Ss. Mary & Joseph Catholic Church

09/08/2026

🎂💙 Happy Birthday, Blessed Mother! 💙🎂

Today, September 8, the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary—the birthday of the woman God chose to be the Mother of Jesus.

And yes… we think that deserves a birthday celebration. 🥳

We don't celebrate Mary because she wanted attention drawn to herself. In fact, her whole life points us somewhere else: to her Son.
From the very beginning, Mary's life was part of God's beautiful plan of salvation. The little girl born to Saints Joachim and Anne would grow to become the woman who said:

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38

Her yes changed the world.

So today we celebrate with joy and with reverence. We thank God for the gift of Mary—for her faith, her courage, her humility, her motherhood, and the way she continues to lead us closer to Jesus.
And because every birthday deserves a little celebration, here's something you can do as a family tonight:

🎂 Have a special dessert in Mary's honor.
💙 Wear blue, Mary's traditional color.
🌹 Give someone a flower or an unexpected act of kindness.
🙏 Pray a Hail Mary together and thank God for giving us our Blessed Mother.

Happy Birthday, Mary.

Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and our Blessed Mother, pray for us and help us always to say “yes” to Jesus as you did. 💙

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

09/07/2026

🌹💙 FOUND MARY MONDAY! 💙🌹

Did you find her?! 👀🔎

Our little Mary has been found—and this time, she was hiding right outside among the flowers, at the feet of our beautiful marble statue of Mary! 🌹🌸

What a lovely place for our little Mary to hide. Surrounded by flowers and standing beneath the beautiful blue sky, we are reminded of the beauty and peace that Mary brings to our hearts when she leads us closer to her Son, Jesus. 💙

This beautiful statue gives us an opportunity to pause for a moment, say a prayer, and ask Mary to intercede for us. 🙏

Mary’s hiding spot this week is a little reminder to slow down, step outside, and spend a quiet moment with God.
“Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us.” ❤️

Thank you to everyone who played along and searched for Mary! 🔎😊

But don’t get too comfortable…

👀 Mary will be looking for another hiding spot soon!
Where will she turn up next? 🌹

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09/06/2026

Parishioners Dan Kallal and Dave Rathgeb redid the landscaping by the sign on Shipman Road Rinker Road junction. Beth Young helped by keeping the plants watered! Thank you!!! It looks great!

09/04/2026

🔎💙 FIND MARY FRIDAY! 💙🔎
Oh no… Mary has been on the move again! 👀🌹
It’s Find Mary Friday, and our little Mary has found herself a brand-new hiding spot somewhere in our church! ⛪
We’ve taken a close-up picture to give you a clue—but we’re not making this one too easy! 😉
🔍 Look closely.
👀 Study the details.
🤔 Think about where you might find her.
Can you figure out where Mary is hiding this week?
Put your best guess in the comments below! ⬇️
And remember… no peeking at someone else’s answer before you make your guess! 😄
We’ll reveal Mary’s hiding spot in a few days and share a little bit about the special place she chose and what it means to our faith. ❤️
So grab your detective hat, get those eyes ready, and let the search begin!
🌹 WHERE’S MARY?
🔎 CAN YOU FIND HER?
Happy Find Mary Friday, everyone! 💙⛪

09/02/2026

Everyone is welcome to the outdoor Mass in Benld!

Join us in the park as we celebrate Mass. Everyone welcome!
SS Simon & Jude - Gillespie and St. Joseph’s - Benld

08/31/2026

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08/31/2026

🌟 Where’s Mary? — We Found Her! 🌟

Did you guess where Mary was hiding? 👀💙

Mary was hiding right here on our tabernacle! ✨

And what a beautiful place for her to be. The tabernacle is where we reserve the Blessed Sacrament, reminding us that Jesus is truly present with us in the Eucharist. ❤️

Mary always points us toward her Son. Her whole life was a yes to God, and she invites us to draw closer to Jesus.

Perhaps Mary chose this hiding place to give us a little reminder:
Jesus is here. He is waiting for us. 🙏

In the busyness of our lives, it can be easy to forget to simply spend time with Jesus. Whether it is a few quiet moments before the tabernacle or a longer time of Eucharistic Adoration, we are invited to come, be still, and rest in His presence.

You don't need the perfect words or a long list of things to say. Sometimes, simply being there with Jesus is enough. ❤️

The next time you have the opportunity, consider spending a little time in Adoration. Sit with Jesus. Talk to Him. Listen. Thank Him. Bring Him your joys, your worries, your family, and your prayers.

Mary always leads us to Jesus. 💙

And now that you've found her….

👀 Where will Mary hide next?

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

08/28/2026

🔎💙 IT’S FIND MARY FRIDAY! 💙🔎

It’s Friday… and you know what that means!

Mary is hiding! 👀🌹

Somewhere in our church, our little Mary has found a hiding spot—and we want to know if YOU can find her!

We’re giving you just one close-up photo as your clue. 📸

Look carefully! 🔍
Study the details! 👀
Think about the places you’ve seen in our church! ⛪

Where do you think Mary is hiding this week?

Drop your best guess in the comments below! ⬇️👇

And don’t worry if you don't get it right away… sometimes Mary likes to make us look a little closer! 😉

A few days from now, we’ll reveal her hiding place with a bigger picture and share a little about the special place she chose and what it means to our Catholic faith. ❤️

🌹 So, are you ready?
🔎 FIND MARY.
💬 MAKE YOUR GUESS.
❤️ LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

And most importantly, let Mary’s little adventure remind us that everywhere we look in our church, there are beautiful reminders that point us toward her Son, Jesus.

Happy Find Mary Friday! 🎉💙

08/27/2026

Sign up for Called and Courageous Women’s Conference in Springfield

What is preventing you from trusting God more deeply?

Life is full of highs and lows, and it can be hard to see where God is in the middle of it all. At this year’s Catholic Women’s Conference, discover how to trust God in the messy, real moments of everyday life. Learn how your emotions influence your spiritual life and how to challenge the lies that lead to self-criticism, comparison, and discouragement. You’ll leave with practical tools to learn how to recognize God in your daily life, grow in prayer, and live with greater confidence in your identity as a beloved daughter of God. No matter what your season of life – single, married, divorced, widowed, young adult, or retired – you’ll find encouragement, community, and hope. When? Saturday, October 10. Christ the King parish Center, Springfield. Women ages 18+. Cost $30. For the full schedule, speaker information, and registration, visit go.dio.org/cac. Even if you are on the fence about God, remember: God is not on the fence about you. Questions? Contact Gracie Ortiz at [email protected] or 217-321-1124.

08/26/2026

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The Knights of Columbus Council #2076 is inviting local boys and girls to show off their soccer skills at our first annual Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge!

The competition is open to boys and girls ages 9–14 as of September 1st. Come out, have some fun, test your skills, and compete for a chance to advance to the next level of competition!

When? - Labor Day, Monday, September 7th
Where? - Benld Family Sports Complex – site of the former Ben-Gil Elementary School

Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Competition begins at 9:00 AM

There is no cost to participate, and all eligible boys and girls in the area are welcome! Each participant will take a set number of penalty shots and can score points by hitting different areas of the goal. Winners will go on to compete against other winners at the District competition in October!

Grab your soccer players, bring the family, and join us for a fun Labor Day morning on the field.

Please send any questions to the email address on the flyer and please help us spread the word by sharing this post! ⚽ Illinois State Council Knights of Columbus