Around the Parish – November 10, 2024

We’re excited to share that, thanks to your generosity through #iGiveCatholic, we’ve already paid for ten windows and the new stage curtain for Gallagher Hall! However, we still need your help to cover the remaining costs. Eight windows still need funding, and we have $10,988.10 left to raise to meet our matching goal of $20,000. Every dollar you give brings us closer to doubling your impact through this generous matching gift. Thank you for supporting Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and helping us reach our goal to revitalize Gallagher Hall for our parish and community! For more information on how to participate in donating to our #iGiveCatholic campaign, head over to our website at https://ihmercer.org/igivecatholic or call the parish office. Thanks again to everyone who has donated to this campaign, and please continue to pray for the success of our #iGiveCatholic appeal to help with keeping our church beautiful!

In the sanctuary this weekend remains the Nursing Home Gift Tree for our local seniors. If you can help spread some Christmas cheer, please take a tag from the tree, purchase the gift listed, and return it in a gift bag, unwrapped, with the tag attached to the bag. Kindly bring your gift back to the church by Sunday, November 24. Thank you to all who have already taken a tag—your generosity is deeply appreciated!

Reminder: Sign-up sheets are available at the church entrances for our upcoming Cookie Walk and Soup Sale! We kindly urge anyone interested in helping with this beloved annual event to sign up as soon as possible. Your participation makes a real difference, and we need as many hands as we can get!

Additionally, we will once again feature the popular Lottery Tree Raffle. With your support, we can fill our trees with lottery tickets! If you’re able, please donate a few unscratched tickets by mailing them to the office or placing them in the collection basket. Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and our many community initiatives!

You’re warmly invited to join us next Sunday, November 17, for our Family Faith Formation Day with Fr. Scott Jabo, the Vocations Director of the Diocese of Erie! Fr. Scott will be with us to discuss vocations to the priesthood and religious life, offering insights and inspiration for all ages. He will also be the celebrant for the 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn more about the gift of vocations and to gather as a parish family. We look forward to seeing you there!

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

There is a huge difference between hearing and listening. No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else. Better to be the one who smiled rather than the one who didn’t smile back.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.

Offering a Mass Stipend:

The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.