🌟 SPOTLIGHT: Jim and Allison Maciejewski

💕 The Couple that works and plays together, stays and prays together!

You may recognize her by her radiant smile and beautiful hair, but what truly makes Allison Maciejewski shine is the depth of her faith, her joyful heart, and her tireless commitment to lifting others up—within the parish, community, and workplace. And she doesn't do it alone! Allison and husband Jim have been faithful, proud members of St. John the Evangelist Parish since 2003. And while Jim does not have the unwavering grin of Allison, when he choses to smile, he lights up a room. And he definitely has the same tireless intensity---talk about a power couple! That's why this dynamic duo are recipients of the 2025 Sylvester Reising Stewardship Award!

Both cradle Catholics, Allison finds her deepest joy in the sacraments, the tangible ways God pours His love into her life. And she loves being a sacristan!“I love that God loves us so unconditionally that He has given us the gift of the sacraments… especially the Eucharist—where He physically lives within me. That is everything.”

Similarly, Jim shares his love of the faith through his sublime guitar playing each Sunday at Mass and other events put on by SJE and beyond---playing guitar at Diocesan events and special needs facilities, as well.

It’s no surprise that their favorite part of being parish partners is being surrounded by people who inspire them to live boldly in the faith.

💕 A Love Story (with a Backseat Twist)

So does everyone know that brothers married sisters? Well, it's true! Allison met her future husband Jim thanks to an orchestrated coincidence—when her (slightly older) sister Lisa and her then-boyfriend Jerry (💕now husband) invited Allison to a Blues Fest in Chicago. Jerry’s brother Jim just happened to be in the back seat. The rest, as Allison says, is history, or the beginning of "their story." That ride turned out to be the beginning of something beautiful. Music became a shared heartbeat between them. Allison and Jim even played in a band together, performing at local bars and festivals. “Those were such fun times,” she says, fondly remembering the rhythm of their early days.

These days, their stage is a little smaller—they have shared the main stage at the SJE Fest and play just once a year at a chili cook-off—but the dream lives on. Their ultimate retirement goal? Becoming lounge singers on a cruise ship. (And who wouldn’t buy tickets for that?!?) 🎤

🙏 Faith at Work

Jim became part of JMA (Jacobs and Maciejewski) Architects, originally in South Holland now also in Cedar Lake, through an internship he began in 1990. The 70-year-old company was founded by Harold Jacobs, when after he passed in 2001, Jim became owner and principle architect.

Allison had begun her career in Chicago, but when their first child, James, was born, she pivoted closer to home. About one and a half years later, their family was rounded out with daughter Sydney, so in 2021, Allison joined JMA Architects, growing the family firm's marketing presence as director of client development. Led by her inspiration and aspiration, Allison introduced Alpha at JMA and continues to weave the Catholic faith into the fabric of the company’s culture. 

Jim became architect of record for SJE with the design of the new church in 2006, followed by the dedication of the church in 2008. Jim's brother is senior project administrator of JMA Architects, while Allison's sister is business manager, and the family atmosphere is rounded out by puppy Mable who scuttles around as office mascot! JMA is proud to serve 14 public and private school districts/corporations in Illinois and Indiana, the ECHO Joint Agreement special education cooperative serving 17 south suburban school districts, as well as several municipalities, religious organizations and numerous other public and private institutions.

🙌 Faith in Action (Sy Reising Style)

Allison and Jim’s hearts for service are hard to match --- which is basically why our SJE Men's Club has presented them with the 2025 Sylvester Reising Stewardship Award! The award is given annually to parish partners who have shown exceptional stewardship to the parish and to those in need. Here’s just a tiny glimpse of their involvement:

At St. John the Evangelist:

• Music Ministry – Since 2003 for Jim, and 2023 for Allison

• Grocery Bag Day Organizer (with the entire family) – 11+ years

• Connect Group Leaders – 3 years

• St. John Fest Volunteers

• Oktoberfest Volunteers

• Marian Consecration – Since 2023 (115+ participants!)

  
  

✨ A Legacy of Love through Adoration

One of the most powerful ways Jim and Allison are living out their mission is through the Eucharistic Adoration Endowment Fund, created by the couple after Allison became a board member of the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana. The fund’s purpose is simple yet profound:

To help people experience the love of Jesus through Eucharistic encounters—and to empower others to do the same.

www.EucharisticAdorationEndowment.com 

Anyone can contribute to this mission! And organizations in need of support to expand or begin Eucharistic Adoration opportunities can apply for a grant. “This is something that will outlive us, and anyone who gives to it or receives a grant from it will be part of that legacy,” Allison says. 

This couple serves joyfully and faithfully—proving that the most powerful disciples are often the ones who are willing to show up with open hearts and hands.

Thank you and God bless you, Jim and Allison, for being the lights 🌟 you are and for taking on the parish mission to"Be Disciples Who Makes Disciples."