Tag: 2023

Around the Parish – July 9, 2023

Written by on July 8, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Nearly two months ago, the Holy Father Pope Francis announced that Monsignor Edward Lohse, Vicar General of the Diocese of Erie, was appointed as Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, MI. I have known Monsignor Lohse, now Bishop-Elect Lohse, since I applied to seminary, and then most recently I lived with Bishop-Elect when I was assigned to Saint George Parish in Erie. All of the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Erie have been invited to attend his ordination as Bishop in Kalamazoo on July 25. Father Joe Petrone and I will be traveling to Kalamazoo, and Father Ray Gramatta has graciously agreed to cover me for masses on July 25 and 26. I look forward to being at the Bishop-Elect’s ordination so as to say thank you for his service to our diocese and to me, and Ad Multos Annos (for many more years) and congratulations.

Registration is still open for our VBS which is scheduled for July 17-21 from 5:30pm to 8pm. NEXT WEEK IS THE BIG WEEK!! This awesome opportunity is open to all students from pre-k through eighth grade! There is NO COST for any family to participate, and is open to all! You need not be a member of IHM! All peoples are welcome. Please register as soon as possible to make sure to save your child a spot! Registration can be done online on our website or via paper registration form! More information can be found at https://ihmercer.org/vbs.

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, we will have a special mass at 7pm in church dedicated to Saint Philomena and asking for her intercession for healing both in body and spirit for our parish and the community. All are encouraged to attend. We will have a relic of Saint Philomena and blessings with the oil of Saint Philomena. More information can be found in this weekend’s bulletin.

This weekend, we welcome Father Aby Abraham, IMS, a priest of the Indian Missionary Society. He is here for the annual Missionary Co-op appeal. Please help me welcome Father Aby and make him feel at home here at IHM.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Failure is a detour, not a dead end street. Never let fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is our empowering Catholic Faith that motivates us to continue to press ahead in spite of the odds.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 2, 2023

Written by on July 1, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Happy Independence Day to all! May this special day be a reminder of the freedom and liberty that we cherish. Let us celebrate the spirit of independence with joy and gratitude, honoring the brave souls who fought for our rights and shaping our nation’s destiny. May unity, peace, and prosperity continue to guide us towards a brighter future. Enjoy the festivities and the blessings of freedom.

We have sold all of the 300 tickets! You no longer have to listen to me for this year remind everyone to purchase their tickets! This is a yearly event, and therefore next spring we will begin selling tickets again, so make sure to get your ticket early next year! Again, thank you to everyone for helping this fundraiser.

Registration is still open for our VBS which is scheduled for July 17-21 from 5:30pm to 8pm. THIS IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY!!! This awesome opportunity is open to all students from pre-k through eighth grade! There is NO COST for any family to participate, and is open to all! You need not be a member of IHM! All peoples are welcome. Please register as soon as possible to make sure to save your child a spot! Registration can be done online on our website or via paper registration form! More information can be found at https://ihmercer.org/vbs.

Next weekend, July 8 & 9, Father Aby Abraham, IMS, a priest of the Indian Missionary Society will be visiting us for the annual Missionary Co-op appeal. Please help me welcome Father Aby and make him feel at home here at IHM.

Recently, some may have noticed that we are not able to livestream our 10a mass any longer. Our camera has had a bit of a problem, and now prevents us from livestreaming the mass. To be able to remedy this situation, we need to replace the camera, but that would cost us $2000, and that is an expense that we cannot afford right now with the currently weekly deficit and the emergency work on the rectory garage roof. Prayers that we can find a way to move forward to livestream the liturgies from church.

Here’s a thought for your week: “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” —Pope Benedict XVI

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

0 Shares

Around the Parish – June 25, 2023

Written by on June 24, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to head down to Our lady of Mount Carmel Summer Camp in Volant to help out with adoration, mass, and confessions. We are blessed in western Pennsylvania to have such a amazing opportunity available to our families and youth. The purpose for OLMC Camp is to give an authentically Catholic, effective, fun, and joyful opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ through an Adventure Camp and Retreat Center. Let me tell you, they’ve got something right there! Throughout the rest of the summer, there are many different programs and retreats available, with plenty of spots still open! I encourage all of our youth and families to consider spending some time at Our Lady of Mount Carmel! For more information, head over to their website, https://olmccamp.org.

Registration is still open for our VBS which is scheduled for July 17-21 from 5:30pm to 8pm. This awesome opportunity is open to all students from pre-k through eighth grade! There is NO COST for any family to participate, and is open to all! You need not be a member of IHM! All peoples are welcome. Please register as soon as possible to make sure to save your child a spot! Registration can be done online on our website or via paper registration form! More information can be found at https://ihmercer.org/vbs.

Here’s a thought for your week: Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. Always keep your face toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The IHM 300 Club will be a special 6 month raffle, and more information about this can be found in today’s bulletin, as well as on our website. Tickets will begin being sold after all the masses. Tickets can also always be purchased through the parish office.

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares

Around the Parish – June 18, 2023

Written by on June 17, 2023. Posted in Around the Parish, News.

Happy and blessed Father’s Day to all of our fathers in our parish community. Celebrate the gift of fatherhood this Father’s Day as we honor all fathers and father figures in our Catholic community. Today, we express our gratitude for their love, guidance, and sacrifices, following the example of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. Let us remember to keep all fathers in our prayers, asking God to bless them with strength, wisdom, and grace in their sacred role within the family. Happy Father’s Day to all our beloved dads!

This weekend, we joyfully celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which holds deep significance for our parish as it is named in honor of this sacred devotion. According to Liturgical Law, the celebration of the parish’s name day takes precedence over the regular Sunday in ordinary time. This special occasion allows us to focus our prayers and reflections on the Immaculate Heart, embracing the profound love and purity that Mary exemplified in her life. Let us come together as a faith community to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and seek her intercession for our parish and the world.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who participated in the Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession and the 40 hours Eucharistic Devotions. Your presence and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament truly made these events a beautiful expression of our faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. May the graces received during these sacred moments continue to nourish our souls and strengthen our commitment to the Eucharist.

This week, all of the priests of the Diocese of Erie will be gathering at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe for the annual Emmaus gathering. Please pray for us as we spend time together in prayer, fraternity, and formation. I look forward to seeing you all next week!

Attention all parents! We kindly urge you to register your students for our parish Vacation Bible School (VBS) as soon as possible. Currently, we have only two students registered, and we want to ensure a vibrant and enriching experience for all participants. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity for your children to grow in faith, make new friends, and have a memorable summer adventure. Register today and secure your child’s place in our exciting VBS program!

At writing this bulletin, we only have 40 tickets left for our 300 club!!! We are coming down to the wire, so if you haven’t gotten your ticket, don’t wait much longer!! You may have to wait till next year!!

Here’s a thought for your week: Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. Always keep your face toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares

40 Hours & Corpus Christi Procession Schedule

Written by on June 10, 2023. Posted in Diocese News, News, Parish News.

Beginning this Sunday, June 11, we start our 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion and Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession. The schedule of Events for the next three days is listed below:

Sunday, June 11, 2023

8:00 AM — Parish Sunday Mass
10:00 AM — Parish Sunday Mass
11:00 AM — Eucharistic Adoration Begins
2:15 PM — Corpus Christi Procession Begins from IHM Church to K of C Hall
2:30 PM — Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament at K of C Hall
2:45 PM — Procession back to IHM Church
3:00 PM — Divine Mercy Chaplet in IHM Church
3:30 PM — Benediction
3:45 PM — Adoration continues in IHM Church
7:00 PM — 40 Hours Vespers and Homily from Fr. Joseph Petrone in IHM Church
7:30 PM — Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Monday, June 12, 2023

8:00 AM — Parish Daily Mass
8:30 AM — Eucharistic Adoration resumes following morning Mass
7:00 PM — 40 Hours Vespers and Homily from Fr. Joseph Petrone in IHM Church
7:30 PM — Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

8:00 AM — Parish Daily Mass
8:30 AM — Eucharistic Adoration resumes following morning Mass
7:00 PM — 40 Hours Vespers and Homily from Fr. Joseph Petrone in IHM Church
7:30 PM — Eucharistic Procession in IHM Church
7:45 PM — Benediction and Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

0 Shares

Around the Parish – June 11, 2023

Written by on June 10, 2023. Posted in Around the Parish, News.

This weekend begins our 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration. In this weekend’s bulletin, there is a full schedule of events from Sunday, June 11 through Tuesday, June 13. There will be many visiting priests over the course of the next three days as this time of 40 Hours is an opportunity for the priests to take time to share in fraternity. Please help me welcome our priests and make them feel at home!

Thank you to all who have volunteered to spend time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. At a minimum, there needs to be one person adoring Our Lord before the Eucharist in the monstrance the entire time that the Eucharist is exposed. The church asks that we try to have at least two people present when the Eucharist is exposed. This does not mean that only two people are permitted to be present at any given hour. Feel free to make a visit at any time throughout the times that the Eucharist is exposed!

We are getting closer and closer to having all our 300 Club tickets sold! At the time of submitting this bulletin, we have only 65 tickets remaining to sell! Please help us make the final stretch to sell all the tickets!

Our team for Vacation Bible School is beginning the process of making all the preparations for a successful and fun-filled week in July for our grade schoolers! What we need now is students to participate! The dates for VBS is July 17-21 from 5:30-8pm. We are trying an evening time slot this year so as to help our volunteers and parents participate. Registration is necessary, and can be done online on our website, or paper copies are available in the main vestibule under the pictures of the former pastors. Volunteers are still needed, so please contact Mrs. Oliver or the parish office ASAP! We have a planning meeting scheduled for THIS WEDNESDAY, June 14 at 6pm in the Conference Room. All volunteers are invited to come to help plan the big event!

A big congratulations to all of our graduates from our parish and beyond. We are so very proud of you and look forward to where your future leads. Always know that you have a home at Immaculate Heart!

Here’s a thought for your week: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. It’s never too late to start again, and it’s never too early to make anew.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares

Around the Parish – June 4, 2023

Written by on June 3, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Today, we celebrate a Mystery of our Faith: the Holy Trinity. Part of the reason we consider this a mystery is the fact that, even if we begin to try to comprehend this idea, we fail in making comparisons. Today we celebrate the fact that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our God is Three in One. Simple mathematics tells us that 3 cannot equal 1, yet that is exactly what we are saying when we talk about the Trinity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us an analogy wherein we can see the reasonableness of the Trinity by helping us to see the possibility of distinct persons who possess the same nature. CCC 2205 provides:

The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.
CCC 2205

When we think of a family, we can see how a father, mother, and child can be distinct persons and yet possess the same nature (human), just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons who each possess the same nature (divine). The weakness, of course, is that in God each person possesses the one infinite and immutable divine nature, and is therefore, one being. Our analogous family consists of three beings. Again, no analogy is perfect.

Our team for Vacation Bible School is beginning the process of making all the preparations for a successful and fun-filled week in July for our grade schoolers! What we need now is students to participate! The dates for VBS is July 17-21 from 5:30-8pm. We are trying an evening time slot this year so as to help our volunteers and parents participate. Registration is necessary, and can be done online on our website, or paper copies are available in the main vestibule under the pictures of the former pastors. Volunteers are still needed, so please contact Mrs. Oliver or the parish office ASAP!

Next week is Corpus Christi Sunday, and the beginning of our Forty Hours celebration, as well as the deanery Eucharistic Procession. We are still in need of volunteers to sign up for adoration slots as of writing this bulletin column. We need at least two adorers each hour during the times that the Eucharist is exposed each day. If you are able to take an hour, sign up sheets are taped to the window in the main vestibule.

Last weekend at all the masses, I announced the work that needs to be completed on the rectory garage roof. The roof over the second floor and living room was replaced within the past 15-20 years, and is in fair condition. The garage roof, on the other hand, is original to the building from 1955. The current rubber has deteriorated so much that it is not doing its job. The estimated cost of the roof repair and replacement is between $26,000 and $30,000. Any help that you might be able to offer vis-a-vi donations or prayers would be greatly appreciated!

Here’s a thought for your week: Say something positive, and you’ll see something positive. Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares

Around the Parish – May 28, 2023

Written by on May 27, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

This past Tuesday, May 23, big news came from the Vatican. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis announced that Monsignor Edward M. Lohse had been appointed as the fifth bishop of Kalamazoo, MI. Bishop-Elect Lohse has been a priest of the Diocese of Erie since his ordination to the presbyterate on April 21, 1989. Since his ordination, he has held many roles and responsibilities in the Diocese of Erie, as well as working for the Congregation of the Clergy in Rome from 2010-2015. Most recently, he has served as Vicar General for the Diocese of Erie. We wish him well, and promise him our continued prayers as he transitions into his new role as Shepherd of Kalamazoo. Ad multos annos!

A big congratulations to Henry Hazi, son of Matt and Hannah Hazi, upon the reception of his First Holy Communion at last weekend’s 10am Mass. This is a special moment for not only the Hazi family, but for our entire parish family. Let us continue to pray for each other, especially for our young people.

Here’s a thought for your week: Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive good things and good people will be drawn to you. With the eye of faith, look for the positive, even in negative events.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares

Around the Parish – May 21, 2023

Written by on May 20, 2023. Posted in Around the Parish, News.

We have just about 120 tickets left for the 300 Club! Please make sure to purchase your ticket. Each ticket is $100 and enters you in for a chance to win weekly beginning July 12! Please help us spread the word, and encourage people from outside the parish to get a ticket too! You do not have to belong to the parish to purchase a ticket! All monies raised that are not raffled off stay in our parish to help alleviate the cost of maintenance repairs as well as pay for our normal bills. For more information, check our website or call the parish office. https://ihmercer.org/300-Club

A reminder that we will celebrate 40 Hours in just a few weeks time. Our preacher for our celebration will be Father Joseph Petrone. He will be preaching on the Hearts of the Holy Family. We are in need of volunteers to sign up for an hour of adoration during the entire time that the Eucharist is exposed. A minimum of two volunteers are needed for each hour that the Eucharist is exposed. In the back vestibule of church, and on our website, you can sign up to volunteer for an hour. Please help us spread the word!

Click here for more information on Forty Hours

VBS registration is open! Forms can be found in the back vestibule of church under the pictures of the former pastors as well as on our website. Registration is due back ASAP so that we can purchase T-Shirts for all participants! If you wish to volunteer, please contact the parish office as soon as possible so that we can schedule a meeting to begin preparations. For more information, please visit our website.

Click here to register for VBS

We will have a VBS planning meeting on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 6pm in the parish Conference Room. All who are willing to volunteer, please plan on coming to the meeting that night! Bring your creative ideas to help us make this the best VBS our parish has ever had!

Here’s a thought for your week: Be strong now because things will get better; it can’t storm forever. Good things come to those who are willing to hustle. Don’t just be busy; be productive.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more information about the Eucharistic Procession

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares

Around the Parish – May 14, 2023

Written by on May 13, 2023. Posted in Around the Parish, News.

A very happy and blessed Mother’s Day to all of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and anyone to whom has shown us motherly love. Know of my prayers, love, and admiration for all of you!

Last weekend, I mentioned two events that our parish will host. In the recent past, Father Matt held a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Corpus Christi Sunday. Eucharistic Processions will be occurring all over the Diocese of Erie on this special Sunday. This year, our parish will host the Deanery Eucharistic Procession, which invites parishioners from all over our area to participate.

Click here for more information about the Eucharistic Procession

The second event will begin also on Corpus Christi Sunday and will continue through the following Tuesday, June 13. Each day, following the last mass of the day, the Eucharist will be exposed for adoration until 7pm each night. At 7pm, we will celebrate evening prayer, and within evening prayer, a special homily will be given. Our preacher for our celebration will be Father Joseph Petrone. He will be preaching on the Hearts of the Holy Family. We are in need of volunteers to sign up for an hour of adoration during the entire time that the Eucharist is exposed. A minimum of two volunteers are needed for each hour that the Eucharist is exposed. In the back vestibule of church, and on our website, you can sign up to volunteer for an hour. Please help us spread the word!

Click here for more information on Forty Hours

Click here to register for VBS

Thank you goes out to all the amazing volunteers who came to help with the first Plant and Garden Sale. The sale raised $1,424 for our parish. Between the sale and other generous donations, we were able to raise enough money to cover the cost of the replacement refrigerator for Gallagher Hall.

Here’s a thought for your week: Never take someone’s feeling for granted because you never know how much courage it took for him or her to express them to you. Life is too short to be constantly worrying. Let go of the stress and realize you’re blessed.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Thank you to our amazing crew who helped work the First Annual Plant and Garden Sale!

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

0 Shares