Holy Week & Easter 2026 at Saint Clement Parish | Chicago Catholic Church
Experience the Heart of Our Faith:
Holy Week and Easter at Saint Clement
Throughout Lent, our parish has journeyed together under the theme Fearless: Wrapped in His Mercy. Holy Week reveals why we can live with that courage and hope.
During this sacred time, Christians gather in prayer and centuries-old rituals to remember the final days of Jesus’ life—His Last Supper, His suffering and death on the Cross, and the astonishing joy of His Resurrection. Through Scripture, music, silence, and sacrament, we walk with Christ and His disciples through the mystery at the very center of our faith.
Whether you have celebrated these sacred days many times or are experiencing them for the first time, you are warmly invited to walk this journey with us and encounter the mercy, courage, and hope of the risen Christ.
Upcoming Holy Week & Easter Sunday Schedule
For further descriptions of each offering, please scroll below.
APRIL 2 - HOLY THURSDAY
Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
Mass of the Lord's Supper - 7:00 p.m.* — Presiders: Fr. Tom Hickey, Fr. Radley Alcantara, Fr. Ken Simpson
Night Prayer Service - 9:00 p.m.
(Church is open until midnight for prayer)
APRIL 3 - GOOD FRIDAY
Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
Stations of the Cross - 12:15 p.m.
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion - 3:00 p.m. — Presider: Fr. Ken Simpson
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion - 7:00 p.m.* — Presider: Fr. Radley Alcantara
APRIL 4 - HOLY SATURDAY
Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
Easter Meal Basket Blessing - Noon
Easter Vigil - 8:00 p.m.* — Presider: Fr. Radley Alcantara
APRIL 5 - EASTER SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE
8:00 a.m. Church — Presider: Fr. Ken Simpson
9:30 a.m. Church — Presider: Fr. Radley Alcantara
9:30 a.m. Chapel — Presider: Fr. Tom Hickey
9:30 a.m. School (Family Mass) — Presider: Fr. Ken Simpson
11:15 a.m. Church* — Presider: Fr. Radley Alcantara
11:15 a.m. Chapel — Presider: Fr. Tom Hickey
11:15 a.m. School (Family Mass) — Presider: Fr. Michael Rossman, S.J.
4:30 p.m. Church — Presider: Fr. Radley Alcantara
(There is no 7:00 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday)
*also livestreamed
Please note:
We encourage walking, carpooling, or public transit, especially on Easter Sunday, as the parking lot will be full. We also offer parking validation for the garage located across from Lincoln Commons at 2316 N. Lincoln/SP Parking. See the receptionist or a hospitality minister for a validation sticker.
The Easter Sunday Masses in the School will be celebrated in our Family Mass style (shorter readings, a homily geared toward young children, and space for little ones to move around).
For the 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. Easter Sunday Masses, beginning 15 minutes before Mass, we will direct guests to the Chapel or the School, as the Church is expected to reach capacity.
We look forward to celebrating this joyous day with you!
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APRIL 2 - HOLY THURSDAY
• Mass of the Lord's Supper - 7:00 p.m.*
• Prayer Services - 9:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m.
(Church is open until midnight for prayer)
*also livestreamed—
On Holy Thursday at 7:00 p.m., we gather for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper—a liturgy steeped in rich tradition and deep theological significance. On this sacred night, we recall how, at the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, offering His Body and Blood as the source of eternal life. It is also the night when He conferred the sacrament of Holy Orders upon His Apostles, entrusting them with the mission to shepherd His flock—a legacy that endures in our Church today. Additionally, the ritual of the washing of the feet powerfully reminds us of Christ’s call to serve with humility and love.
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APRIL 3 - GOOD FRIDAY
• Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
• Stations of the Cross - 12:15 p.m.
• Liturgy of the Lord's Passion - 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.**also livestreamed
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Good Friday, the most solemn day of our liturgical year, is observed without the celebration of Mass so that our focus remains solely on the mystery of the Cross. At 12:15 p.m., we meditate on the Stations of the Cross—a devotion with roots that trace back to the early pilgrimages to the Holy Land in the fourth century. Over the centuries, this practice evolved into the series of 14 reflective stations we honor today, inviting us to retrace Christ’s steps to Calvary. Later in the day, during the Service of the Lord’s Passion at 3:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m., our priests prostrate themselves—a profound gesture of humility and solidarity with Christ’s own submission. In these moments, we join our hearts in remembering the ultimate sacrifice made for our salvation.
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APRIL 4 - HOLY SATURDAY
• Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
• Easter Meal Basket Blessing - Noon
• Easter Vigil - 8:00 p.m. (further description in next listing)
Join us for the beautiful tradition of the Easter Meal Basket Blessing, a centuries-old Catholic custom with roots in Polish culture, celebrated on Holy Saturday. Families are invited to bring baskets filled with foods to be shared in their Easter meal.Traditionally, certain items are typically included, each one carrying symbolic meaning: eggs (new life), bread (Jesus, the Bread of Life), sausage/ham (the joy of the feast after Lent), salt (purity and preservation), butter (often shaped as a lamb, symbolizing Christ), horseradish (the bitterness of the Passion), and sweets (the joy of the Resurrection).
During the blessing, Fr. Radley will pray over the baskets, asking God to bless this food and those who share it. All are welcome—whether this is your first time or a cherished tradition. Join us on Holy Saturday at Noon in the plaza!
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APRIL 4 - HOLY SATURDAY
• Morning Prayer Service - 9:00 a.m.
• Easter Meal Basket Blessing - Noon (further description in previous listing)
• Easter Vigil - 8:00 p.m.**also livestreamed
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As Holy Saturday unfolds, our community also gathers at 12:00 p.m. for the blessing of the Easter Baskets—a cherished tradition that sanctifies the abundance of our shared table.
Then, as darkness gives way to dawn, we arrive at the Easter Vigil, the most significant celebration of the year. Beginning with the lighting of a new fire—a symbol of Christ’s light breaking through the darkness—the vigil ushers in the radiant hope of Resurrection. In a moment of overwhelming joy, we will welcome 75 new members into our Church, affirming that the promise of new life is ever alive among us. Please note that the additional sacraments will extend the length of the Mass.
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APRIL 5 - EASTER SUNDAY
Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Happy Easter! The Resurrected Christ restores us in hope, calls us to communion, and empowers us in our mission. We are overjoyed to invite you to join our community in prayer on Easter Sunday!
• 8:00 a.m. Mass - Church
• 9:30 a.m. Mass - Church, Chapel, & School
• 11:15 a.m. Mass - Church*, Chapel, & School
• 4:30 p.m. Mass - Church*also livestreamed
PLEASE NOTE:
Mass in the School will be celebrated in our Family Mass style (shorter readings, a homily geared toward young children, and space for little ones to move around).15 minutes prior to the Easter Sunday Mass time, parishioners and guests will be directed to either the Chapel or the School, as we anticipate the Church being full.
We encourage walking, carpooling, or public transit on Easter Sunday, as the parking lot will be full. We also offer parking validation for the garage located across from Lincoln Commons at 2316 N. Lincoln/SP Parking. See the receptionist or a hospitality minister for a validation sticker.
Learn more here.We look forward to celebrating this joyous day with you!
Easter Appeal
Partner with us in sharing the Hope of the Resurrection
This Easter season, we invite you to join us in sharing the hope and new life that flow from the Resurrection of Jesus. In a world often marked by uncertainty and hardship, the love of Christ continues to heal, strengthen, and unite those who are struggling. Together, we can help bring that message of hope to our community.
Our goal for the Easter Appeal is to raise $65,000 to sustain and grow our vital community programs. Your generosity supports meaningful outreach, spiritual nourishment, and opportunities for life-changing encounters with Christ for all who seek Him. Through your gift, we are able to continue sharing the beauty and importance of our faith while creating a place where hope is renewed and deeper faith is formed.
We thank God for your faithful partnership in this mission. Every gift—no matter the size—becomes a light for someone in need. Thank you for your generosity, your prayers, and your belief in the work we are called to do.
Walk With Us From the Cross to the Resurrection and Experience the Joy of New Life
Message from Fr. Radley Alcantara, Associate Pastor
Dear Saint Clement Parishioners,
It has been a gift to serve here as your associate pastor and the temporary administrator while Fr. Peter is on his sabbatical. I am grateful for his support, confidence, and friendship.
Being here at Saint Clement has been a real blessing for my own human formation, my pursuit of holiness, and my growth as a priest. It has also been a lot of fun and a joy to witness the many ways the Holy Spirit is at work in this parish and right here on this little corner of Lincoln Park. Over the past year, I have seen how God continues to bring new life where we might not expect it.
This year our parish has the privilege of accompanying 76 people preparing for the Easter sacraments. 19 will be baptized, confirmed, and receive the Eucharist for the first time. 33 will be received into full communion with the Catholic Church and celebrate Confirmation and Eucharist. Another 23 Catholics are completing their sacraments of initiation.
Each of these people began with a question, a conversation, or a desire for something more. Journeying with them reminds me why Easter matters so much. The Resurrection is breaking into people's lives every day.
When I step back and reflect on all of this, I’m reminded again and again that Christ is alive! He continues to call people, renew hearts, and build community in ways that none of us could do on our own.
Throughout this season of Lent, we have sought to live our faith fearlessly, wrapped in God's mercy. Easter shows us why we can live with that confidence. Jesus has risen, he has conquered sin and death, and nothing can separate us from his love. May that same courage and mercy fill your hearts as you celebrate these holy days and rejoice in the hope of the Resurrection.
I invite you to enter Holy Week with us. Walk with the Lord through the Last Supper, the Cross, and the quiet waiting of Holy Saturday. Then, come celebrate the joy of Easter morning!
I also invite you to consider supporting our Easter Appeal. Our goal is to raise $65,000 to help sustain and expand the ministries that serve thousands of people in our parish and neighborhood each year.
Thank you for being part of this community and for the many ways you help make Saint Clement a place where people encounter Christ and find belonging.
May the joy of the Resurrection fill your heart, renew your hope, and bring you peace this Easter season.
Happy Easter!
Fr. Radley Alcantara, Associate Pastor
Easter Message from Fr. Radley Alcantara, Associate Pastor
