fbpx
Baby Bottles for Life

Baby Bottles for Life

2nd Collection on May 3rd & 4th

Our parish is participating in the 2025 Waterleaf Baby Bottles for Life Campaign to benefit, support, and educate pregnant women facing crisis or unintended pregnancies.

Our annual campaign is switching to the month of May. We will have a 2nd collection at all Masses on May 3 & 4. The funds collected support the life-affirming programs and services of the Waterleaf Medical Clinic and their Aspire Education and Resource Center located in Aurora.

If you prefer to make an online donation, please go to Waterleaf Baby Bottles for Life Campaign. Your support helps to continue the gift of life, love and hope!

For more information about Waterleaf, call at 630-701-6270 or visit them on the web at www.onechoiceonelife.org.

Girl Scout Cookies Sale

May 3 & 4

There’s still time to get some of your favorite cookies!  SMI Girl Scout Troop 75912 will be selling Girl Scout Cookies in the Commons on Saturday, May 3, after 4:00 & 5:30 Mass and on Sunday, May 4, after 10:45 and 12:15 Mass, while supplies last.

The cost is $6.00 per box.  Cash, credit cards and Zelle are accepted.

Mother’s Day Remembrance Cards On Sale Now

Honor your mother or a mother figure in your life with a Mother’s Day Remembrance Card. A card may be purchased for mothers who are living or deceased. For each card ordered, your mother will be included in prayer for 12 Masses throughout the year (one each month).

Cards can be delivered directly to the mother through an e-card, sent in printable form to the purchaser, or picked up from the Commons Desk.  Cards picked up at the parish will be printed on cardstock.  

Order online at www.smip.org/mothersday through May 7th or purchase at the Commons Desk through May 11th.

Remembrance Cards are $10 each.  All proceeds will benefit the parish cemetery.

Lent, Easter & Divine Mercy Schedule 2025

Please note that the parish offices will be closed at noon on Holy Thursday, April 17, and remain closed through the week after Easter Sunday (April 21-25). They will reopen on April 28.

6:00 pm • Confessions
7:00 pm • English Stations in Church
7:00 pm • Polish Stations in Cana
7:30 pm • Spanish Stations in Church

1:30 pm • until all are heard

7:30 am • English Mass in Church
9:00 am • English Mass in Church (Live Streamed)
9:00 am • Polish Mass in Cana
10:45 am • English Mass in Church
11:00 am • Spanish Mass in Gym
12:15 pm • English Mass in Church
12:30 pm • Spanish Mass in Gym

9:00 am • Morning Prayer (Live Streamed)
7:00 pm • Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Live Streamed)

9:00 am • Morning Prayer (Live Streamed)
12:00 pm • Ecumenical Service (Live Streamed)
3:00 pm • Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
6:00 pm • Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in Polish (Cana)
7:00 pm • Living Stations (Church)
7:00 pm • Viacrucis (Gym)

9:00 am • Morning Prayer (Live Streamed)
Noon • Blessing of Baskets – English
1:00 pm • Blessing of Baskets – Polish
8:00 pm • Easter Vigil (Live Streamed)

April 20th, Easter Sunday

7:30 am • English in Church
9:00 am • English in Church (Live Streamed)
9:00 am • English in Gym
9:00 am • Polish in Cana
10:45 am • English in Church (Live Streamed)
10:50 am • English Cana
11:00 am • Spanish in Gym
12:30 pm • English in Church
12:30 pm • Spanish in Gym

April 27th, Divine Mercy Sunday

2:00 pm • Confessions
3:00 pm • Divine Mercy Service

Knights of Columbus Good Shepherd Council #5573 Charities Breakfast

Sunday, April 27th

Enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage links, and scrambled eggs, and know that you are supporting important area charities!

Breakfast will be served in the gym after the 7:30, 9:00, and 10:45 a.m. Masses on April 27th. The Knights are not charging for this breakfast; however, goodwill donations are encouraged and accepted. Cash and check only.

For additional information contact: Thomas Krepelka at 708-218-5733 or tpkrepelka@amerline.com

Daybreak Meal to Feed the Homeless

Food Donations Needed BY MAY 5

Our next Daybreak Meal donation date is May 6th. 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 May 5. We ask that donated items please be brought to the Commons by Tuesday, May 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.

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.

Parish Offices Closed for Easter Break 4/17-28

The Parish Offices will be closing at Noon on Thursday, April 17 in observance of Easter. The Office will reopen Monday, April 28th at 8:15 am.

In case of emergency, you will still be able to reach a priest. Call the Parish Office at (815)-436-2651 and follow the directions on the voice message.

PLEASE NOTE: the School, Religious Education, and Confirmation Offices will be open and operating Tuesday- Friday normal hours and can be reached directly at:
SMI School: 815-436-3953
RE: 815-436-4501
Confirmation: 815-436-2861

St. Mary Immaculate CCW – Woman of the Year: Debbie Shimek

This year’s Woman of the Year, Debbie Shimek, is well known around SMI. A long-time member of the parish, a volunteer in many capacities and a beloved retired member of the teaching staff. Some accolades from fellow CCW members were leader, organized, joyful, kind, dedicated, humble, responsible, enthusiastic, respectful, encouraging and displays her love of God in all she does.

Debbie married George in May of 1977. They have two children, Terra and Jeff and have resided in the Joliet/Shorewood area their entire marriage. Debbie decided that teaching was her calling. She taught 41 years, 31 of them at SMI, 5 in Music and 26 years helping over 800 second graders prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion.
Debbie has been involved in Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Band Boosters, VBS, Eucharistic Minister, Bereavement, Catechist, Alpha, Parish Council, Catholic Book Discussion and Vice President of CCW – just to name a few!

When asked what some of her favorite things to do were, Saturday lunch with Mom and sisters ranked high. Time spent with George, Terra (Tim), Amelia, Henry, Jeff (Kalissa), and Raegan is very important to her, whether it’s an activity or family gathering. She especially appreciates her book discussions with her two granddaughters. She enjoys reading, working crossword puzzles and knitting.

Debbie was thrilled and very excited about being selected and said she is honored to represent SMI. She has a great love for the staff and community of this wonderful parish.

She will be honored at a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raymond on Saturday, April 26th.

SMI Lenten Project – California Wildfire Assistance

Advance Notice: St Mary’s Lenten Project – California Wildfire Assistance

We are certain you are all aware of the devastation in California. You may have even seen pictures of what is left of Corpus Christi Church with severe damage to their school. The miracle here is that the tabernacle was the only thing unharmed. Our thought is that this tragedy is something that we as St Mary’s can relate to since we suffered a similar destruction 35 years ago here with the Plainfield Tornado of 1990. With that weighing heavy on our hearts, we reached out to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to find the best possible way we can help. After a tearful conversation with Sister M. Anncarla Costello we have committed to provide financial assistance to the Wildfire Victims Emergency Relief Fund through our Lenten project. This will replace our CRS Rice Bowl efforts of the past few years

Sister said they have been approached by several organizations wishing to send blankets and clothing to aid victims, however at this time, those effected have nowhere to sleep let alone a closet to store clothes. It is important to give them right now what they need most, financial assistance to find a place to sleep. She said people have not only lost their homes, cars, belongings and church; many have also lost their places of employment. Especially hard hit are the victims of the Eaton fire which is a lower middle-class area of Los Angeles. While their church, St. Elizabeth, was spared from the flames, the smoke damage is so severe that they will have to repair 70-80% of the property. One worker at the Archdiocese had her home spared while the rest of the neighborhood was destroyed, but they cannot return to the home because the smoke and heat have forced their older home to be declared uninhabitable.

The Archdiocese itself is asking all of its parishes to contribute to this cause and have established the Wildfire Victims Emergency Relief Fund, whereby both Catholic and non-Catholic, will be able to receive a one-time grant for $1000. Anyone in need of financial assistance due to the fires are eligible: parishioners, neighbors, or anyone can apply at one of the area churches. Funds are being held at the Archdiocese level and they do have protocols and procedures in place to make certain no person/family is able to fraud the system. The Archdiocese is offering this grant to all persons, in their words; “All are our sisters and brothers in Christ.”

So, plan ahead as Ash Wednesday is March 5th and Easter Sunday April 20th. If you were planning on sending monies to The American Red Cross, various Go Fund Me pages or other organizations aiding the wildfire victims, consider putting that donation into our pool of funds going to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Sister has assured us that 100% of the money donated will go directly to persons in need. The Archdiocese is not holding back any administration fees to process these grants.

The April Envelope packet will have a special envelope for this effort. We will also have envelopes available in the narthex and reception desk for you to use and a new fund is established for OSV online giving for this effort. Please make use of these methods to support those in need in the Los Angeles area.