Around the Parish – November 23, 2025

Christ the King

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the final Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year. This great feast reminds us that all time, history, and creation find their fulfillment in Christ, who reigns not with earthly power but with love, mercy, and truth. His throne is the Cross, and His crown is one of thorns — yet through His sacrifice, He has conquered sin and death, opening the way to eternal life.

As we conclude another liturgical year, we pause to reflect on how Christ has reigned in our hearts and homes this past year. Have we allowed Him to be King over every part of our lives — our thoughts, our relationships, our priorities, our time? The new Church year begins next weekend with the season of Advent, a time to renew our hearts and prepare for His coming again in glory.

May we end this year giving thanks to Christ our King, and begin the next with hearts ready to welcome Him anew.

Cookie Walk and Soup Sale

Soup containers are available for pickup today as well as next Sunday in the main vestibule of church for all those who are making soup. Thank you again to all our volunteers!

Ministers Schedule

We will soon begin preparing the next Ministry Schedule (January–April) through Ministry Scheduler Pro. If you know of any dates you will be unavailable, please update your preferences online as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued dedication to our parish liturgies!

#iGiveCatholic

Giving Tuesday and #iGiveCatholic are right around the corner! This year’s campaign will fund critical upgrades and repairs to our church’s handicapped entrance. We are seeking to raise the remaining $88,400 to complete the project.

We are thrilled to announce a $15,000 matching donation! Every gift up to $15,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, meaning your generosity will go twice as far—bringing us closer to making our church truly open and welcoming to all.

Every dollar given through #iGiveCatholic stays right here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
To learn more or make a gift, please visit ihmercer.org/igivecatholic.

A few thoughts for your week:

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s good to pause and ask ourselves where we find gratitude in our daily lives. True thanksgiving isn’t just a single day—it’s a way of seeing. It’s found in the quiet moments when we recognize God’s hand at work: in a friend’s kindness, a meal shared, the laughter of family, or the peace of prayer.

Gratitude grows when we stop long enough to notice God’s blessings. This week, let’s not only ask what we’re thankful for, but where we are thankful—where in our hearts and lives we allow gratitude to dwell and take root.

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.