Our Lady Pilgrim Statue:
A Special Opportunity for Parish Families
As part of our Church of St. Mary’s 150th Anniversary celebration (September 2025 – September 2026), we are excited to introduce the Our Lady Pilgrim Statue—a beautiful tradition that brings the Blessed Mother and Child Jesus into the homes of our parish community.
Each month over our celebratory year, this beautiful small statue of Blessed Mary with Child Jesus will travel from one parish family to another. Families with children in elementary school (whether attending the School of St. Mary or any other K–8 school) are invited to register for a chance to host the statue in their home. This statue was blessed by Cardinal Blase Cupich at Mass on September 7, 2025.
Start a new family tradition and host Our Lady and the Child Jesus statue in your home for a month. The family finds a special place in their home to place and honor the statue. This is meant to help your family pray and draw closer to Jesus and His mother, Mary. You may choose to pray the rosary or other prayers of your choice. You may invite family, friends, or neighbors to join you in praying the rosary.
This is a beautiful way to honor our Blessed Mother and help your children learn of God’s great love for them. There is a monthly drawing that selects the family for the upcoming month. Please contact the parish office at 847-234-0205 if you would like to sign up to have the statue come to your home.
Members of our local Knights of Columbus will facilitate the transfer of the statue.
On Monday, December 15th, our traveling Pilgrim Statue was delivered by the Knights of Columbus to the Bennett Family of Lake Forest. Maureen and Chris, along with their children Luke, Avery, and Mike were thrilled that their name was chosen in the monthly Pilgrim Statue drawing to receive Mary and Jesus into their home. They look forward to celebrating Christmas with Mary and Jesus. Prayer books and a diary were also delivered to facilitate prayer time with the statue and to chronicle any thoughts and memories experienced during the time each family has with Our Lady.
Interested families can enter their names into the drawing to host the Pilgrim Statue, which moves from home to home on a monthly basis throughout our 150th Celebratory year. Special thanks to the 150th Worship and Prayer Committee and to our local Knights of Columbus chapter for facilitating this meaningful initiative for the Parish.
Past hosts of the Pilgrim Statue:
September: Brooke Hall
October: Susan Armstrong
November: Christine Porter