IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS NOVEMBER 12, 2017 1
LOWELL IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH 144 East Merrimack Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01852 Rectory: 3 Fayette Street Tel: 978-458-1474 Fax: 978-446-0790 Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday Friday Pastoral Staff Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella, Pastor Rev. Kenneth Healey, SM, Parochial Vicar Rev. Raju Muringayil, O. Praem, Assisting Priest Bro. James Lucas, OMI, Ministry to the Sick Deacon Stephen M.Papik Sister Irene Martineau, SASV, Secretary & Bulletin Editor Ms. Claire Couillard Pastoral Associate Director of Religious Education Gr. 1-10 Catherine Fiorino, School Principal School Tel: 978-454-5339 School Fax: 978-454-6593 Sacraments Mass Schedule Weekends: Saturday 4:00 p.m. Sunday 7:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Family Mass 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Weekdays: Mon. - Fri. 7:30 a.m. (Rectory Chapel) Saturday 9:00 a.m. (Rectory Chapel) Mon. Fri. 12:00 NN (SMMC Chapel) Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Mass and Prayer Group (Rectory Chapel) Holydays As announced Adoration and Holy Hour First Wednesday of each month 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet 3:00 p.m. Rosary 6:00 p.m. followed by Benediction and Mass Parish Membership All new families are welcome to the parish and are encouraged to become actively involved. New parishioners should register at the Rectory as soon as possible. Baptism On an individual basis by appointment. Please contact the Rectory Office. Reconciliation By appointment Matrimony Arrangements must be made at least six months in advance. Ministry to the Sick Please inform the Staff about anyone confined in your home or in a Nursing Home. Communion is brought regularly to the homebound. Bulletin Deadline: Friday at Noon St. Vincent de Paul: Adult Choir: Parish Meetings 7:00 p.m. Monday in Rectory 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in Church Religious Education: Sundays, bi-monthly from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon at Immaculate Conception School 2
THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SATURDAY November 11 VETERANS DAY 4:00 PM O Heir, Gallagher, Lannan, Van Greenby Families SUNDAY November 12, 2017 32 nd Sunday in Ordinary T. 7:30 AM Lorraine Panagopoulos 9:00 AM Bertha M. Curran 11:30 AM Esther L. Gath, 2 nd Anniversary 5:00 PM Claire Bukowiec, 1 st Anniversary Stanley Bukowiec, 23 rd Ann. MONDAY November 13 St. Frances X. Cabrini, Virgin 7:30 AM Father John McHugh, O.M.I. TUESDAY November 14, 2017 7:30 AM James A. Creegan, 14 th Ann. WEDNESDAY November 15 St. Albert the Great, Bishop Doctor of the Church 7:30 AM William Vesey THURSDAY November 16 St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Gertrude, virgin 7:30 AM Joseph Vesey 12:00 NN FRIDAY November 17 St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious 7:30 AM Loretta Waterhouse 12:00 NN SATURDAY November 18 The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles 9:00AM 4:00 PM Gilbert Labelle SUNDAY November 19, 2017 33 rd Sunday in Ordinary T. 7:30 AM James and Rita Holland 9:00 AM Marie Kirwin, 4 th Ann. James J. Kirwin, Jr. 3 rd Ann. Thomas Owens, 1 st Anniversary 11:30 AM MASS OF REMEMBRANCE 5:00 PM Frederick L. Hickey November 4-5, 2017 -* Weekly Collection: $6,819.00 Building Fund: $2,669.00 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE November 12, 2017 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time "But the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps." The foolish versus the wise. Today's parable sets these two groups in stark contrast to one another. Two crowds of young women wait for a wedding feast. One group comes prepared for the unexpected, the other just assumes everything will go according to schedule. But it doesn't! The Bridegroom is late, and the foolish virgins are left out in the dark--literally while the wise ones enjoy the feast inside. The lesson here is not just about having foresight and gathering the corresponding equipment. It's about being ready for the second coming of Christ. Jesus himself is the "Bridegroom." Traditionally we refer to the Church as the "Bride of Christ" and we, as the people of God who constitute the Church, are even now awaiting the real feast, the culmination of time when Jesus returns. But are we standing among the wise or the foolish as we wait? Jesus tells us today, "Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Are we spiritually awake? Do we have extra oil to see us through, or are we hitting the bottom of the barrel and running on spiritual fumes so to speak? Do we think it's enough to do the bare minimum as we wait for Christ--stepping into church without really being present, or calling ourselves Christian without really taking up the challenge of the cross? In order to avoid standing outside the feast with the foolish, we will want to make sure we fill our flasks with oil or, in other words, fill our hearts with the love of God, fill our minds with his word and his teachings, and fill our souls with the virtues that unite us to his will. If we stock up on these important supplies, we can count ourselves among the wise! 3
NOVEMBER 12, 2017 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL 218 E. Merrimack St. Lowell, MA 01852 978-454-5339(Phone) 978-454-6293 (Fax) Immaculate Conception Church Religious Education Calendar 2017-2018 NOVEMBER SCHEDULE November 17, 2017 Picture retakes and Absentee Photo if your child is having their picture retaken, please return the picture that was sent home. Student having retakes may dress up for pictures. November 22, 2017 GRADES CLOSE TODAY FOR 1 st MARKING PERIOD Half day Dismissal for Thanksgiving Break 11:30 AM No PM Bussing Thanksgiving Mass at 10:30 AM All are invited! Kids Club is available. Please have your child bring lunch if they are attending Kids Club 4 Sunday Mornings 10:00-12 Noon at Immaculate Conception School November 19 Class #6 November 23 rd HAPPY THANKSGIVING December 10 Class #7 December 17 Class #8 MERRY CHRISTMAS ******Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Friday, December 22 nd 4:00 pm Upper Church ******December 24 th Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Pageant Mass Upper Church PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE THE SCHEDULED DATES FOR THE YEAR. The * indicates classes that will be held two Sundays in a row due to vacations and holidays. 150 th PREPARATORY MEETING On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7: 00-8:00 PM in the rectory conference room we will hold our 3 rd meeting to prepare the 150 th Anniversary of our Parish. For all who are interested in joining this committee, please attend. We wish to make this 2018 year a very special celebratory year for Immaculate Conception. Your presence, interest, suggestions and enthusiasm will surely add to what has already taken place in the last three meetings.
THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME St. William s Parish Christmas Fair 1351 Main St. Tewksbury. Saturday, December 2, 2017 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A great day for everyone! www.stwilliam sfair.com PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OUR ARMED FORCES Lance CPL James Bakanosky U.S. Marines AFGHANISTAN Sgt. James R. Boudreau U.S. Army Newport, RI Lance CPL Michael P Crowley U.S. Marines-AFGHANISTAN Corp. James Farley U.S. Marines Special Forces Mideast Gunnery Sgt. Michael G. Hill U.S. Marines Fuji, Japan 1 st Lt. Jeremy LaBranche U.S. Army Fort Carson, CO SPC Pieter Lobscher U.S. Army AFGHANISTAN AST 3 Michael Linehan U.S. Coast Guard Captain Ryan McKinley...Air Force MIDDLE EAST Master Sgt. Nicholas Owens USAF MacDill AFB FL Staff Sgt. John J. Rogers U.S. Army Fort Bliss, TX*- MEN OF ST. JOSEPH The Men of St. Joseph Immaculate in Collaborative meet on the fourth Saturday of every month. Each monthly meeting includes prayer, faith-building fellowship, and food. SAVE THE DATE October 28, 2017 in Immaculate Conception s Upper Church All Men are invited, even if you re not in our collaborative. Guest speakers: Deacon Stephen Papik And Deacon Carlos DaSousa Brother Richard Cote, O.M.I. will be leading a trip to the Christmas Lights at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, MA. Thursday, November 30 from 12:30 to 8 PM Concert with Fr. Pat dependent on a minimum of 25 participants. Register by calling 978-337-4287. Deadline is Nov. 16., 2017/ Bring a lunch or eat in the Shrine Cafeteria dress warmly Adult Choir Practices Tuesday evening 7:45 PM Duration of practice: 45 minutes For the Saturday4 PM and/or Sunday 9 AM All are invited and welcomed. A Special Advent LIFT Worship Night Join LIFT Ministries on Friday, December 1st from 7-10pm for a special advent night of worship at Immaculate Conception Church in Malden, MA with national speaker Dave VanVickle and Cardinal Sean O'Malley. The night will include uplifting music, a relevant talk, confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, and is FREE to attend and open to ALL AGES. A downloadable flyer, along with more information about LIFT, can be found on their website at www.liftedhigher.com. What better way to enter into Advent and prepare for Emmanuel - God with us! 5
NOVEMBER 12,, 2017 The Men of St. Joseph in the Greater Lowell area meet on the second Saturday of every month. Each monthly meeting includes prayer, food, and faith-building fellowship. Our next meeting is: Saturday, November 11 from 7 to 9 AM St. Marguerite d Youville Parish. St. Therese Church 1340 Lakeview Ave. Dracut, MA 01826 Speaker: Mary Dumont Topic: Advent for Intercessors 150 th Celebration Immaculate Conception Parish HOW IT ALL BEGAN Description of the Seven Sanctuary Windows These windows were installed in September, 1945. The theme selected was the Holy Eucharist and the symbolical types from the Old Testament. Beginning on the Gospel side, we find: THE SACRIFICE OF CAIN AND ABEL from Genesis, Chapter 4 THE SACRIFICE OF ABRAHAM from Genesis 22, 11-12 FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND from Matthew 14:16 CHRIST BREAKING BREAD IN EMMAUS from Luke 24:28 The windows to the right of center on the Epistle side depicts: MANNA FROM HEAVEN from Exodus 16:17 THE SACRIFICE OF MELCHISEDECH from Genesis 14:19 MOSES RAISING THE BRAZEN SERPENT from Numbers 21:9 MORE TO COME NEXT WEEK. Immaculate Conception HIGH SCHOOL 1922-1936 6