A Note From Father Eickhoff

May 11, 2025

Last Saturday (May 3rd) over sixty children of St. Anne Parish received the Holy Eucharist for the first time. I want to offer my congratulations to these children on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire parish. Should you see one of these children during Mass you might also offer your congratulations. I also want to thank everyone who aided these children in their preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Communion. There are many volunteers in the Religious Education Program who have assisted these children in becoming ready to receive the Holy Eucharist. Their help is greatly appreciated not only by the children, but by the entire parish. I also want to thank the staff members in the Religious Education Program – Cathy Gillooly and Julie Krakora – for all their work in running the RE program and in preparing for the two First Communion Masses. I especially want to thank the parents and families of the children who have supported their preparation for the sacrament by their example in attending Mass and in many other ways.

I also want to thank the members of the children’s choir. If you have missed hearing them, they normally sing at the 11am Sunday Mass. They will be going on hiatus for the summer and so last Sunday was their last performance until the Fall. Their efforts have been greatly appreciated this past year. I also want to thank their parents for supporting them and for helping to supervise their practices. A word of thanks also goes out to our Music Director – Richard Jurevich – for all his work in leading the children’s choir; in addition to all the other choirs that he leads or supervises in the parish. The children’s choir will return after the summer break so if you have a child who wishes to sing in the choir in the future please check for an announcement at the end of summer for when the children’s choir will resume.

I also want to thank again the Arts and Environment Committee for a job well done in decorating the church during the Seasons of Lent and Easter. Last Sunday (May 4th) St. Anne Parish hosted the Diocese of Joliet Scout Religious Awards Mass during which many scouts from all over the diocese received recognition for Catholic religious awards they had earned this past year. The celebrant for the Mass was Bishop Hicks and he complemented the parish for the excellent decorations.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Stephen Eickhoff
Pastor