Around the Parish – September 27, 2026

Saying Yes

This weekend’s Gospel gives us the story of two sons. One says that he will go and work for his father, but never does. The other initially refuses, but later changes his mind and goes.

There is something hopeful in that second son. He does not get it right at first, but his first answer is not his final answer.

The same is true for us. There may be places in our lives where we have resisted God, put something off, or simply failed to respond. The Gospel reminds us that it is never too late to give the Lord a different answer.

And most of the time, saying yes to God is not dramatic. It is found in small acts of prayer, generosity, forgiveness, service, and love.

The Lord gives us opportunities every day to say yes.

A Busy Fall at IHM

Fall is certainly underway here at IHM. Faith Formation has begun, parish activities are filling the calendar, and there always seems to be something happening.

It is wonderful to see so much life in the parish. All of these activities are opportunities for us to grow closer to Christ and closer to one another.

Thank You!

Today is our Spaghetti Dinner, and I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make it possible.

There are countless people cooking, baking, setting up, serving, cleaning, selling tickets, and taking care of all the little details behind the scenes.

Thank you for everything you have done.

And if you have not eaten yet, come downstairs to Gallagher Hall between 12:00 and 4:00 PM and join us!

An Hour with the Lord

Beginning Friday, October 16, we will have Eucharistic Adoration following the 8:00 AM Mass until 7:00 PM on the third Friday of each month.

Sign-up sheets will be available next weekend.

There are 168 hours in a week. Giving one of them to the Lord can have a remarkable effect on the other 167.

I hope you will consider signing up for an hour.

Invite Someone

Our first OCIA session is Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 AM in the Parish Office Conference Room.

If you know someone who has thought about becoming Catholic, invite them. Sometimes people are interested but simply do not know how to begin.

And that invitation does not have to stop with OCIA. Invite someone to Mass. Invite someone to a parish event. Invite someone to pray.

Sometimes people are simply waiting to be asked.

Here’s a Few Thoughts for Your Week Ahead

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead. Be careful what you give your attention to; not everything deserves your energy. A kind word can stay with someone for a very long time. Do not let one difficult moment convince you that the whole day is bad. Be generous with encouragement; people often carry burdens we cannot see. And remember that a little gratitude can change the way we see almost everything.

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.