St. Mary Parish
A Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet
Welcome
Mass Schedule
Sun: 8:00am | 10:00am |
12 Noon (Spanish)
Mon-Sat: 8:00am
Vigil, Saturday: 4:00pm
Our mission Statement:
To be led and to lead others into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
DIVINE MERCY IN MY SOUL
Dr Bryan Thatcher Bio
Dr. Bryan Thatcher, MD, is a retired medical doctor who travels worldwide to spread the message of Divine Mercy. In 1994, he and his wife Susan founded the Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy (EADM), now an apostolate of the Marian Fathers in Stockbridge, MA, the site of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy.
The mission of EADM is to spread the message of Divine Mercy, primarily through prayer cenacles integrating Scripture, the Catechism, and the Diary of Saint Faustina. The ministry promotes the Real Presence of Jeus in the Eucharist, prayer for the sick and dying, and the corporal works of mercy. There are over 4,000 cenacles in the United States and the ministry is active in over 30 countries.
Dr. Thatcher has a love for the poor and for 25 years shipped containers of medical supplies to the poor worldwide. Currently he is assisting the Marians with a medical clinic and trade school in the Philippines and building a preschool for 450 children in Kigali, Rwanda. He and Susan, his wife of 47 years, have 7 children and 14 grandchildren.
Rev. Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC Bio
Fr. Kaz is an ordained priest, theologian, and recognized authority on the Divine Mercy message and devotion. He is an author, editor, and international conference speaker, and has served as a theological advisor, writer, and contributor to works on St. Faustina, Divine Mercy, and St. John Paul II. He has also been a guest on radio and television programs.
From a young age, Fr. Kaz felt a calling to the priesthood. His vocation deepened in 1978 when Cardinal Karol Wojtyła became Pope John Paul II. Inspired by the Pope’s writings, teachings, and example—and especially by his 1979 pastoral visit to Poland—Fr. Kaz entered the Marian Fathers in 1980. After completing his philosophical and theological studies, he was ordained a priest in 1987.
Throughout his priestly ministry, Fr. Kaz has served in parish ministry, seminary formation, leadership, administration, and development, including as a local superior, Provincial Treasurer, Director of the Association of Marian Helpers, and Director of Development. His ministry continues to be deeply rooted in sharing Christ’s message of Divine Mercy and helping others encounter the Lord more profoundly.