Bereavement ministry is comprised of committees; each having a responsibility of providing comfort to families at a time of loss of a loved one. The committee will help to guide in all aspects of the planning for a funeral Mass, and will continue through follow up after the funeral. The group will provide assistance in all the stages of funeral planning, from picking out songs, psalms, intercession, recessionals to name a few.

Contact

Janet Fastabend at 815.505.0911 or bill.janet.fastabend@gmail.com

We invite you to connect with other caregivers.  Nourish for Caregivers supports the practical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all who offer care for others during this time of uncertainty and anxiety. Monthly meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month in the St. Anne Room.

Contact:

Deacon Mike Perkins, 815-436-2651, Ext. 480, or mperkins@smip.org
-or-
Pat Mander, 815-436-2651, Ext. 893, or pmander@smip.org

This is a parish ministry and we ask all parishioners to please sign up to donate food to the hungry. Our meals are on the first Tuesday in January, March, May, July, September and November. The donation signup is online at www.smip.org/daybreak.  See the bulletin or parish website for details.

Contact

Chris McLawhorn at 815.436.8374 or cmclawhorn1@gmail.com or Kathy Hall at 815.436.2729 or
sahmhall@aol.com

This program is an opportunity for our Faith Community to help children celebrate Easter. A variety of items are collected to fill baskets for children at Groundwork, Daybreak Shelter, etc.

Contact

Bridget Carlson at 312.420.2267

Professional Talent Acquisition Manager, Todd Barber, would like to help you on your path to employment.  Offered zoom sessions include topics such as effective networking, resumes and interviewing.

Contact

Todd Barber at 317.966.0555 or toddnbarber@gmail.com

Depending on parish facility availability, a funeral luncheon may be an option for families planning a weekday funeral Mass. Families will pay for the main meal, but desserts will be donated by parishioners, and coffee, water and lemonade will be provided by the parish. Members of the funeral luncheon ministry will help with set up, serving and clean-up.

Requests for funeral luncheons should be directed to Laura Van Ham at 815-436-2651, x887. She will verify availability for the date requested. If a luncheon is scheduled, the number of expected guests will determine the cost for the family.

The opportunities to serve within this ministry are many and varied. We need set-up and clean-up help, those willing to make phone calls from a call list and those who would like to “gift” a parish family with a dessert on an occasional basis by placing their name on our call list.

Contact

Laura Van Ham, 815-436-2651 x887   lvanham@smip.org

Each year at Christmas, the Giving Tree offers each member of our Faith Community the chance to remember someone less fortunate with a small gift or by adopting an entire family. We provide gifts to various organizations including: Daybreak, Guardian Angel Home, Rosewood and Lakewood Nursing Homes, Interfaith Food Pantry of Plainfield, etc.

Contact

Robin Contreras at 815.814.8457 or rawc530@yahoo.com

The Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry distributes food to over 250 families a month and the numbers keep growing.  The Pantry is in need of help Mondays through Saturdays in the morning.  Volunteers gather at the Vulcan Buliding on Lockport St. between 7:30 am and 8:00 am and work until Noon.  The Pantry is looking for dedicated, hardworking individuals who can volunteer one of more days a week sorting and boxing non–perishablie food items for about 1-4 hours a visit, preferably on a weekly basis.

The Pantry works through all kinds of weather and confidentiality is a must.  Children younger than high school age are not permitted due to the nature of the work.  Drivers with trucks are also needed to pick up food donations from local grocery stores.

Contact

Pat Cork, 815.439.8394

On the third Saturday of October each year, St. Mary Immaculate parishioners engage in service projects held on parish grounds and in various communities, reaching out to others with the heart of Christ.  The day begins with morning Mass and a special blessing of volunteers.  The various service projects take place between 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.  Project sign ups start in September.  

Contact

Pam Angelus, 815.436.2651 x849 or pangelus@smip.org

The micro food pantry is located outside of the north entry doors.  Non-perishable items may be left in the cabinet and anyone in need is welcome to take food at any time.  Periodic notices will be in the parish bulletin to let people know what items are most needed.  Thank you for your generosity.

Contact

Father John Regan 815.436.2651 x802

We are a support group for those who want to let our Troops know how much we appreciate their service and want our service men and women’s families to know they are not alone in this Journey. Working together, we will gain comfort in knowing that there are others on the same Journey. We can gain strength from one another. If you have a family member or friend serving in the military over-seas, please contact US so that our faith community may keep them in our prayers.

Contact:

Maria Prekop at 312.259.6851 or maria.prekop@navigant.com

The diverse complexities and issues of our society and culture, combined with the needs of our parish community, have necessitated a Professional Pastoral Counselor. Since January 2001, St. Mary’s has provided an option for you to consider a person we recommend as a source for family and/or marital counseling needs. Counseling is a non-judgmental, safe way to look at choices, to see if the consequences of those choices are in alignment with values and goals. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

Contact

Joan Lopina, 815.919.2847

Acting on behalf of our parish, our ministry members will visit the sick of our parish, the aged, the infirmed and the homebound. This ministry extends our church to those parishioners that cannot attend Mass. It is our goal that no one be forgotten. Trained ministers bring the Eucharist to the Rosewood/Lakewood Catholic residents each Sunday between 9:15- 10:30 am. During the week, visitation is provided for hospitalized parishioners.

Contact

Pat Mander, 815.436.2651 x893  pmander@smip.org

The goal of Pastoral Ministering is to act as a catalyst for a healthy parish community. The focus is on personal health counseling, health education, appropriate referrals, support group facilitation, patient advocacy and integration of faith and healing.

Contact

Pat Mander, 815.436.2651 x893  pmander@smip.org

A book is located in the Narthex of the Church for anyone requesting prayers for those in need.  Members of the ministry pray for those named in the book each week.  The names are also included in our Mass Intentions.

Contact

Arlene Kauzlarich, 815.436.4398  edandr@att.net

On the second and third Thursday of every month, the members of the SMI Shepherd’s Table ministry meet in the St. Mary’s parking lot at 8:30 a.m. and then carpool to the shelter, where they prepare and serve lunch for guests of the shelter, using the food items already on hand at Daybreak. Preparation, service and clean up are usually complete by 12:30 p.m. This experience gives our parishioners an opportunity to have a direct impact on those in need. Additional members are always welcome to help with this rewarding ministry. 

Contact

Chris McLawhorn at 815.436.8374 or cmclawhorn1@gmail.com

This Ministry serves a diverse population of families who have children with special needs.

Contact

Geri Morse, 815.436.2651 x840  gmorse@smip.org

This ministry services our community by “stitching” us together.  The Sewing Circle at St. Mary Immaculate Parish was named in honor of St. Anne, Mary’s mother and the patroness of seamstresses.  On the second Saturday of each month, we enjoy mending clothing and household items, sewing on buttons & badges, and repairing hems (at no cost) for our parishioners and the community.  We also assist the Church with a variety of sewing tasks.  Come join us!

Contact

Mary Beth Perkins 815.212.2863

A ministry of volunteers that gather Wednesday mornings after the 9:00 am Mass to clean and dust our Church. We take pride in making St. Mary Immaculate a welcoming, inviting place to worship. If you are interested in joining our team, just show up and plan to spend an hour or two in the Church.

Contact

Pam Carey at 815.474.1361 or auntpamcarey@gmail.com