Share Christ’s love with someonein need this Christmas!
GIVING TREE 2025
Adopt a family or individual(s) to bless this Christmas!
Please visit our table on the weekends of Nov. 8/9, 15/16 and 22/23. You can find us in the Commons after all Masses.
Return your wrappedgift(s) – unless your tag specifies not to wrap – onNov. 29/ 30andDec 6/7 to the Commons Saturdays (11/29 &12/6) 3:00 PM until 5:30 PM, Sundays (11/30 &12/7) 7:00 AM until 1:00 PM.
Ways you can support our ministry:
Purchase gifts for a family or individual(s) in need
Bring your monetary donation in your Giving Tree envelope to Mass and place it in the collection basket
Donate new gift items (unused/unopened) to fill where needed.
Want to volunteer? Check to see what shifts might still be open at smip.org/GivingTree or inquire at our table for other opportunities to assist.
Other questions? Call Robin Contreras (815)814-8457
Can’t bring your gifts to either of the designated drop-off weekends?Then we must have your gifts preceding either of the weekends they are due.
Thank you to all parishioners who have completed and submitted your Commitment Card! For those parishioners who have not yet had the opportunity to renew your resolution, a final letter will be mailed to you with a personalized Commitment Card. We invite all parishioners to make a commitment as a sign of our dedication to increase the missionary outreach of St. Mary Immaculate Parish. We want to lead more souls to heaven! You may return your card by:
mailing it to the church using the pre-addressed envelope included with the letter.
or bringing it to Mass next Sunday.
or you may visit our parish website at www.smip.org/onlinegiving/ and complete an electronic Commitment Card.
We ask that all commitment cards are returned to the parish by Sunday, December 7. As a friendly reminder, electronic giving is an easy, safe and secure way to support St. Mary Immaculate Parish. To set-up a recurring weekly or monthly gift or to make a one-time donation directly from your bank account or credit card, please visit our website and follow the instructions. We are grateful for your support!
Love Your Parish
Here, united in God’s love, we are a visible sign of the body of Christ and together we do great things. Nourished by prayer and the sacraments, the members of our parish community are journeying on the path of discipleship and growing in relationship with Jesus Christ daily. We value discipleship and evangelization.
Love Your Savior
As we strive to love one another better, good stewardship plays a key role. Stewardship isn’t a code word for financial support. Stewardship is about doing the work of Christ and engaging our many resources to further the ministry and mission of Our Lord. Remembering that everything we have is a gift from our creator.
Love Your Neighbor
We know the importance of bringing the love of God to our neighbors. Through our many ministries, and our social and service-oriented outreach programs, we put into action the truth stated so eloquently by St. John the Apostle: “If God so loved us, we also must love one another” (1 Jn 4:11).
See How Magdalena Is Living As A Faithful Steward
I’ve been catholic my whole life but faith and church has not always been my first priority. A lot has changed since I became a mother. I started attending Sunday masses weekly and trying to better understand my relationship with God. Year after year, praying, receiving sacraments, teaching my kids how to be a good person, my life was going on just fine, but without a deeper meaningful connection with higher beings.
One Sunday I decided to attend a Polish mass at St. Mary Immaculate church in Plainfield (I used to go to different church in a nearby town). I kind of knew the priest since he covered Polish masses at my church when our priest was unavailable. I was excited since I always enjoyed his preachings whenever he was substituting. This one time happened to be his last time serving the Polish community at St. Mary Immaculate. What a blessing I thought, that I had the chance to see him one more time before he goes.
Something changed in me that day at the mass. After the service the priest was saying his goodbyes and there was one person giving testimony about a family member coming back to life after a long, often hopeless journey in hospital, how without all the prayers and everybody’s support it would be impossible to get through it. I didn’t know any of these people, yet my heart was pounding fast and I was unsuccessfully trying to hold back my tears. I can’t describe what I was feeling at the moment. I was overwhelmed with emotions but also I knew I was experiencing something bigger. It felt like the Holy Spirit was hovering all over the room. I felt so close with people I never knew before, I thought it must be God’s presence in them.
This happened about two years ago. I’ve been coming to the Polish 9AM mass at St. Mary since. A lot of the people and I became friends. Sometimes the priest comes and visits the parish which always brings warmth and happiness in my heart. I’m proud to be part of this community. We participate in many different events, one of which is coming later this month: Make a difference day, when everyone can come and help in a variety of projects to choose from. Those kinds of arrangements always bring people together,which is something everybody needs these days.
I’m glad God brought me to this parish that day. It’s the people I’ve met that changed my life.
Magdalena Chen
Make your Commitment Now!
Forget the checkbook and make donating simple for you and your family. With Online Giving, you can give back to your church whenever and wherever with the simple click of a button from your computer or smart device.
SMI is offering for sale bricks at the stations of the cross on the north side of the parking lot. A great gift idea for First Communions and Graduations! What a beautiful way to remember a special occasion for someone! If you are interested, please download, print, and fill out the form below and return it to the Parish Office. Copies of the form can also be picked up in the Commons.
For any questions or to see a sample, please contact Pam Angelus at 815-436-2651 or pangelus@smip.org
We are thrilled to announce that we’ll be partnering with Hallow this year, the #1 prayer app! Through prayer andmeditation rooted in the Catholic faith, Hallow helps people grow closer to God and find peace. [Users can pray alongside Fr. Mike, Sr. Miriam, Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, + many more. The app also offers mental health and sleepcontent, audiobooks, and sacred music.]
All parishioners – paid subscribers and those on the free version – are invited to be a part of St. Mary Immaculate parish page in the app. There, you’re able to create a profile, share prayer requests, and take part in prayer challenges together.
To join, visit hallow.com/parish, search (zip code – 60544 – is fastest), and follow the prompts. You’ll be given a special 6-month free trial which gives access to all the app’s premium content (you can cancel at any time) after the 6-month free trial you may subscribe to Hallow (the regular yearly subscription is $69.99 but as a member of SMIP you will receive a 25% discount which brings the subscription to $52.50. If you’d like to forgo and remain on the free version, simply hit “Skip”and you’ll have access to our parish page.
If you have any questions about starting your account with the discount, or if you already have a discount and want to know how you can take advantage of this offer, please see this document to explain how to take advantage of this offer.
Our first prayer challenge will be Pray25 (Advent Prayer Challenge) which kicks off December 1, 2025. We’d love for you to take part! Simply visit our parish page on the Community tab, start joining the waitlist on Monday, November 17, 2025, and we’ll begin on December 1st.
Sweet Success! Support the SMI 8th Grade Fundraiser!
Get ready to sweeten your holidays and support a great cause! The SMI 8th grade class is kicking off our annual fundraiser, and this year, we’re selling two of the most delicious treats around: Butter Braid Pastries and gourmet Cookie Dough Tubs!
These are perfect items for your upcoming holiday gatherings, quick breakfasts, or just a delightful treat at home. Every purchase helps our 8th graders fund their end-of-year field trips!
How to Order & Support Us:
See an SMI 8th Grader: Ask any SMI 8th grade student for an order form! Students will be available before or after Masses the weekend of November 1st and 2nd and November 8th and 9th. Students will also be present at the Holiday Handmade Craft Fair on November 8th.
Delivery Date:
The treats must be picked up from the Commons on Wednesday, November 19th from 3:15-6:00 PM. Due to the items arriving frozen, they can not be shipped to homes.
Thank you in advance for your incredible support! Your generosity makes a huge difference to our students. Questions? Please contact Andrea Medina at akblaszak@aol.com or 773-732-7023.
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.” — Pope Francis
Understanding the Jubilee Year
What is a Jubilee?
A Jubilee Year is a time of forgiveness, renewal, and spiritual reflection in our relationship with God. In biblical tradition, a Jubilee was marked by the remission of debts, the return of property, and the restoration of relationships—among individuals, nations, and even creation itself (cf. Leviticus 25:8-55). The first Christian Jubilee was declared in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII.
The 2025 Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope
The upcoming Jubilee, titled Pilgrims of Hope, calls us to rediscover the hope found in Christianity and to become signs of hope in our daily lives. This sacred year will take place from December 29, 2024, to December 28, 2025.
As Pope Francis reminds us, “May this Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ (cf. Jn 10:7,9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere, and to all as ‘our hope’ (1 Tim 1:1)” (Spes Non Confundit, 1).
Pilgrimages and Holy Doors
During Jubilee Years, the Pope designates Holy Doors for pilgrims to pass through as a sign of conversion—leaving behind their old way of life and embracing renewed faith and zeal. Passing through a Holy Door is an act of spiritual renewal and devotion.
This year, the only official Holy Doors will be in Rome. A replica of the Vatican’s Holy Doors can be found in our Commons area, serving as a reminder of the significance of this pilgrimage tradition.
Local Pilgrimage Sites
While the official Holy Doors are in Rome, local pilgrimage sites provide an opportunity for spiritual renewal during the Jubilee Year. Pilgrimage sites in our area currently include:
Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus – Joliet
St. Patrick Parish – Yorkville (see attached flyer)
National Shrine of Saint Therese – Darien
Corpus Christi, Carol Stream
Immaculate Conception, Gilman
St. Joseph, Bradley
St. Joseph, Manhattan
St. Peter, Itasca
Sts. Peter and Paul, Naperville
What is an Indulgence?
An indulgence is the remission of temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven. While repentance and confession bring forgiveness, sin disrupts God’s order and affects others. As part of divine justice, purification is necessary to restore this order.
An indulgence offers this purification through the merits of Christ’s sacrifice and the holiness of the saints, granting spiritual renewal without the suffering typically associated with penance.
How to Obtain a Jubilee Indulgence
To receive a Jubilee indulgence, one must:
Perform the designated act of devotion.
Confess their sins and be detached from all sin.
Receive the Eucharist at Mass.
Pray for the Pope’s intentions (all within a twenty-day timeframe).
Acts That Grant a Jubilee Indulgence
Visit a Jubilee Site – Pilgrimage to a designated site must include participation in Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, devotional prayers, or a penitential service with sacramental confession.
Pious Visit to a Cathedral or Basilica – Adore the Eucharist for a suitable time, recite the Our Father and the Profession of Faith, and seek Mary’s intercession.
Those unable to travel (due to illness, cloistered life, or imprisonment) can spiritually unite themselves with pilgrims by reciting the Our Father, making a Profession of Faith, and offering their sufferings to God.
Engage in Spiritual Enrichment – Participate in a mission, spiritual exercises, or a study of Vatican II documents or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Perform Works of Mercy – Visiting and assisting those in need is considered a pilgrimage to Christ Himself.
Undertake Penitential Practices – This can include fasting or abstaining on Fridays, making charitable donations, or volunteering to serve others.
The Jubilee Year is a profound opportunity for spiritual renewal and deepening our commitment to faith. May this time of grace inspire us to grow in hope and holiness.
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Reflection
A few weeks ago as the Coronavirus swept through Italy, Pope Francis led a prayer service in the rain in the darkness of night in the middle of St. Peter’s Square. It was an eerie picture seeing a lone figure praying in this huge square that is typically filled with thousands of people. For me, in a way it was a modern re-telling of the story from Matthew’s Gospel quoted above.
It seems that in our world today, many become overwhelmed and begin to feel hopeless. It appears that things will never return to normal. All of the things that we cling to in order to receive hope we have found to be empty. Our lives have been turned upside down. Some have lost jobs, we worry about having enough money to pay the rent/mortgage, or to buy groceries to feed our families.
What is hope? Hope is placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1817). This is key – hope comes from NOT relying on my own strength but one the strength of the Holy Spirit. Our hope is based in part on the assurance of all the times God had proved faithful to his promises throughout history. How can we find hope when we feel hopeless? Here are 3 suggestions I found that have helped me.
Know the reason for our Hope! God! God is both the reason for and the source of our hope. He provides the strength for us to be able to find hope in all circumstances through the many graces he has bestowed on us. On a mission trip to Jamaica where we built a little blue 14×16 house for a family when we went to hand over the keys to this family the husband/father told us that this house was a symbol of God’s Grace. He didn’t earn it, he could not have paid for it, but it was a gift. A gift freely given to his family.
Read the Bible, as well as the teachings of the Catholic Church and writings of the Saints. Reading and re-reading the stories of those who have gone before us will give us the inspiration to place our hope in God. A few weeks ago I was reading the book of Lamentations and was struck by how the Israelites saw in the dawning of a new day a renewal of the promises that the Log God had made to them. Knowing that the God of today is the same God of yesterday and of the future, we can be confident that He will provide for us in the same way that He has provided for all men and women who have gone before us and placed their trust in Him.
Prayer. Pray without ceasing! Prayer takes us out of ourselves and places us in the hands of the Lord. We learn from the Psalmist that we need to verbalize our feelings and emotions to God. Some prayer or maybe even just whisper the words, ‘Jesus, I trust in you!’ is all that is needed to remember “He is the source of our hope.” Prayer is a way to acknowledge that what is happening is bigger than me and I can’t but together with the Lord we can.
G. K. Chesterton’s great bit of wisdom: “Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.”
Song
Prayer
My Lord, I bring my burdens to You, knowing You will take care of me. You will not permit me to slip and fall. I trust You to save me out of this hopeless predicament.
O God, have mercy on me, for I feel like I’m being hounded all day long. But I will put my trust in You. I praise You for Your promises of deliverance. I trust in You, so why should I be afraid? Thank You for carrying my burdens.
You greet God and thank him for the glorious gift of life He has given to you again today and then you remember……another day of quarantine.
Do you want to start your day with a bombardment of news telling you all that is wrong with the world? Maybe you choose not to listen today, but then you wonder, what have I missed? Is something important happening, has there been a new development that I am missing? Are they telling me the truth? This channel is telling me this, while this medical expert is telling me the complete opposite to be true. Who do you believe, who can you trust?
Amidst all this confusion we are blessed to have THE constant; God. He never leaves us. He didn’t leave Adam when he was uncertain who to believe. He didn’t leave Moses when he wrestled with his new found ‘freedom’ in the desert. And He didn’t leave Peter when he ached to choose a side. And he won’t leave us now. Our confusion is not because of God—but rather it is assuaged through of Him.
Revel in the peace He offers to us.
Song
Prayer
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you
Loving God, you care for me. You care for others. People and things on earth sometimes let me down. When this happens, I offer all my cares and wishes to You. You are the one who is worthy of care and praise. Take care of me and help me take care of others.
