Immaculate Conception

Cardinal Cupich has mandated the suspension, until further notice, of all liturgical services effective Saturday evening March 14th

THE PARISH OFFICE BUILDING IS CLOSED TO ALL ACTIVITIES.

In the light of Governor Pritzker's Stay-At-Home order, which went into effect on Saturday March 21st, 2020 at 5pm, the Archdiocese has revised its guidelines for parishes. Among the changes:

Churches will no longer be open for private prayer  Our Church will be closed until further notice.

No Funerals, Weddings or Baptisms will occur until the order is lifted.

Let us continue to hold each other in prayer.                  Fr McMahon

Online giving for continued support of Immaculate Conception during COVID-19 closure

We know that with the COVID-19 virus there is fear, sadness and anxiety, and we want you to know that you are all in our prayers daily.

During this unprecedented time, your donations and support are vital to funding our parish operations, including, but not limited to, salaries, utilities, ministries, maintenance on our aging buildings, support for outreach efforts, IT support, etc.

If you already donate via your bank debit or through the electronic giving platform, we thank you! 

If not, it’s easier than ever to sign up for electronic giving through our safe, secure and easy to use electronic giving platform.  Please visit the givecentral.org website here and follow the prompts to donate to Immaculate Conception. It’s that easy and we are so grateful!   

You can also make your donation directly to Immaculate Conception Parish, at 770 Deerfield Rd Highland Park, IL 60035.

Thank you!  We appreciate your support as we journey together through this in prayer, with and for, one another.

God Bless

Father Mike McMahon and the IC Parish Staff

Lockdown

by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM

March 13th 2020

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing.

This poem is from the daily verse of John Carroll University.