Beginning April 17/18, we will be increasing the number of stations for Holy Communion back to our normal 4 positions--thus the line configuration will also be changed back to normal. Beginning April 24, we will have the Breaking Bread Books back into the pews and resume congregational singing. Beginning on April 24, we will reduce live streaming of Masses to ONLY the 5 PM Vigil and the 9 AM Sunday.
We are extremely pleased to announce that Mrs. Theresa Guard will become our new IHM School Principal. Mrs. Guard has had many years of experience in Catholic education, including as an educator, administrator, board member, coach and parent. She has experience at the Pre-K through 12th grade levels, as well as at the college level. As a parishioner of IHM, she has served on our Education Advisory Board and Sports Committee as well as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. We know she will be a terrific addition to our school family. Please welcome Mrs. Guard to the IHM “Sainthood”.
FORMED is a website that brings a wealth of Catholic content into your home, including lessons, movies, books and more. The annual subscription to FORMED.ORG is just under $2000. Can you help to bring FORMED back?
The Bishop will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on adults (Junior in high school and up) on Pentecost Sunday, May 23d. IHM will hold an information/preparation session on Wednesday, April 28 at 7 PM. If you are an adult and have never been confirmed--this is the time! You will need a new copy of your Baptism Certificate--easily obtained by contacting your church of baptism.
We’d like to congratulate our school principal, Nancy Marcos, as she recently announced her plans to retire at the end of the current school year. Nancy has been a fantastic principal and member of our parish community for many years, and her dedication and professionalism will be greatly missed.
Please click on the link above to schedule a tour of our school. Tours are limited to parents and prospective students only. Masks and social distancing will be required. Once you have signed up, we will contact you to confirm your tour and to get prospective student information.
January 22 will commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision. Since that tragic day, millions of lives have been lost to abortion and the lives of millions of men and women have been shattered. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the annual March for Life will be virtual this year. Bishop Foys will offer a Mass from the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption on Friday, January 29 at 9 am. The Mass will be live-streamed www.covcathedral.com for the diocesan community.
Once again someone is spoofing our email domain and is sending thousands of emails using a spoofed IHM email address. The content of the email mentions a Chase or PayPal account problem or "I need a favor". We will not contact you by email to say we need your help please send Gift Cards. Please be careful about emails you receive. Never reply to such emails. Any questions--give the office a call. Please do not become a victim.
“In view of the gravity of the current pandemic and the lack of availability of alternative vaccines, the reasons to accept the new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are sufficiently serious to justify their use, despite their remote connection to morally compromised cell lines. “Receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community. In this way, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.”
IHM will continue participation in the Summer Feeding program beginning Monday, December 7th and will continue until federal funds have been depleted. As part of the program, IHM will offer complimentary grab-n-go sack lunches to children who are not enrolled in our school. This means families with younger children may pre-order meals and pick them up at the designated time and location. Children up to 18 years of age are eligible for the free lunch. IHM will provide the grab-n-go sack lunch on in-school days only from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
All of us are on a spiritual journey; all are at different mileposts on that journey. Since the very earliest days of the Catholic Church, there has been a process of accepting men, women, children, and entire families into the Church. This process, which we today call the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults/Children (RCIA/RCIC), follows the mission commanded by Jesus Christ: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28)
Bishop Foys has required masks for all attending Mass in all parishes within the Diocese. He did this to comply with the State Health Department's requirement, but also out of Charity. Many people want to come back to Mass, but have been afraid due to the number of people not wearing a mask. So, to be a welcoming parish, and out of charity, please wear the mask.
Deacon Greg Kandra (Brooklyn, former CBS news writer) discusses today's news, answering the question "what's a Catholic to do?". Impeachment, drone strikes, primaries, polls, scandals.....how do we stay above the fray and keep our sanity? Click on the link above to read Deacon's article from the Feb 2nd issue of Our Sunday Visitor.
There is yet another email scam making the IHM rounds that at first glance appears to be from a staff member. It is not. The email asks for your "Immediately Response" or to help by sending him iTunes gift cards to help a hospital patient. Please just delete this email; do not click on any of the links or reply to the email. Do not become a victim! Call the office if you have any concerns.
Sad to say that yet another email scam using Fr. Nick's info is making its rounds. In this one it includes in the body of the message Fr. Nick's real email and phone number. The subject has been ASAP. Please do not fall for these scams! If Father Nick needs you "asap", he will call.