Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Dear Folks,

Why is the baptismal font in the vestibule??

It’s part of the work to expand the platform where the priests now sit. Once Jesus was returned to the center of the church, we began plans to replace the cabinetry that previously held the tabernacle with seating for servers. That work was completed last month. (And everyone who asked about it said, “Oh, I didn’t notice a difference.”) That’s the goal—to keep your eyes on Jesus!

The next step is to make the seating for the priest, deacon, and servers more spacious and safe. Currently, the chairs are precariously close to the stairs. Enlarging the platform will bring the church into more symmetrical uniformity and will also make things safer for clergy and servers during Mass.

To do this, we need to slightly move the baptismal font forward, and build up a wall and platform that will be well-anchored and secure. This is why the baptismal font has been temporarily relocated to the narthex. It should be returning to its place—hopefully—within days of your reading this.

Honestly, the goal is that these changes be subtle improvements, mostly unnoticed by the average Sunday Mass attendee.

Oh yeah… Parish Life Weekend!

If you’re reading this in church, I exhort you to stop by one of the ministry tables this weekend. Our ability to accomplish the great works of the Lord depends on each of us generously lending a hand.

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann

Dear Folks,

“Who do you say that I am?”

Our theme this year, is a bit of riddle: those words are spoken by Jesus, but how do they change when they are
spoken by the Church, or the Pope, or a priest, or your spouse, or the elderly, or the sick and lame?

Every ministry and everyone serving in any capacity needs to ask this question as well? When we serve, it is Our
Lord who is serving through us:

By the grace of God, this parish is alive! And we just finished an amazing parish picnic last weekend! So many
families, celebrating and rejoicing to see the new school. Our little scavenger hunt booklets?? 1,100 were used to
guide folks through the new spaces!! That alone is a resounding success!!

But I’ll also share that this observation at the end: when the picnic was shutting down, it fell to people who had
already been serving all day to sweep the cafeteria and wipe down tables! I was so convicted of this that I grabbed
some cloths to help wipe down tables, and more folks stepped up!

My point is that we all can help in some ways. Everyone. And when we do so, it is our Lord who strengthens and
gives success to the work of our hands.

Next week’s Parish Life Weekend is a chance for you to allow the Lord to work through you:
• T o cook or serve a meal to the hungry,
• T o usher at Mass,
• T o teach the faith in RE students,
• T o mentor youth at workcamp,
• T o visit the lonly in nursing homes,
• T o give joy to children at the homeless shelter!

And please say a Hail Mary for everyone who has been an instrument of grace for you to know and be served by
Jesus.

Thank you and God Bless you!!

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann

Dear Folks,

This weekend, we have the joy of announcing the winners of our Volunteer of the Year Awards, nominated by you—our parish family. It’s a small way to shine a light on the big hearts that quietly serve our parish behind the scenes.

St. Mary’s could not accomplish all that it does without so many amazing volunteers. I often think that a big part of my vocation is to encourage each of you to use your gifts to serve the Lord. If I can help point you in the right direction, then I can get out of the way and wonder at the marvelous works of the Lord.

`Please take a moment to read the announcement here in the bulletin. One of the award winners gave me a big hug after the announcements at the leadership dinner! It seems he was surprised that someone had noticed. Noticing and being grateful are essential to a healthy spiritual life—for each of us, and for the parish as a whole.

Conversely, be vigilant in rooting out any sense of entitlement that could stir envy or bitterness in your soul! To all who made nominations, and to all who were nominated: thank you. Every year, I’m grateful for how the nomination process brings someone into focus who has been quietly serving with great, often hidden, generosity.

There’s no shortage of work to do in any parish, and it can be a challenge to serve the needs of 6,700 families (yes, you read that number right!). But St. Mary’s thrives when all of her children are giving of their time, talent, and treasure. These V olunteers of the Year winners all give heroically.

And a bonus shout-out to Margaret Ford, who was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award”! Since she was previously honored many years ago with a Volunteer of the Year Award and continued serving in many ways, she was eligible, per the rules, for this special recognition. Thank you, Margaret!

This year, we announced a new award, “The Pastor’s Above and Beyond Award”, given to Mike Hamann. Why? Because his work as general contractor went beyond and above industry standards! His children have graduated from HCA, but he is truly leaving the school much better than he found it. Thank you, Mike, Margaret, and all of our honorees!

We were thrilled with an impromptu drop-in from a visiting Bishop! God is good!

pax,

Father John Mosimann

Dear Folks,

Who do you say that I am? The words our Lord asked His beloved apostles. This is our parish theme for the 2025-2026 year.

First, consider Jesus asking this of His Apostles in Matthew 16. The answer that He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” is a gift to Peter. If you don’t wrestle with understanding God made man, then you are likely reducing His authority, omnipotence, and omniscience!

Second, ask this question of the Church: Who do you say that the Church is? It is the bride of Christ. The Church is only one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic, because Jesus is first.

Third, ask this of the pope, “who is this American Leo XIV?” I failed at being a prophet, erroneously saying we wouldn’t have an American pope in my lifetime! He is the visible head of the Church, a Chicagoan, and White Sox fan!

Fourth, ask it of each other: “who is Fr. Mosimann? … who is my spouse? …who is my neighbor? …who are you?” It is by grace and conforming our lives to Jesus Christ, that we can become ever more transparent icons of Jesus! Each of us should decrease, so that He can increase!

Finally, ask it of the least, the vulnerable, and the poor: “whatsoever you do to the least, you do unto Jesus.”

Mother Theresa rode this thought to the pearly gates!

The poster for the theme this year (on the cover today) is meant to be a little bit of a puzzle, and a riddle. Can you find Jesus in the Church, the saints, the pope, your pastor, the young and the elderly, and in your own home?

In the coming weeks we will explore the work of ministry at St. Mary and how you might seek to find ways to become who you are, children of God who make present and visible His love.

pax (et bonum),

Father John Mosimann