Mass Schedule

  • Saturdays (vigil) at 4:30pm
  • Sundays at 8:30am and 10:30am
  • Mondays at 12:10pm
  • Tuesdays at 7:30am
  • Wednesdays at 7:30am
  • Thursdays at 12:10am
  • Fridays at 7:30am
  • First Friday at 7:30am followed by Adoration until 3:00pm
  • First Saturday at 9:00am
Follow the Daily Readings
Sanctuary at Easter

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

(02/23)

The Lord is kind and merciful.

~Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Visit our Music Ministry Page

The Source and Summit

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

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324)

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)

Help with the Liturgy

Adoration and Prayer

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Holy Hour for Catechumens Feb 24th 6:30pm

On Monday, February 24th at 6:30pm, our Parish’s Holy Hour will be dedicated to all the participants of this year’s OCIA process. Please join us as we pray for our Catechumens.

LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES

Ash Wednesday March 5th Masses:

7:00 AM, 12:10 PM and 7:00 PM

Stations of the Cross:

Friday, March 7th. 12.10 PM led by Mercy Associates. The rest of the Friday stations of the cross will be held at 5.30 PM. All ministries are requested to help lead the stations on Fridays. Call the parish office to sign up. Weekly Monday Adoration 6.30 PM— 7.30 PM

Holy Hour:

Thursdays: 11 AM-12.00 PM prior to the 12.10 PM Mass

Rosary: Every Monday at 5:00pm in Spanish

Rosary in Spanish every Monday at 5:00 PM

Rosary after Daily Mass

Daily Mass: Monday and Thursday 12.10 PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7:30 AM. Rosary is said after each Mass.

NEW! Monday Adoration 6:30pm-7:30pm

We are happy to let everyone know that we have added one weekly Holy Hour at the request of many parishioners beginning Monday January 27th, 2025 6.30—7.30 PM. This is inspired by the ongoing Eucharistic Revival. All are welcome. Time with Jesus is time well spent. This will be silent and meditative, privileged time. Bring your specific intentions to Jesus. Occasionally, we will identify some common intentions as a faith community to present to Jesus.

Eucharistic Adoration: Every Saturday 2:00pm-3:00pm with Confession

Saturday Adoration starts at 2:00 – 3:00 PM with confessions available.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions: Saturdays 2:00pm-3:30pm, Holy Rosary 2:30pm
Night songs/vespers: Every other Thursday at 8:00pm

Night songs/vespers: Every other Thursday at 8:00 PM

Communal Lauds: First Friday at 7:00 AM prior to Mass

Communal Lauds: First Friday at 7:00 AM prior to Mass

Eucharistic Adoration: First Fridays 8:00am-3:00pm

Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday: 8:00 AM —3:00 PM Hourly signups are encouraged, otherwise open to all.

First Friday Devotions
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
First Saturday of Each Month: Mass at 9:00am

First Saturday of each month: Mass: 9:00 AM to honor Our Blessed Mother with children’s choir.

First Saturday Marian Devotion
First Saturday Marian Devotion: 9:00am Mass
Music meditation and vespers: will be announced.

Music meditation and vespers: will be announced.

Monthly Prayer Requests for Priests

Visit the calendar webpage. 

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.

Pray the Rosary
Pray a Novena

Parish Events and Programs

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March 15th - St. Patrick's Day Dinner - Save the Date

The Parish will hold a St. Patrick’s dinner this year on March 15th to help support our food pantry. More on this event is forthcoming. Save the date and stay tuned!

Endow Study Women's Program: Wednesdays at 7:00pm

The women’s ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) group will resume with a new study on Wednesday, January 18, 2025, at 7:00 in the Parish Hall. New members are welcome. We will be studying Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, God is Love (Deus Caritas Est). From the Endow website: “In his first encyclical,
God Is Love, promulgated on Christmas Day, 2005, Benedict XVI expounds on the reality of love. He knows that the word “love” has been distorted and its meaning tarnished — and this letter calls us back to the foundational truths about love.” Please contact Trish at trickb3@vyahoo.com if you would like more information
on the group or this study or would like to join us.

Wednesdays at 7pm in the Parish Hall

Exodus 70 Men's Program: Jan 20- Easter Sunday

Exodus 90 — Starting Jan 20!

Catholic Men, would you like to join us for the next offering of Exodus 90? The Exodus 90 program for Catholic men is designed to help you break out of the spiritual doldrums and to grow closer to the Lord. The program comprises a 90-day period of 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.

To learn more about the program, contact Rick Burgess (cbprincipal@gmail.com). The program begins January 20, 2025, and runs for 90 days, culminating on Easter Sunday. Come join us!

Divine Mercy Cenacle: 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 5:30pm

Do you want to deepen your faith and progress on your journey to sainthood with a small group of faithful Catholics? If so, consider joining us to follow the path of Divine Mercy as taught by Saint Faustina and instituted by St. John Paul II. We will study the Diary of St. Faustina, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and scripture to enrich our faith and prayer life and to reflect on the meaning and impact of divine mercy in our lives. We follow a created curriculum and do a small amount of reading to prepare for our meetings. We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 5:30pm in the Parish Center. For more information, including materials about Divine Mercy, send an email to bridgidcooper@yahoo.com or text
607-227-3884.

Video Series: Saturday March 1st at 11:00-12:30p in Parish Hall

11:00A-12:30P—VIDEO SERIES-PH

Wisdom of the Church Study Grp: March 2nd at 11:30am in Parish Center

Wisdom of the Church Study Grp at 11:30 am Sunday, March 2nd in Parish Center

Beyond our Parish

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Catholic Courier Ads

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.

March 7th Eucharistic Procession - Save the Date

On Friday, March 7th, there will be a Eucharistic Procession from Sage Chapel on Cornell’s campus down to our parish, followed by a Eucharistic Adoration vigil. The Procession will begin after the 12:15pm Mass at Sage Chapel. Save the date, and stay tuned for more information!

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.
Virgin Mary statue surrounded by brick and stone with Ave Maria Gratia Plena marker among a garden
Mary Shrine and Prayer Garden July 15, 2023.

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.

Send Jan a note

- 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).

Send Rick a note

- 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 and progress on your journey to sainthood with a small group of faithful Catholics? If so, consider joining us to follow the path of Divine Mercy as taught by Saint Faustina and instituted by St. John Paul II. We will study the Diary of St. Faustina, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and scripture to enrich our faith and prayer life and to reflect on the meaning and impact of divine mercy in our lives. We follow a created curriculum and do a small amount of reading to prepare for our meetings. We meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 5:30pm in the Parish Center. For more information, including materials about Divine Mercy, send an email to bridgidcooper@yahoo.com or text
607-227-3884.

Send Bridgid a note
A group of women sitting around a table
Members of the Endow group enjoy dinner and dessert during their July meeting.

- 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

Send Trish a note

- 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 

Complete this form to help

Thank you volunteers!

- St. Joseph Prayer Group

contact Liz Burns

Scripture Studies
Archive

Bible in Year: Monthly Scripture Readings 2022
Early Church Fathers Study
Study on the Creed
Study of Mark
Study of John

External Resources
Local

Cornell Catholic Community
Cornell Thomastic Institute
FORMED.ORG
Year of the Eucharist
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
St Bernard's School of Ministry & Theology
Spiritual Resources during COVID

External Resources
Global

Supporting our Priests with Prayer
The Vatican Website
USCCB
Vatican News Service
Sunday of the Word of God

Catholicism

a young man kneels and prays in church

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

Directions to Our Church

Immaculate Conception Church

113 N Geneva Street Ithaca, NY  |  607-273-6121  |  Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 4:00pm

Anointing of the Sick

Please call 607-273-6121 if you or a loved one is hospitalized, and/or would like to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites).

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