Around the Parish – August 11, 2024
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.
