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Around the Parish – June 15, 2025

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on . Posted in News, Around the Parish.

New Bulletin Provider

You may have noticed that our parish bulletin has a fresh new look! We have recently transitioned to a new bulletin provider — Diocesan, a company dedicated to Catholic communications. We are very grateful to the Diocesan team for their support and assistance in making this transition smooth and successful.

If you are interested in advertising in our parish bulletin, please contact our bulletin publisher using the number listed on the back page of the bulletin. A heartfelt thank you to all of our current advertisers — it is through their generous support that we are able to provide this bulletin free of charge to our parishioners. Please remember to support our advertisers with your patronage!

40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in our 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration last weekend. It was a beautiful time of spiritual renewal and prayer. We are especially grateful to Father Ian McElrath for leading us in prayer and reflection throughout the three days. May the Holy Spirit continue to fill our parish with His grace!

70th Anniversary Directory

This weekend we are beginning in-person reservations for our upcoming Parish Directory in celebration of our 70th Anniversary! You can sign up after Mass in the main vestibule. I encourage everyone to participate — this is a wonderful way to strengthen our parish community and preserve memories for years to come.

Sacred Saturday – July 12

Our last Sacred Saturday was a wonderful morning of prayer, fellowship, and reflection — many left feeling renewed! Don’t miss our next one on July 12. We’ll begin with 9:00 AM Mass, followed by breakfast and our speaker. Please register — sign-up details are in the bulletin and on our website!

300 Club

We are in the final push to sell all tickets for this year’s 300 Club! Fewer than 100 tickets remain. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting parish fundraiser — the first drawing is scheduled for July 15. Thank you for your support!

Vacation Bible School
If your child would like to participate in our Vacation Bible School, please register as soon as possible so we can order T-shirts for all participants! Registration forms are available at the church entrances and online. There is no cost to participate — all are welcome!

A few thoughts for your week:

Each day we are given two things: a chance and a choice. Don’t be ashamed of what you’ve been through — instead, be proud of what you’ve overcome. Keep your feet firmly on the ground, and let your heart soar as high as it will.

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.

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Around the Parish – June 8, 2025

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on . Posted in Around the Parish, News.

40 Hours Celebration

A warm welcome to Fr. Ian McElrath, our guest preacher for this year’s 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion. Fr. McElrath will offer reflections each evening during Solemn Evening Prayer across the three days of adoration. Please join me in making him feel truly welcome here at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.

A Special Seven Years

On June 8, 2018, Fr. Ian McElrath and I were ordained priests for the Diocese of Erie. I am deeply humbled to have spent three of these seven years with all of you here in Mercer. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please be sure to congratulate Fr. McElrath when you see him! I look forward to many more years together here—God willing and with the Bishop’s blessing!

Vacation Bible School

Registration is still open for Vacation Bible School! Help our amazing team by registering your children as soon as possible—this allows us to guarantee a t-shirt for each participant. Registration forms are available at the doors of the church and online at ihmercer.org/vbs

70th Anniversary Directory

Beginning next weekend, you’ll be able to sign up in person after all Masses to have your portrait taken for our 70th Anniversary Parish Directory. If you haven’t yet registered online, please plan to sign up in the coming weeks. Our directory won’t be complete without you! Visit ihmercer.org/2025-directory for more info.

70th Anniversary Parish Cookbook

And don’t forget to submit your favorite recipes for our Anniversary Cookbook! You can submit them online or drop them off at the parish office. This is a special fundraiser for our parish family. Recipe deadline: July 31, 2025.

300 Club

Only about 100 tickets remain for our 300 Club fundraiser! The first drawing is set for July 15. These tickets make great gifts for family and friends. Encourage others to join in—your support helps offset the gap in our weekly offertory and keeps our parish thriving.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Make sure the choices you make are worth the sacrifices they may require. Don’t cling to a mistake just because you’ve spent a long time making it. Sometimes, happiness slips in through a door you didn’t even realize you left open.

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.

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Around the Parish – June 1, 2025

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on . Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Pentecost and 40 Hours Devotion

Next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the powerful day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and set the Church ablaze with faith. We continue to pray that the same Holy Spirit will come upon our parish in a special way today. To mark this feast, I invite everyone to wear red next weekend—let’s fill the church with the color of fire as we ask the Spirit to ignite in us a burning love for Christ!

Next Sunday also begins our 40 Hours Devotion, a beautiful time of Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, and reflection. We welcome Father Ian McElrath, my seminary classmate, as our guest preacher for the three days. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Fr. McElrath and to the visiting priests who will be with us for this time of spiritual renewal.

Sign-up sheets for Adoration are available in the main vestibule and online at ihmercer.org/40-hours. Let’s come together as a parish to adore our Lord truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Vacation Bible School

Registration for this summer’s Vacation Bible School is now open! You can register online through our parish website or pick up a paper form at the entrances of church. Let’s make this a great week for our children to grow in faith and fun! ihmercer.org/vbs

70th Anniversary Parish Cookbook

Don’t forget to submit your favorite recipes for our 70th Anniversary Parish Cookbook! This keepsake will be available by Christmas and will feature dishes from our own parish family. What a meaningful way to celebrate our community and share the love! To submit your recipe, visit ihmercer.org/cookbook or contact the parish office.

300 Club

We’re just a few weeks away from our first 300 Club drawing! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement—purchase your ticket today and support the parish in a fun and meaningful way.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

When someone helps you while they themselves are struggling—that’s not just help; that’s love.
Sometimes, the people we love can become like roses—beautiful, cherished, but painful to hold onto.
And if you’re searching for a perfect, faultless friend, you may end up walking alone.

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.

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Around the Parish – August 11, 2024

Written by on . Posted in News, Around the Parish.

This week, I will be in Erie for a few days of rest and work at moms house, and therefore there will be no daily mass here at Immaculate Heart on Monday-Wednesday morning. While at home in Erie, I will be participating in Saint James Parish 40 Hours celebration. Saint James in my home parish in Erie, and so Father McCormick and Deacon Scanga invited me to join them as the parish celebrates the Eucharist. If you wish to join, more information can be found on the parish website of Saint James, https://saintjamesrcc.org.

Noted in this weekend’s bulletin is that we have as a parish community pledged over our assessed amount for the Catholic Services Appeal. Any monies raised over the assessed amount remain in our parish to cover the costs of different projects. Our project that the funds were to go toward this year was the repairs of the window wells and outside stairwell at the office building. As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support and generosity. Through your diligence in prayer and support, we will get to be known throughout the diocese as the gem that everyone is envious of!

This Thursday, August 15 is a Holy Day of Obligation for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses at Immaculate Heart of Mary will be at 8am and 6pm.

On Saturday and Sunday, August 31 & September 1, we will be hosting a ministry fair with refreshments in Gallagher Hall. This is an opportunity to see what sorts of ministries we have available in our church and consider participating in some of the great ways we work together as a church family. More information will be shared over the coming weeks, so look for updates soon!

With the school year on the horizon, our Sunday Mass Schedule will return to 8am and 11am on Sunday September 1. Please mark your calendar!

Please continue to pray and consider a donation for the parking lot resurfacing. We need to have the lot finished before winter, as it is a detriment to our community. Thank you for your continued support toward the normal maintenance of our church!

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

We can’t cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to power through them and share joy. The miracle is not that I finished, it is that I had the courage to start. Our lives are so much brighter when we focus on who and what truly matters. If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

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.

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Around the Parish – June 16, 2024

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Thank you to everyone who participated in or 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion. The three days were filled with so many graces and blessings. A special thank you goes out to Deacon Michael Scanga who led us in our contemplation of the Eucharist and our relationship with Christ. We eagerly look forward to his priesthood ordination in May of 2025.

A special prayer and blessing goes out to all the Fathers of our parish community. Just like Saint Joseph, all fathers are called to be a witness to God in the way they lead and pray for their families.

In preparation for our Vacation Bible School, we will be taking up a special second collection at all the weekend masses. The monies collected will be used to help defray the costs associated with our VBS. Remember, we do not charge any of the families that participate so that there is no reason to not participate! All are welcome, and you do not need to be a member of our church to join! Please help us spread the word in these last few days before we begin on July 8!

As you will see in this bulletin, there are no masses this week coming up, as all the priests will be away for our annual Emmaus Convocation. All priests of the Diocese will be spending a week in Latrobe, PA at Saint Vincent Archabbey for a week or prayer and fraternity. Please pray for us as we pray for you! I look forward to seeing you all next weekend.

Included in the bulletin this weekend, as well as mailed out to all the homes of our students, a flyer is included for Catholic Youth Summer Olympics. Spearheaded by Father Power, pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Sharon, for the four Thursdays in July, games will be held for our high school students to compete in. I want to encourage all of our high school youth to consider participating! Make a team for IHM and make the parish proud! I look forward to being present at these events, and hope to see our students there.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Time has a wonderful way of showing us who and what is truly important. Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make, makes you. Our worst days have an ending and our best days have a beginning. Happy are those who take life day by day and are grateful for the little things. Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody. We can’t cure the world of sorrow, but we can choose to be a source of joy for others.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – June 9, 2024

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As announced last weekend, we are delighted to celebrate our parish feast day throughout this weekend, honoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Please note that the readings for this special Mass have been carefully selected for the occasion and will not be available in the hymnals. Let us come together in prayer and community to deepen our devotion and celebrate the grace and love bestowed upon us through the honoring of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Thank you to everyone for the Anniversary well wishes and congratulations. I am grateful for your continued support of me and our parish community. I am truly honored and humbled to have been a priest for six years now. It feels like just yesterday I was in seminary, dreaming of what it would be like to be a priest some day. I am truly grateful to God for allowing me to be your priest these past two years. I look forward to many years to come! (And hopefully the Bishop agrees. I’d love to stay here forever!)

A special congratulations to my Brother Knights this weekend as we also celebrate their 65th Anniversary. I am grateful for their presence in our parish, our community, and our families. As a knight, I know of the dedication and support intimately that they give to the church. Please make sure to thank the knights for all they do for our church and beyond. Also, if any man is interested in joining the Knights, please contact Mr. Rich Lipinski, the Grand Knight of the Mercer Knights of Columbus. (13rlipinsk@gmail.com) We are always hoping to have more brothers join!

As you know, our 40 Hours Eucharistic Devotion begins this Sunday following our 10a mass. Over the next three days, Adoration will be in church each day following mass, and will conclude with Benediction each night beginning at 7pm with Evening Prayer and a Homily by Deacon Michael Scanga. Many priests from all over the Diocese of Erie will be visiting our parish for this special time. Please do greet them and welcome them to our parish! The flyer of times is available in our bulletin this weekend. Please make sure to take a copy home!

Next weekend, we will be taking up a second collection for our Vacation Bible School. We run our VBS solely on donations as we do not charge any of the participants so that there is no barrier for the families to participate. In your charity, please help us to spread the news about our VBS for children to participate. Thank you for your continued generosity.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Friendships are flowers in the garden of life: you need to water them and care for them if you want them to grow. Be a person who solves problems, not one who creates them. Be stronger than your strongest excuse.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – June 2, 2024

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This weekend, our church celebrates the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or as more commonly known, Corpus Christi Sunday. In a special way, we give thanks to God on this Corpus Christi Sunday for the gift of His Body and Blood as our food and medicine here on this earth. By this great gift, we are given the remedy out of this life of sin and a way back into His Love. By this sacrament, we participate in His eternal sacrifice upon the cross, bringing our unworthiness to the foot of the Holy Cross from which we receive every grace and heavenly blessing.

On this Corpus Christi weekend, we also recognize a new gift that we have been given by God: the gift of a newly recognized Saint in Heaven. This saint is Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint. Although his Canonization Mass has not yet been celebrated, the Holy Father has recognized another miracle attributed to Carlo’s intercession, paving the way for his sainthood. Let us give thanks to God for this holy young man who was so dedicated to the Holy Eucharist; let us proclaim this great saint to the ends of the earth for his desire to proclaim Jesus in the Eucharist to all!

A common practice for Corpus Christi Sunday is to celebrate with Eucharistic Processions. Last year, if you remember, we held the deanery Eucharistic Procession. This year, Saint Joseph Church in Sharon is hosting the deanery Eucharistic Procession. Rev. Mr. Michael Scanga will be giving a reflection at the conclusion of the procession. Deacon Michael will then be with us for our Forty Hours Celebration the next weekend. All are invited to participate in the procession beginning at 2pm at Saint Joseph Church. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Forty Hours Eucharistic Adoration sign-ups remain available in the main vestibule of church as well as on our parish website. At least one person is needed for each hour the Eucharist is exposed for Adoration.  I ask that you consider signing up for an hour or two of Adoration during the three days of prayer. More information is available on our website.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

The happiest people are those who make the effort to make other happy. Remember, your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – May 26, 2024

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This weekend, we celebrate the profound Mystery of the Holy Trinity, encompassing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While we strive to comprehend God in His Three Persons, He remains an unfathomable mystery. Despite our growing understanding, there is always more to discover. Although studying the Trinity may seem daunting or even futile, we are called to a life of continuous conversion and exploration of our faith. I encourage you to deepen your relationship with God through daily prayer and study.

This Weekend, we are officially kicking off our Walking with Moms in Need ministry! Thanks to massive donations and contributions already, we have tons of clothing items available for our moms in need! With that being said, we are not in need of clothing, but rather with items such as diapers, wipes, and toiletry items, both for mom and baby. With all of the amazing donations, we are now desperately in need of clothing racks, baby hangers, and shelving for our storage room. If you feel called to donate any of these items, please contact Barb Dumais, our Director of Outreach Ministry. More information can be found on the Outreach Ministry webpage.

Outreach Ministry

Forty Hours Eucharistic Adoration sign-ups remain available in the main vestibule of church as well as on our website. I ask that you consider signing up for an hour or two of Eucharistic Adoration during the three days of prayer. More information is available on our website.

Sign up for adoration here

Registration forms for our VBS are available at the doors of church as well as on our parish website. Please register as soon as possible so that we can prepare!

VBS Registration

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Don’t put people down, unless it is on your prayer list. Let’s turn our cant’s into cans and our dreams into a plan. Remember, a negative attitude never gives us a positive life or healthy relationships. Trust that when God’s answer seems to be no, there is a better yes just around the corner.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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40 Hours & Corpus Christi Procession Schedule

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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

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Around the Parish – June 4, 2023

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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

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
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