Around the Parish – July 19, 2026

Homebound Ministry

We will hold an informational meeting THIS Wednesday, July 22, at 6:30 PM in the parish conference room for parishioners who may be interested in helping us renew our Homebound Ministry.

Through this ministry, volunteers offer prayer, friendship, encouragement, and the presence of Christ to members of our parish who cannot attend Mass because of illness, age, or other circumstances. You do not need any previous experience or special training to attend the meeting. What matters most is a compassionate heart and a willingness to serve.

Those who would like to learn more about this meaningful ministry are warmly encouraged to join us.

Theme Basket Raffle

The Theme Basket Raffle is always a popular part of our Spaghetti Dinner and an enjoyable way for parishioners to support this important parish event. We are deeply grateful to everyone who donates a basket, gathers donated items, contacts local businesses, or assists with organizing the raffle. Your generosity and imagination help make it a success.

Each completed basket should have a total value of at least $50. Please include an itemized list of everything contained in the basket when it is submitted. All baskets must be delivered to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Office by August 23. Receiving the baskets by this date allows us time to organize them, prepare displays, and promote the raffle properly.

Please do not include any alcoholic beverages in the baskets, including wine, beer, or liquor. Gift cards and vouchers for restaurants or businesses that serve alcohol are acceptable.

When making a formal donation request to a business, organization, or individual, please notify the parish office as soon as possible. This helps us prevent multiple people from approaching the same donor and ensures that everyone who supports the raffle is properly acknowledged and thanked.

Thank you for helping make the Theme Basket Raffle a joyful and successful part of our parish celebration!

Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer

Deacon Edgar Gonzalez will lead Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer, an eight-week book study designed to help participants deepen their relationship with God and grow more confident in prayer. Whether prayer already comes naturally or you sometimes struggle to know what to say or how to begin, this study offers practical guidance rooted in the Catholic tradition. The group will meet on Wednesdays from August 12 through September 30 at 6:30 PM in the parish conference room. The cost is $20 per person. Please register by contacting the parish office at (724) 662-2999 or office@ihmercer.org. We encourage everyone who desires a richer and more faithful prayer life to join us.

Here’s a thought for your week ahead:

It is easy to overlook the quiet blessings that surround us each day: a kind word, a moment of peace, an unexpected laugh, or someone who takes the time to listen. This week, try to notice one small gift each day and thank God for it. A grateful heart often discovers that even an ordinary week is filled with grace..

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.