Bethlehem Nativity Products will be visiting our parish on October 10th and 11th on behalf of St. Catherine Catholic Parish of Bethlehem and the Christian families in Bethlehem (Holy Land). For centuries, the Christians and Catholics in Bethlehem have earned a living by carving olive wood religious art to sell to visiting pilgrims. Nowdays there are no tourists or pilgrimage groups visiting the Holy Land because of the war, making it difficult for Catholic artisans to support their families by the dignified work of Christ’s birth.
During their visit to our parish, Bethlehem Nativity Products will be selling hand carved religious items. They ask that you please consider purchasing a piece of art from the Holy Land to support your fellow Catholics who choose to stay and protect the Holy sites where Jesus himself lived. They believe that your purchase will make a difference in the lives of many Catholic families, and ask that you please support this noble cause.
Bethlehem Nativity Products accepts cash, personal checks, all credit cards, and monthly installment payments as well. They thank you for your generosity.
You can protect mothers and childrenby joining this worldwide mobilization to pray, fast and witness for an end to abortion! Through prayer and fasting, peaceful vigils, and community outreach, 40 Days for Life has inspired 1,000,000+ volunteers in 71 nations!
With God’s help, here are the proven results in 34 coordinated campaigns:
Over 26,500 babies saved from abortion
Over 270 abortion workers converted
Over 180 abortion centers closed
PLEASE JOIN US for the ST MARY IMMACULATE PARISH VIGIL DATE on OCTOBER 10th, anytime between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. We will pray the Rosary at 10:00 AM. Sign up for the SMI October 10 prayer times, or prayer times on any day during the campaign, by visiting the 40 Days for Life website: https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/aurorail or http://40daysforlife.com/es/Aurorail (Spanish)
Vigil location: Outside Waterleaf Women’s Center across from Planned Parenthood, 3055 E. New York Ave, Aurora – Park behind Auto Zone
Contact the 40 Days for Life local contact, Pat Burke, at pburke14@live.com with any questions.
The theme for our October 1st meeting will be “Month of the Rosary”. We will be doing a living rosary and members will be asked if they have any prayer requests. Last month at our Ice Cream Social, we were asked to bring in any unused rosaries that we may have. We will be trying to reach the goal of 250 rosaries to be donated to St. Mary Recycle Mission Group in Pennsylvania in response to the LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. So those ladies who learned how to make rosaries last year at our April meeting can put those skills to use!
We will also have a business meeting, some refreshments and some time to socialize. Ladies, if you’re looking for a way to grow in faith, help others and meet other ladies from our parish, come join us!
Thursday, October 1st, 12:30 PM Faith Sharing/Harvester Rooms
CREST HILL, Ill., September 17, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Brendan J. Cahill as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Joliet. The announcement was made by Bishop Dennis E. Spies, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Joliet.
Bishop Cahill has served as bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, Texas, since his appointment by Pope Francis in 2015. His biography and the official announcement of his appointment are available on the Diocese of Joliet’s website, www.diojoliet.org.
A press conference with Bishop Cahill will take place today at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, IL. The press conference will also be livestreamed on the Diocese of Joliet’s YouTube channel.
Bishop Cahill’s installation Mass will be scheduled for November 2026. Additional details regarding the installation will be announced as they become available.
About the Diocese of Joliet
The Diocese of Joliet serves approximately 500,000 Catholics in DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Kendall, and Will counties.
Media Contact:
Ed Duffy Chief Communications Officer Diocese of Joliet
If you would like to become a member of St. Mary Immaculate Parish, you are welcome to register as a new parishioner online anytime at smip.org/register.
If you have already registered online and would like a tour of the campus, or would like to register in person, please join us on Sunday, September 27, at 10:15 AM in the St. Anne Room for our Welcome Gathering. Long-standing parishioners are also welcome to attend!
Please contact Laura Van Ham at lvanham@smip.org or 815-436-2651, x887 with any questions.
Our parish is excited to offer RaiseRight, an easy way to support our Catholic school through earning rebates on purchases you already make!
Parishioners can purchase digital or physical gift cards for everyday shopping and choose to have the rebates benefit a specific school family. Don’t have a family to sponsor? No problem! Your rebates will go directly toward our school fundraising to purchase supplies, help cover unexpected expenses, plan for upgrades, and more.
With hundreds of participating brands, stores, and restaurants, it’s an easy way to make a difference through purchases you’re already making.
Click below and check out the attached FAQ to learn more. Together, we can support Catholic education and our school community!
Friends of Good Shepard Halloween Costume Giveaway October 3rd 2026. 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM. FREE costumes, décor and more. NW corner of the St. Mary Immaculate Parking Lot, 15629 S. RT 59, Plainfield 60544
Friends of Good Shepard have been collecting costumes and it’s time to give them away!
Join us on October 3rd, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Grey House at the NW corner of the St. Mary Immaculate Parking lot, 15629. South RT 59, Plainfield. Weather Permitting we’ll be outdoors. We have beautiful costumes (mostly children’s), accessories, décor and more. Save yourself some money, put together a fun and unique Halloween costume and have a good time! There is no charge for the costumes and fun, but donations joyfully accepted for St. Mary’s Parish. You may also bring costumes you no longer need- they may be someone else’s treasure!
Limit of one free costume per person . For more information Robin 815-814-8457 or Margie 815-919-6557
Make a Difference Day is on Saturday, October 17th this year!
You can sign up now for a service project at smip.org/MaDD
There are dozens of meaningful, family-oriented service projects are offered here at SMI and all around the community. It’s also a great opportunity for everyone to come together in loving service and fellowship!
Schedule of Events:
8:30 AM Daily Mass in the Church
9:00 AM Volunteer Blessing in the Church
9:00 AM – 3:45 PM Perform your service project some time during the day
We’re also working with the Plainfield Fire Department on sensory bags for Make a Difference Day!
In the lead-up to Make a Difference Day, we’re also looking for donations of rolls of fleece in solids or fun prints for Make a Difference Day.
Please note: we are in need of people that can sew who can bring their machine and sew the fleece the day of MaDD.
We are participating in making 14’ x 14” square blankets to help children at Linden Oaks relieve stress. All fleece can be dropped off in the commons now through October 11th. A donation of 1 yard will make 8 squares or donation of 2 yards will make 20 squares with less waste.
We are also looking for a volunteer painter or 2 to paint the Stations of the Cross and Benches in that area. Must be very meticulous when painting. Please consider helping “to shoulder a piece of the load” on our journey and support of our great parish. We have paint/stain already for this project. Interested? Have Questions?
For Make a Difference Day, we will be collecting food for 12 Micro Panties. Here are non-perishable food items that we need. Donations can be left in the blue wagons in the Narthex, near Commons Reception Desk or at the North entrance on the weekend of October 10/11. Only consider unexpired, unopened/sealed food. Of course, non-perishable. Canned Meats (Tuna, Chicken, Sausages) Canned soup and Chili Canned Spaghetti and Spaghetti O’S Canned Fruit Boxes of Breakfast Cereals Boxes of Rice-a-Roni and Pasta Roni Bars (Granola, Fruit, Breakfast) Applesauce Snack packs (Jell0O and Pudding Powdered Milk Bottles of Vegetable Oil, Salad Dressing, Condiments We have an ongoing ministry that brings food to 12 micro-pantries in the area. Any extra donations will be used to support all the micro pantries in the area.
Questions about the fleece donations or about MADD contact: Pam Angelus 815-436-2651 Ext. 849 or pangelus@smip.org
Do you have a hidden talent you would like to share with us on Make a Difference Day?
Looking for a volunteer painter or 2 to paint the Stations of the Cross and Benches in that area. Must be very meticulous when painting. Please consider helping “to shoulder a piece of the load” on our journey and support of our great parish.
We have paint/stain already for this project. Interested? Have Questions? Contact: Pam Angelus 815-436-2651 x849 or pangelus@smip.org.
