My dear friends,
Please be aware that the rectory offices will be closed today (April 5th). My apologies for any inconvenience.
As we near Holy Week, among our Lenten practices to help us respond to the grace of God and make it to the finish line may be the Introduction to Prayer book by Bishop Barron that is for the taking at the entrances to the church, the opportunity for almsgiving in response to the Little Sisters of the Poor's begging mission this weekend at IHM and Reconciliation Monday of Holy Week (April 14th) where the Sacrament should be available in every parish (2-4pm and 6-9pm) from Montauk to Sullivan County, Staten Island to Saugerties, Kingston and Tivoli!
Please keep a few parish families in prayer as they walk with loved ones in hospice care. Some are even mourning the loss of their family member already.
October 2025 Parish Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome – Give me an extra week to get the details to all from Pro-Rome Tours! The new dates will be a Thursday, October 9th departure with a return on Saturday, October 18th.
Parish Council Nominations – The council has updated its bylaws (see below to click for the revised version) and is accepting nominations for next year’s term through this Sunday, April 6th.
It has come to my attention that separate Palm Sunday Envelopes were mailed to us. Please know that there is only one collection, however, on Palm Sunday, and not two separate for the Sunday and then Palm Sunday. Either envelope will do.
A Mass all Catholics should go to at least once in their lives is the Chrism Mass, where the three Holy Oils are blessed by our Archbishop, Cardinal Dolan, and then we priests renew our priestly promises. Space is still available to join us on Tuesday of Holy Week (April 15th) – The bus will depart from IHM at 1:30pm (the procession tends to start 30 minutes or so before the 4pm Mass). The special Mass should last 60-75 minutes and the bus should pick people up about 20 minutes after the Mass ends; so around 5:30pm. Those staying in the city should arrange their own transportation home.
I would like to encourage the men of IHM to consider the Holy Name retreat in April at the Marian Shrine in Stony Point, a Jubilee Pilgrimage site in the archdiocese.
Our last Parish Fish Fry of the Lenten Season will be this Friday, April 11th, from 6-8pm in the lower church.
Please take note of the Holy Week Schedule below.
This weekend, Fr. Thumma is scheduled for the 5:30pm Vigil this evening (I will be out of the parish this afternoon and evening) and the 7:30am and 12:00 noon Sunday Masses.
I plan to celebrate the 9:00am Family Mass and the 10:30am Masses tomorrow.
I look forward to offering some Lenten Reflections on Thursday, April 10th at 7pm based on Pope Francis' letter (Encyclical) on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Perhaps I can share them one morning, too, after a 9am daily Mass.
A blessed Sunday to you!
Parish Calendar of Events
Sunday, April 6
• 9:00am to 12:00 noon - Parish Library open
-nominations for the 2025-26 IHM Parish Council due.
Tuesday, April 8
- Bible Discussion 7-8:30 pm (lower church)
Thursday, April 10
• Evening of Lenten Recollection on Pope Francis' Encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Msgr. Luke Sweeney) 7:00-9:00 p.m.
• 7:00 pm - Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 11
• 6:00 to 8:00 pm - Last Fish Fry Friday
- 6:45 pm Benediction (Marian chapel)
- 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross (main church)
Monday of Holy Week, April 14
• 2:00pm to 4:00 pm & 6:00pm - 9:00pm Reconciliation Monday
Tuesday of Holy Week, April 15
• Parish Trip to the Chrism Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Please RSVP if interested), departure 1:30pm from IHM, 4:00pm Mass
Sunday, April 27
• Parish Council's Coffee and Donuts after all Masses
- 9:00am to 12:00 noon - Parish Library open
- Divine Mercy Sunday with Confessions at 2pm and Holy Hour at 3pm
For more details, please check the parish bulletin or contact the rectory.