From Fr. Jim …
Our desire to have a relationship with the Lord is found in scripture and our most profound encounter is …Holy Communion where we have a personal meeting with Christ. The value we place on this personal contact with the Lord is celebrated on this Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord, Corpus Christi. When we receive Holy Communion, we receive the real presence of Jesus Christ. This is our treasure. Our sacramental communion with the Lord is fundamental to our prayer life. This desire to receive the Eucharist sets the course of our lives and then, if we are truly Eucharistic, we bring Him to others.
The great prayer, the central prayer, of the Church is the Mass. It is in the Mass that we recreate the paschal mystery of the Last Supper, Death and Resurrection of the Lord and then share in this mystery by taking the Paschal Lamb within us. Every Mass is a choice for the Kingdom which we participate in through our determination to live the Eucharist we receive, our determination to be Christ like. Far more than a meal of fellowship, when we receive Holy Communion our personal relationship with the Lord is brought to a new level. We have Jesus within us. We speak to Him. We celebrate Him. To receive the Eucharist is to live the Life of Jesus Christ.
REGISTER TODAY!!! Deadline approaching!
50/50 CHANCES ON SALE TODAY AFTER MASS!
Immaculate Conception 5th Annual Golf Classic
June 19, 2015
Chesapeake Bay Golf Club
@ Rising Sun
with 11:30 registration & Lunch
And a 1 PM shotgun start.
Register Now!Come out and enjoy the fun!
You can participate in many ways!!!
Play Golf! Single golfer (golf w/cart, lunch, refreshments & dinner!) Goodie bag & complimentary Greens fee pass at future date – only $125
Come for Dinner! Not a golfer? Come for a delicious dinner including Angus Top Round of Beef, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Dessert Bar & much more! - only $30
Become a Sponsor! - All levels of sponsors needed!
Auction Donations needed!
NEW THIS YEAR! 50/50 Raffle –You don’t need to be present… open to everyone!! Raffles will be sold after Masses this weekend.
Brochures are located at the back of the church, or contact Paula Amberg at 410-398-1100, .
2015 Annual Catholic Appeal- For those who have pledged, you should have received your first payment reminder. Additional reminders will continue through December. Please mail all payments in the self-addressed, return envelope provided with your pledge reminder.
Our Parish Goal is $95,000.
Pledged $70,419. 74%
Short$24,581.
Offertory May 31, 2015Fiscal Budget
Immaculate Conception$ 7,061.90 $12,033.20
St. Jude’s$ 2,039.00 $ 2,092.80
Online$ 2,089.50-
$11,190.40 $14,126.00
2014-2015 Fiscal YTD(Offertory Deficit) -(10,284.71)
Building Maintenance Fund:
Collected $237,953.58
Expenses $225,656.49
Balance $ 12,297.08
Parish Community News
Congratulations to those who have recently been baptized in the parish:
Lilianna Grace Haase
Jazlynn Talia Haase
Congratulations to this couple who has recently been married in the Parish:
Elizabeth Grieco and Timothy Mallen
We extend our condolences and prayers to the families of those who have recently died:
Eleanor Sickles
Father’s Day Novena -Fathers of the Parish will be remembered in a Novena of Masses beginning June 16th. If you wish to have a loved one, living or deceased, remembered in this Novena, please use the envelope in your envelope packet or those available at the exits of the Church. The envelopes can be deposited in the collection basket or dropped off at the Parish Office. Thank you
June 8, 2015
8:30 AMMike Whitlock
June 9, 2015
8:30 AMDominick Calvarese
June 10, 2015
8:30 AMDominick Calvarese
9:30 AMRita Seward (ICS Closing Mass)
June 11, 2015 – St. Barnabas, Apostle
8:30 AMMarianne & Lyle Utt
June 12, 2015 – Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
8:30 AMRuth & Mitchell Boulden
June 13, 2015
8:30 AMTony Sniadowski
5:00 PMKay Skozypic
June 14, 2015 – 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:00 AMJohn & Connie Farrell
8:30 AMAnthony V. Sposato
9:00 AM SJMary Sue Vaccarini
10:15 AMPeople of the Parish
12:00 PMDr. Edwin Czarnecki
Liturgy
Readings for Next Week:
ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24 - God will restore the kingdom of Judah, as symbolized by the cedar. The deed is emphasized by the words, “As I, the Lord have spoken, so will I do.”
Second Reading: II Corinthians 5:6-10 - Paul acknowledges “that we are, in a sense, away from the Lord while in this life and bound to our bodies.” We will be fully united with God in the next life, if we please him in this life.
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 - The reign of God is compared to a mustard seed which is the smallest of seeds yet grows to become the largest of shrubs. Similarly, God’s community grows gradually until it becomes large and strong.
Are you unbaptized and have a desire to be baptized?
Are you a baptized Christian interested in becoming a Catholic?
Are you a baptized Catholic who never received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation?
If you answer yes to any of these questions then RCIA is for you!!
A new RCIA program will be starting in mid-September. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the process by which baptized Christians and those who are unbaptized become members of the Catholic Church. It is also the process by which baptized Catholics who never received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation receive those sacraments. Do you feel God calling you to have a deeper relationship with Him? If so, please call the Parish Office at 410-398-1100 to learn more about this process and to set up an interview with Mrs. Pat Kosman, the RCIA Coordinator. The RCIA process is a wonderful way to have a greater understanding of the Catholic faith and become closer to God in the process.
Do you need a low gluten host to receive Holy Communion?We have low-gluten hosts for those parishioners who are unable to consume regular wheat hosts. We ask you to let the celebrating priest know before Mass that you need a low-gluten host. We will then place low-gluten hosts into their own pyx that will be carried up with the other hosts at the Offertory. While we keep a pyx in the tabernacle containing consecrated low gluten hosts, we prefer to consecrate hosts during Mass as the General Instruction of the Roman Missalsuggests. Please go to the priest celebrant or the EMHC if a priest is not distributing on the Blessed Mother side to receive the Body of Christ. These low gluten hosts will notbe mixed with the regular hosts. Thank you for assisting us in our ability to respond to your needs.
Liturgical Etiquette and More
A number of parishioners have asked me to share some thoughts about our liturgical life as a Church and as a Parish. In light of that request, on a regular basis, but not necessarily weekly, I will try to explain what we do during the Liturgy and why we do it. Given that today is The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, more popularly known as Corpus ChristiSunday, it is fitting to reflect on questions about our participation in the Mass, also known as the Celebration of the Eucharist. These questions were generated by an email blog to which some of us on the staff belong: The Catechism in One Yearand the information is reprinted with permission.
How often must a Catholic Christian participatein the celebration of the Eucharist?
A Catholic Christian is obliged to attend Holy Mass onall Sundays and holy days of obligation. Anyone whois really seeking Jesus' friendship responds as oftenas possible to Jesus' personal invitation to the feast.
Actually, for a genuine Christian, "Sunday duty" is justas inappropriate an expression as "kiss duty" wouldbe for someone who was truly in love. No one canhave a living relationship with Christ without going tothe place where he is waiting for us. Therefore, from ancient times the celebration of Mass has been the"heart of Sunday" and the most important appointmentin the week.
What sort of preparation do I need in order tobe able to receive Holy Eucharist?
Someone who would like to receive Holy Eucharistmust be Catholic. If he has a serious sin on hisconscience, he must first make a confession. Beforeapproaching the altar, one should be reconciled withhis neighbors.
Until a few years ago, the practice was to eat nothingfor at least three hours before Mass; that was howpeople prepared to encounter Christ in HolyCommunion. Today the Church requires at leastone hour of fasting. Another sign of reverence isto wear one's finest clothing - after all, we have arendezvous with the Lord of the world.
How does Holy Communion change me?
Every Holy Communion unites me more deeply withChrist, makes me a living member of the Body ofChrist, renews the graces that I received in Baptismand Confirmation, and fortifies me for the battleagainst sin. (YOUCAT questions 219, 220 & 221) Receiving Communion also helps me to become what I eat, the Body of Christ and what I drink, the Blood of Christ, to paraphrase an ancient Homily, Homily 272, given by St. Augustine of Hippo in the early Fifth Century.
Fr. Paul
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
There is no more Children’s Liturgy of the Word until the Fall. Have a wonderful summer
Christian Formation
Immaculate ConceptionSchool News
We celebrated our 8th grade graduation Mass this week, and we want to congratulate these students for finishing this phase of their educational careers. We will pray for their success and happiness as they move on to various high schools. They are now members of a wonderful group – alumni
Jacob Matthew Buskell Sawyer Jayme Pietuszka
Courtney Ann Hardy Easton Nathaniel Shelley
Kristina Elizabeth Keithley Zyeir Justyn Solomon
Camryn Elizabeth Kilby Angelic Gabrielle Squitieri
Nicholas Edward Moroski Ashley Nicole Tucker
Hannah Elisabeth Pickering Jack Burden VanHorn
Our Kindergarten students and preschoolers also finished their school year this week. We eagerly wait for their return in the fall to see how much they have grown! The rest of our students will complete their year on Wednesday with the celebration of Mass at 9:30. Their summer vacation begins after awards and report cards.
We are currently accepting registrationfor next year. If you would like to set up a tour, please contact the school office at 410-398-2636
Religious Education
Religious Education Classes: Do you need to register a child for our parish religious education or sacrament program for next year? It is important to register now!
Registration Forms Are Available On Our Parish Website at Under Faith Formation: -A late fee is now in effect for those who did not re-register by April 1st. -No Late fee for New Families.
Need a Hard Copy: Contact the Religion Office.
*To register for First Reconciliation and First Communion a child must have completed one year of Religious Education and be enrolled in a religious education program through the Parish or a Catholic School.
Youth Ministry
Please visit the parish web site at See the News, Faith Formation and Ministries pages for more information on YM events and opportunities. Contact the YM office at 410 392 3551/ .
Spring and Summer Weekly Gatherings - Current 8th – 12thgrade students and college age young adults are welcome to join ourgathering in the Parish Center from 6-8 PM. No RSVP needed. Drop-ins welcome. See the parish website for the Spring & Summer calendar.
Parents: Please donate some soda in cans or small water bottles for our teens on Sunday nights. Thanks!
June 7 – Praise and worship music 4-5 PM during adoration. Benediction at 5:30.
June 7 – 5:30-7 PM help build & paint for VBS
June 14 – 6-8 PM more VBS design and building
June 21 – No gathering on Father’s Day
Service Hours- If ever you are in need of service hours, please scroll through the pictures on the parish website home page at Click on the one about “Service Opportunities” and see the contact person listed for each opportunity. Thank you!
Work Camp 2015 – Last chance! Current 8-12th grade students interested in a summer mission trip with our parish and Catholic Heart Work Camp should call 410 392 3551 or email to sign up. Our 2015 camp will be July 12-18 in Pittsburgh. See our parish website for all the details. It’ll be the BEST week of your summer! No new campers added after June 10th.
Confirmation 2016 - We will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation on April 23, 2016. Online registration now open. Please visit our parish website and see “Online Registration for 2015-16” under Faith Formation. Students must be in a Catholic school or a parish religious education program in 8th & 9th grade to be eligible for Confirmation in 9th grade. Older high school students may also be confirmed. For more information please email .
National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) - NCYC will be held in Indianapolis, IN November 19-21, 2015. All those in grades 9-12 in the Fall are welcome to attend. Late fees begin in September. Please see our parish website for more information.
Adult Formation
ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING: Thursday, June 11th at 10am in the Parish Center
Are You Interested in Participating In A Catholic Bible Study Program?
BIBLE TIMELINE: In 2012-2013 we conducted this phenomenal program. People who were not able to participate at that time have asked if we would run it again. Since it is a 24 week program, we are thinking of having class twice a month and running the 1st 12 sessions next year; then the last 12 the following year.
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES: A 20 session program that will run weekly from Sept. through March with no sessions in December. If you are interested in participating in either of these programs, please complete the form below and either return it to the Parish Center or call the Office.
ADULT FORMATION SURVEY
Name:______Phone: ______
Email: ______
I am interested in attending the
______Bible Timeline Program on
__Tues. Evenings: 6:30-8:30pm or
__Thurs., Mornings: 9:15-11:15am
______The Acts of the Apostles Program on
__ Mon. Evenings: 6:30-8:30pm or
__Tues. Mornings: 9:15-11:15am
Social Concerns
OUTREACH–The Parish Outreachis grateful to all those who continue to support this essential ministry – both materially and in their prayers. We are in need of diapers (sz 4,5,6),spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, soup, rice-a-roni, instant potatoes, and jello.
Parish Outreach –
United Way Choice
The Immaculate Conception Outreach is a United Way Donor Choice. Our agency number is #4320. Please consider us when making your choice.
Parish and Family Life
Parish Coffee:Join us today, June 7thfor a Parish Coffee after the 9 AM Mass at St. Jude’s.
Hope to see You there!. (There are no Parish Coffees at Immaculate Conception Church until September.)
Parish Events / Information
VBS will be starting in 2 weeks!
Have you registered?
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Come Be Part Of This Exciting Adventure…
Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.
Many volunteers are needed to make this happen!
Contact Liz Orr by email at or phone 410-920-8124 To find out about the many ways that you can be a part of this wonderful happening!
Registration Forms are available on our parish website or through the Religion Office
Volunteers are invited to come to the gym on Sunday, June 7th beginning at 5 pm to make decorations.
Vocations–Today’s solemnity celebrates the miracle of the Eucharistic mystery. Pope John Paul II was fond of reminding us that without the Eucharist there would be no Church. Without the ministry of priests there is no Eucharist. Ask God to bless our diocese with an abundance of holy priests. If you think God might be calling you to priesthood, or if you know someone whom you think God might be calling, please contact Father David Kelley, Diocesan Director of Priestly and Religious Vocations (302-573-3113, ). Be sure to visit our website:
Adoration for Vocations is usually held the first Sunday of each month in the Immaculate Conception Chapel. Adoration for Vocations will be held TODAY Sunday, June 7thfrom 1:30– 6:00 PM.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP at ADORATION –
Join us for an hour of Praise and Worship songs during Eucharistic Adoration, from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. the music highlighted will include “Here I am Lord”by Matt Maher. Come lift your voice, heart and hands towards God in praise for His mighty goodness to conclude our time of Adoration on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ!
41st Annual Christmas Bazaar
November 14-15, 2015
Save the dates!!
As you know the Christmas Bazaar is a critical part of our parish fund-raising budget as well as an important community building opportunity.
Santa is doing the happy dance!
We have Christmas Bazaar Chairs!!
Krista Brown and Meredith Moran have volunteered to Co-chair the Christmas Bazaar with Terry Gustafson.
We have also filled another crucial spot. Check the list below. Please think about volunteering!
Chairpersons:
Terry Gustafson, Krista Brown, Meredith Moran
Volunteer Coordinator: Natalie Cooper
Crafters:Rita McCarthy & Paula Amberg
Theme Baskets/Auctions: ______
Baked Goods:Terry Gustafson
Book Nook:Cheryl Nickle
Breakfast w/Santa: Donna Mulkern
Santa’s Shop:______
Kidz Korner:______
Religious Goods: ______
Cafeteria:______
Publicity/Finance:Peggy O’Donnell
Setup/ Take down:______
For more information or to volunteer please call Paula Amberg at 410-398-1100.
This Week’s Calendar
Sunday, June 7
8:20 AMConfessions – SJ
1:30 PMAdoration for Vocations –CH
4:00 PMPraise & Worship - Ch
5:30 PMVBS Building & Painting - caf
Monday, June 8
9:00 AMMass – IC
9:30 AMNovena – Ch
8:00 PMAA – caf
Tuesday, June 9
9:00 AMHoly Hour – Ch
6:30 PMICAA Board Mt – Gym
7:00 PMBoyScout Patrol Leader Mtg - PC
Wednesday, June10
9:00 AMRosary Crusade/St. Jude Novena – Ch
9:30 AMICS Closing Mass – IC
1:00 PMLeisure Club – PC
8:00 PMK of C Meeting - PC
Thursday, June 11
9:00 AMRosary Crusade – Ch