ICSJ Parishioners, friends and family are invited to order Christmas wreaths to support ICSJ School. Options include 4 beautiful hand-crafted wreaths made with fresh evergreen fir boughs, a festive LED candle centerpiece, and a charming replantable 22" tree with lights and decorations. The school will receive $8 for every item purchased; please share this ordering opportunity with friends and family! To order, visit giftitforward.org and use the Fundraising Code IMMACUIL002. You may enter PARISH in the "Referring Member" field.

Thank you to everyone who signed up to sing with the ICSJ Music Ministry at our Christmas Eve Family Mass on Tuesday, December 24th. CLICK HERE to find your choir’s home page, with your practice materials and rehearsal schedule. Questions? Please contact Director of Music Kate Ryan at kryan@icsjparish.org.

Join us on Zoom on Saturdays at 10 AM to watch and discuss The Chosen Season 4! Together we will delve deeper into thinking about and discussing the major players of the New Testament, what it might have been like to be there, and how it applies to our lives today. We will read the correlating scripture, watch the episode, and discuss! Contact Marilynn Snider, denandmars@aol.com for the Zoom info

All children in Kindergarten-3rd grade are invited to participate in our special Advent Liturgy of the Word during the homily time at our 9:30am Masses at Immaculate Conception Church on December 8, 15 and 22. This is a great opportunity for our younger members. Please contact Sacramental Coordinator Kevin O’Connell with any questions at koconnell@icsjparish.org or 312-787-7174, ext 2.

Our Encountering Emmanuel Advent Reflection group gathers on Tuesdays during Advent through December 17. Sessions begin with a brief video to launch us into deeper discussion of how we are preparing to encounter Jesus this season, and include snacks, beverages, and your own personal Encountering Emmanuel prayer journal. It’s not too late to journey together through this most sacred time. To join, please RSVP here.

This year, our annual parish fundraiser is a giving day on Sunday, November 17th, Give for our Ministries Sunday, in support of our 30+ parish ministries! Our fundraising goal is $40,000 which will help our ministries continue to do the good work that they do! Join those who have already contributed to make and early impact! CLICK HERE TO DONATE

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Give the gift of Christmas joy to families of the incarcerated via Kolbe House Jail ministries by signing up for our annual Giving Tree! Follow the link here and select a child to sponsor. Remember to return your unwrapped gift by December 15th to one of our church locations! Details and more information can be found on our Giving Tree webpage. 

Peace is elusive—both on the world stage and in our own lives. Maintaining a peaceful outlook can be difficult. How do we learn to live from a peace-filled inner life? Come and reflect with Fr. McBrady and Elly Rodriguez on Saturday, December 14th at Immaculate Conception Church. Refreshments begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by reflection from 9-11 a.m.

Click here to make your contribution for the Retirement Fund for Religious. More than 24,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have dedicated their lives to service- praying, teaching, and caring for those in need- usually, for little to no pay. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings. Your donation is crucial and can help bridge this gap, providing crucial support for their essential care, medicine, and daily needs. Thank you for your generosity!

Once again, ICSJ is joining up with St Michael for childrens’ religious eduction. Students in grades K-8 who do not attend our parish school are encouraged to register to be a part of this special program which includes making all the youth sacraments. Learn more here. We are also looking for a few wonderful catechists who want to share the faith with our students. Many grades are available. Please contact Kevin, our Sacramental Coordinator, to discuss options. In session classes are just approximately twice a month on Sunday mornings. Thank you!

Peace Yoga Returns to the Immaculate Conception Church Parish Hall on Saturdays, September 28- November 16, from 9:30a.m. - 10:15 a.m. All welcome! Join Jennifer Kim of The Peace School in this popular beginner level class. Each class includes stretches, basic yoga postures, breathing meditation and relaxation for a complete sense of well being. The cost of the 8-class series is $60, which you can pay on your first day of class by cash or check payable to The Peace School. (Also consider a donation to the Church for offering the space as a service to the community.) Please bring your own mat. To register or for more information: email Jennifer at info@peaceschool.org.

Are you an adult and interested in becoming Catholic? Maybe you are baptized but still need to make your First Communion and/or Confirmation. Looking to grow in your faith in a community environment? Then maybe RCIA is for you. If you think you want to take the next step in the Sacraments, then contact Kevin, our Sacramental Coordinator to begin your journey: koconnell@icsjparish.org or 312-787-7174.

Coffee and Donuts returns in September and we need volunteers! This is a great way to welcome people to ICSJ and get to know more folks in the community. Want to learn more about how you can help this hospitality ministry? Contact Elly in the parish office at erodriguez@icsjparish.org

Madonna House is a safe, transitional house for migrant women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse. As an LPOT mission, we are partnering with St. Teresa’s and St. Josaphat’s to provide Wednesday dinners to these families. Volunteers are needed to make meals at your home and drop them off at ICSJ on Wednesdays before 12 noon. New dates have been added for the Fall! See the meal details and sign-up link here. Questions? Contact Elly at erodriguez@icsjparish.org.

New doors for the entrance to Immaculate Conception Church have been installed. You may remember that the proceeds from our 2023 Parish Fall Fundraiser helped to financially support this project, along with the renovation of the church lobby and Joy Room. Our entrance looks fresh, clean, and welcoming. What a nice improvement. The beautiful doors, and the Joy Room, will be blessed on Sunday, September 29th before the 9:30 a.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception Church. Please join us for the celebration!

The next WWW Book Club gathering will be on Friday, November 8th at 3:30 on the third floor of the IC Parish Center! Our book choice is News of the World by Paulette Jiles. To RSVP or for any questions, please email Colleen at cm.424.svdp@gmail.com or Martha at Martha_60603@yahoo.com.

If you’re interested in learning more about the realities and experiences of refugees in our community, join us for a Lunch & Learn on Saturday, September 21st at 12:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 3rd floor. All are welcome! Please RSVP here if you plan to attend. The event will feature information about Exodus World Service, a Chicagoland-based Christian ministry that mobilizes volunteers to welcome and befriend refugees. Exodus World Service provides opportunities for education about the refugee crisis and what it means to "warmly welcome together" in the context of our ICSJ Refugee Ministry.

ICSJ School needs basketball coaches for the 2024/2025 season. All school parents and parishioners are welcome to apply. Volunteers must be in full compliance with the Archdiocese Office for the Protection of Youth and Children. If you’re interested, please contact Athletic Director Thomas Pack at 312-291-8523 or tpack@icsjschool.org to learn more.

Come for coffee, a treat, and conversation after 8 a.m.Mass on November 3rd! We will be meeting in the St. Joseph Parish Center Conference Room. See you there!

Are you looking to grow in your faith and share your talents with ICSJ on Sundays? Join us for our upcoming Liturgical Ministry Training on Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church to receive formation as a lector, eucharistic minister, and/or usher. Belong to our growing community of ministers that help make our Sunday liturgies a vibrant service for all! Please RSVP to Elly at erodriguez@icsjparish.org if you plan to attend. 

The annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) collection will take place this weekend of November 2-3. For over 50 years, CCHD has been working in partnership with community organizations to address the root causes of poverty in the United States. We promote organizations that help people help themselves, and our mission to break the cycle of poverty continues to be at the heart of our faith. CCHD grantees organize members of their communities to create jobs, improve neighborhoods, keep schools safe and enriching for children, and raise leaders of the future right here in the Archdiocese of Chicago. CLICK HERE TO GIVE and thank you for your support!

Join us for a joyful celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, December 8th, immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Enjoy mimosas, coffee, orange juice, and a delightful assortment of breakfast bites. We look forward to celebrating with you!

If you enjoy knitting and/or crocheting (or would like to learn), join us! We get together at St. Joe's once a month. Our next KnitWit gathering is Monday, October 21, 10AM-1PM. You can come for a half hour, a couple hours or for the entire time…whatever fits your schedule. Or, you can make a blanket, a hat or 8x8 squares at your convenience and drop off at IC or SJ. If you have any questions, please leave a message for me at ICSJ or send an email to me, Kathy at kmust1@yahoo.com.

ICSJ Parish will offer 3 Masses in celebration of the feast of All Saints Day, on Friday, November 1st, which is a holy day of obligation. View the Mass schedule here. On this day, we remember the many heroes of our Church who faithfully embraced the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Often it was through their simple and ordinary acts of kindness and compassion that they lived an extraordinary and holy life.

Join us for Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9AM at St. Joseph Church. Before filling your bellies with your Thanksgiving meals, let's gather for a meal at the altar and give thanks to the Lord our God! 

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We still have several items needed for our Welcome to America packs! Please consider donating essential household items through our Amazon Gift Registry, now through October 16th. Help us warmly welcome a newly resettled refugee family into their new Chicago apartment! VIEW THE REGISTRY HERE

Next Sunday, October 20th at 5PM at Immaculate Conception Church (1431 N North Park Ave), ICSJ’s FORMED ministry invites all young adults to join them for a special evening liturgy and wine and cheese reception to follow.

Join us this afternoon, Sunday, November 10th at 1:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church for an afternoon of Taizé prayer. What is Taizé prayer? It consists of simple songs, readings, and moments of silence. Candles are lit all around and gentle music creates an environment of comfort, peace, belonging, and community. Join us!

ICSJ parishioner Billy Lawless passed away on Friday, November 8 at the age of 73; read his obituary here. Mr. Lawless was Ireland’s first Senator to be based overseas and the man behind a successful Chicago restaurant group; read more about his amazing life here. Services will be held as follows:

• Visitation: Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m at St. Joseph Church, 1107 N. Orleans Street, Chicago, IL 60610.

• Funeral Mass: Thursday, November 14th at 9:30 a.m at at St. Joseph Church, 1107 N. Orleans Street, Chicago; the Mass will also be streamed live on The Dearborn Restaurant Facebook page.