Author: Jackson Brunsting

Calling men of all ages!  Join the SMI Fishers of Men ministry for a 2023 Advent program.  Program details:

• 7:00AM – 8:30AM on Saturday 12/2/2023 – Saturday 12/23/2023
• Stewardship Room (upstairs by Cana Hall)
• Opening remarks | 15 min video presentation | Small group discussion | Prayer & fellowship

Advent is a special season for the Church — it is the time when the world prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ. Often, we get so caught up in our preparations that we lose sight of the point of the season, and we find ourselves no more transformed on Christmas Day than we were at the start of Advent.

Rejoice! is an Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture featuring videos from Fr. Mark Toups and other clergy. We will explore the Sunday Mass readings through a weekly video, small group reflection and prayer. 

Join us for this four-week series during Advent to help you prepare for Christ’s coming along with fellow men at St. Mary’s.  Don’t wait for New Years!  Advent is a great time to “restart” our commitment to our faith with the beginning of the church year. 

SMI Fishers of Men is a group of men seeking to be better husbands, fathers, sons, leaders and followers of Christ through study of scripture, service, fellowship and spreading God’s word.

Questions: Tom Ketelhut | 815-878-9717 | tomketelhut@gmail.com

Image copyright CC BY 4.0 DEED
Original image by Unreal

Thursday, December 7^th

8pm in the church

Please pray with us on December 7^th at 8 pm, before the Blessed Sacrament after the 7 pm Mass in Church. We will pray in Adoration with Benediction, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, other prayers, silent adoration, and hymns. This bilingual prayer service (Spanish/English) honors Our Blessed Mother.

On the feast of the Immaculate Conception (then celebrated on December 9th) in 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn, first appeared to St. Juan Diego. This prayer service bridges these two feasts to honor Our Blessed Mother (The Immaculate Conception and her appearance as Our Lady of Guadalupe to St Juan Diego) and to pray for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.

SIMBANG GABI, meaning “Night Mass”, is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Catholics in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas. Its history dates back to 1669 during the early days of Christianity in the Philippines. The Novena Masses are held in the early mornings (typically at 4am) as a compromise for farmers, who began work before sunrise to avoid the midday heat. This treasured tradition has an important role in Philippine culture and symbolizes sharing and community.

ST. MARY IMMACULATE will host the 5^th night of Simbang Gabi on Monday, December 18 at 7:30pm in the Church. All parishioners are invited and welcome! Fellowship with free food will immediately follow in the gym. Mark your calendars and join us for this joyful celebration as we wait for the coming of our Savior’s birth.

Please contact Carlyn Tran (708)227-6248 or carlyn.siwa@gmail.com from the Filipino Ministry for any questions or to volunteer! We are in need of volunteers of all ages during the Simbang Gabi Mass and fellowship in the gym. Thank you for your consideration!

Friday, December 8^th – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Holyday of Obligation)

• 6:30 a.m. English (Church)
• 9:00 a.m. English (Church) – live streamed
• 12:00 p.m. English (Church)
• 5:00 p.m. Polish (Church)
• 7:00 p.m. English (Church)
• 7:00 p.m. Spanish (Cana Hall)

Sunday, December 24^th – 4^th Sunday of Advent (does NOT count toward the Christmas Holyday of Obligation)

• 7:30 a.m. English (Church)
• 9:00 a.m. English (Church) – live streamed
• 9:00 a.m. Polish (Cana Hall)
• 10:45 p.m. English (Gym)
• 11:00 a.m. Spanish (Cana Hall)

 * No 12:15pm Mass

Sunday, December 24th, – Christmas Eve (counts for Christmas’ Holyday of Obligation)

• 3:30 p.m. English (Church)
• 3:45 p.m. English (Gym)
• 6:00 p.m. English (Church)
• 9:00 p.m. Polish (Church)
• 11:00 p.m. English (Church) – live streamed

Monday, December 25^th – Christmas Day (Holyday of Obligation)

• 7:30 a.m. English (Church)
• 9:00 a.m  English (Church) – live streamed
• 9:00 a.m  Polish (Cana Hall)
• 10:45 a.m  English (Church)
• 11:00 a.m. Spanish (Gym)
• 12:15 p.m. English (Church)
• 12:30 p.m. Spanish (Gym) 

Sunday, December 31^st

• Regular Sunday Mass schedule

Monday, January 1^st, 2024 – Mary, the Mother of God (not a Holyday of Obligation this year)

• 9:00 a.m. English (Church) – livestreamed
• 9:00 a.m. Polish (Cana Hall)
• 11:00 a.m. English (Church)
• 11:00 a.m. Spanish (Cana Hall)

Confession:

Scheduled every Saturday in Church at 2:30 pm – no Confessions on Saturday, Dec. 23 or Saturday, Dec. 30.
Confessionpalooza will be on Sunday, Dec. 17 from 1:30 p.m. until all in line are heard.

Parish Office Closing

The parish offices will be closed starting at Noon on Dec. 22^nd and then will not reopen until the morning of Jan. 3^rd.

Opłatki, meaning “holy bread,” are large, thin, rectangular wafers which are embossed with figures of the Christ Child or other Nativity scenes. The breaking of the Christmas wafer is a custom that began in Poland in the 10th century.

Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, it is shared by family members and friends who offer each other good wishes and blessings.

A limited amount of blessed Opłatki are available at the Commons Reception Desk. Donations are always appreciated. 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING SOON. ENJOY EASY TO MAKE DELICIOUS TREATS.

ORDER DATES: Nov. 29 to Dec. 6

Online orders website: tinyurl.com/SMITreats

Paper copy available at the commons desk or school office and must be returned by 2:45 PM on Dec. 6 to the Commons or School Office.

Online available through Dec.6^th

PICK-UP DATE: Dec. 14 from 3 to 5 PM

Items are frozen and must be picked up this day.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

The Knights of Columbus will be selling various items depicting the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Commons after all Masses, on November 18^th & 19^th, 25^th & 26^th and December 2^nd & 3^rd.   Items for sale include yard signs (with the image shown above), advent calendars, and many more.  Cash and checks are accepted.