The Christmas Mass Schedule is:
Saturday December 24:
5:00 pm
10:00 pm
Sunday, December 25:
8:00 am
11:00 am
The parish office will be closed Thursday, December 22-Monday, December 26 for Christmas, and Thursday, December 29-Monday, January 2 for New Years.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is hiring for the position of Janitor. The position is for 28 hours weekly, Monday – Thursday 8a-3p. For more information or to apply, please contact the parish office either by phone (724) 662-2999, or email office [at] ihmercer.org.
The Box of Joy ministry is an annual Christmas gift ministry organized by local Catholic schools, parishes and groups across the United States and facilitated by Cross Catholic Outreach. Box of Joy provides teachers, parish leaders and other Catholic groups a unique opportunity to encourage students, parishioners and group members to participate in a simple and tangible service experience that has both a material and spiritual impact on the poorest of the poor in developing countries. Together, Catholics in the U.S. are able to join our Lord Jesus Christ in acts of mercy. The outreach also provides a unique opportunity for Catholics to engage in service with others in their local communities who share the same desire to spread Christmas joy and the story of Christmas — the Good News of God’s love — with children worldwide.
Learn more at boxofjoy.org.
For more information on Box of Joy for Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, contact Barb Dumais by emailing bdumais6 [at] gmail.com
We are coming up on the Holy Day of Obligation of All Saints Day. Our Mass schedule for All Saints will be
Monday, October 31 @ 6pm and
Tuesday, November 1 @ 8am.
Masses for All Souls Day will be
Wednesday, November 2 @ 8am and 6pm.
At the 6pm mass, we will have our annual memorial of all the deceased of our parish in the past year. Next weekend we will include a list of all our beloved deceased in the bulletin. If you wish to include anyone from outside the parish in our list, please email the parish office including the name of the deceased and the date of their death.
Join the Immaculate Heart of Mary Newsletter. Powered by Mailchimp, this email list will allow Father Andy and the parish to communicate important information with regular emails.
DME is a three day retreat program. Each day has a different focus: Friday is the Day of Invitation, focusing on how God is inviting us into relationship. Saturday is the Day of Encounter, where we encounter God through the sacraments, Adoration, and others. Sunday is the Day of Commission, where we as a community are empowered to evangelize and share our faith.
The weekend includes talks, exposure to different types of prayer, Mass, community, and much more. The weekend runs from 10am on Friday to 5pm on Sunday, and retreat participants stay onsite for the weekend.
For more information, feel free to speak with Father Andy about the retreat!
Where are Divine Mercy Encounter retreat weekends held?
DME retreat weekends are held at Saint Joseph Church / Bread of Life Community at 147 West 24th Street, Erie, PA 16502. Retreat participants are expected to stay at the social center for the entire weekend.
Is there a cost for the DME weekends?
The cost to make the DME weekend is $45. We ask for a $20 deposit to hold your spot on a particular weekend. Please contact the Parish Office if you cannot afford this cost.
What should I bring with me on a DME weekend?
On the DME weekend, you will be staying over at the parish social center. In addition to the items you’d normally bring on a trip (clothes, pajamas, towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, any medication, etc.) you will also want to bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Inflatable mattresses are permitted, although we ask that you bring a single-sized mattress to allow for room in the sleeping area. Cots are available upon request. We also ask that you bring one dress-clothes outfit for a special event on Saturday.
Am I going to have to share personal stuff that I don’t want to talk about on DME weekends?
There is plenty of time on the weekend for sharing – if you feel comfortable – but you do not have to talk about anything that you don’t want to. No one is going to expect you to answer questions about yourself or your life. You can go as far as you want.
Who will be at a Divine Mercy Encounter Weekend?
The makeup of each Divine Mercy Encounter weekend varies a little, but usually around 30 people make the weekend and around 20 people work the weekend. There are usually around 15 high school aged participants, 5 – 10 college / young adult participants, and up to 8 adult participants making the weekend. At your table will also be two people around your age who have made a Divine Mercy Encounter before who will be there as your table resources to help out. The other people working the retreat include the musician, directors, and spiritual directors.
Will I be able to shower on Divine Mercy Encounter Weekends?
Yes, there are showers available and everyone has a chance to take showers.
Where am I going to be sleeping?
You will be sleeping on the floor of the location where you are making your DME. Participants are encouraged to bring a twin inflatable mattress or floor pad, a sleeping bag, or (when necessary) a cot. Some cots are available for those who need them.
Who can make a DME weekend?
Anyone can participate as long as they are a sophomore in high school and 15 years of age or older.
When is the next retreat?
The NEXT DME Retreat Weekend is scheduled for November 11, 12, & 13, 2022. Register soon!!
TO APPLY TO MAKE THE WEEKEND VISIT:
All families are invited to join Immaculate Heart of Mary at the Corn Maze on Sunday, October 23 at 12:30pm. Pizza and pop will be served to our students after the 11am Mass, and then we will be headed over to Cool Springs at 12:30pm.
Please sign up in the Faith Formation Office after classes this weekend, or contact the parish office by Wednesday, October 19.
This Sunday, October 9, Religious Education classes begin for our youth. Classes are held in the Learning Center from 9:20am-10:40am. On Sunday, October 16, we will hold our first Family Faith Formation Day in Gallagher Hall where we will talk about the Eucharist.
Join Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish as we celebrate the Eucharist.
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Family Faith Formation Day – 9:30am – 10:30am in Gallagher Hall
Adoration – 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Solemn Evening Prayer with Eucharistic Procession and Benediction – 7:00pm
Signup for Eucharistic Adoration is in the vestibule of the church. Please sign up for an hour of adoration!
If you have a favorite song or two from the Missal that you would like to hear played before Mass some week, Antonio and Jim are happy to help. Just text the name of the song and its number in the Missal to 724-977-8912 and they’ll play it sometime in the following few weeks. Or fill out the form on the organ and leave it there following Mass.