Skip to main content

Tag: April 2023

Around the Parish – April 30, 2023

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

Starting Sunday, May 7, we will begin our Summer Mass Schedule. After polling the parish, we overwhelmingly received feedback that the preferred time for Sunday Mass during the Summer months (May-August) should be 8am and 10am. Therefore, starting next Sunday we will have mass at 8am and 10am. Please help us spread the word so that the entire community knows!

As a reminder, adoration will resume in our parish on First Fridays from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Adoration is scheduled for this Friday, May 5.

It’s a Catholic tradition to honor Mary during the month of May by setting up May altars or by crowning her statue with flowers. The reason why we crown Mary is best summed up by Pope Paul VI who wrote that May is an occasion for a “moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world pay to the Queen of Heaven.” The crown symbol is attributed to Mary because she is the Mother of the Son of God, who is our Heavenly King.” Before the 5pm Mass on Saturday Nights, we pray the rosary. Please make an effort to be with us. We will offer our prayers for the sick of the parish, vocations to the priesthood and religious life and for peace and harmony in families and in the world.

Next Saturday, we will gather to clean our church properties from the winter. Many hands will make light work! I appreciate all your help! There are signup sheets at the doors as well as the different tasks that need to be accomplished on Saturday May 6.

On that same day is our plant sale. Any help that you might be able to give for this event as well would be greatly appreciated! Any question can be addressed to Junior Bissett at 724-662-4597. Here’s a quick update from the “plant manager:”

Just a reminder that the first annual plant and garden sale is on for THIS SATURDAY, MAY 6! All plant and garden items need to be dropped off at Gallagher Hall by noon on Friday. Gallagher Hall will be open Thursday all day and Friday morning. If you need to schedule another time before Friday to drop off you items/plants, please call the parish office! Here’s to prayers for a beautiful spring day next Saturday! God Bless!

Here’s a few thoughts for your week: Life is so much easier when we don’t hoard the past. Healing doesn’t mean hurtful things have not happened; it just means that the disappointment no longer controls our life. Accept what is; let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.

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
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email
0 Shares

Around the Parish – April 23, 2023

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

Next Sunday we will announce the Summer Mass Schedule. The Summer Mass Schedule begins on the First Sunday of May through the last Sunday of August. On the first Sunday of September through the last Sunday of  April, our Mass schedule will remain 8:00 am and 11:00 am. These times are to accommodate Faith Formation on Sunday mornings. There are a certain amount of contact hours that are required by the Diocese of Erie. By having our masses at 8:00 am and 11:00 am, we are able to meet those minimum contact hours.

Now that Lent has concluded, we no longer have adoration and confessions every Friday. Due to scheduling and attendance, adoration will resume in our parish on First Fridays from 6:00pm-7:00pm. We will no longer have adoration every Wednesday.

In just about two weeks, we will gather on Saturday, May 6 at 9:00 am to clean our church properties from the winter. Many hands will make light work so that we can clean up from the leaves, the downed branches from the winds, and other spring cleaning things. I appreciate all your help!

On that same day is our plant sale. Any help that you might be able to give for this event as well would be greatly appreciated! Any question can be addressed to Junior Bissett at 724-662-4597. Here’s a quick update from the “plant manager:”

Plans are ‘growing’ for the upcoming plant and garden sale fundraiser to be held on May 6. It’s time to go through your garage or garden shed and find items that will attract gardeners to the sale. For instance, like that wind chime or birdhouse you never got around to hanging or that giant houseplant that’s overtaking your family room. Also, any plants – annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs – even trees can be donated. Workers are still needed so please sign up on sheets located at the church entrances or call the church office at 724-662-2999 if you have any ideas or questions.

Here’s a few thoughts for your week: Welcome each day with a warm smile and thank God for bringing  you new thoughts and strengths. Your attitude, faith, and perspective will determine the trajectory your life will take. The worst thing you can do in almost any situation is nothing. Pick a common task and accomplish it in an uncommon way.     Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

In May, our Sunday Mass schedule is set to return to 8 am and 10:30 am. Before we make that decision, we want to make sure that is the best time for summer. In the bulletin for the next few weeks, a form will be available to select your favored option for the Summer Sunday Schedule. We ask that you only return one form per family. You can place the form in the collection basket or mail it to the parish office.

For the months of May—August, our Mass schedule is set to change from 11 am to 10:30 am. We are asking all parishioners to circle their preferred option below and return to the parish office via the collection or mailing in your response.

Option 1: 8:00 am & 11:00 am

Option 2: 8:00 am & 10:30 am

Option 3: 8:00 am & 10:00 am

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
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email
0 Shares

Around the Parish – April 16, 2023

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

This Sunday, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. It is based on the message of mercy given by Jesus Christ to Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who had mystical experiences in the early 20th century. The celebration emphasizes the infinite mercy of God and encourages believers to seek forgiveness and extend compassion to others.

Jesus appeared to St. Faustina in a vision, with his right hand raised in a blessing and his left touching his garment above his heart. Red and white rays emanate from his heart, symbolizing the blood and water that was poured out for our salvation and our sanctification. The Lord requested that “Jesus, I trust in You” be inscribed under his image. Jesus asked that his image be painted and venerated throughout the world: “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Diary, no. 48) and “By means of this image I will grant many graces to souls” (Diary, no. 742)

This Sunday, we will have a special Holy Hour of Adoration from 2:30-3:30pm, during which we will sing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The Chaplet was also given to St. Faustina with this promise: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you” (Diary, no. 1541). “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy” (Diary, no. 687).

A note from our “plant manager” for the plant sale:

People wanting to help with the upcoming IHM Plant and Garden Sale are asked to Meet at 6 P.M. on Tuesday April 18, 2023 in the conference room at the Learning Center. Volunteers are needed to set up, price Garden items, work the sale and tear down.

This is the first time the church has tackled this type of sale. If it’s a success, It may become “ROOTED” in our fund raising calendar of events. That success depends on people and their willingness to “DIG IN” and grow in a fun and “DOWN-TO-EARTH” effort for the Church.

In May, our Sunday Mass schedule is set to return to 8 am and 10:30 am. Before we make that decision, we want to make sure that is the best time for summer. In the bulletin for the next few weeks, a form will be available to select your favored option for the Summer Sunday Schedule. We ask that you only return one form per family. You can place the form in the collection basket or mail it to the parish office.

For the months of May—August, our Mass schedule is set to change from 11 am to 10:30 am. We are asking all parishioners to circle their preferred option below and return to the parish office via the collection or mailing in your response.

Option 1: 8:00 am & 11:00 am

Option 2: 8:00 am & 10:30 am

Option 3: 8:00 am & 10:00 am

Here’s a thought for your week: Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. –Pope Saint John Paul II   

 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
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email
0 Shares

Around the Parish – April 9, 2023

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

Jesus is Risen! Alleluia! What a glorious sound it is to hear that word again, Alleluia! For these past forty-six days, we have been devoid of this beautiful word that means so much to our faith. Alleluia (sometimes written “Hallelujah”) is rooted in a Hebrew expression that means “praise the Lord.” It is found most often as a type of antiphon that is repeated at the end of the Psalms. It is also found in the book of Tobit, where it is referenced as a hymn of praise to be sung in the new Jerusalem:

The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones. All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and Alleluia shall be sung in its streets. (Tobit 13:22)

Saint Jerome is responsible for the translation of the Hebrew expression to the word “Alleluia” in the Latin Vulgate, which was then used in the Roman liturgy. It is and always has been an expression of praise, glorifying God for his goodness. For this reason Alleluia is closely associated with a season of joy, and is in stark contrast with the somber penitential attitude of Lent.

Next Sunday for Divine Mercy Sunday, we will have adoration from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm with the Sung Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I encourage everyone to take some time on Divine Mercy Sunday to thank God for His great gift of Mercy.

On Saturday, May 6, we will have a parish spring cleanup day. Many hands will make light work, so any help that you might be able to give on that day will be greatly appreciated. We will begin at 9:00 am and spend the morning around the parish campus to clean up our grounds. On that same day, we will have a spring plant sale on our campus as well. A great way to get our church and homes all spruced up for the upcoming summer months!

In May, our Sunday Mass schedule is set to return to 8 am and 10:30 am. Before we make that decision, we want to make sure that is the best time for summer. In the bulletin for the next few weeks, a form will be available to select your favored option for the Summer Sunday Schedule. We ask that you only return one form per family. You can place the form in the collection basket or mail it to the parish office.

For the months of May—August, our Mass schedule is set to change from 11 am to 10:30 am. We are asking all parishioners to circle their preferred option below and return to the parish office via the collection or mailing in your response.

Option 1: 8:00 am & 11:00 am

Option 2: 8:00 am & 10:30 am

Option 3: 8:00 am & 10:00 am

Here’s a thought for your week: Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. –Pope Saint John Paul II   

 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
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email
0 Shares

Around the Parish – April 2, 2023

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

Palm Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday, because we hear an account of the passion of Jesus Christ during the liturgy. Most churches also share this reading in common. Many Catholic parishes use multiple lectors to proclaim the Gospel, while it is not uncommon for a similar reading or even a performance in many mainstream Protestant churches.

The commonality found in the worship on this particular Sunday seems to highlight the fundamental truth in the observance: Jesus Christ died for everyone. He did not die on a cross for just Catholics, or just Orthodox, or just Protestants. Whether one acknowledges it or not, he was crucified for all those who are born of man. Today, we rejoice not just for what he has done for us but also for what he has done for all of creation.

On Holy Saturday, church regulation does not permit any Masses to be celebrated before sunset. This is the case so that the church is dark for the lighting of the Easter Fire and Paschal Candle. Consequently, we cannot have the 5:00 pm mass that day. The Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 pm. This is the earliest time permitted by the diocese.

On Holy Thursday, morning Masses are not permitted. Our Mass will be at 7:00 pm. It will be followed by Adoration until 11:30 pm. The Passion of Our Lord and Holy Communion service will be at 12:15 pm on Good Friday.

On Holy Saturday, we will be decorating the church at 9:00 am. A word of gratitude and appreciation goes out to all those who donated for the Easter Lilies. Those names will be in next weekend’s bulletin. The blessing of Easter foods will take place on Holy Saturday at 12:00 pm in church.

In May, our Sunday Mass schedule is set to return to 8 am and 10:30 am. Before we make that decision, we want to make sure that is the best time for summer. In the bulletin for the next few weeks, a form will be available to select your favored option for the Summer Sunday Schedule. We ask that you only return one form per family. You can place the form in the collection basket or mail it to the parish office.

For the months of May—August, our Mass schedule is set to change from 11 am to 10:30 am. We are asking all parishioners to circle their preferred option below and return to the parish office via the collection or mailing in your response.

Option 1: 8:00 am & 11:00 am

Option 2: 8:00 am & 10:30 am

Option 3: 8:00 am & 10:00 am

Here’s a thought for your week: Get into the habit of asking yourself, “does this support the kind of life God wants me to create?”   

 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 this weekend, April 1 & 2 after all the masses. Tickets can also always be purchased through the parish office after next weekend.

Click here for more info on the 300 Club
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
Email
0 Shares