Catholic Leadership Institute Survey
As you have just heard at mass, all parishes in the archdiocese are required to participate in the above survey. It is completely anonymous and confidential.
The archdiocese is monitoring now how many responses each parish gets as it plans for the future of ALL the parishes in the diocese.
Please help us show what a vibrant parish we are to ensure our future.
Please complete the online survey at:
portal.catholicleaders.org/dmi/survey/c30dtc
Everyone in your household can and should take the survey. The more responses we get the better.
If you prefer to fill out a paper survey, they are available in the back church. They can be put in the collection basket at any mass. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A PAPER SURVEY IF YOU INTEND TO TAKE THE SURVEY ONLINE AS IT IS QUITE A LOT OF PAGES THAT WILL BE WASTED.
Thank you!!!
2nd Sunday of Easter Year C
It’s common for Catholics to hear the question, “Why do I have to go to a priest to have my sins forgiven?” I’ve never liked that question because not only is it clunky (confession is the ordinary way for the pardoning of serious sins, not lesser ones). But it misses the larger context: the wonderful origins of the sacrament itself. And this context is deeply Jewish. Ancient Jews associated forgiveness of sins with priests offering sacrifices in the Jerusalem temple. It was a solemn, public, and tangible way to access God’s mercy. So when the risen Jesus breathes on the Apostles and says, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:23), the upshot is remarkable: He is the new temple and His Apostles are the new priests. Jerusalem is no longer the place to find forgiveness from sin. Jesus’ body, the Church, is. So why should we go to the Sacrament of Confession? For the same reason ancient Jews went to the temple in Jerusalem: to experience the intimacy, joy, and life-giving power of God’s eternal forgiveness. — Father John Muir
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“Could you not keep watch for one hour?”
Words from our Savior when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane preparing for His Passion, preparing to die for OUR sins. Words spoken to Peter and the other apostles but perhaps they are words also spoken to us? How much time do we spend in prayer each day? How much time do we spend on our laptops, tablets, watching T.V. etc. compared to the time we spend on prayers. Do we only pray when we need something? Do we only pray when it is convenient?
This Friday, May 2nd from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. we will have Holy HOUR in the church. Will you come spend one hour with Christ? Or can you not keep watch for one hour with our Lord who gave His life for you?
God Bless you and have a wonderful week, Fr. Michael
PRAYER REQUESTS
That God will relieve their suffering and restore them to health. Please pray for: Kellie Salata, Kelly Chinchar, Jessica, Daniel Breslin, Stanley, Helen Traina, Joseph Marrone, Bill Marshall, Anthony, Michael, Joseph, Jessica Esopo, William, Steve, Audra, Bernadette, James Weiss, Baby Ford, Rosemary Malangone, Elizabeth Malangone, Sue West, Danny, Colleen Emery, Richard, Joan Russo, Christina Martin, Mornia Evans, Valerie Valverde, Diana McGuckin, Manny Scarangella, Cheryl Prinjinski, Ron Barth, Stephen West.
ANNUAL APPEAL
The 2025 Annual Appeal is underway. We have $11,765 pledged towards our parish goal of $13,416. Thank you so much to those who have pledged already. We made our goal last year and we received a rebate check from the Archdiocese of $850 which is the amount raised above our goal. The outpouring of support from many parishioners like you helps sustain the important ministries that are described in the brochures that are in the back of church. If you have yet to give, please take a pledge envelope or visit www.rcan.org/sharing and be as generous as possible. Thank you for your prayers and support.
SCRIPTURAL REFLECTIONS ON STEWARDSHIP
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’”
Peace – the first gift of the risen Lord. Just as Jesus sent the apostles out into the world, so too, He sends us. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be compassionate and merciful; and not with just those who are our friends, but also with our “enemies.” Think of someone in your life who you need to reconcile with. Call them right now or better yet, go visit them.
Devotions, Explained!
Examination of Conscience
In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle writes that it is imperative for a Christian to reflect on his conscience before he partakes of Holy Eucharist: “Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). The practice of examining one’s conscience before seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation thus dates to the very beginning of the Christian faith and was encouraged as a regular practice by many saints and founders of religious orders as a means of growing in virtue. An examination of conscience, when it relates to the sacrament, simply means reflecting on one’s actions (and particularly the intentions behind those actions) since the penitent’s last absolution, making note of lapses in judgment that should be confessed. A good basis for this reflection can be the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the seven deadly sins.
Devotions, Explained! – The Sign of the Cross
“I claim you for Christ by the sign of His cross.” These words from the Rite of Baptism, spoken as the priest traces a cross on the infant’s forehead, perfectly communicate the significance of that simple, familiar action. In signing the cross, we claim ourselves again and again for Christ, unite ourselves with His sacrifice on Calvary, and confess His victory over death. Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times, as evidenced by writings from Tertullian, Hippolytus and St. Cyprian. The ritual action is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God. In the Latin rite, it is made either with a movement of the full hand from
Easter and Holy Week at our parish this year was a tremendous celebration because of the efforts of so many people. The lectors, Eucharistic ministers and ministers of hospitality did a great job to make the liturgy much more meaningful. All those who helped did a fine job decorating and preparing our church for our Easter celebration. So a big THANK YOU from all of us at Immaculate Conception for what you do to make our celebrations so spiritually significant.
Easter and Holy Week at our parish this year was a tremendous celebration because of the efforts of so many people. The lectors, Eucharistic ministers and ministers of hospitality did a great job to make the liturgy much more meaningful. All those who helped did a fine job decorating and preparing our church for our Easter celebration. So a big THANK YOU from all of us at Immaculate Conception for what you do to make our celebrations so spiritually significant.
We would like to thank the Rice Family for their gift toward the purchase of our Easter Paschal Candle in prayers for their sons, Aaron and Andrew.”
We would like to thank Lancelot Buser for his gift toward the purchase of our Easter Paschal Candle in memory of Don E. Buser & Armondo Robles.
Please consider sponsoring our Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, and the oil for the Sanctuary Lamp.
Opportunities for Parish Support
There are several ways you can help support our parish and honor loved ones at the same time. As you may have noticed on the first Sunday of every month in our bulletin, we thank the donors of our Altar Gifts. You can donate the Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, or the Sanctuary Lamp in a two-week block for $50 in someone’s memory. We have blocks open for this year. We also need to purchase a new Easter candle each year (the tall candle on the altar) for $300-$400 which can also be donated in someone’s memory. You do not have to fund the entire amount, anything you wish to donate towards the purchase of our Easter candle is appreciated. We also have masses available for your intentions. If you wish to honor someone in any of these ways, please call the rectory.
Prayer for our Nation
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Praying the ROSARY
The Rosary is a meditation, a time to recall and think about the life of Jesus as seen and experienced by Mary. As the model of faith, Mary’s life sets a pattern that we strive to follow: saying ‘yes’ to God’s will in our lives and sharing His love and message with others. The Mysteries of the Rosary form a mini lesson of faith, using the highlights and significant moments of the life of Jesus. Like paging through a family scrapbook, we see in brief the events of salvation history that are the core of our belief and the hope of our eternal life.
OUR ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK
WE NEED BULLETIN ADVERTISERS!!
We would like to thank all the advertisers who have supported us throughout the past year. Our parish benefits greatly from the ads you see in the bulletin. The revenue pays for the printing which is an important means of communication for the parish. If we do not have enough advertisers, the cost of our bulletin goes up. We thank the local businesses that advertise with us especially in these tough economic times. We have some spaces on the back of our bulletin that need filling so if you would like to advertise your business as well as benefit your church, please contact John Patrick Publishing at 1-800-333-3166.
Please support our advertisers at the back cover of bulletin.