Around the Parish – May 17, 2026

Congratulations to our First Communicant

This weekend, we rejoice with Mr. Shay Leckenby as he receives his First Holy Communion at our 10:00 AM Mass. This is a beautiful and important moment in his journey of faith, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to him and his family.

We also offer our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Linda Oliver for her dedication as Shay’s Faith Formation teacher, and to his parents for the love, encouragement, and support they continue to provide as he grows in his relationship with Christ. Please keep Shay in your prayers as he receives Our Lord in the Eucharist for the very first time.

Faith Formation

As another year of Faith Formation comes to a close, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of our teachers, volunteers, and staff who have helped make this year such a success. So much work happens behind the scenes through planning lessons, preparing activities, organizing schedules, and supporting our students throughout the year, and I am deeply grateful for the time and care that has been given to our young people.

A special word of thanks goes to Mr. Greg Cummings, our Faith Formation Director, for his continued leadership, dedication, and commitment to the growth of our program. Thank you to everyone who helped pass on the faith to the next generation.

300 Club Tickets Available

Our 300 Club fundraiser is now underway, and we are grateful for the strong support already shown by our parish community. To date, 182 tickets have been sold, but we still have a way to go in reaching our goal of all 300 tickets.

The 300 Club is an important fundraiser that helps support the many ongoing needs of our parish while also giving participants opportunities to win throughout the year. If you have not yet purchased a ticket, I encourage you to consider doing so soon. Every ticket sold helps strengthen and support the mission and ministries of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. Thank you for your continued generosity, support, and love for our parish community.

Basket Raffle Planning Meeting

Our Basket Raffle Planning Meeting will take place this Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 PM in the parish conference room. Anyone interested in helping with this important parish fundraiser is warmly invited to attend. Your ideas, creativity, and assistance are always appreciated as we continue preparing for another successful event.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School will soon be here, and we are excited to once again offer this wonderful opportunity for our children to grow in faith while enjoying a fun and engaging week together. Through music, activities, crafts, games, and prayer, our children are able to encounter the love of Jesus in meaningful and joyful ways.

We warmly encourage families to register their children and be part of this special week of faith and community. Registration forms are available at the doors of the church, or you may register online at ihmercer.org/vbs

This year, there is a $10 registration fee per child to help cover the cost of materials and supplies. The registration deadline is June 25, 2026. We encourage families to register early so we can properly prepare for all who plan to attend.

Here’s a thought for your week ahead:

The richest wealth is wisdom; The strongest weapon is patience; The best security is faith; The greatest tonic is laughter; and surprisingly, all of these are free.

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.