Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Kosciol Niepokalanego Serca Najswietszej Maryi Panny
Jezu, ufam Tobie
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"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of the Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those within my home and within my family". Amen. Prayer of St. Gertrude for the Souls in Purgatory.
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"My heart is beating, filled with joy, awaiting Mary's baby boy. For this child, we embrace the birth of God's most precious grace. Baby Jesus, soon to come! For to us comes the Promised One. Baby Jesus, God's own Son, you will be the Chosen One to lead our flock into salvation. Our eternal life awaits. The birth of Jesus brings us nearer Heaven's holy gates. Sing with joy and count the days, for soon to come, the Lord we'll praise. Rejoice the Jesus will soon arrive, the Messiah and our faith alive". Amen
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A Prayer for Ukraine:
"Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid,
that You will be close to them and protect them. We pray for world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices. We pray for the
world that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers
and sisters in need. May we walk in Your ways so that peace and justice become
a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world". Amen
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MASS SCHEDULE
(8:00 AM DAILY MASS IS IN THE CONVENT CHAPEL MONDAY THRU SATURDAY. DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 AM)
SATURDAY December 2
8:00 am For Our Parish Family
4:00 pm + Sue Likar
SUNDAY December 3
8:00 am + Zdzislaw Wojciechowski
10:00 am + Jerzy Amanowicz
12:00 pm Jessica Maggard (30th Birthday Blessings)
MONDAY December 4
8:00 am For Our Parish Family
TUESDAY December 5
8:00 am + Helen Orzech (16th Anniversary of Death)
WEDNESDAY December 6
8:00 am + All Souls Intention
THURSDAY December 7
8:00 am + Janina & Jozef Opalinski
6:00 pm + Jadwiga Wawer
Immaculate Conception
FRIDAY December 8
8:00 am + Ben & Dorothy Stryczny
11:00 am Special Intention
6:00 pm + For A Special Intention & Zdzislaw Uloga
SATURDAY December 9
8:00 am + John Galka (Anniversary of Death)
4:00 pm + Eleanor & Joseph Natoli
SUNDAY December 10
8:00 am + Holy Name Society
10:00 am + Krystyna Konkalo
12:00 pm + Ernest & Cecelia Tolar
+ DECEASED
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IHM Parish Advent Confessions - are Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. It will consist of individual confession. Fathers Hudak and Panek will be available. Father Panek is able to hear them in both Polish and English.
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St. John Nepomucene Regional Advent Penance Service - is Monday, December 4, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. It will consist of a prayer service with individual confession. Guest priests will be available. All are welcome. Located: Fleet Avenue & East 50th.
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Art & Environment Committee - will gradually decorate our church for Christmas on the following days and time: Saturdays - December 2, 9 & 16 at 9:00 a.m. Any interested person is welcome to join us in this pleasant parish project.
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IHM Parish Giving Tree for Christmas - Place your non-perishable food or paper products in the containers near the tree by the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, then take an ornament from the basket provided and hang it on the tree. Your donation will help our neighbors in need, and brighten our church for Christmas. We ask your help in checking all items for freshness, expiration dates, no dented cans, no items without labels and open containers are unacceptable. No clothes or household items.
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Malley's Chocolate Bar Fundraiser for IHM - has begun. The Parish Pastoral Council members will make the candy available after the weekend Masses. The table will be near the main entrance of the church. This treat will be a pleasant gift for the Christmas stocking stuffers. The $2.00 bars will also be available in the rectory during regular business hours. (9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.).
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Oplatki - will be available after Sunday Masses near the main entrance of the Church and in the rectory during regular business hours (9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.). Cost is $1.00/small package and $2.00/large. They will be available during the Advent season while supply lasts.
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Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - The Patronal feast day of our country is Friday, December 8, 2023. IT IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION! We are obliged to attend Mass in order to celebrate and profess our unified belief in this event of Mary's life when she was conceived free from all stain of Original Sin through the grace of her Son, Jesus. The Mass schedule for our parish follows: Thursday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. in English; Friday, December 8 at 8:00 & 11:00 a.m. in English, and 6:00 p.m. in Polish.
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Support Elderly Religious - In good times and in bad, senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests have dedicated themselves to service and acts of mercy. Today, they pray for an aching world. Yet years of serving for little or no pay have left their religious communities without enough retirement savings. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide medications, nursing care and other necessities for nearly 25,000 religious individuals. The collection is December 9-10, 2023. Your envelope for your donation is in your monthly mailed packet, or in the church bulletin racks. Please pray for all religious. For more information go to: (retiredreligious.org). For your information: Diocesan priests DO NOT receive any money from this Fund. Fr. Ralph Hudak and Fr. Andrzej Panek are diocesan priests, not religious order priests.
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"Cleveland Catholic Diocese's Heart of a Shepherd Campaign" - began in the summer of 2019. It is well underway in its efforts to raise $30 million for 1) $20 million to renovate the two seminaries: St. Charles Borromeo and St Mary's major seminary both on the same campus in Wickliffe, Ohio: 2) $7 million to care for retired priests: 3) $3 million to support newly ordained clergy to help pay off college loans as needed: and 4) gives parishes an opportunity to raise funds for their needs. Immaculate Heart of Mary parish has contributed three of three towards this goal: $8,704.66 on December 12, 2021, $8,704.66 on November 10, 2022, and $8,704.68 on November 12, 2023 for a total amount of $26,114.00. We have completed our pledge with this third installment. In the name of Bishop Edward Malesic and the seminary community "Thank You!" Fr. Ralph Hudak
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IHM St. Vincent de Paul Society - is in need of non-perishable food items or paper products for the Christmas Baskets. Place your donations into the containers near the church doors. PLEASE DO NOT put clothes or household items into these containers, only food or paper products. We do not have the facilities to store clothing or household items, nor do we have the volunteers to do the work.
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Protecting God's Children - The Diocese of Cleveland's "Protecting God's Children" program is a continuing effort to instruct and inform everyone about the protection of children from sexual abuse. To report any past or present-suspected inappropriate behavior toward children by priests, deacons, religious, lay ecclesial ministers or personnel associated with the Church, please contact the Diocesan Response Service Office at (216-334-2999) or (responseservices@dioceseofcleveland.org). You are also asked to immediately inform local authorities about inappropriate behavior.
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Weekly Offerings
11/05/2023 - $2,444.00 (R&R) - $352.00
11/12/2023 - $4,529.00 (R&R) - $902.00
11/19/2023 - $2,235.00 (R&R) - $172.00
11/26/2023 - $2,327.00 (R&R) - $272.00
Thank you for supporting IHM church! Father Ralph Hudak
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The Mass Intention Book is opened! To schedule in person, please come to the rectory on Monday & Friday, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. The stipend for a Mass intention is the Diocesan recommended $10. Only TWO weekend Masses will be permitted per every five intentions scheduled. To accommodate those with a work-schedule, homebound or traveling a long distance conflict, we will accept requests in writing. These may be mailed to the rectory (6700 Lansing Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44105) or place in the Sunday collection basket. Please mark the envelope "Mass Intentions", include in it your name, phone number, the name for whom the Mass is intended, Mass date and time and stipend. Make checks out to "Immaculate Heart of Mary Church". If you have a special anniversary to celebrate, DO NOT WAIT until the last minute to schedule it!
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Immaculate Heart of Mary's Polish Parish School of Religion (PPSR) - meets on Sundays at 11:00 am - Noon in the convent for grades K-8. For more information or to register, contact Fr. Andrzej Panek at 216-341-2734, Beata Pierzynski at 216-355-7424, or come to the convent on Sunday at this specified time period.
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Reminder About the Three-Year Nationwide Eucharistic Revival - In their November 2021 meeting, the U.S. bishops announced their intention to launch this revival. This effort officially began on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 19,2022 and it includes a Eucharistic Congress in 2024. The bishops' goal is to "rekindle Christ by embracing Truth, Beauty and Goodness of His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist". A diocesan focus will include Eucharistic processions and adoration events. Beginning in 2023, the Parish year will emphasize what the Eucharist really means. The third year, 2024, includes a Eucharistic Congress in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis from July 17-21. Further developments of this revival will be forth coming.
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Standing with Moms in Need (for your information) - "The Catholic Church has a long history of service to those who are most vulnerable and remains the largest private provider of social services in the United States. Through the sacrificial efforts of faithful Catholics, the Church serves millions through diocesan ministries and agencies. Catholic hospitals and schools and parishes. From religious communities to pregnancy care centers, from refugee resettlement services to foster care and adoption agencies, and from maternity homes to parish based ministries, the Church consistently bears witness in word and deed to the beauty and dignity of every human life - including both mother and child". (U.S, Conference of Catholic Bishops)
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Information for Senior Age People - If you have an IRA retirement account and you are 70 1/2 years old or older, please consider an IRA Charitable Rollover to benefit your parish, Catholic Charities, Priestly Formation, Catholic Education or another ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland and/or a "Not for Profit" organization in the community. For more information, read some of the material placed on the church bulletin board or in the two pamphlet racks near the confessionals.
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Are you in the process of moving? - In order to serve you the best way possible, we need your current information. Any changes in your family information should be updated with the Parish Office. Thank You!
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Catholic Cemeteries Association Grief Support/ "In-office" and "Virtual" - We continue to provide free monthly grief support groups in two formats: In-office (3pm) and Virtually (5pm). Our Grief Support Groups meet the 3rd Sunday of every month. Meetings are open discussion format, surrounding a monthly topic or whatever is on your heart. They do not build off each other so you can stop in any month and fit right in. If you are not yet able to talk about your grief, just come to listen and be in the presence of those who understand. The December 17th topic is "Emmanuel, God is with us". We offer a comfortable, private and safe environment where you are free to explore your grief. Come and be in the presence of those who understand.
Catholic Cemeteries Association follows the guidelines set by the CDC, the State of Ohio and the Diocese of Cleveland regarding COVID-19 protocols. We do, however, strongly suggest that those not yet vaccinated or who are otherwise vulnerable, continue to wear a facemask. CCA will continue to follow strong hygiene practices and encourage all who are ill to stay at home. Our Virtual Grief Support Group and our monthly grief support e-newsletter are excellent alternatives for individuals who are not able to join us in person for Grief Support.
In-office/ 3-4 pm at St. Joseph Cemetery, Avon (new office); Holy Cross Cemetery Akron (office); Holy Cross Brook Park (office); Calvary Cemetery Cleveland (office); All Saints Cemetery Northfield (office) and All Souls Cemetery Chardon (office).
Virtual/ 5-6 pm via ZOOM follows the same monthly topic discussion as the in-office groups. Sign-up at (http://bit.ly/ccavirtualgriefsupportgroup) to receive login information and the handout materials. You can join virtually from any Wi-Fi enabled area via computer, laptop, smartphone or even without Wi-Fi (via audio only) from your analog phone. If you do not have Wi-Fi or email, please contact Rhonda at 216-930-4866.
Your RSVP for both In-Person and Virtual Grief Support is appreciated but not required to attend. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Rhonda at 216-930-4866 or rabrams@clecem.org.
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"A Closer Walk with Thee" - (CCA Monthly Grief Support E-Newsletter) - This e-newsletter is emailed the first Tuesday of each month to any family/individual who has expressed an interest in our bereavement programs. To subscribe to this valued grief support resource, visit: https://www.clecem.org/Information/Bereavement.aspx and click the tan signup box on the right side, contact Rhonda rabrams@clecem.org or at 216-930-4866. You can also click this link and go directly to the signup: https://bit.ly/ccabereavementbulletin.
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Protecting God's Children - The Diocese of Cleveland's "Protecting God's Children" program is a continuing effort to instruct and inform everyone about the protection of children from sexual abuse. To report any past of present suspected inappropriate behavior toward children by priests, deacons, religious, lay ecclesial ministers or personnel associated with the Church, please contact the Diocesan response Service Office at 216-334-299 or via email at responseservices@dioceseofcleveland.org. You are also asked to immediately inform local authorities about inappropriate behavior.
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Practicing Spiritual Communion - When the faithful are unable physically to attend Mass, they should be recommended to practice "spiritual communion", an act to which the saints have given a consistent witness. Spiritual communion is a traditional practice of expressing to the Lord our longing for him and our desire for Him to enter our hearts. St. Theresa of Avila (1515-82) said: "When you do not receive Communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you". While there is no formula prescribed by the Church to make an act of spiritual communion, prayers composed by various saints are part of the Church's rich treasury of devotions. One of the more popular acts of spiritual communion comes from St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787):
"My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things
and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at
least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself
wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen"
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The Sunday Television Mass can be seen at 10:00 am on WUAB Channel 43 - This provides viewers with an opportunity to take part in the weekly celebration of the Mass at a much more convenient time. In addition, WUAB 43 is an over-the-air station that is accessible even to those without cable TV. Those with cable TV need only to check their local cable system listing to determine where WUAB is located on their channel line-up. The weekly TV Mass is produced by the Diocese of Cleveland, it originates from the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland. The televised Mass has been a staple of religious programming on Northeast Ohio airways for decades, cultivating a dedicated and faithful following. It is hoped that viewers will continue to tune in on this new station at this new, more convenient time. The TV Mass can also be accessed on demand starting Saturday evening and running throughout Sunday on the Diocese of Cleveland website, www.dioceseofcleveland.org. In addition, the Mass can be heard on the radio, on AM 1260 The Rock at 4:00 pm on Saturdays and 10:30 am on Sundays. Also, radio station WINT-1330 AM airs the Mass each Sunday at 9:00 am and Cox Communications cable subscribers can view the Mass on Sunday at 11:30 am on channel 45 and cable station 18 EWTN has its own Sunday and weekday (8:00 am, Noon and 7:00 pm) schedule of Masses. In addition to the Holy Mass, AM 1260 The Rock offers numerous opportunities for prayer throughout the day. The Holy Rosary at 5:30 am and 9:30 pm and the Divine Mercy Chaplet: 5:00 am Monday thru Friday; 3:00 pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please visit am1260therock.com for their full schedule.
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The Mass is the Greatest of Prayers - Some reasons for Mass intentions are an expression of our faith, belief in life after death, belief in the power of prayer to help the deceased during their time of purification (souls in purgatory), for a particular person or persons who have died, for an anniversary of death, wedding anniversary, for health, alcohol-drug addiction, financial help, peace in the world, for our government, a happy death, respect for life, Devotion to Mary or other special intentions.
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MAGNIFICAT
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has
looked with favor on His lowly servant.
From this day, all generations will call me
Blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for me,
And Holy is His Name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him in
Every generation.
He has shown the strength of His arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
And has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel
For He remembered His promise of mercy,
The promise He made to our fathers,
To Abraham and his children forever
Immaculate Heart of Mary
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary shine before the eyes of all Christians as the model of perfect love toward God and toward our fellow beings; may it lead them toward the Holy Sacraments by virtue of which souls are cleansed from the stains of sin and are preserved from it. May it also stimulate them to make reparation for the innumerable offenses against the Divine Majesty. Lastly, may it shine like a banner of unity and a spur to perfect the bonds of brotherhood among all Christians in the bosom of the one Church of Jesus Christ, which "taught by the Holy Spirit, honors her with filial affection and piety as a most beloved mother".
