Statue of Mother Mary surrounded by pink flowers

St. Mary’s Grotto. Image courtesy Keri Farrell.

This past summer, the Comboni Missionaries had the privilege of taking on the responsibilty for two parishes in the Archdiocese of Chiacago — St. Mary and St. Nicholas in Evanston, Illinois. Fr. Jean Philippe Lokpo was appointed Pastor and Fr. Jose Manuel Sanchez Ortiz was appointed Associate Pastor.

On August 15, St. Mary’s Parish celebrated its feast Day — The Feast of the Assumption – with a blessing in its Mary Grotto.

Story from Keri Ferrell, Director of Faith Formation at St. Mary Parish

We Celebrate Mary’s Garden
Our Mary’s Gardeners have created this beautiful prayerful space behind our Parish Center. Come and sit for a while, in private prayer, with a small group for prayer or for a meeting. Statues of our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph with the child Jesus, and St. Francis look over our Laudato si’ Garden which is ready for this year’s Season of Creation Celebration.

Rev. Jean Philippe Lokpo, our new pastor, and Rev. Jose Manuel Ortiz, our new associate pastor, Comboni Missionary priests, blessed our garden and Mary’s little grotto, on the Feast of the Assumption, our parish feast day and 157th anniversary.

Listen to the Voice of Creation
This Year’s Theme for the Worldwide Season of Creation
Sept 1—Oct 4, 2022

Fr. Manuel Ortiz blesses the Mary Grotto

Fr. Manuel Sanchez Ortiz blessing the Mary Grotto at St. Mary Parish in Evanston, Ill. Image courtesy Keri Farrell.

Mary Garden Landscape view

St. Mary’s Grotto. Image courtesy Keri Farrell.

Fr Jean Philippe Lokpo Blessing the Mary Grotto

Fr. Jean Phillippe Lokpo blessing the Mary Grotto at St. Mary Parish in Evanston, Ill. Image courtesy Thomas Pham, of Thomas Pham Photography.

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