Suburban Religious Services Suspended Due To Coronavirus Concerns

WILL & DUPAGE COUNTIES, IL — The Catholic Diocese of Joliet confirmed Thursday that starting the weekend of March 20, all normal religious services have been suspended until further notice. The cancellation applies to all parishes in the Diocese; for a list of Joliet Diocese parishes, please follow this link.

A letter released by Bishop Richard Pates via Facebook detailed that the cancelled services include celebrations for Easter week previously scheduled to begin Sunday, April 4.

"This radical step is most painful but is undertaken in the interests of the health of our parishioners and the broader community," Pates said in his letter. "I know it was ever so difficult for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to take this same step at the Vatican."

At the same time, Masjids and Islamic Centers across the western suburbs have likewise suspended their Friday Jummah services and other events, citing concerns over public health. The Islamic Foundation of the Southwest Suburbs in Plainfield told Patch that it would be suspending its Friday services for two weeks starting March 20, and the Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) said via their Facebook page that all onsite services were cancelled until further notice. However, the ICN also stated that religious education classes and khatiras are now being offered online.

Patch also reached out to both the Islamic Center of Romeoville and the Muslim Association of Bolingbrook about how they are responding to the coronavirus crisis, but did not immediately receive a response from either.

"May Allah keep our Imaan strong during these times and protect us all," A statement from the ICN Facebook page said. "Ameen."

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