Welcome to
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish,
Joliet, Illinois is a Catholic community of faith in the Diocese of Joliet
established in March, 2025 from the consolidation of
St. Mary Magdalene, St. Bernard and St. Anthony
Parishes.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the
title of a miraculous icon of the Madonna and Child
of unknown origin brought from Crete to Rome in 1495
and placed in the Church of St. Matthew in 1499.
When the Church was destroyed by Napoleon's army in
1796, the priests were able to protect the sacred
icon and place it in the Church of St. Eusebius
where it remained for several years before being
relocated to the Church of St. Mary of Posterula.
Upon the wishes of Pope Pius IX, the
image was entrusted to the Redemptorists and
returned to the original site of the Church of St.
Matthew for veneration in the newly built Church of
St. Alphonsus in Rome in 1866. Countless
miracles attributed to the intercession of Our Lady
of Perpetual Help have been recorded
from 1495 to the present day.
The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help is of Byzantine style. There are many
compelling symbols contained within the holy icon,
including St. Michael the Archangel to the left,
holding a lance and a spear with the vessel of
vinegar and gall of Christ's Passion. To the right
is St. Gabriel the Archangel, holding a cross and
nails. The solemn expression of Mary, with her
head gently touching that of her Son as He grasps
her right thumb with both hands and gazes toward the
angels holding the instruments of His suffering,
evokes deep compassion and love.
Despite a solemn aura of suffering
and death, the Madonna and Child, surrounded by a
golden radiance, strongly convey the triumph of Christ
over sin and death. The crowns on the heads of
Jesus and Mary recognize Jesus as our Divine
Redeemer, the King of Kings, with His beloved
mother, the Queen of Heaven
Our Parish Feast Day of Our Lady
of Perpetual Help is celebrated on June 27.
As a parish we focus on several
areas: Our Worship as a people of faith; Continuing
to build a community of believers; Evangelizing and
outreach to new members; A sensitivity to the needs
of the poor and suffering; and a shared
responsibility to support the financial obligations
of our parish.
St. Mary
Magdalene Church
Our Church building was dedicated to
the great woman of the New Testament, Mary of
Magdala. Because she is mentioned in all
four Gospels, we can conclude that she was
influential among early followers of Jesus. We
know that she was one of the women who aided Jesus
in Galilee and that she, along with Mary, the Mother
of Jesus, witnessed his crucifixion and burial. All
four Gospels place her at the foot of the Cross with
our Blessed Mother and the beloved disciple.
St. Mary Magdalene was the first
person to actually see the Risen Christ. Most
importantly she was given a commission by Jesus to
"go to my brothers." (John 20:17) She went and
joyfully announced to the other disciples, "I have
seen the Lord!" (John 20:18)
Mary Magdalene is revered as the "Apostle of the Apostles."
She was sent by Jesus, Himself, to announce the
"Good News" of the Resurrection. She is indeed
a saintly woman and worthy of imitation. St.
Mary Magdalene is remembered on her feast day, July
22.
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MASS SCHEDULE
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH
St. Mary Magdalene Church
Saturday
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Vigil 4:00pm
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Sunday
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Mass 9:00 & 10:30 am
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Daily Mass
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Monday to Friday 7:30 am |
Holy Days
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Please see the parish bulletin
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Confessions
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Saturday 3:00– 3:30 pm
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Fully ADA
Accessible
Official Facebook Page
Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Parish
St. Mary Magdalene
Church Office
Located
in the School Building
201 S.
Briggs Street Joliet, Illinois 60433
815-722-7653
CONTRIBUTE TO
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
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