February 25, 2018 Second Sunday of Lent Dear Friends in Christ, Whatever it is we are doing this Lent, we want to be changed; a spiritual change, a change obviously for the better. Our gospel today is the gospel we hear also on the Feast of the Transfiguration. A popular hymn that is sung called Transfigure us, O Lord, speaks what we pray for ourselves, that we too may be changed, that like our Lord we can indeed be transfigured. The refrain of this song has us who sing it call out for this change that we so desperately seek; “Transfigure us, O Lord, transfigure us, O Lord. Break the chains that bind us; speak your healing word, and where you lead we'll follow. Transfigure us, O Lord.” This song comes to life this Lent, as Christ takes us into the desert. We, through our self-sacrifice and denial follow Him and seek a release from all that tempts and drives us to the darkness of sin. Some parishioners have asked over the past week about this year’s Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal. Our parish is not conducting the appeal this year. As I have

mentioned briefly in past bulletins, we will be taking part in a major appeal called Renew and Rebuild. Our parish is in the very beginning stage of this appeal. Since November I have been meeting every other week with our Parish Representative from the archdiocese. I have been speaking to a few parishioners privately about this and have put together a committee that will assist me once our parish goes ahead with the appeal. According to the schedule from the archdiocese, I will formally be presenting this appeal to you in early April. A reminder that Saint Gregory Barbarigo has temporally moved their 9:00 AM mass to Immaculate, the remaining dates are February 26-27-28-March 1-5-6-7-8-9.

Our Lenten journey has begun. We unite ourselves with Christ in the desert. We understand that what He is doing, He does out of love for us, so that we might be saved and pass from death to eternal life.

May we journey as Christ Himself this Lent in preparation for the Glory of Easter.

- Rev. Herbert T. DeGaris

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS Calendar Raffle: Tickets will be sold after some of the masses and they are still available at the Rectory or at the PREP office. This is the only mandatory fundraiser that our program has. It is imperative that you get your money and raffles back to the PREP office ASAP. Let’s get our bin filled with PREP winners!

CLASSES RESUME ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH

Mark your calendar: Our next Family Mass will be on March 4 at the 9:30 mass, hosted by our 4th year students. A hot breakfast will follow in the gym. Donations always greatly appreciated for the hospitality breakfast. Confirmation: As of today, Confirmation application, Sponsor Certificate, Saint Report should have been handed in. Service hours are due on March 6, followed by the Letter to Bishop Lagonegro on March 27. Please make sure that you are up to date on your paperwork, Candidates.

Communion Families: Please mark your calendar that there will be a meeting for the families of the First Communion Class on March 20 at 5:45 p.m. in the gym. You will be given your banner to make with your child at that time.

Men's Club Bus Trip to Atlantic City Saturday, April 7th

The Men's Club is running a bus trip to Bally's Casino in Atlantic City on Saturday, April 7th. The bus leaves from the front of the Church at 8:00 AM and returns at 8:00 PM. Cost is $35 per person and includes $15 in slot play , snacks and refreshments on the bus and lots of laughs. Please call Peter Morris at 786-3770 or Tom Robinson at 786-3005 for reservations.

FOOD PANTRY For the month of February we will be collecting cereal and peanut butter. Please leave any contributions in the bin in the narthex of the Church. Our food pantry would not be successful without the help and support of our Parish and community. We are so thankful for you!

Church of the Immaculate Conception Page 2

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE "Fast and Abstinence" Good Friday (March 30th) is a day of Fast and Abstinence. Friday’s are Lenten days of abstinence. Good Friday: Is a day of Fast and Abstinence from meat. There is a limit of one full meal on these days for all between the ages of 18 and 59 inclusive. Days of Abstinence (All Fridays in Lent) All who have reached their 14th year are bound to abstain totally from meat during Lent on Fridays.

INVITED & ENCOURAGED: Singers & Musicians

Greetings & Blessings! This is Ed Luisi, the music director for the Saturday 5:30pm Mass.

Our music group, JAMMIN' WITH JESUS

2, which consists of me & 4 high school students, is looking for more singers/musicians to join us. Our gang will be leaving to college next year, so

WE NEED YOU!!!

All High School, College AND 8th Graders are Invited to join our group. Please email me at:

JamminWithGsus@gmail.com or stop by our Mass on Saturday to chat.

BAPTISM CLASS The dates for the next Baptism Class is: February 26th and March 26th. The Baptism dates are ordinarily the first and third Sunday of the Month.

BAPTISM The dates for our next Baptism’s are: March 4th and March 18th. We would ask you to please contact the rectory at (786-2742) before the date to make an appointment. We ask you to please attend the class a month prior to your child's Baptism in order to facilitate record keeping; and also to have, by the time the class is given, your child’s Birth Certificate and Sponsor Certificates from the Parishes where the Sponsors themselves worship at the present time. We thank you for your help and cooperation and pray for the newborn children who will be Baptized in our Parish in these coming months.

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

All those who are ill at home, in the hospital and in nursing homes, especially: Ed Hanus, William & Amy Crane, Geraldine Neary, Judy Stroup, Billy Keenan, Michael Orapello and Jaxon Waller. Our recently deceased:. Betty Jean Clark. We will announce at the Mass on Sunday for a period of one month the intentions of those who are sick and then we will print them for one month. After that we ask that you will please contact us to make sure that they are placed on the list again for another cycle. It is the only way we know if someone has recovered. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

MASSES FOR THE WEEK SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH 8:30 Kathleen Javenes (req. by Pat & Jack Ryan) 5:30 Vigil Steve & Anna Seman (req. by Daughter) SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH 7:30 For the People of the Parish 9:30 Rose Hagen (req. by family) 11:30 Nora & John Saunders (req. by Brian Martin & Pat Ryan) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH 7:30 Ann Hanus (req. by Tara Briganti & Family) 9:00 (SGB) Mary Louise Walsh TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH 7:30 Donna Neary (req. by Ed & Ellen Goggin)) 9:00 (SGB) The People of Saint Gregory Barbarigo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH 7:30 Frank Farina (req. by Joe & Norma Rodriguez) 9:00 (SGB) Rev. Robert J. Duane & The People of Saint Gregory THURSDAY, MARCH 1ST 7:30 Ann Hanus (req. by The Crapanzano Family) 9:00 (SGB) John J. O’Connor FRIDAY, MARCH 2ND 7:30 James Crosbie (req. by Jane Hylas) 9:00 (SGB) Thomas Downes III 7:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross SATURDAY, MARCH 3RD 8:30 Karen Carpenter (req. by Friend) 5:30 Vigil Dec’d Members of the Rotella Family (req. by family) SUNDAY, MARCH 4TH 7:30 For the People of the Parish 9:30 Josef Hagen (req. by family) 11:30 James Faherty (req. by family)

I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. Page 3

MIDNIGHT RUN Our next run is scheduled as a breakfast run on the morning of February 25, Sunday. More information will be coming in the bulletin in future weeks. Please do not make any further donations of clothes or coats until further notice. Everyone’s generosity has brought our storage room to overflowing. For more information about the run or to volunteer in anyway, please contact Deacon John or Jessica Sadowski 786 5759.

CALENDAR RAFFLE WINNERS Date Prize #Ticket Winner 2/15 $25 999 Gerard Leonard 2/16 $25 1838 Alex Saladini 2/17 $25 397 Dylan Torpey 2/18 $25 779 Josephine Rao 2/19 $25 1989 Rich Schindele 2/20 $25 1534 Linda Basley 2/21 $25 1790 Mark Risco

LENTEN EVENING OF PRAYER

Lectors are reminded of our evening on Thursday March 1 at 7 PM in the Sacred Heart Chapel. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and any other member of any liturgical ministry are welcome to join us. This would include anyone interested in joining the ministry of Lector. After our evening prayer service, we will reflect on the season of Lent, its importance in our lives and to our community. We will also review the Holy Week schedule.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday during Lent at 7:30 PM in the Stony Point Church. These are a wonderful devotion and a great way to walk with Jesus along his Way of the Cross.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED

SUPPORT

LIVING STATIONS As we begin our journey through lent to prepare for Easter, the Living Stations of the Cross through Mary's Eyes will once again be reenacted for our parishioners on Good Friday evening. Please consider joining us for this very spiritual and emotional walk with Jesus as he takes his last steps to his cross. We are asking those who have participated in previous years to come back and join us. Also those of all ages, young children, young adults and older adults both boys, girls, men and women. There are only a few rehearsals, no acting experience necessary and we will provide costumes for the evening. If you are interested, please call or email the following persons: These are the dates that we would like to practice for the living Stations.

Carol Senatore 845-942-0128

sencgirl@verizon.net

MaryGail Loucas 845-942-0109 mgloucas@aol.com

NEWS OF INTEREST

Albertus Magnus Casino Night – Saturday, April 14th, 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. at Albertus $100 per person includes open bar, dinner, DJ and $100 in casino money per person. No payments at the door. Register by April 9th at www.albertusmagnus.net or call (845) 623-8842, extension 229

Adoption – Baby Girls in China need homes.

Infants and toddlers available. Older parent welcome. For more information call Barbara Salvesen at 623-5277.

St. Gregory Barbarigo Regional School - has an immediate need for a Spanish teacher for two days each week. We are also in need of substitute teachers for all grades. Applicants may call 947-1330.

SACRIFICIAL GIVING Feb.18, 2018 Collection was: $5,941.00 Feb.20, 2017 Collection was: $7,908.50