Tag: Vacation Bible School

Around the Parish – January 28, 2024

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

As we stand on the precipice of the last few days of January 2024, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on the swift passage of time. It seems like just yesterday we were ushering in the new year with hope and resolutions. Yet here we are, already bidding farewell to the first month of the year. Time, as they say, waits for no one, and as we navigate through the days, let’s take a moment to appreciate the journey so far and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead in the coming months.

Eucharistic Ministers for Nursing Home Visits:

This Thursday, February 1 at 11:00am, I ask anyone that is interested in taking communion to the nursing homes to come to a meeting in the parish office conference room. If you are unable to make it, please contact me as soon as possible!

Snow Removal:

As no one has responded to our advertisement, we are STILL in need of someone to shovel and spread salt around our church campus. THIS IS A PAYING JOB!!! Please help us find someone who would be able to assist us in this task.

Spring Bible Study Registration:

Our Spring Bible Study awaits, and I encourage you to register by Monday, February 5, 2024. The cost is $20 per person, and your timely registration ensures that all necessary books can be purchased. We benefit from a parish discount, so let’s delve into the Word together.

Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting:

A reminder that our planning meeting for VBS 2024 is THIS Wednesday, January 31 at 6:00 pm. If you are able to help in any capacity, please plan on attending this meeting.

Easter Lottery Baskets Raffle:

Speaking of time flying, it is already time to think about collecting lottery scratch off tickets for our Easter Raffle! In the coming weeks, we will be mailing out the raffle tickets, but in the meantime, we need to collect lottery tickets. As always, you can turn them in by dropping them in the collection basket, or dropping them off at or mailing them to the parish office. Thank you again for your continued generosity!

The feast of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, is next Saturday, February 3. We will have throat blessings next weekend after every mass.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

You are the artist of your life; don’t give the brush to anyone else. Family life is changed by our example, not our complaints. Sometimes what looks like an obstacle is actually a gift that is meant to move us in a different direction. Don’t believe everything you see on social media; no one is posting their failures.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – January 21, 2024

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

Before you know it, we will already be back in Lent. The Gospel this weekend gives us a preview of Lent and our expectations. Jesus calls us to repentance and firm faith in the Gospel. Let our prayer this week be focused on His Good News and the grace of the Sacraments.

Eucharistic Ministers for Nursing Home Visits:

On Thursday, February 1 at 11:00am, I ask anyone that is interested in taking communion to the nursing homes to come to a meeting in the parish office conference room. If you work during that time or are unable to make it, please contact me at your earliest convenience. Even if you haven’t contacted the parish office yet and are even just interested in this ministry, I ask that you come to this meeting. As always, if you have any questions, please call the parish office.

Snow Removal:

I must have jinxed us, as the snow and cold came in this past week! We are in need of someone to shovel and spread salt around our church campus. THIS IS A PAYING JOB!!! Please help us find someone who would be able to assist us in this task.

Spring Bible Study Registration:

Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting:

A reminder that our planning meeting for VBS 2024 is Wednesday, January 31 at 6:00 pm. If you are able to help in any capacity, please plan on attending this meeting. If you are unable to be present at this meeting, please contact the parish office. Thank you to all our volunteers! Without your “yes” we would not be able to have programs like this available in our church!

Mass Schedule:

THIS WEEK weekday masses will be in the office Conference Room. We will be rewaxing the sanctuary this week.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

Never let the ugly in others compromise the beauty in you. Never be a prisoner of your past, It was a life lesson, not a life sentence. Ideal families only exist in art and literature. All families have their crosses. What differentiates families is the number of members who are willing to lend a hand in trials and the number who choose to be mere spectators .

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – January 14, 2024

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

Returning to the time throughout the year in our Church calendar, we encounter today the words of Saint John’s Gospel that we hear during every mass: “Ecce Agnus Dei,” “Behold the Lamb of God.” These words resonate through the sacred space of our worship, inviting us to reflect on the profound symbolism they carry. In the rhythm of our liturgy, they serve as a constant reminder to behold Jesus, the Lamb of God, in the subtle and hidden facets of our lives. As we engage in today’s liturgy, let us cultivate a mindful awareness, seeking the presence of Jesus in the quiet, often overlooked moments, and embracing the profound significance of his divine sacrifice.

Eucharistic Ministers for Nursing Home Visits:

I hope that you had an opportunity to pray about helping us with bringing the Holy Eucharist to those who are in our local nursing homes. We hope to be able to bring communion to our Catholic Residents every week in the four nursing homes in our parish. If you feel called to help in this important ministry, please contact the parish office at your earliest convenience. We will schedule an informational meeting once we gather names of volunteers.

Snow Removal:

Praise God, we have had very little snow removal needed so far this winter season, but as we all know, winter is just beginning. We are in need of someone to shovel and spread salt around our church campus. THIS IS A PAYING JOB!!! Please help us find someone who would be able to assist us in this task.

Spring Bible Study Registration:

Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting:

Although it may seem distant, Summer 2024 Vacation Bible School is on the horizon. Join our planning meeting on Wednesday, January 31, at 6 pm. Your input and enthusiasm are crucial to making this experience memorable for our children. Please mark your calendars and attend if you can.

Mass Schedule:

The week of January 23-26, weekday masses will be in the office Conference Room. We will be doing maintenance in church that will prohibit mass for the week from being in church. Also on this Thursday, January 18, there is no mass at Immaculate Heart due to a meeting I have in Erie that day.

Here are a few thoughts for the week ahead:

A friend is one who strengthens you with prayer; blesses you with love and encourages you with hope. Life is full of give and take. Give thanks to God and show appreciation to others and take nothing for granted

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

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Around the Parish – May 21, 2023

Written by on May 20, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

We have just about 120 tickets left for the 300 Club! Please make sure to purchase your ticket. Each ticket is $100 and enters you in for a chance to win weekly beginning July 12! Please help us spread the word, and encourage people from outside the parish to get a ticket too! You do not have to belong to the parish to purchase a ticket! All monies raised that are not raffled off stay in our parish to help alleviate the cost of maintenance repairs as well as pay for our normal bills. For more information, check our website or call the parish office. https://ihmercer.org/300-Club

A reminder that we will celebrate 40 Hours in just a few weeks time. Our preacher for our celebration will be Father Joseph Petrone. He will be preaching on the Hearts of the Holy Family. We are in need of volunteers to sign up for an hour of adoration during the entire time that the Eucharist is exposed. A minimum of two volunteers are needed for each hour that the Eucharist is exposed. In the back vestibule of church, and on our website, you can sign up to volunteer for an hour. Please help us spread the word!

Click here for more information on Forty Hours

VBS registration is open! Forms can be found in the back vestibule of church under the pictures of the former pastors as well as on our website. Registration is due back ASAP so that we can purchase T-Shirts for all participants! If you wish to volunteer, please contact the parish office as soon as possible so that we can schedule a meeting to begin preparations. For more information, please visit our website.

Click here to register for VBS

We will have a VBS planning meeting on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 6pm in the parish Conference Room. All who are willing to volunteer, please plan on coming to the meeting that night! Bring your creative ideas to help us make this the best VBS our parish has ever had!

Here’s a thought for your week: Be strong now because things will get better; it can’t storm forever. Good things come to those who are willing to hustle. Don’t just be busy; be productive.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more information about the Eucharistic Procession

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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Around the Parish – May 14, 2023

Written by on May 13, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

A very happy and blessed Mother’s Day to all of our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and anyone to whom has shown us motherly love. Know of my prayers, love, and admiration for all of you!

Last weekend, I mentioned two events that our parish will host. In the recent past, Father Matt held a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Corpus Christi Sunday. Eucharistic Processions will be occurring all over the Diocese of Erie on this special Sunday. This year, our parish will host the Deanery Eucharistic Procession, which invites parishioners from all over our area to participate.

Click here for more information about the Eucharistic Procession

The second event will begin also on Corpus Christi Sunday and will continue through the following Tuesday, June 13. Each day, following the last mass of the day, the Eucharist will be exposed for adoration until 7pm each night. At 7pm, we will celebrate evening prayer, and within evening prayer, a special homily will be given. Our preacher for our celebration will be Father Joseph Petrone. He will be preaching on the Hearts of the Holy Family. We are in need of volunteers to sign up for an hour of adoration during the entire time that the Eucharist is exposed. A minimum of two volunteers are needed for each hour that the Eucharist is exposed. In the back vestibule of church, and on our website, you can sign up to volunteer for an hour. Please help us spread the word!

Click here for more information on Forty Hours

Click here to register for VBS

Thank you goes out to all the amazing volunteers who came to help with the first Plant and Garden Sale. The sale raised $1,424 for our parish. Between the sale and other generous donations, we were able to raise enough money to cover the cost of the replacement refrigerator for Gallagher Hall.

Here’s a thought for your week: Never take someone’s feeling for granted because you never know how much courage it took for him or her to express them to you. Life is too short to be constantly worrying. Let go of the stress and realize you’re blessed.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Thank you to our amazing crew who helped work the First Annual Plant and Garden Sale!

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

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Around the Parish – May 7, 2023

Written by on May 6, 2023. Posted in News, Around the Parish.

Next Sunday is Mother’s Day, and so to honor our Blessed Mother, we will crown her during the weekend masses at the beginning of mass. Flower vases will be placed around the statue of Mary that is placed in front of the altar. If you want to add any flowers before mass to these vases in honor of the Blessed Mother, feel free! All are invited to participate!

As mentioned at all the masses last weekend, this year we will host Vacation Bible School. Vacation Bible School is open for all children registered for Preschool through Eighth Grade for the 2023-24 school year. All high school students looking for volunteer/service hours can come as well to help out! The more the merrier! We have chosen to schedule our VBS in the evenings from 5:30-8p to accommodate parents and volunteers who have to work during the day. Many of those who wish to volunteer cannot take a week off work to help, and so we are trying an evening time to assist with others’ schedules. The theme for this year is Splash Canyon: God’s Promise on Life’s Wild Ride. Thank you to Mrs. Linda Oliver and her crew for organizing this opportunity for our parish and community! For more information, please visit our website at https://ihmercer.org/vbs.

Thank you to everyone who came out to help at the Plant and Garden Sale. More information will be given in the coming weeks about the success of the event.

Reminder for Parish Council that we have a meeting scheduled for this Thursday at 6pm in the parish office conference room.

We are still selling tickets for the 300 club! As of writing this article, we have sold 130 tickets, nearing the half-way mark! Please help us spread the word to sell the remaining tickets. More information on the 300 club can be found on the website at https://ihmercer.org/300-club.

Here’s a thought for your week: Family is that place where love begins and never ends. Family provides the anchor when life storms rage around us. Family extends beyond our biology, and into our relationships that fill our day.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

Click here for more info on the 300 Club

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