through the planning process. If you have a particular priest that you would like to offer the funeral Mass, please do not hesitate to make this request. Please feel free to be in touch with the parish office with any questions or requests.
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church and they should pray over him and anoint him with the oil of the Lord.” James 5:14
In the Church’s Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
The Rite of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.
The priests of Saint Petronille consider it a joyful obligation to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing to those who are sick and, in particular, to those close to death. Please phone us at the first sign of difficulty and we will be glad to visit and celebrate the Sacraments with your loved one who is suffering. In the event that your relative or dear friend is close to death, please do not hesitate to phone us any time of the day or night on the general parish phone line, 630-469-0404, and press ‘1’ when the phone answers. You will find a live human being on the other end of the line taking down the pertinent information and a priest will be immediately dispatched to your home or hospital. Do not email us in such situations, because we may not receive the email for some hours.
Please notice that, if your relative is in a hospital or nursing home, you should communicate not only the facility but also the room number and make certain that the hospital officials have been informed that you have permission to see your relative. Hospitals can be very strict in this regard and have refused admittance to the priest in such situations.