Bulletin for Feb 26, 2006

EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – FEBRUARY 26, 2006 Hosea 2:16, 17, 21-22 I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 You are a letter of Christ…a letter written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God. Mark 2:18-22 How can the guests at a wedding fast as long as the groom is still among them?

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT – MARCH 5, 2006 Genesis 9:8-15 God’s covenant with Noah. 1 Peter 3:18-22 Christ died for sins so that he might lead you to God. Mark 1:12-15 Jesus stayed in the wasteland for forty days, put to the test there by Satan.

Service Schedule	Server Schedule
Monday – Friday 8:00am Morning Prayer 8:15am Mass (Rosary, Exposition, and Benediction, except on school mass days) Saturday 4:00pm Reconciliation	Saturday, March 4    5:00pm     Dabby Stevens, Kyle Johnson, Abby Plummer Sunday, March 5    9:00am   Ryan Adams, Nathan Kenny, Kenneth White Sunday, March 5  11:00am   Kyle Abel, Michael Byrd, Katy Dahm Sunday, March 5    6:00pm   Zach Cross, Tyler Bundy, Maria Sparaco

HOSPITAL CALLS AND VISITATION:
Please notify the Rectory if a family member is in the hospital or at home with a severe or prolonged illness. In accord with current privacy policies, hospitals do not inform us of parishioners entering the hospital; they call only at the patient’s request.

Alfred Koepfer, John Schoenharl, Eve Richardson, Irene Marcheski, Fr. Joseph Goetz

Entering the hospital? It is good to receive the sacrament of anointing before you go. You may schedule this at any Weekday Mass at 8:15 a.m., or call the Rectory at 252-9919.

REST IN PEACE

Our condolences to the family of Mary Kier, who died this past week.  May light perpetual shine upon her and bring consolation to her family. 

Parish Activities

Monday, February 27 - Weekday Gospel Reading:  Mark 10:17-27 8:00 a.m. -- Morning Prayer -- Chapel 8:15 a.m. – Mass –– Marie Korte, dec. -- Chapel    7:00 p.m. – Familia -- AER  7:00 p.m. – Alumni – NMR 7:00 p.m. – St. Vincent - ML

Tuesday, February 28 – Weekday SHROVE TUESDAY Gospel Reading: Mark 10:28-31   8:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer -- Chapel           8:15 a.m. – Mass—Carol Zimmer– Chapel 12:00 p.m. – Sewing Group   3:00 p.m. -- ICS Children’s Choir -- ICS Choir Rm    7:00 p.m. – Shrove Tuesday Prayer Service – Church

Wednesday, March 1 – Ash Wednesday Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18   8:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer – Chapel   8:15 a.m. – All School Mass—Church   9:30 a.m. – Server’s Training – Church 10:00 a.m. – Free Spirits Bd Mtg – AER   6:00 p.m. – K of C Money Mtg - AER   7:00 p.m. – Ash Wednesday Mass – Ernesto D’Amico and Fiorina Manzo, dec.- Church

Thursday, March 2 – Lenten Weekday   Gospel Reading: Luke 9:22-25   8:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer -- Chapel   8:15 a.m. – Mass – Don Nock—Chapel   3:00 p.m. -- ICS Children’s Choir -- ICS Choir Rm    6:00 p.m. – Cub Scouts – Sct Rm   7:00 p.m. – Folk Choir   7:00 p.m. – Partnering Mtg - MSH

Friday, March 3 – Lenten Weekday Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:14-15   8:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer -- Chapel   8:15 a.m. –Mass –--Mary Ann Westendorf, dec.—Chapel 10:30 a.m. – Rite of Election Rehearsal - Church   5:30 p.m. – BINGO

Saturday, March 4- Lenten Weekday   8:15 a.m. – First Saturday Mass & Devotions 12:00 p.m. – Confirmation Retreat – MSH until 5:00pm   1:00 p.m. – Braaksma Memorial Mass   3:00 p.m. – Folk Choir – Church   4:00 p.m. – Reconciliation   5:00 p.m. – Mass – Bill Kreitzer, dec; Willem Braaksma, dec.

Sunday, March 5 – First Sunday of Lent   9:00 a.m. – Mass –Delores Lins, dec; Marguerite DeBrosse, dec; the Hensley and Sanders Family.   9:15 a.m. -- PREP 10:15 a.m. -- RCIA -- ML 11:00 a.m. – Mass – John Pohl, Sr, dec; Mary Gessler, dec.   3:30 p.m. – Rite of Election - Church 6:00 p.m. – Rock With Jesus Mass – All parishioners   7:30 p.m. – Rite of Election – Church

Parish News

A YEAR OF PRAYER

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AND PRAYER
The parish theme for the new liturgical year is “Prayer". On the first Tuesday of each month, the Church will be open for prayer and adoration from 10:00am – 7:00pm. (Adoration is not exposition or benediction; it is simply adoratory prayer before the Blessed Sacrament contained in the tabernacle, and it is powerful.) Come pray for the parish and for all parishioners; pray for peace; pray for an increase in priestly and religious vocations. We are asking a commitment of one hour per month.

FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONS AT I.C. Join us each first Saturday at 8:15am for Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, seasonal litany, and Benediction each First Saturday of every month beginning at 8:15 a.m. in Church. Mass, Exposition, Rosary, Seasonal Litany, and Benediction are currently celebrated Mondays through Fridays beginning at 8:15 a.m. in the Chapel, any time there is not a school mass.

VOCATION VIEWS
God will lead you and speak to you.  Be willing to be led.  Listen to God speaking in your heart.  (Hosea 2:16-17, 21-22) 

CHILD PROTECTION CLASS
If you are an employee or volunteer with children at your parish you must attend a Child Protection Class and must be fingerprinted.  The next class will be at Ascension Parish on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 10:15am in the School.  Please call the Ascension Office at 253-5171, or Charlotte Flohre at 252-9919 to register.  Fingerprinting can be done at St. Albert the Great (298-2402) or St. Peter’s (233-1503); call for dates and times this service is available. 

INVITATION TO SERVE
You are invited to serve Christ’s poor in Immaculate Conception Parish.  The Society of St. Vincent DePaul is inviting caring people to assist those in our parish needing food, clothes, rent assistance, utility assistance and other emergency needs.  Christ said, “What you do for the least of my brothers you do unto me.”  Is it time for you to really live your religious convictions and give something back for all you have received?  Come join us on Monday, Feb. 27 at 7:00pm in MSH to learn more 

THROUGH THE TUMMY TO THE HEART
Frances Franchina will lead the third in the “Through the Tummy to the Heart” series on Wednesday, Mar. 8 in MSH at 6:30pm.  The Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus Christ: Waiting for Jesus Then and Now will focus on the representation of The Annunciation Altar Piece by Flemish artist Robert Campion.  For more information, and to register, call Frances at 901-4475. 

BAPTISM PREP CLASS
The next baptism preparation session for parents seeking baptism of young children (ages 0-6) is Monday, Mar. 6 at 7:00pm in the Rectory Meeting Room. Grandparents and godparents are welcome to attend. The next class will be held in May, so if you plan to schedule a baptism before then, you must attend the March class. Call Charlotte Flohre at 252-9919 to register or for more information.

ICYAF
The Immaculate Conception Young Adult Forum has a new coordinator: Amy Obringer has taken charge of this group of parishioners ages 21-40, and has plenty of new plans in the works. Call Amy at 231-8620 for more information and to get involved.

THINK SPRING! 
The Garden Group is in need of some green thumbs! Volunteers meet on Wednesday evenings to care for the parish landscaping: planting, watering, and weeding the flowerbeds. If you can help or have any questions, call the Rectory at 252-9919.

GOLDEN WEDDING JUBILEE
The 2006 Golden Wedding Anniversary Masses this year will include couples celebrating their 50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th wedding anniversary. Masses will be at 2:00pm in two different locations. For those couples residing in Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby Counties, the Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 29 at St. Christopher Church in Vandalia. Please notify Katherine Wagner at 252-9919 if you would like to attend.

OUTREACH
When was the last time you wondered where your next meal was coming from? Our food pantry at IC hears from people almost daily who are in need of food. St. Vincent DePaul handles these requests through the leadership of Gerry McLaughlin and her committee, but sometimes our supplies run low and we don’t like to turn the needy away. To help keep our shelves full year round -- and not just at holidays! -- we have placed a barrel in the main vestibule labeled “WE CARE – WE SHARE”. Please remember the hungry when you do your own grocery shopping, and place non-perishable food items in the barrel when you come to Mass. NO ONE should go hungry in our community – let’s make sure they don’t.

Stewardship

A Gift of Treasure Parish Weekly Need: $10,096.00 Tithe for Feb 18 and 19 $   7,088.25 Envelope Contributions $      396.00 Loose Contributions           7,484.25

Attendance 5:00 199 9:00 122 11: 00 199 6:00 352 Total 852

CONTINUED RESTORATION FUND UPDATE Great News! Private donors have offered us a challenging opportunity: for every dollar donated by the parish, they will match it dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. This will make a big difference in funding our next project, which is replacing the church sound system. Total to Date $ 4,737.00 January $ 3,135.00 Total $ 7,872.00 EDUCATION FUND UPDATE The Education Fund currently has a matching grant program. For every two dollars donated to the Education Fund a generous donor will match it with one dollar. Thank you for your support and generosity to the Education Fund. The monies currently being collected will allow IC to continue to have tuition aid available for our qualifying families in the future. Total to Date $ 10,723.00 January $ 1,805.00 Total: $ 12,528.00 The Restoration and Education Funds are “restricted”: they do not reflect nor impact the regular operating budget which depends on your weekly tithe contributions to the Church.

ALTAR FLOWERS
If you would like to commemorate a special event or person with altar flowers, please contact Katherine at the Rectory at 252-9919.

PARTNERING NEWS: Ascension, IC, and St. Helen’s

The Parish Councils of the three churches will meet for a social gathering on Monday, Feb. 27 at the Presidential Banquet Center.  This will be a chance for those involved in the parish councils to get better acquainted with their counterparts at the other churches, and to discuss some of the many creative ideas for the future. 

School News

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
ICS will begin accepting registrations for the 2006-07 school year on Mar. 6, from 8:00am – 3:00pm. Please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate, social security card, and baptismal record if the child was not baptized at IC. The registration fee is $100; for more information call the School Office at 253-8831.

PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM        The Center for Catholic Education has recently launched a new program to promote Catholic Education in the Miami Valley.  For the first time ever, it has awarded several grants to local Catholic schools as part of its Catholic Schools Partnership Program (CSPP).  This initiative pairs faculty from the University of Dayton with faculty in local Catholic elementary or high schools to enhance an area of the school’s choosing.       ICS is the recipient of a grant awarded for 2006.  The science faculty of ICS, Mary Cordonnier and Mollie Mallin, will be working with two science education specialists from UD to further enhance our science program. Ms. Mallin, along with Mary Ellen Dillon and education majors from UD, will offer an exciting new after school mini-course entitled “Exploration in Ecology.”  Interested 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will meet once a week for four weeks in the spring for ‘hands-on’ investigations.  As part of the inter-parish partnering, upper level students from St. Helen’s will also be invited to register for this mini-course, which will be taught in the ICS Science Lab.

BINGO NEEDS YOU!
Volunteers are needed to sell Instants at BINGO on Friday nights. This program benefits the school’s budget and helps with school expenses. Crew members volunteer one Friday evening per month. Call the ICS Office at 253-8831 to volunteer. Your volunteer time is vital to BINGO! Remember: BINGO is now smoke-free!

PARISH REGISTRATION/CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Visitors and Friends: Welcome to Immaculate Conception Church! The only sure way to become a registered member of the parish family is to fill out a registration form (below) or a pew card; drop either in the collection basket, or return it to the rectory office. There is no automatic registration if you attend mass regularly, or even if your children attend Immaculate Conception School or Immaculate Conception Religious Education Classes. If you have any questions please call the Rectory at 252-9919.

Out of Parish

FISH FRY
For the best fish in town, come to the annual Incarnation Fish Fry on Friday, Mar. 3!  It’s an evening of fish, games of chance, and an expanded silent auction.  Tickets are $11 in advance and $13 at the door; carryout is from 5:00pm – 6:45pm, and eat in from 7:00pm – midnight.  Call 433-1051, ext. 334 for more information.

CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE
Join other Catholic Men at the Catholic Men’s Conference: “Growth through Christ-centered relationships”, at Cincinnati Music Hall on Mar. 4, 2006. Come and see for yourself! You will enjoy a day at the luxurious Music Hall beginning at 8:45am. Lunch is included, and the day will end at 4:00pm. For more information and to register, see the website at http://www.thecall.org/.

DAYTON CATHOLIC WOMEN’S CLUB
The Dayton Catholic Women’s Club is holding its annual St. Patrick’s Day Party and Luncheon on Saturday, Mar. 11 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Presidential Banquet Center. Bring your group and your own cards; for more information call Betty Chadwell at 256-9516.

THE OTHER PLACE…
…is in need of phone receptionists to assist with the high volume of calls it receives.  The shelter needs volunteers Monday-Friday, from 8:00am – 12:00pm and 1:00pm – 4:30pm; we will provide extensive training and an office.  For more information call Ellen Pogemiller at 461-6078, or visit the website at www.theotherplace.org.