Tag: July

Around the Parish – August 2, 2026

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on August 1, 2026. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

St. Hermenegild Mass & Picnic

Join us for our annual St. Hermenegild Mass on Thursday, August 13, at 6:00 PM at St. Hermenegild Church, 28 Church Road, Mercer. This special celebration gives us an opportunity to gather in prayer, honor the legacy of this historic church, and celebrate the faith that continues to unite our parish community.

A parish picnic will follow the Mass. Please bring a covered dish to share and a lawn chair. All parishioners, families, and friends are warmly invited to join us!

Men’s and Women’s Groups

We invite the adults of our parish to join us for two new opportunities for fellowship, faith, and community. The Women’s Group will meet on Thursday, August 6, at 7:00 PM, and the Men’s Group will meet on Thursday, August 20, at 7:00 PM. Both gatherings will be held in the parish conference room and are open to all adults age 18 and older.

Come meet other parishioners, share ideas, and help shape these new groups. To RSVP, contact the parish office at (724) 662-2999.

Faith Formation Registration

Faith Formation families should have received their registration packets in the mail. If you did not receive a packet, please contact the parish office. Completed registration materials are due by Thursday, August 20.

Homebound Ministry

As we prepare to begin our renewed Homebound Ministry, we invite parishioners who are unable to attend Mass because of illness, age, or other circumstances to contact Deacon Edgar Gonzalez. Those who wish to participate will be added to a monthly visitation rotation.

Each visit will offer an opportunity for conversation, companionship, prayer, and the reception of Holy Communion. Visits will be made by trained parish volunteers. Although an official starting date has not yet been established, we hope to begin this ministry in the near future.

If you or someone in your household would like to receive monthly visits, please contact Deacon Edgar at (724) 662-2999, option 6, or emailing Deacon Edgar.

Theme Basket Raffle

We are seeking donated theme baskets for the Spaghetti Dinner raffle! Baskets should be valued at $50 or more, include an itemized list, and be delivered to the parish office by August 23.

Please do not include alcoholic beverages. Before requesting a donation from a local business, contact the parish office to help us avoid duplicate requests.

Thank you for supporting this important parish fundraiser!

Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer

Deacon Edgar Gonzalez will lead Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer, an eight-week study designed to help participants grow in prayer and deepen their relationship with God.

The group will meet Wednesdays, August 19 through October 7, at 6:30 PM in the parish conference room. Cost is $20 per person.

To register, call the parish office at (724) 662-2999 or email the office.

Here’s a thought for your week ahead:

As we move through these summer days, it is easy for our schedules to fill with travel, gatherings, and activities. In the midst of it all, remember to make room for the Lord. Even a few quiet moments of prayer each day can help us recognize his presence and receive the peace we need. This week, look for one simple way to grow closer to God and one opportunity to show his love to someone else. Small acts of faithfulness can bear more fruit than we realize.

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.

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 26, 2026

Written by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew M. Boyd, V.F. on July 25, 2026. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Homebound Ministry

If you or someone in your household would like to receive monthly visits, please contact Deacon Edgar at (724) 662-2999, option 6, or emailing egonzalez@ihmercer.org.

Theme Basket Raffle

Our Theme Basket Raffle is always one of the highlights of the annual Spaghetti Dinner. It is also a wonderful way for parishioners, local businesses, and friends of the parish to help make this important event a success. We are grateful to everyone who donates a completed basket, gathers items, contacts potential donors, or helps organize and promote the raffle.

Each completed basket should have a total value of at least $50 and must be accompanied by an itemized list of its contents. Baskets should be delivered to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Office no later than August 23. Receiving them by this date will give us sufficient time to organize the baskets, prepare the displays, and promote the raffle.

Please do not include alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, or liquor. Gift cards and vouchers for restaurants or businesses that serve alcohol are permitted.

Before making a formal donation request to a business, organization, or individual, please notify the parish office. This will help us avoid approaching the same donor more than once and ensure that everyone who contributes is properly recognized and thanked.

Thank you for sharing your generosity and creativity with our parish. Your participation helps make the Theme Basket Raffle a joyful and successful part of our Spaghetti Dinner!

Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer

Would you like to deepen your relationship with God and become more confident in prayer? Deacon Edgar Gonzalez will lead Oremus: A Guide to Catholic Prayer, an eight-week study offering practical guidance for developing a richer and more faithful prayer life.

Whether prayer comes naturally to you or you sometimes struggle to know how to begin, this study will help you learn to speak with God, listen for his voice, and recognize his presence in your daily life. The group will meet on Wednesdays from August 12 through September 30 at 6:30 PM in the parish conference room. The cost is $20 per person.

To register, please contact the parish office at (724) 662-2999 or email office@ihmercer.org. Anyone who desires to grow closer to the Lord through prayer is warmly encouraged to participate.

Here’s a thought for your week ahead:

This week, pay attention to the people whom God places before you. A telephone call, a brief visit, a sincere conversation, or a quiet prayer may seem like a small gesture, but it can become a powerful sign of Christ’s love. We do not need to accomplish something extraordinary to serve the Lord. We need only to notice, to care, and to make ourselves available.

Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Offering a Mass Stipend:

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 28, 2024

Written by on July 27, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

In last weekend’s bulletin, we announced that Joseph Dumais would be invested into the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. This week we are able to share that his new religious name is Brother Ezekiel Thomas! Congratulations to Bro. Zeke and the Dumais Family. I know you will join me in continuing to pray for Brother Ezekiel Thomas as he continues his discernment with the Friars, as well as praying for an increase in the response of young people to the call of God to vocations in the priesthood and consecrated life, especially from our parish and our diocese.

If you wish to send a card of greeting, congratulations, and offer of support through prayer, you can send it to:

Br. Ezekiel Thomas
PO Box 404
South Orange NJ 07079

In this weekend’s bulletin, there is a notice about some impending paving work we need to address before winter. The asphalt in the upper parking lot has deteriorated to the point of creating dangerous potholes and erosion, requiring us to have it resurfaced before winter to ensure safety.

After reaching out to three companies, the Parish Finance Council has chosen to work with Smith Paving for this critical project. The minimum estimated cost is $20,500, but this amount may increase depending on what we discover during the process.

We are asking for your financial assistance as well as prayers to help us cover these necessary expenses. Your support is greatly needed and deeply appreciated.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Worry pulls tomorrow’s potential of a cloud over today’s guaranteed sunshine. Life has no remote; we need to get up and change things ourselves. Remember, God doesn’t ask for ability, but for our availability.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Offering a Mass Stipend:

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 21, 2024

Written by on July 20, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Exciting news for a family in our parish: The Dumais’ son Joseph will be celebrating his investiture with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal this Monday, July 22. The investiture for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a ceremony where postulants receive their religious habit, marking their formal commitment to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This includes a Mass or prayer service and the presentation of the grey tunic, cord, and hood. While this is a private ceremony for the men that are discerning a vocation to the community, we join in prayer for thanksgiving to God for Joseph as he continues to discern his calling toward the religious life. Let us also pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially from our parish and for our diocese.

Since this past Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of Catholics from all over have been in Indianapolis at the Tenth National Eucharistic Congress. This great gathering of Catholics is focused around the Holy Eucharist and its importance in our daily lives. I ask that you keep these people in prayer as the journey home this weekend. Keep also in prayer the blessings that will come forth from this amazing gathering that Our God has permitted and blessed.

Included in this weekend’s bulletin is information about mass intentions. The greatest form of prayer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and therefore offering the mass for an intention is very important to us Catholics. It is customary to offer the mass especially for the dead on their date of death or a special anniversary. Many saints speak about the ineffable graces that come from offering the Holy Sacrifice for our deceased relatives. St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us: “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is of infinite value. The souls in Purgatory are incapable of helping themselves. They can no longer merit, as we can. They cannot pray for themselves. But we can help them by our prayers, penances, and especially by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” Let us pray for all of our beloved, both living and deceased.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

A head full of fear has no place for dreams or faith. Grow through what you go through. It is not the things that we accumulate, but the hearts that we touch that measure our success in life. Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Offering a Mass Stipend:

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 14, 2024

Written by on July 13, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Thank you to everyone who participated in and helped out at our Vacation Bible School this past week. Great fun was had by all! This couldn’t be done without the amazing support and help of all our dedicated volunteers.

Mark your calendars for our annual mass and picnic at St. Hermenegild Church. Our mass is scheduled for Thursday, August 1. Bring a chair and a dish to share for our picnic outside following mass. Mass will begin at 6 pm.

Lifeline Screening will be hosting a health screening event at our church on Thursday, August 8. This is a great opportunity to take proactive steps in managing your health. Lifeline Screening offers non-invasive tests to detect potential issues such as cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, osteoporosis, and more. To participate, you must register before the event. Registration information and other details can be found in this weekend’s bulletin.

A quick message on online safety:

It has come to our attention that someone is impersonating Father Andrew Boyd, sending emails and text messages asking for “assistance” or to manage tasks “discreetly.” Please be aware that these messages are not from Father Andrew Boyd.

Father Andrew Boyd, or any member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, including clergy and entities such as parishes and schools, will never request money or personal assistance via email or text message.

In this age of digital scams, it’s crucial to remain vigilant. The Diocese will never solicit your personal or business information unless you initiate the contact. If you receive an unsolicited request for personal information or financial assistance (including gift card purchases), do not respond. Instead, use official contact information to verify the request.

Help us spread the word: Never share personal information or send money online to anyone via email or text message.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Let your faith be taller than your fears. Graciously accept what isn’t any longer, so that you can move forward and make the most of what is. Remember: whenever you are in a position to help someone, be glad and do it because that is God answering someone else’s prayers through you.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 7, 2024

Written by on July 6, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

The big week is finally here! This Monday, July 8 we welcome over 50 youths to our Vacation Bible School, “Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a Kid”. The team has worked hard these past weeks, and we are excited to welcome our youth to this fun filled adventure. Please continue to pray for our children and leaders as we journey back in time to learn more about our God and His love for us!

A question was raised by a few members of our church on when we should sit, kneel, and stand following communion. Back in October of 2021, the Diocese of Erie returned to the practice of kneeling during the Communion Rite (following the recitation/singing of the Lamb of God through the reception of communion). Upon returning to the pew, all are invited to either kneel or sit, depending on the individual’s preference. The question was raised, “do we have to kneel? And when do we sit?” The simple answer is, it’s entirely up to you after receiving communion. For clarity sake, a common practice is that the general permission to sit is with the closing of the tabernacle doors after the Holy Eucharist is placed inside the tabernacle and the priest genuflects/bows. As always, you are welcome to continue kneeling until the presider says “Let us pray,” for the prayer after communion, but you are welcome to sit whenever you wish.

(I think the questions was raised because some may have felt awkward wanting to sit and the priest either does not return to the chair or there is a lengthy time after communion until the priest sits. In other words, you don’t have to wait for the priest to sit if you wish to sit. It is entirely up to your judgement when you want to sit!)

We are always in need of more ministers at mass! If you feel called to minister by reading or being a Eucharistic Minister, or assisting as an usher, please let us know in the office! We are still in need of more ministers of Holy Communion to visit our local nursing homes. Currently, there are three weeks of the month that need a minister to visit either QLS or Avalon. If you feel that you are in need of a sign, this is your sign from God! We need YOU to make this community a family!

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Hope is the only thing stronger than fear. Regardless of the circumstances, two things that we are always in control of are our attitude and our level of motivation. Go prayerfully in he direction of your dreams. Life is fragile, handle it with prayer.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 30, 2023

Written by on July 29, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Our Annual Saint Hermenegild Mass and Picnic is scheduled for Thursday, August 10, 2023. Mass will begin at 6pm and the picnic will be after Mass outside church. All are asked to bring a dish to share, and a chair to sit on!

Thank you to everyone who came to our Saint Philomena Healing Mass. May our prayers for healing continue to pour out and bless our community. We will schedule another healing Mass dedicated to Saint Philomena in February of 2024.

This past week, the contractors came to replace the roof of the rectory garage. As of writing this column, we don’t yet know to what extent the damage is, but in this weekend’s bulletin, we have listed what potential damage will need to be addressed, as well as some guaranteed maintenance that is being addressed by the replacement of the roof.

In the coming weeks, registration forms and other pertinent information will be mailed out for Faith Formation. Our anticipate start date is scheduled for Sunday, September 10, at 9:15-10:45 am. We are excited to welcome Mr. Greg Cummings as our new Director of Faith Formation. All information for Faith Formation will be available on our parish website in the coming days.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Let go of worries and hand them over to God’s capable hands. He is your refuge and strength, providing the peace that surpasses all understanding. As you face challenges, remember that God’s power works best in your weakness. In humility, rely on His strength to carry you through every obstacle and bring forth victory.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Celebrate with us as we near the completion of the roof project! We are excited to share the extensive and meticulous work that has gone into addressing various crucial aspects. The scope of the roof repairs goes beyond a simple rubber removal; it involves enhancing the drainage system, rectifying past water damage in the garage, and meticulously replacing incorrectly installed flashing around the roof perimeter.

Furthermore, we are taking proactive measures to safeguard our property by urgently attending to ongoing issues with the roof over the back door of the rectory. This attention will prevent any further damage and ensure the longevity of our cherished property.

The significance of this project is underscored by the fact that the roof is original to the construction of the rectory dating back to 1955. Given this historical aspect, we are mindful that the wood beneath the rubber may require replacement due to water seepage in the past.

We are grateful for the efforts and dedication of those involved in this vital restoration and repairs, and we eagerly anticipate the successful completion of this project, which will ensure the structural integrity and beauty of our beloved church property for years to come. Let us continue to support and pray for the continued progress of this significant endeavor.

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 23, 2023

Written by on July 22, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Calling all Young Adults of the Mercer Deanery! Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish will be hosting a cook-out for all young adults (ages 21-39[ish]) on this Friday, July 28, 2023 beginning at 6pm! We will provide hamburgers and hotdogs, we ask that you bring a dish to share. To RSVP your spot, please contact the parish office ASAP either by emailing cyam@ihmercer.org or calling (724) 662-2999. RSVPs need to be in by Wednesday this week!

Our Annual Saint Hermenegild Mass and Picnic is scheduled for Thursday, August 10, 2023. Mass will begin at 6pm and the picnic will be after mass outside church. All are asked to bring a dish to share, and a chair to sit on!

On this 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. Please share this opportunity for prayer and healing throughout our community and in all of Mercer County and our Diocese!

Last weekend, we tested our new live stream camera. We noticed that there are issues with image brightness as well as audio. We plan on continuing to correct this issue, but it will take some extra physical work on our part. In last week’s bulletin, I mentioned that we will need to upgrade parts of our sound system, as parts are from the early 1990’s and are needing replaced. (It might feel like 1990 was just yesterday, but it’s actually 33 years ago!) We do not have any firm plans yet, but we are working on getting the best possible options available for our church. The lighting issue is something we continue to address. Some of the light bulbs in the arch of the sanctuary are burnt out, and are not pointed at the correct places. This causes our high altar and tabernacle to be darker than expected in video. We need to replace some lightbulbs and point the other lightbulbs at their correct location. This will require a lift to reach the lights. In the coming weeks, we plan on renting a lift to reach these lights so as to address these issues.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

0 Shares

Saint Philomena Healing Mass

Written by on July 15, 2023. Posted in News, Parish News.

On Thursday, July 27, we will be having our Saint Philomena Healing Mass. This healing mass comes from a personal devotion of mine from my seminary days. At my home parish, Saint James in Erie, we would have this celebration of Saint Philomena twice a year. This celebration asking for the intercession of Saint Philomena was and is very important to my home parish pastor and me. We would invite as many priests and seminarians as possible to participate in this special mass as Saint Philomena is one of the patrons for priests and seminarians. In the world we live in today, all the prayers and blessings we can pour upon our priests and men studying for priesthood is an extremely important task.

Personally, my time in seminary was not always easy. My time in seminary took patience and prayer on my part; it took late nights of studying and writing papers; it took courage and strength. Through all of this, I knew that others were praying for me through it all. The intercession of Saint Philomena was an important part of this entire discernment process.

Not only is Saint Philomena important to me and other priests, her intercession has worked many miracles, some even in our own diocese. Maybe not the miracles that are widespread or well-known, but still miracles none-the-less. In my home parish, many have been healed through her intercession, many have found work, many have found faith in Jesus Christ through this saintly woman’s intercession.

Saint Philomena has also been venerated by many saints, some of which include Saint Padre Pio, Saint John Vianney the Cure de Ars, Saint Frances Cabrini, and Saint John Neumann. Her intercession has been sought by many popes, including Pope Leo XII, Pope Gregory XVI, Pope Pius IX, Pope Leo XIII, and Pope Saint Pius X.

Let us come together under Saint Philomena’s intercession asking for healing upon our community, our church, our world, which so desperately needs healing!

Join our community on Monday, February 24, 2019 at 6pm at Saint Brigid Church to pray for this healing!

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. Andy

Prayer to Saint Philomena

Hail, O innocent Philomena, who, for love of Jesus, preserved the lily of thy virginity in all its brightness. Hail, O illustrious Philomena, who shed thy blood so courageously for Jesus Christ.

I bless the Lord for all the graces He granted thee during thy lifetime, and most especially at the hour of thy death. I praise Him and glorify Him for the honor and power with which He has crowned thee, and I beseech thee to obtain for me from God the graces I request through thy intercession.

Saint Philomena, beloved daughter of Jesus and Mary, pray for us who have recourse to thee! Amen.

0 Shares

Around the Parish – July 16, 2023

Written by on July 15, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Calling all Young Adults of the Mercer Deanery! Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish will be hosting a cook-out for all young adults (ages 21-39[ish]) on Friday, July 28, 2023 beginning at 6pm! We will provide hamburgers and hotdogs, we ask that you bring a dish to share. To RSVP your spot, please contact the parish office ASAP either by emailing cyam@ihmercer.org or calling (724) 662-2999.

In just about a month, we will have our Annual Saint Hermenegild Mass and Picnic on Thursday, August 10. Mass will begin at 6pm. All are asked to bring a dish to share, and a chair to sit on!

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. Please share this opportunity for prayer and healing throughout our community and in all of Mercer County and our Diocese!

A few weeks ago, I noted in the bulletin that the camera we had for livestreaming was broken and out of warranty. I noted that it would cost about $2,000 to replace the camera. Thanks to some gracious parishioners, we have been able to replace the camera and begin livestreaming our Sunday Masses again. We would like to update our sound system as it is on its last leg, and often has problems with interference. We have already replaced the wireless microphone, and a microphone was placed on the altar, but our mixer needs replaced and upgraded, and the speaker and amplifier for the Mother’s Chapel needs replaced. At the moment, we don’t have any quotes or ideas on cost, but we do know that we do not have the funds for that in the immediate future. All these great things for our community would not be possible without your continued support, both financially as well as most importantly, spiritually. Thank you all for your continued prayers as we work together to uplift and upgrade the experience here at IHM.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Let’s not forget that anger and bitterness rob us of our peace, not the peace of those who’ve hurt us. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

0 Shares