Join Us For Mass

Friday (12/20) at 7:30am
Saturdays (vigil) at 4:30pm
Sundays at 8:30am and 10:30am
Monday (12/23) at 7:30am
Tuesday (12/24 Christmas Eve) at 4:00pm and 10:00pm with musical prelude 30 minutes before.
Wednesday (12/25 Christmas Day) at 10:30am
Thursday (12/26) at 7:30am
Friday (12/27) No daily Mass
Monday (12/30) at 12:10pm
Tuesday (12/31) at 7:30am
Wednesday (1/1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) at 10:30am
Thursday (1/2) at 12:10am
Friday (1/3) at 7:30am
Once a month: First Saturdays at 9:00am

Fourth Sunday of Advent (12/22)

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

~Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

The Source and Summit

The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: “Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1327)

Join Us For Prayer

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Pope's Intentions for December

For pilgrims of hope

We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthens our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

How Do You Spend One Hour In The Presence of Jesus?

The Eucharistic Revival Team has asked me to share how I pray in the presence of Jesus during Adoration. Well, this is how I have prayed many times: I begin with deep gratitude for the gracious presence of the Lord who shows up for me in all His glory and for the world. He longs to be with me more than I long for him. After prayer of gratitude, which is often spontaneous, I pause for an extended silence, knowing He is there with me. Silence is not easy but necessary. This is followed by examination of conscience, repentance and resolution to be faithful. Before concluding my hour, I make prayer of petitions: for the sick, poor, the homeless, the elderly who are lonely, for our parish and for all parishioners, for the Church and for the mission of Christ in the world. My conclusion always contains words of more gratitude and renewed commitment to love the Lord deeply and to serve Him and His people with greater love.

Monthly Prayer Requests for Priests

Visit the calendar webpage.

Formal Prayer Opportunities

Daily Rosary after Mass during the week.
Music meditation Sundays at 3:30 PM followed by vespers at 4:00 PM
Rosary in Spanish Mondays at 5PM Animar. Ven a estar junto a Jesus y Maria orando y meditando los misterios del Santo Rosario en espanol los lunes a las 5:00 p.m. en la Iglesia. Todos son bienvenidos. La puerta lateral del estacionamiento estara abierta. Greetings. Come to be together with Jesus and Mary praying and meditating on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary in Spanish on Mondays at 5:00pm in the Church. All are welcome.
Night Song: 2nd Thursday of each month beginning at 8:00pm. This is always a wonderful way to end the day and relax and reflect.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions: Saturdays 2:00pm-3:30pm, Holy Rosary 2:30pm

First Saturday Marian Devotion: 9:00am Mass

First Friday Devotions: 7:00am Lauds (Morning Prayer), 7:30am Mass, 8:00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 8:00am-3:00pm Adoration, 3:00pm Benediction

Join Us For An Event

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Coffee Hour - On Sunday, Dec 1st Hosted By Parish Council

The Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 1st is being hosted by the Parish Council. Come and enjoy some edible treats and meet with friends and Pastoral Council members after both Masses on Sunday.

Future Coffee Hours will be held on 12/1,2/2, 3/2, 5/4 and 6/1.

Coffee Hours will be held on 12/1, 2/2, 3/2, 5/4 and 6/1.

Eucharistic Revival Committee Speaker 12/5

On Thursday, December 5th, in the parish hall after the 12:10 Mass and Rosary, there will be a showing of another keynote talk from the National Eucharistic Congress (speaker TBD). All are encouraged to attend.

Endow Study Wednesdays at 7:00pm

ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) Study of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church

Starting on September 18^th

Wednesdays at 7pm in the Parish Hall

Setting the World Ablaze
Endow Study of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church.
Starting on September 18th, Wednesdays at 7pm in the Parish Hall

Beyond our Parish

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Knights of Columbus Council 277 "Keep Christ in Christmas" Events

Knights of Columbus Council 277 is sponsoring a “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest from November 17th – December 15th. Create a poster with the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas” on paper or poster board with art media selected by the artist. There will be two age groups: 8 & under and 9 -16. Knights of Columbus will judge the entries and prizes will be awarded for the best poster. Detailed Competition requirements are available. Winners will be announced on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Knights of Columbus Council 277 is sponsoring a “Keep Christ in Christmas” AI Digital Image Contest from November 17th -December 15th. Create a digital image using artificial intelligence with the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas” on 8-1/2 inch by 11-inch paper using Bing.com. There will be two age groups: 8 & under and 9 -99. Knights of Columbus will judge the entries and prizes will be awarded for the best entry. Detailed competition requirements are available. Winners will be announced on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Plans are also underway to produce a “Keep Christ in Christmas” dramatic video titled “Journey to the Inn: Christmas Meditations”. Needed are voice actors age 12 & over for approx. 1-2 hrs. for dramatic readings. Contact Dan Weed 607-256-6077 for details.

Additional Knights of Columbus Activities

Please reflect on how you wish to become closer to Christ this Christmas season and write your wish on a paper ornament and hang it on the Christmas Wish Tree on the right side of the sanctuary as you are leaving church. The tree will remain lit through the Christmas season.
The Knights are supporting our Diocesan seminarians and asking for parishioner prayers and gifts from 12/6 – 12/22. Please stop at the table in the Narthex and take a prayer card and contribute to their support. We are encouraged that 8 seminarians are now in training. Additionally, if you know someone that is considering a vocation, either as a priest, deacon, or nun, please take one of the Knights booklets as a gift to encourage their discernment.
The Knight Council and Assembly will hold a dinner social event for Knights and spouses in the Parish Hall on 12/12 at 7pm. Please contact Tristan Thornton at 616-389-7253 by 12/10 to let us know if you will attend.
As part of our “Keep Christ in Christmas” program this year, the Knights of Columbus have created a special video presentation to celebrate the Advent and Christmas season. The video presentation is called “Journey to the Inn: Christmas Meditations”, and it beautifully portrays the story of the First Nativity. Please go to Youtube.com and search for “Knights of Columbus Council 277 Keep Christ in Christmas” and the video should come right up. The video, with voice and music overlays, lasts about 24 minutes, and we hope this production helps in your Advent and Christmas celebrations.

Catholic Courier

Are you a local business owner who’d like to gain more customers while supporting our diocese? Catholic Courier ad revenue stays within our diocese, and its ads reach 175,000+ print readers and 40,000+ unique monthly website visitors. If you’d like to learn more, please contact parishioner April Krueger at 607-216-5853 or amdg24@outlook.com.

Visit our Mary Shrine & Prayer Garden

Virgin Mary statue surrounded by brick and stone with Ave Maria Gratia Plena marker among a garden. — Ave Maria Gratia Plena

curved garden path with plant labels and Blessed Mother Shrine — Curved garden path leading to the Mary Shrine.

grass with curved gardens — A hint of what is to come as we enter the Prayer Garden.

Small Catholic Communities

- Seven Sisters Apostalate

Committed to Praying for Priests

Ministry Profile:

Coordinator: Jan Nye

The Mission: The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a call to strengthen the church by ensuring that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop—a “holy wasting” (cf. Matthew 25:10) or lavishing of prayer for his deeper conformity to Christ. Each participant commits to one hour of prayer, one day a week for the pastor of their church. At Immaculate, we use the hour to pray for Father Chumo and his intentions, as he shepherds our church and parishioners.

Although the ministry is called “Seven Sisters”, it is not restricted to women. Men may also participate. We ask each participant to commit to a specific day of the week, but the time is decided by the participant. Ideally, the prayer happens in the parish church in front of the Tabernacle, but the holy hour can be prayed in any quiet location if it’s not possible to get to the church. The Apostolate has suggestions for prayers, but there are no rules or specific prayers that must be said. The participant decides how and what s/he wants to pray. The only requirement is that the hour of prayer is dedicated to the parish priest. We currently have commitments for all seven days of the week, but if you’re interested in participating in the ministry as a substitute, or possibly in the future, please contact Jan Nye at janmnye@aol.com (linked below).

A Prayer for Priests, (USCCB):

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation, set their souls on fire with love for your people. Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom. Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen.

- Exodus90

A Catholic men’s program.

Ministry Profile:

Coordinator: Rick Burgess

The Exodus90 program for Catholic men is designed to help you break out of the spiritual doldrums and to grow closer to the Lord. The program starts 90 days before Easter, and combines prayer, asceticism and fraternity. All these elements taken together lead to freedom: the freedom to say NO to those things that enslave us and to say YES to GOD, your family and your community. Though we began the 90 day exercise in January, it is not too late to join us during Lent! We have one group based solely in Ithaca that meets in person and one that includes men from both Ithaca and around the region that meets via zoom. Both groups meet on Saturday mornings. The zoom group continues meeting year-around as a men’s prayer group when we are not doing the Exodus 90 exercise. To learn more, contact Rick Burgess at cbprincipal@gmail.com (linked below).

- Divine Mercy Cenacle

Following the path of Divine Mercy as taught by St. Faustina.

Ministry Profile:

Coordinator: Bridgid Cooper

Do you want to deepen your faith through study of scripture and Catechism of the Catholic Church, progress on your journey to sainthood by following the path of Divine Mercy as taught by St. Faustina? Do you want to join a small group of fellow parishioners to pursue these goals, as well as to share song, prayer, personal insights from the readings and works of mercy? If so, Immaculate Conceptions Divine Mercy Cenacle is for you. The Cenacle meets every other Tuesday evening at 6pm in the Parish Center. Contact bridgidcooper@yahoo.com (linked below) for more info and how to get started.

- Endow

Ministry Profile:

Coordinator: Trish Burgess

Endow (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) is a Catholic apostolate originating in the Archdiocese of Denver. Endow calls women together to study the important documents of the church as well as the lives of the female Doctors of the Church. Through Endow groups, women encounter their identity as daughters of God, enabling them to grow in their faith and ultimately discover their mission in life. As a group we strive to cultivate deep friendships through our readings and discussion. Each Endow Study is an 8-12 week commitment. The Method is simple: gather together, read the chapter aloud and discuss the questions at the end of each section. There is no preparation and no homework required. Please see Endow Groups for more information and for study guide topics. Most recently we studied the lives and teaching of St.Therese of Liseaux and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Child Jesus (Edith Stein). Our local Endow group is in its third year, and we are a mix of women – some of us new to the faith, new to Immaculate Conception and others who have grown up in this parish. If you are looking for a place to grow in faith and relationship with Christ and others, please contact Trish at trickb3@yahoo.com (linked below) and join us on Wednesday evenings.

“It’s not just a study group–I feel my spiritual life has grown/deepened from hearing others’ experiences and being able to share some of my own. And I’ve made new friends through the group.”

-long-time parishioner of Immaculate Conception and
Endow group member

- Prayer Shawl Ministry

Sharing love and warmth through knitted and crocheted prayer shawls.

Ministry Profile:

Coordinators: Chris Wells and Mary Edsall-Golway

We are looking for people who would be willing to knit or crochet prayer shawls for distribution, with prayers, to people who would benefit from the love and warmth knitted or crocheted into these shawls. You could make these on your own, or in a group, using patterns provided or your own. IF YOU DON’T KNIT OR CROCHET – Perhaps you would be willing to donate toward the yarn, needles, etc. for use by a knitter or crotchetier? Contact Chris Wells or Mary Edsall-Golway

Thank you volunteers!

- St. Joseph Prayer Group

contact Liz Burns

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Catholicism

Seven Habits of a Practicing Catholic

1. Morning Offering

As soon as you arise from sleep, offer everything you do in your day to God. Here is one example of a Morning Offering prayer that places us in union with Jesus and Mary and covers a complete list of needs and intentions. See if this Morning Offering works for you, or share your version of this prayer with others:

O My God, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, sacrifices and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for :

1) the Intentions in which You plead and offer Yourself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,

2) in thanksgiving for Your favors,

3) in reparation for our offenses,
4) in humble supplication for our temporal and eternal welfare,

5) for the needs of Holy Mother the Church,

6) for the conversion of sinners, and

7) for the relief of the poor souls in Purgatory.

I wish to gain all the indulgences I can from the good works I perform today. Amen.

2. The Angelus

Follow your Morning Offering with the recitation of The Angelus. The Angelus is typically prayed at rising, noontime and at the end of your day. At times God may seem light years away, but Jesus is truly present here with us, in the messes of each day. When pondered carefully The Angelus can bring you closer to the Mystery of the Incarnation, how our Lord “put some skin into the game” and how you can do the same for God! Thanks to His Incarnation and His suffering on our behalf, we may someday be brought to Eternal Life.

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit, Hail Mary….
Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your Word. Hail Mary…
And the Word was made Flesh. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary…
Pour forth we beseech Thee O Lord Thy Grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of the Angel, may we by His Passion of the Cross be brought to the Glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Biblical, Scriptural Reading, and/or uplifting Spiritual writings

For a Catholic, the choices are abundant, but when in doubt, it’s best to check that the sources you read are in conformity with Catholic teaching. Your Bible for instance will note on the first pages the phrase, Nebi/ Obstat, indicating that a Catholic theologian has examined the book and finds nothing objectionable. The word “Imprimatur” tells you a Catholic bishop has given his ’stamp of approval’. If you carefully listen to the Word of God at Mass, to the daily/weekly Lectionary (Readings, Psalms, the Gospels over a 3-year period), you will be well grounded in Scripture. However, there are still plenty of books in the Bible to explore not covered by the Lectionary. From Genesis to the Book of Revelations, the Bible is a “library’, a collection of books inspired by the Holy Spirit. But just as you wouldn’t try to read all the books of a physical library from one shelf to the next, it is best to ‘break open’ the particular book you have chosen by taking into account the context, history and other aspects. Following a Bible-in-a-Year program can be helpful. Journaling what your have read can also be very useful. If you wish to begin simply however, take up a chapter of the Proverbs each day in a month of 31 days. At the end of the month you will have completed the Book of Proverbs!

Aside from Sacred Scripture, or following the 3-Year Lectionary, there is an inexhaustible collection of Catholic writings, Encyclicals, Lives of the Saints stories, etc. that are inspirational and written at many levels of understanding. You also don’t have to limit your experience to only reading, since there are many great Catholic audio books/podcasts and Catholic movies to learn more about your Faith. With our parish subscription to FORMED.org you can choose various topics such as the Sacraments, Eucharistic Revival, Children and Youth programs, feature movies of Saints, Te Chosen and more. Finally, know that in a very real sense, “you are what you read” and remember the expression, “the eyes are the windows to the Soul”. Make every attempt to nourish yourself with a solid Catholic understanding of our Faith, not only to sustain yourself, but to provide enlightenment to everyone with whom you meet in your day.

4. Silent Prayer and Meditation on Scriptural Reading

There is an abundance of methods to choose in the Catholic tradition regarding Silent Prayer and Meditation. Within the Mass itself, you should search for quiet moments, particularly after the reception of the Eucharist where our silent prayer is most powerful since we are so close to Our Lord at this time. Stay a few moment in silence even after Mass has been dismissed, and speak directly to Jesus, Whom you have just received. If you attend a daily Mass you will quickly notice a deeper sense of quiet in the daily Liturgy, compared to weekend Masses. Spend as much time as you can in the Presence of the Lord in sight of the Tabernacle. For as much as he accomplished in a day, St. Teresa of Calcutta was known to spend an hour of Adoration after morning Mass before she would begin her busy schedule and many revered saints also maintained this same practice.

If it is not possible to attend daily Mass ot be in the Presence of Our Lord, set aside a time or place in your home, at your desk, in front of a Crucifix, with a Rosary or some other blessed Sacramental in hand to help calm your mind, body and spirit. Pause and read a line of Scripture that calls to you and listen to what Our Lord Jesus has to say through the Scripture, rather than start right away with your list of prayer needs. Say instead to Our Lord:”What would You want of me Jesus?”

5. Vocal, Communal Prayer

Here again, the list of possibilities abound for Catholics, starting with the Sacrifice of Mass. Throughout the Mass there are call back and response prayers, which encourage participation between the priest, lector, cantor, Eucharistic minister and the laity, whether it be during the Liturgy of the Word (eg. Psalm verses and responses) or the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Memorial Acclamation, the “Great Amen” for example). Most people might agree that the ultimate communal prayer is there citation of the Lord’s Prayer. What is your favorite communal prayers aid during the Mass? Apart from Mass, Catholics have many other vocal prayers such as the Rosary, the Divine Chaplet or other Chaplet prayers, Litanies, Novenas just to name a few.
Aside from these more structured forms of worship, don’t forget simple and spontaneous prayers lifted up to God, such as “God Bless you’, “Help me Jesus!” “Thanks be to God”. Keep such short and simple expressions and others in your ‘prayer toolbox’ throughout the day and use them frequently, whether spoken or in silence. can be practiced in solitude and/or in community. Challenge yourself this week to pray silently and vocally, at Mass, or outside.

6. Daily/Regular Reception of the Eucharist

Our discussion regarding Communion can be two-fold: 1) The reception of Communion, also known as The Eucharist, is crucial to a Catholic’s spiritual nourishment. It is a Sacrament that should be received on a regular basis throughout one’s life, daily, or as often as is possible, provided we are in a proper state of Grace to receive. We will talk about being in this proper state at the next opportunity. Simply and profoundly stated, The Eucharist IS the Real Presence of Our Lord.

When Catholics receive the Eucharist, the bread and wine offered up at Mass is transfigured into the Body and Blood of Jesus. We become what we receive, to quote a popular hymn, hence must receive Jesus in our most reverent manner. Daily reception of the Eucharist might not be always possible, but weekly reception at Vigil of Sunday (“the Sabbath” Masses) is a habit to maintain throughout one’s life. For the homebound, it might not be possible to receive on a such a regular basis. That is why the ministry of visiting the sick and to those confined at home is so crucial, offering the Eucharist to willing recipients.

2) In a second context, Frequent Communion refers to living together in harmony, “in communion” and is to be encouraged, both in terms of the family and in larger societal structures. In the second chapter of Genesis, God first created humankind in a state known as Original Solitude. Solitude is a gift to be appreciated. It is the ability to realize one’s own self-worth and autonomy. But solitude is not to be equated with selfish independence, which can lead to loneliness. When God said, “It is not good for man (humankind) to be alone”, God wanted us to live in communion with each other. Jesus re-iterated what His Father said when He sent out the disciples ‘two by two’ and promised that “where two or more are gathered, there am I’. Please reflect on the importance of the sixth good Habit of a practicing Catholic (Frequent Communion) and the impact of receiving the Eucharist in your life, that you may be a faithful witness to others.

7. Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition

The last Good Habit in this series is a nightly Examen, followed by an Act of Contrition. An Examen helps us focus on a particular feature or defect in our behavior. Our souls grow in the state of Grace if we take time to review how we ‘missed the mark’ during the day.

As you think back of the events of your day be aware of God’s presence and review your day with gratitude. Pay attention to your emotions experienced and pray about what was happening at that time. Finally, always look forward to tomorrow to begin again. These steps help us form an Examination of Conscience, which is used in preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. An Act of Contrition prayer should conclude our Examen. This prayer can also be used for the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishment. But most of all, because I have offended You, who is worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen

Join Us For Mass

Join Us For Prayer

Join Us For An Event

Beyond our Parish

Visit our Mary Shrine & Prayer Garden

Small Catholic Communities

- Seven Sisters Apostalate

- Exodus90

- Divine Mercy Cenacle

- Endow

- Prayer Shawl Ministry

Thank you volunteers!

- St. Joseph Prayer Group

Scripture Studies
Archive

External Resources
Local

External Resources
Global

Catholicism

Seven Habits of a Practicing Catholic

1. Morning Offering

2. The Angelus

3. Biblical, Scriptural Reading, and/or uplifting Spiritual writings

4. Silent Prayer and Meditation on Scriptural Reading

5. Vocal, Communal Prayer

6. Daily/Regular Reception of the Eucharist

7. Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition

Directions to Our Church

Immaculate Conception Church

Anointing of the Sick

Useful Pages

Visit Us

Join Us For Mass

Join Us For Prayer

Join Us For An Event

Beyond our Parish

Visit our Mary Shrine & Prayer Garden

Small Catholic Communities

- Seven Sisters Apostalate

- Exodus90

- Divine Mercy Cenacle

- Endow

- Prayer Shawl Ministry

Thank you volunteers!

- St. Joseph Prayer Group

Scripture Studies Archive

External Resources Local

External Resources Global

Catholicism

Seven Habits of a Practicing Catholic

1. Morning Offering

2. The Angelus

3. Biblical, Scriptural Reading, and/or uplifting Spiritual writings

4. Silent Prayer and Meditation on Scriptural Reading

5. Vocal, Communal Prayer

6. Daily/Regular Reception of the Eucharist

7. Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition

Directions to Our Church

Immaculate Conception Church

Anointing of the Sick

Useful Pages

Visit Us

Christmas Mass Schedule

Scripture Studies
Archive

External Resources
Local

External Resources
Global