Memorial Day Observed at St. Mary Immaculate Parish Cemetery

This Memorial Day there will be many more observances during the Mass at the cemetery. Come at 9:00 a.m. (although coming a bit early is a good idea...and bring a lawn chair!) so that you can participate in the following:

+   Our Memorial Day will give special focus to those members of our parish who are serving in the military or for those families in our parish who have a loved one serving in our nation s armed forces. To this end, the homilist and concelebrant for the Mass will be Fr. Paul Weberg, OSB,  a Benedictine monk at the Marmion community in Aurora as well as a chaplain and officer in the Illinois National Guard. Fr. Paul has been deployed to Iraq several times to meet the pastoral and sacramental needs of our nation's military personnel serving there.

+   If you have been to our cemetery, or driven past it in the last few months, you might have noticed that there is a new structure located around and above the altar area. Through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. William Avery, faithful members of our parish we now have a grotto at the parish cemetery, depicting an apparition of The Immaculate Conception to St. Bernadette of Lourdes, This inspiring and beautiful new addition has the typical statues of Our Lady and Bernadette as well as two benches where folks can pray. We will dedicate this new grotto at our Memorial Day Mass.

+   Another generous and faithful couple from the parish Joe and Jane Sieracki, have worked diligently over the years to create a fitting tribute and memorial to our beloved former pastor of St. Mary's, Fr. Charles Van Duren. "Fr. Charlie" served as pastor from 1982 to 1995 - yes, he was pastor before, during and after the tornado. Fr. Van Duren was a man with a heart full of love for God and his people. He treated people with gentle care and dignity. The Sieracki's efforts have culminated in the erection of a beautiful new memorial at Fr. Van Duren's gravesite, which we will dedicate at the conclusion of the Memorial Day Mass.

So, this is an invitation to everyone to attend this memorable event. It begins at 9:00 a.m. at the parish cemetery on Memorial Day, May 28. It is a good idea to bring a lawn chair, but we will also have chairs available for those who have none. In the event of rain, mass will be held in the church. The cemetery is located northeast on Plainfield-Naperville Road. If you are travelling on Rt. 59, turn onto Plainfield-Naperville Rd. at the light by Nabby's. Go up nearly one mile and the cemetery will be on your right (east side of road).