Tag: Retreat

Around the Parish – February 25, 2024

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on February 24, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

I extend my sincere thanks to each of you for making our Parish Lenten Mission an exceptional three-day experience. Your enthusiastic participation, commitment to growth, and shared moments of prayer created an atmosphere filled with learning and unity. Together, we embraced the true spirit of Lent, fostering a sense of renewal and deepening our connections within the parish. Your presence made these days truly special, and I am grateful for the collective journey we undertook.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Father Maximilian Maria Jaskowak for his inspirational leadership during our Parish Lenten Mission. Father Maximilian’s profound insights, engaging sermons, and unwavering commitment to guiding us on our spiritual journey were instrumental in making these three days truly transformative. His wisdom and compassionate presence enriched our collective experience, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. We are blessed to have had him as our guide, and we extend our sincere appreciation for his dedication to nurturing our faith community.

As we gear up for the upcoming Blooms and Bargains Bazaar, here’s a friendly reminder to keep us in mind during your spring cleaning endeavors. As you sift through your closets and tidy up your living spaces, consider setting aside any gently used items and potted plants that could find new homes at our event. Your contributions will not only help you declutter but will also add to the success of our community sale.

Join us for the Saint Patrick’s Day Bingo and Bake Sale on Friday, March 15! We’re seeking volunteers and bakers to make this event a hit. If you love baking or can spare some time, your help will add sweetness to our celebration. Contribute to the festive spirit and community bonding by being a part of this memorable day. Signup on the sheets at the entrances to Church. Let’s create a delicious and unforgettable Saint Patrick’s Day together!

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Never let the things you want cause you to neglect the things you have. We need patience; all things are difficult before they become easy. Parish volunteers don’t necessarily have the time; they just have their heart in the right place.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – February 18, 2024

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on February 17, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak O.P., a native of Beloved Disciple Parish in Grove City — *Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak O.P.*

Join us this Monday, February 19, as we begin our Parish Lenten Mission led by Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak O.P., a native of Beloved Disciple Parish in Grove City, Pennsylvania. Fr. Max, ordained in May of 2022, holds a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, a Masters of Divinity, and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC. He completed his Licentiate in Sacred Theology in the spring of 2023 and is currently a faculty member at the School of Theology at Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore, MD, specializing in moral theology with courses in Medical Ethics, Catholic Social Ethics, Marriage, Sexuality, and Celibacy.

Father Max and I spent three years together while studying Philosophy at Gannon University and Saint Mark Seminary. I am very excited to have Father Max be with us as we begin our Lent this year.

Each night, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available. Father Max and I will be hearing confessions in both of the confessionals. I will be in my regular confessional and Father Max will be in the confessional by the organ. As we begin the Season of Lent, I want to encourage everyone to take the opportunity to receive this important sacrament. During the mission, which can be thought of like a mini retreat, we will have the opportunity to hear from Father Max on the Eucharist each night during Adoration.

On Wednesday night, we will celebrate a special mass together under the patronage of Saint Joseph with special blessings with the Oil of Saint Joseph. Let us pray together as we begin the Lenten Journey to the Cross that we might come closer to Jesus’ presence I the Holy Eucharist.

A flyer for these three nights, as well as the Lenten Calendar for 2024 can be found in this weekend’s bulletin. Please make sure to take a copy home to reference throughout these weeks of preparation for Easter!

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

For others, be the attitude you want to be around. It is good to be blessed; it is better to be a blessing to others. May every sunrise bring you hope; may every sunset bring you peace.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – February 11, 2024

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on February 10, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

This Wednesday, we begin our Lenten Journey. If you haven’t considered what you might give up for Lent, or rather an even better idea, what you might do extra for Lent, there are just a few short days left to decide! Lent is an opportunity to grow in our spiritual life.

A comment that I have heard too many times is “I go to Mass on Sunday’s so that’s enough for me!” I 1000% disagree with that comment! Our spiritual lives are so important that we cannot neglect them! We have an opportunity these next few weeks before Easter to truly refine and refresh our souls. In these coming days, there are so many opportunities to grow in the ways of God. I encourage everyone to find at least one thing that you can do to grow in communion with God!

Fridays of Lent: A Spiritual Oasis

Every Friday during Lent, immerse yourself in a spiritual oasis. The evenings will include Adoration and Confessions starting at 6pm, followed by Stations of the Cross at 7pm. This is a powerful way to deepen your connection with your faith and enhance your spiritual life during this season of penance and reflection.

Join Us for Our Parish Lenten Mission

Make sure to join us next Monday, February 19, as we kick off our Parish Lenten Mission led by Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak, a native son of Beloved Disciple Parish. Look for more details in this weekend’s bulletin. Take a copy home and extend the invitation to others. This mission is an opportunity to enrich our Lenten experience and strengthen our relationship with God.

Easter Raffle Lottery Tickets

As we anticipate the joy of Easter, we are already gearing up for our Easter Raffle. In the coming weeks, we will be mailing out raffle tickets. In the meantime, we need your help collecting lottery scratch-off tickets. Drop them in the collection basket during Mass or deliver them to the parish office by mail or in person. Your generosity has always been appreciated, and we thank you in advance for your continued support.

Spring Cleaning: Prepping for Blooms & Bargains Bazaar

In the coming weeks, I know we will all be getting that itch to clean out and clean up our homes. As you prepare for a Spring Cleaning, I ask that you consider donating any of your unwanted items to the Immaculate Heart Blooms & Bargains Bazaar. The Bazaar is the combined Rummage and Plant Sales. We are looking for any items that we can sell to raise funds for IHM and the work we do to help the community! More information is in this weekend’s bulletin.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Be thankful for the closed doors, detours, and road blocks; they’ve protected us from people and places that were not meant to be a part of our lives. In difficult times, a family does not need to be perfect; it just needs to be united. Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – February 4, 2024

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on February 9, 2024. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Embark on Your Lenten Journey

As we approach the season of Lent, we invite you to join us in a meaningful and reflective journey, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14. While not a holy day of obligation, the day marks the commencement of Lent with Masses at 8am and 6pm. It presents a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and start our Lenten observance.

Fridays of Lent: A Spiritual Oasis

Join Us for Our Parish Lenten Mission

Mark your calendars for Monday, February 19, as we kick off our Parish Lenten Mission led by Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak, a native son of Beloved Disciple Parish. Look for more details in this weekend’s bulletin. Take a copy home and extend the invitation to others. This mission is a remarkable opportunity to enrich your Lenten experience and strengthen your relationship with God.

Easter Raffle Preparation Begins: Collect Your Lottery Tickets

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

The moment you are ready to quit is usually the moment just before a miracle happens. Don’t give up! Your smile is your logo; your personality your is your business card; the way you make others feel is your trademark. In every disagreement in marriage, remember this one important truth: your spouse is your partner, not your enemy.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – November 26, 2023

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on November 25, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

I pray that each person’s Thanksgiving was brimming with joy, surrounded by the warmth of family and friends. Personally (as usual), I indulged a bit more than intended in a delightful feast. The occasion provided a beautiful opportunity to cherish moments with my mom, brother, his fiancée, and her family.

For the Season of Advent, we will hold a holy hour with Eucharistic Adoration and confessions every Friday from 6:00pm—7:00pm with one exception. On Friday, December 8, the church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of God. That day is a holy day of obligation, and therefore we will have an evening mass at 6:00pm. Following that mass, we will have adoration and confessions from 7:00pm—8:00pm. Please do take the opportunity to avail yourself of the grace of the sacrament of Reconciliation during the season of Advent.

Posted in church is a flyer of confession times in our deanery for the season of Advent. Our parish penance service is scheduled for Sunday, December 10 at 5:00pm. This is the same day as the Cookie Walk and Soup Sale.

All gifts for the Nursing Home Gift Tree are due back to church next Sunday, December 3. All gifts are asked to be returned in a gift bag and have their tag attached to the bag. Thank you again for your support of our ministry to our neighbors! I know from personal experience with family members in nursing homes how much they appreciate us thinking of them!

#iGiveCatholic is this Tuesday, November 28. A project that we are looking to do is update and upgrade the chairs and tables in our parish conference room. Each new chair costs $50, and we are looking into purchasing at least 50 chairs. Any help you might be able to give to this project would be greatly appreciated. All proceeds from this fundraiser stay completely in our parish. More information can be found in this weekend’s bulletin as well as on our website at:

https://ihmercer.org/igivecatholic

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Never forget that walking away from something unhealthy is a very brave thing to do – even if you stumble a little on your way out the door. Don’t compare your progress with that of others. Everyone needs their own time and speed to travel their own distance. Each day comes bearing gifts. Untie the ribbon.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – November 19, 2023

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on November 18, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

With Thanksgiving being this Thursday, our mass schedule will be a bit different this week. We will only have daily masses on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. On Monday, November 20, I will be meeting with the orthopedic surgeon about my foot. I ask of your prayers that I do not need surgery! On Wednesday of this week, I will be headed home to travel with my mom for Thanksgiving at my brothers, so there will be no mass here on Thursday and Friday so that I can celebrate with my family.

For all of our families that might be traveling for the holiday, know of my prayers for you. May you be protected with traveling mercies so that we may all reach our destinations safely and return to our homes again.

Next weekend is Christ the King Sunday which signals to us that Advent is right around the corner. Starting next Sunday, we will list the Christmas Mass Schedule. With Christmas being on a Monday, we are required to attend both mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Dec 23/24) AND for Christmas (Dec 24/25) Mass on Sunday, December 24 in the morning does NOT count for Christmas, and Christmas Eve masses do not count for Sunday Mass.

The Nursing Home Gift Tree is still in our church for our local seniors. If you are able to help spread some Christmas Cheer, we ask that you take a tag from the tree, purchase the gift listed, and return the gift in a gift bag with the tag to church by Sunday, December 3.

#iGiveCatholic this year will be on Tuesday, November 28. A project that we are looking to do is update and upgrade the chairs and tables in our parish conference room. Each new chair costs $50, and we are looking into purchasing at least 50 chairs. Any help you might be able to give to this project would be greatly appreciated. All proceeds from this fundraiser stay completely in our parish. More information can be found in this weekend’s bulletin as well as on our website at:

https://ihmercer.org/igivecatholic

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Great opportunities to help others seldom come; small ones surround us every day. If we magnified our successes as much as we magnified our disappointments, we’d all be much happier.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – November 12, 2023

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on November 11, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

This weekend, we give thanks to God for all of our veterans. Their yes to serve country brings about our freedoms and liberties that we hold dear. As always, thank you to all who serve, and may God bless you and keep you safe.

A reminder that poinsettia order forms are due by Sunday, November 19. Thank you for making our church beautiful!

A massive thank you goes out to everyone who made donations for our Thanksgiving distributions from the Sharing Shed. Starting this weekend, we are asking for help to prepare for the Christmas distribution. Your continued generosity helps many families in our area both on a bi-weekly basis with necessities, as well as at this time of year when it becomes even more difficult to prepare for two major holidays back to back. Any help that you might be able to provide for our friends in need is greatly appreciated.

The Nursing Home Gift Tree is in our church for our local seniors. If you are able to help spread some Christmas Cheer, we ask that you take a tag from the tree, purchase the gift listed, and return the gift in a gift bag with the tag to church by Sunday, December 3.

https://ihmercer.org/igivecatholic

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, ‘I’m possible! An ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words. You often meet your fate on the road you take to avoid it.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – November 5, 2023

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on November 4, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Next weekend, I will be away at the Divine Mercy Encounter Retreat in Erie with a few of our parishioners. It’s not too late to register for this great weekend of prayer! If you are interested, please register ASAP and let me know so I can be on the lookout for your application. If money is an issue, please let me know. Please pray for us while we are on the retreat! While I am away, Father Ray will be covering for me. Make sure to thank him for being with us!

As you most likely now know, on Monday, October 23, I happened to trip down a half flight of stairs, subsequently breaking my foot. While I really have no major pain, if I am on my feet for too long, it does start to ache. So, while it heals, I will be in the boot for at least six weeks, during which the doctors will see if any more work needs to be done, so let’s pray I don’t need surgery!

This past week, we mailed home the lottery tree raffle tickets! Tickets are $2, or 6 for $10. If you are able to sell extra tickets, please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible. Thank you again for your dedicated service to the parish!

Included in this weekend’s bulletin are order forms for poinsettias for our sanctuary for Christmas. Each 8 inch plant costs $20 and the order form must be returned to church by Sunday, November 19.

Also in the sanctuary this weekend is the Nursing Home Gift Tree for our local seniors. If you are able to help spread some Christmas Cheer, we ask that you take a tag from the tree, purchase the gift listed, and return the gift in a gift bag with the tag to church by Sunday, December 3.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Don’t change so people will like you; be yourself and the right people will love the real you. The past is like an anchor that holds you back. You must be able to let go of who you were in order to become the person God wants you to be.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – October 29, 2023

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on October 28, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Normally we have adoration in our parish on First Friday, but due to another commitment in the Diocese, I am unable to hold this holy hour this month. We will resume our monthly holy hour on Friday, December 1.

A blast was had at the corn maze last Sunday. Pictures of the fun can be seen in our bulletin this weekend.

A reminder that this Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses for All Saints Day will be at 8:00am and 6:00pm. Please make sure you attend mass for this Holy Day.

On Thursday, we celebrate All Souls Day. On this special day we remember and pray for all the deceased. This special day is reserved for all the holy souls in purgatory as they are made clean before they enter into the joys of Heaven. Our masses for All Souls Day will be at 8:00am and 6:00pm. At 6:00pm, we will in a special way pray for the deceased from this past year. Please join us in praying for our beloved dead.

Next Sunday, daylight savings time ends, so the clocks fall back one hour on Sunday November 5 at 2:00 am. Make sure that you note the time change or else you might make it to mass an hour early!

I want to take the opportunity to really encourage our parish community, especially our high school age students and our young adults to consider participating in the Divine Mercy Encounter retreat on November 10-12. This retreat was and is an important part of my spiritual journey and one that is worth spending the weekend at. All ages 15 and up are invited and encouraged to attend. It is a wonderful weekend to experience the love of God and have a time to socialize with other people in the faith. At this moment of crazy in the world and in our lives, I think now is the perfect moment to step away and take some time with God to reconnect to what is most important. Join me this special weekend away at Saint Joseph Church in Erie. More information is found in this weekend’s bulletin.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week: Don’t stop because you are tired; stop when you can be proud of your accomplishments. Cherish yesterday, plan for tomorrow, but live in today. The road to success is always under construction.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – October 22, 2023

Written by yt_nzegnnf9 on October 21, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Join us next Saturday after our 5 pm vigil mass for a delightful pumpkin carving extravaganza! Please RSVP to ensure we have enough pizza and pumpkins for everyone, and if you can, bring a little something to share. Our evening will culminate with a heartwarming screening of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” Your presence will make this gathering all the more special. We can’t wait to see you there!

As we approach the celebration of All Souls Day this year, we extend a heartfelt invitation to all to contribute a picture of your dearly departed loved ones to grace our sanctuary. You may drop off these cherished mementos following the Sunday Masses over the next two weeks or at any convenient time during the week in the sacristy after mass. To ensure all pictures fit, kindly limit the size to 5×7. Don’t forget to label your photo with your name and contact information to ensure its safe return. These portraits will remain in our sanctuary until the weekend of November 5.

While on your way to the grocery store, if you can spare a moment, we kindly request your support for our Sharing Shed Thanksgiving distribution. Your contribution would be greatly appreciated based on the first letter of your last name: A-D – Stuffing Mix, E-H – Canned Vegetables, I-M – Instant Potatoes, N-Q – Cranberry Sauce, R-U – Macaroni & Cheese, V-Z – Sweet Potatoes. Your generosity will brighten the holiday season for those in need within our community.

Here’s a couple of thoughts for your week:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Cling to your faith and press on, for it’s in the storms of life that you’ll discover the strength of your anchor. With unwavering trust in God’s promises, your perseverance will carry you through, and you’ll emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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