Parish Mission Statement Immaculate Conception Catholic Church celebrates the Eucharist and proclaims the gospel in worship, through our love of God and for each other, and with our ministry to the marginalized. We journey together in our faith, united by our trust in Christ s love and mercy and the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Staff Connection... December 17, 2017 Immaculate Conception Church Dear friends, We are at the mid -point of the Advent season and we have been anxiously awaiting the coming of our Savior, not only as an anniversary of His birth but also when He comes again. I hope we have all spent the past two weeks in preparation for His coming, because there isn t much time left until we celebrate the great feast of the birth of our Savior. And for some people, perhaps even for us personally or for members of our family or friends, there is a relatively short period of time before the end of earthly life as we know it. This Sunday we light the pink candle on our Advent wreath. There was a time in the world when the color of something would tell you what was going on. For instance, the color of the other Advent candles is violet. Violet was the color for royalty, and many people still refer to it as royal purple. The color pink was a joyous color. We use the glorious color of pink today on our Advent wreath to show our joy that this season of waiting for our Lord is half over and we will soon celebrate the memorial of the birth of our Savior. Since pink is the color of joy, I am going to share with you a way to bring true joy into your life. All you have to remember is how to spell J O Y in English, what each letter stands for, and the order of the letters. J stands for Jesus, and just as J is the first letter of JOY, so Jesus should always be first in our lives. O stands for others. and just as O is the second letter of JOY, we should always think of others second in our lives. The Y stands for you, and just as Y is the last letter of JOY, we should always think of ourselves last. Therefore, to bring true JOY into your life, always think of Jesus first, others second and yourself last! I learned this from the Sisters many years ago and as you can see I never forgot it! John the Baptist, in today s gospel, was a good example of this he always put Jesus first! I m not the One, he says, I baptize with water but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. John never preached about himself, instead, he was always telling folks about how important the one who is coming after me would be how he wasn t worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence with Jesus. Yes indeed, dear friends, John always put Jesus first! Well, what about us? Where does Jesus fall in our top 10 list? We have all kinds of material, secular things on that list clothes, cars, homes, income/jobs the list goes on and on! But you see God doesn t measure the worth of someone as a criteria for entering the kingdom of heaven. It makes no difference how well he or she is dressed or how fancy the house is where they live. God is only concerned with how we live our life as we patiently await the Kingdom of heaven. John the Baptist is an excellent example of someone who lived a rather simple life here on earth always striving to look out for the needs of others before himself. And Jesus highly praises him! So let s spend the remainder of this Advent season preparing appropriately before the Lord comes again this Christmas remembering always to keep Jesus first in our lives others second and ourselves last. And in this way, we too, become special messengers charged with helping other to prepare for the coming of the Lord! Advent blessings, Deacon Dan Mass Schedule Monday & Thursday 12:10PM Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 7AM Vigil Mass Saturday 4:30PM Sunday 8:30 & 10:30AM George Green Parish Center 113 North Geneva Street Ithaca, NY 14850 *** 607/273-6121 Sacraments Baptism: A preparation session is required before the baptism of your child. Please call 273-6121 prior to your due date for an appointment. Reconciliation: Saturday 2:30P 4PM Marriage: Please call 273-6121 at least 6 months in advance of your anticipated wedding date. Anointing of the Sick: to request this sacrament. Hospitalizations: if your loved one is in the hospital.
NEXT SUNDAY DECEMBER 24, 2017 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Date The Week Ahead... Mass Intentions Sunday 12-17 8:30AM For Parishioners 10:30AM Jaroslav Vanek from Walter & MaryAnne Poland Monday 12-18 12:10PM Edward J. Smith from the Estate Tuesday 12-19 7:00AM Kathy O Grady from St. Edna Slyck, RSM Wednesday 7:00AM Joseph O & Sally Campbell from Joe & Mary Ciaschi 12-20 Thursday 12-21 Friday 12-22 12:10PM Carole & Jim Harvill & DM of the Harvill & Reynolds Fam. from the Harvill Family 7:00AM Thompson, Irene & Tom Walsh from Joe & Mary Ciaschi Saturday 12-23 4:30PM Robert Yunits from Margaret & Chuck Curtis Sunday 12-24 8:30AM For Parishioners 4:00PM June Judy Protts from Maureen McCabe & Donald Power 10:00PM Theresa Flacco from the I.C. Music Ministry A NOTICE REGARDING THE CHRISTMAS SERVICES Since falls on a Sunday this year, here is a list of the scheduled Masses. December 23-24: 4th Sunday of Advent Saturday 4:30pm Sunday 8:30am (ONLY) December 24: Sunday 4:00pm (w/ Pageant) Sunday 10:00pm (choral concert at 9:30pm) December 25: Christmas Day Monday 10:30am January 1, 2018: New Year s Day Monday 9:00am Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of all. CHRISTMAS NOVENA PRAYER Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and of His Blessed Mother. Amen. CMA 2017-2018 CMA has gotten underway. Our gratitude to everyone who has already made their pledge and contributed. Here is our current standing. (Please make checks payable to Catholic Ministries Appeal) Current status: 154 Families Goal $60,246 53.50% $30,048 Page 2 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 11:45A PAGEANT REH-CH 11:45A HS YTH GRP-YR 2:30P MS YTH GRP-YR 5:00P FAMBRE-PH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 10:30A CAYUGA RIDGE MASS 1:00P FOOD PANTRY 5:30P ADULT CHOIR-CH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 5-7P CONTEMP. GRP-CH 7:00P KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS-PH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21 4:00P MCGRAW HOUSE SERVICE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 12-2P XTRA CHOIR REHEARSAL-CH During Advent, the Angelus will be said after the 12:10pm Masses on Mondays and Thursdays. The ANGELUS is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation, and it exemplifies a series of prayers called the prayer of the Devotee. Oplatek Wafers There will be a limited supply of Oplatek wafers for the Polish celebration. They are available in the parish office which is open M-F from 8am to 4pm.. $2 suggested donation. IT S THAT SEASON! Now that the cold & flu season is upon us, if you feel you are under the weather, or perhaps maybe someone around you is feeling rather a little down, please think before you act! You are not required by the good Lord to shake or hold hands at anytime during Mass, nor are you required to drink from the cup. Please think of yourselves and others. Thank you. There is not much time left before we begin a new year. In preparation for accurate End-of Year statements for tax purposes, all 2017 contribution envelopes MUST be handed into the office by December 31st. Any 2017 envelopes that come in after, will be held for 2018. Our Offering to the Lord December 10, 2017 Collection 2017 $6,967 *********************************************** *********************************************** Attendance 492
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHRISTMAS MASSES 2017 Sunday, December 24 4:00 pm (with Children s Pageant) 10:00 pm (Music Concert begins at 9:30 pm) Monday, December 25 Christmas Day 10:30 am Monday, January 1, 2018 New Year s Day 9:00 am
NEXT SUNDAY DECEMBER 24, 2017 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Page 3 Learn Swahili with Fr. Chumo Kipindi cha maajilio chaanza = Advent season begins Jitayarishe kwa krismasi = Prepare for Christmas Mungu ni upendo = God is love Utafanjya nini wakati wa Krismasi? = What will you do for Christmas? Our Sanctuary Lamp will Burn this week in Memory of Steve Shady From Jeanette shady Items from former IC School There are many Christmas decorations, Nativity sets, and other related items available. All items are left from the school and the price will not break your budget. Call 607-227-6782 for questions or to schedule a time to see them. Everything must go! Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas Parents: Something exciting for your children...we have available copies of The Children's Worship Bulletin (Catholic version), which are lectionary based (related to the Sunday scripture readings) activity sheets. You will find them on the table in the vestibule, near the Lighthouse Media CD display. Please help yourself to these free teaching aids for your young children each week. One available for 3-6yr olds and another for 7-12 yr olds. Weekly Mass Intentions The 2018 weekly Mass Intentions are now available to all Parishioners. $10 donation. Please contact the Parish Center for scheduling and availability at 607-273-6121. Sanctuary Lamp The 2018 Sanctuary Lamp Intentions are now available. The Intentions run on a weekly basis from Sunday through Saturday. Donation is $20. Please contact Erika at the Parish Center for scheduling and availability at 607-273-6121. Lighthouse CD s God Made Man: In this Christmas themed presentation, Fr. Shannon Collins sheds new light on the biblical narratives of the birth of Jesus Christ, as well as the beautiful Christmas traditions of the Church. Journey through Advent: Get the most out of Advent and Christmas by following along with Fr. Robert Barron s homilies as he unpacks the profound Scripture readings for the Liturgical Season. Stay With Us Lord: In an inviting manner Fr. David Simonetti preaches missions, days of reflection, and retreats with humer & Gospel joy. He shares his own account of how the Lord drew him to the priesthood, how her lies upon Christ in the Eucharist, and how Jesus calls each of us to spend time with Him in Adoration. Great Gift Idea for the Lady in your Life! The Power of the Eucharist, Glorifying God and Sanctifying the World. the fifth annual Rochester Catholic Women s Conference, will be held on March 10, 2018 at the Aquinas Institute in Rochester. This is a wonderful gift idea for your wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt or best friend! She will appreciate the opportunity to be refreshed spending time with other Catholic women. Her day will include Mass with our Bishop, national speakers and vendors, the rosary, reconciliation, a continental breakfast & lunch. Visit rochestercwc.org to register online, or contact Liz Burns at ecab9129@gmail.com. PARISH STAFF Fr. Augustine Chumo ext. 105 Pastor Fr.Augustine.Chumo@dor.org Erika Linsdell ext. 101 Parish Administrative Assistant Erika.Linsdell@dor.org Gary Vrabel ext. 111 Music Ministry HolySpearRats@gmail.com David Zellinger Finance Director David.Zellinger@dor.org Bookkeeping TBA Business Assistant TBA CONTACT INFORMATION Main Office 607/273-6121 Fax: 607/273-0185 www.immconch.org IImmacul@dor.org www.facebook.com/immconch YOUTH & FAMILY Rich Rasmussen ext. 102 Pastoral & Catechetical leader Rich.Rasmussen@dor.org Dan Hurley-Deacon 585-319-8205 Dan.Hurley@dor.org BULLETIN REQUESTS: E-mail: iimmacul@dor.org no later than Mondays @ 4p Calvary Cemetery 272-5780 Mike Moravec-Cemetery Manager
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