Around the Parish – July 13, 2025
Vacation Bible School is Here!
’Twas the night before VBS, and all through the parish,
The halls were abuzz—excitement to cherish!
The banners were hung in the hallway with care,
In hopes that young disciples soon would be there.
Crafts were prepared and the lessons were planned,
Snacks were all stocked and volunteers manned.
Our theme comes alive with bright joy and delight,
As we gather each day and praise God with our might!
We are thrilled to welcome our youth this week as they dive into faith, fun, and friendship at Vacation Bible School! Please pray for all our children and volunteers during this exciting and grace-filled week!
Spaghetti Dinner & Theme Basket Raffle – Help Us Reach 60 Baskets!
Plans are underway for our annual Spaghetti Dinner this October! One of the highlights is our Theme Basket Raffle, and this year we’re aiming for 60 baskets—more than ever before! Sign-up sheets to contribute a themed basket are available at the doors of the church. Let’s come together to make this year’s raffle the biggest and best yet!
Parish Cookbook – Recipes Still Needed!
We’ve collected nearly 50 recipes, which puts us halfway to our goal! But we’d love even more! Help us make this cookbook a memorable Christmas gift celebrating 70 years of IHM in Mercer. Submit your favorite dishes and be part of this delicious legacy!
Handicapped Ramp Entrance Update
Thanks to your generosity, we have received $63,980 in pledges toward our goal of $152,337 for the much-needed repairs to our handicapped ramp. These updates are essential for ensuring our church remains accessible to everyone. Every gift, large or small, helps us move closer to this vital goal. Thank you for your support!
Hermenegild Picnic
Mark your calendar! Our annual mass and picnic at St. Hermenegild Church is scheduled for Thursday, August 7 at 6pm! Bring a chair to sit and a dish to share!
Eucharistic Minister Training
Our Eucharistic Minister Training is scheduled for next weekend, after our 5p and 10a masses. Thank you to everyone who has let us know that they will be in attendance. Anyone who wishes to be a part of this special ministry is also asked to attend these sessions.
Br. Ezekiel Thomas to Profess First Vows
We are blessed to share that parishioner Joseph Dumais, son of Pat and Barb Dumais, will take his First Vows with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal on Saturday, August 2.
While Br. Ezekiel cannot receive personal gifts, he can receive notes of encouragement and spiritual support. We’d love to send him a beautiful bouquet of prayerful messages from our parish family! If you’d like to be part of this special gift, please drop off a card or note of encouragement at the parish office. Feel free to include a promise of prayer or a word of support.
Let’s surround Br. Ezekiel Thomas with the love and prayers of his home parish as he takes this important step in his vocation!
A few thoughts for your week:
Don’t underestimate the quiet power of hope. Even the smallest light can break through the deepest darkness. Be the reason someone feels seen, supported, and strengthened today. Little acts of kindness can echo in eternity.
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.