Daybreak Meal to Feed the Homeless

Category: Parish News

Daybreak Meal to Feed the Homeless

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

JANUARY Daybreak Meal to Feed the Homeless

Food Donations Needed BY JANUARY 5.

Our next Daybreak Meal donation date is January 6. We would greatly appreciate your help with donating various items for meal preparation.

If you would like to help, please sign up to donate an item at smip.org/daybreak by January 5. We ask that donated items please be brought to the Commons by Tuesday, January 6, at 10:00 a.m. for pick up that day. Perishable items should be marked and placed in the refrigerator in the parish kitchen.

Please note: Our offices will be closed from December 24 through January 4. Items may be brought to the commons on the weekends, when we are open for Mass.

Our meals are successful as a result of your generosity. Your participation is truly a way to make a positive difference in someone’s life.

Questions?  Contact Chris McLawhorn at 815-436-8374 or Kathy Hall at 815-436-2729.

Breakfast with Saint Nicholas

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

When: Sunday, December 14th
Time: 8 am – 12 pm
Where: SMI gym
Cost: $8 per person

Come one, come all!

Gather together for our annual Breakfast with Saint Nicholas event Sunday, December 14th from 8:00 am – Noon, in the school gym. It is holiday fun for the whole family – pictures with Saint Nicholas, kids crafts, hot cocoa station and of course a delicious breakfast made by our Men’s Club!

See you there!

CCW Bake Sale Thank You!

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

The Council of Catholic Women would like to THANK everyone from the parish and the school for supporting our Bake Sale & Raffle. Some donated prizes or bakery goods, some helped by being there and so many of you supported us by buying our bakery goods and/or raffle tickets. Our fundraiser was a success because of all of you!

We would like to congratulate the winners of our raffle!

BACKROADS Gift Basket – Lori R
Wildcraft Knife Set – Michele Robert
Coffee Tumblers, Coffee & Panera Gift Card – Judy Jordan
Tabletop Patio Heater with Propane – Tom Brady
Advent Lotto Ticket Wreath – Margie Kosinski
Grilling Tool Set & Skewers – Dee Kovas
Leather Tote Bag, Towel, Acorns & Gift Cards – Dorothy Curry
Spa Gift Basket & Cross – Paula Bruno

THANK YOU  –  THANK YOU  –  THANK YOU  

Any questions, please contact:
Grace Blaszak at 773-727-0237 or Karen Grygiel at 779-233-7273

Simbang Gabi

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

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 1st night of Simbang Gabi on Sunday, December 14 at 5:00 PM 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 carlyn.siwa@gmail.com from the Filipino Ministry for any questions!

St. Anne Sewing Angels

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

The Saint Anne Sewing Angels are back!  Members of this ministry will be available to mend or repair your clothing items on Saturday, December 13, in the St. Anne Room. Repair drop off will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Pick up by noon.

Please make sure that all items are clean. They ask that even new clothing be washed, and that all price/vendor tags be removed.

The Sewing Angels will regularly be onsite for clothing repairs on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Check the parish bulletin, website, etc. for future dates.

Contact Mary Beth Perkins at maperkins58@hotmail.com with any questions.

Opłatki Christmas Wafers Available in Commons

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

A limited amount of blessed opłatki is now available at the Commons Reception Desk.

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.

Start or continue this holiday tradition. Donations are always appreciated. 

Advent & Christmas Schedule

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

Confession:

Scheduled every Saturday in Church at 2:30 PM. and every Tuesday in the Church from 6:15 – 7:15 PM
Please note there wil be no confessions heard on Saturday, December 27th or Tuesday, December 30th.

Confessionpalooza will be on Sunday, Dec. 21 from 1:30 PM until all in line are heard.

Wednesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve

  • 3:30 PM English (Church)
  • 3:45 PM English (Gym)
  • 5:30 PM Español (gimnasia)
  • 5:30 PM English (Church)
  • 6:15 PM English (Gym)
  • 10:00 PM Polska (kościół)
  • 12:00 Midnight English (Church)

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

  • 7:30 AM English (Church)
  • 9:00 AM English (Church) – live streamed
  • 9:00 AM Polish (Cana Hall)
  • 10:45 AM English (Church)
  • 12:15 PM English (Gym)
  • 12:15 PM Español (iglesia)

Wednesday, December 31st

  • 4:00 PM English (Church)
  • 5:30 PM Español (iglesia)

Thursday, January 1st, 2026 – Mary, the Mother of God (Holyday of Obligation)

  • 9:00 AM English (Church) – live streamed
  • 9:00 AM Polska (Cana Hall)
  • 10:45 AM English (Church)
  • 12:15 PM Español (iglesia)
  • 7:00 PM English (Church)

Parish Office Closing

The parish offices will be closed starting at Noon on Tuesday, Dec. 23rd and then will not reopen until the morning of Jan. 5th, 2026.

In case of an emergency, you will still be able to reach a priest at our main number, 815-436-2651 and follow the instructions in the menu.

Trivia & Comedy Night

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

SMIP 4th Annual Comedy/Trivia Night!

Enjoy a night of fellowship, Trivia, Comedy, and AFFORDABLE food and drinks.

Saturday, February 7th in the SMIP Gym. 15629 Illinois Rte 59, in Plainfield.

Doors open at 5:00 PM with Trivia starting at 6:00 PM!

$100 for your 6-8 person team.

CASH Prizes for TOP TEAMS! Door Prizes! Basket Raffles! Table Theme Contest! MORE TRIVIA! AND Not so great comedy!

Register at: www.smip.org/trivianight

Sponsored by the SMI Fishers of Men

Questions? Call/Text Matt Trusk at 630.738.0081

Faithful Disciples: Sharing God’s Love Program

Posted on by Jackson Brunsting

Faithful Disciples:

Sharing God’s love.

Discípilos

Fieles: Compartiendo el Amor de Dios

Thank you for your generous support of our Faithful Disciples: Sharing God’s Love Program! Several weeks ago, we were invited to renew our personal commitment to support St. Mary Immaculate Parish, and it is amazing and humbling to see many signs of your faithful discipleship and your resolution to share God’s love. It is thanks to your generosity and the support all of our faithful parishioners that we can grow our parish’s missionary outreach. In next week’s bulletin, we will be publishing a report with important highlights from our program. Thank you again to everyone who has participated! I am grateful to see the faithfulness and excitement from our parish. Now let’s see how God can multiply our efforts as we continue to share the gospel with others!

 

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 Agnes Is Living As A Faithful Steward

Praise be to Jesus Christ

I was asked to say few words about our Polish community here at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, and what it means to me. In one word –A LOT!

I have been attending this church since my kids were little. Today each of them serves during our mass in their own way.

I feel privileged to live close to a church where I can come every Sunday and pray with you all in my native Polish language. And where we can share our Polish traditions and culture with everyone here at the church, by decorating Christmas tree or blessing our Easter baskets. I am grateful to be able to share this with my children and you all.

I am thankful for our priests – in past Father Andrew and currently Father Ziggy. Father Ziggy once explained to us during his Homily what it means to be a good shepherd. “A Good Shepherd leads his heard. He does not force, pushing from behind.” We are very fortunate to have Good Shepherds here at St. Mary Immaculate Parish. Thank you Father Ziggy and thank you to our new Pastor Father John.

I am also very grateful for Beata. Thanks to whom I am right now standing in front of you… once again, she singled me out. But all jokes aside, I am grateful because she has helped me realize I can contribute, do more than I thought. For me it all started with “Children’s Liturgy”. … Now I am a member of the “Community Commission.” Thank you Beata for encouraging me, us to be a living part of our Polish community and this Parish. Thank you for organizing events such as “Andrzejki” and coffee after Mass – every 2nd Sunday of the month.

Thank you everyone that is here, for our communal prayer. And special thank you to those who set up this Church, with beautiful flowers and music. I am lucky to know many of you personally and to those whom I do not know yet, I invite you to “coffee”, 3 weeks from now (Nov. 9th). I hope to meet you there; I promise you all there is place at the table for each and every one of you.

St. Mary Immaculate Parish is a very special place, because of all of us. From all walks of life, different cultures … starting with our clergyman to our youngest parishioners.

Make your Commitment Now!

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