DECEMBER 7, 2025 - SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Friends,
During this holy season of Advent, our hearts are called to prepare for the coming of our Savior. Advent is not only a time of waiting, but also of hope, reflection, and renewal. It invites us to pause amid the busyness of life and to ready ourselves spiritually for the birth of Christ, who is Emmanuel—God with us.
In this season of anticipation, we look to Mary, our Blessed Mother, as a model of faithfulness and trust. When the angel Gabriel announced God’s plan, Mary responded with her humble fiat: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Her unwavering faith and openness to God’s will remind us that true discipleship begins with surrender and trust. Mary’s example encourages us to embrace God’s call in our own lives, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
This week, we also celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. This feast reminds us that Mary was preserved from sin from the very moment of her conception, chosen by God to be the pure vessel through which His Son would enter the world. It is a celebration of God’s grace and a reminder that He prepares and sanctifies those He calls. Mary’s immaculate beginning is not only a gift for her, but for all of us, as it paved the way for our salvation through Christ.
As we journey through Advent, may we imitate Mary’s faithfulness, trust in God’s promises, and rejoice in the gift of grace that the Immaculate Conception reveals. Let us prepare our hearts with prayer, acts of charity, and a renewed commitment to living as children of the light.
May this season draw us closer to Christ, and may Mary, our Mother, and her Immaculate Heart, intercede for us as we await the joy of His coming.
Faithfully in Christ,
Rev. Stephen Ries
Pastor
- The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on Monday, December 8th and is a Holy Day of Obligation.
- The Rectory Office will be closed.
- Masses will be celebrated at 6:45AM, 9:00AM, 12:30PM and a special mass for our Religious Education Students at 5:00pm.
- Adoration will take place from 7:00am until 9:00pm with a extra hour dedicated to praying for the protection and preservation of the Sanctity of Life.
A heartfelt thank you to the good people of Bennett Funeral Home of Scarsdale and Westchester Funeral Home of Eastchester, who once again have sponsored our 2026 Church Calendars.
2026 Church calendars are available at the doors of the Church!
Enter The Christmas Eve Mass Raffle TODAY!
Enter for a chance to win a reserved front row pew and reserved parking at the upcoming Christmas Eve 4:00pm mass! Two lucky winners will be announced during our Breakfast with Santa event on 12/13.
Raffle tickets will be available after weekend Masses and in the rectory.
Church Memorial Opportunities
All of the memorial items on offer at this time have been reserved. We are grateful for the generosity of our parishioners who have chosen to memorialize the remaining nativity figures, our new processional cross and candle set, and our new altar missal.
Sunday, December 7, 2025 | Second Sunday of Advent | Matthew 3:1–12
Friends, today St. Matthew compels us to come to grips with the great Advent figure of John the Baptist. It’s really impossible to grasp the significance of Jesus without passing through the cleansing bath of John the Baptist. He provides a lens through which Jesus is properly interpreted.
John, Matthew tells us, made his appearance as a preacher in the desert of Judea. Deserts are places of simplicity and poverty, places where distractions and attachments are eliminated—and hence where the voice of God can be heard. Wealth, pleasure, power, honor—and all of their avatars and priests—are shouting at us, luring us, tempting us. But what is God saying? We have to go to these silent and deserted places in order to hear.
What is the first thing that the prophet says? “Repent!” This word cuts to the heart of every one of us, precisely because we all know that our lives are not where they are supposed to be. We have all fallen short of the glory of God; we have all fallen into patterns of self-absorption and addiction. So let us hear John’s word today: “Repent!”
John, Matthew tells us, made his appearance as a preacher in the desert of Judea. Deserts are places of simplicity and poverty, places where distractions and attachments are eliminated—and hence where the voice of God can be heard. Wealth, pleasure, power, honor—and all of their avatars and priests—are shouting at us, luring us, tempting us. But what is God saying? We have to go to these silent and deserted places in order to hear.
What is the first thing that the prophet says? “Repent!” This word cuts to the heart of every one of us, precisely because we all know that our lives are not where they are supposed to be. We have all fallen short of the glory of God; we have all fallen into patterns of self-absorption and addiction. So let us hear John’s word today: “Repent!”
Bishop Robert Barron
REMEMBRANCES FOR THE WEEK
Week of December 7th
Church Sanctuary Lamp Intention for:
Gerry Ryan and Jennifer Ryan (Special Intention) by Gerry Ryan
Bread & Wine Intention for:
Sr. Joan Roccosalvo by the Marutollo Family
Altar Candles in Our Lady's Chapel for:
The Faithful Parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary
Church Altar Flowers Intention for:
The Tormey Family and Sr. Joan Roccosalvo by Joanne and Patrick Tormey
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
SUNDAY, December 7, 2025
Second Sunday of Advent
5:30PM - Angelina Valvano by Roseanne and Rocco Valvano
7:30AM - The People of Immaculate Heart of Mary
9:00AM - Joseph and Frances Bazukiewicz by Douglas & Scheffler Families
10:30AM - Richard G. Fontana by Catherine and Thomas Souther
12:00PM - Joseph C. Piscopo by Elena & Paul Ippolito
MONDAY, December 8, 2025
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
6:45AM - The People of Immaculate Heart of Mary
9:00AM - Justin Abbatiello (Birthday) (Living)
by Mary Grace Abbatiello
by Mary Grace Abbatiello
12:30PM - John Byrnes by the Deegan Family
5:00PM - Students in our Religious Education Program
TUESDAY, December 9, 2025
St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
6:45AM - Vito A. Giordano by the Giordano Family
9:00AM - Mary Panakal & Teresa Joseph by Priscilla Parameswaram
WEDNESDAY, December 10, 2025
Our Lady of Loreto
6:45AM - Flaherty Family, Living and Deceased (Special Intention)
by Doreen Flaherty
by Doreen Flaherty
9:00AM - Frank McMann by Edith McMann
THURSDAY, December 11, 2025
St. Damasus I
6:45AM - William Didie by Chip and Mary Rausch - Twentieth Anniversary (12/10)
9:00AM - Christopher Murphy by the Murphy and MacGillivray Families
FRIDAY, December 12, 2025
6:45AM - Tom Telegades (Birthday) by Donna Telegades
9:00AM - Mary Russo by Roseann Santoro
SATURDAY, December 13, 2025
8:30AM - Jean Costello by the Costello Family
5:30PM - Kuhn and Otto Families, living and deceased (Special Intention)
by Elise and Bjoern Kuhn
by Elise and Bjoern Kuhn
Immaculate Heart of Mary
2025 Christmas Schedule
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Reconciliation Monday, December 15th | 2:00-4:00PM; 6:00-8:00PM
Wednesday. December 17th | 7:00-8:00PM
Saturday, December 20th | 9:00AM; 4:00-5:00PM
Saturday, December 20th | 9:00AM; 4:00-5:00PM
Christmas Eve Masses
Wednesday, December 24th
4:00PM, 6:00PM, 9:00PM, 12:00AM Midnight Mass
Christmas Day Masses
Thursday, December 25th
8:00AM, 10:00AM, 12:00 Noon
Sunday, December 28th
Feast of the Holy Family
5:30PM - Vigil (Saturday, December 27th), 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:30AM, 12:00 Noon
Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)
5:30PM Vigil (Tuesday, December 31st), 9:00AM, 12:00PM
For up-to-date information, please visit the Parish website, www.IHM-Parish.org or call the Rectory (914) 723-0281
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY UPCOMING EVENTS
GIVING TREE AT IHM
Please take a gift tag, purchase a new gift, and return it unwrapped under the Giving Tree by Sunday, December 14th.
Gifts are for the Dominican Sisters Family Health Agency in the South Bronx; Paradise House, a residence for people with special needs on the Grand Concourse, HOPE Community Services, a food pantry, soup kitchen and social service agency in New Rochelle, Catholic Guardian Services, a foster care agency and some local families.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We will be sorting Giving Tree items on Monday, December 8th and December 15th at 9:45AM.
Contact the Rectory if interested, call 914-723-0276 or email IHMChurch@ihmscarsdale.org. Much help is needed!
Adopt a family: We have requests from several families for Christmas Gifts. If you would like to help, please call Dotty Meehan at (914) 552-7628.
Advent Morning of Renewal
Thursday, December 18 at the House of Prayer
9:00AM - Mass and Rosary - Coffee & Buns
10:00AM - Talk by Sister Mary "Trusting in the Promises of God"
10:40AM - Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Intercessory Prayer
11:00AM - Scripture Sharing
11:30AM - Conclusion
Young Members:
IHM Religious Education Grade K to 8
IHM Catholic School Grades K to 8
IHM High School of Religion (HSOR)
IHM Boy Scouts Troop 2
Scarsdale/Edgemont Girl Scouts
Prayer Groups:
Adult Faith Formation:
IHM Bible Discussion Group
IHM School of Community
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults: The OCIA (formerly RCIA) is the process by which we receive adults and children of elementary school age or older who wish to enter the Catholic Church.
Get Involved! Various organizations at IHM provide an opportunity for our parishioners to contribute their talents for the good of others.
Be Aware - Scam Alert: Parishioners are being targeted by fraudulent emails or texts claiming to be from our parish or directly from our Pastor. These messages typically demand urgent action—such as purchasing gift cards and sending the codes electronically. These messages come from fake accounts impersonating our church. Please know we will never ask for gift cards or similar assistance in this way. If you receive an email or text like this, do not respond. Instead, check the sender’s information and contact the Rectory if you have any doubts. IHM is a generous parish, committed to helping those truly in need—always with charity, never through trickery. Let us pray for those who perpetrate such scams, and remember that our decisions, moral and spiritual, should never be made under pressure or coercion.
Please Remember
in Your Prayers
The Sick of Our Parish
Jason Bergen
Joan Boccardi
Gino Catalano
Joan Boccardi
Gino Catalano
Anthony D’Agostino
Sean Fogarty
Emily Gosewehr
Dr. Peter Healy
Wayne Skarberg
Michael Mirabella
Michael Mirabella
Cindy Whelan
Margaret Mary Ambrose
Elizabeth Ann Bagnuolo
Patrick Briody
Patrick Briody
Mary Connolly
John Dunleavy
Kathleen Ferrandi
Prin Gjidoda
Ruth Hoffman
Rosa Pagiarulo
Nicola Brusco
Fr. Stuart Sandberg
Susan Schoetz
If you wish to be included by name, please contact the Rectory: ihmchurch@ihmscarsdale.org or 914-723-0276
If you are calling for another person,
please ensure his/her permission.
- The Catholic Widows and Widowers of Yonkers is having their Annual Christmas Luncheon on Thursday, December 11th at 1:00PM at Tombolino Ristorante (356 Kimball Ave, Yonkers). Cost is $31 per person payable in cash at the luncheon. Reservations required. For more information/reservations, call (914) 423-5331. Members/guests are welcome.
- The Little Sisters of the Poor on Schurz Avenue in the Bronx have a part time (8-16 hours/week) job opening for a Development Database Assistant. Responsibilities include a variety of fundraising related tasks, especially accurate data entry. Hours are flexible. Please contact Sr. Charles Patricia at bxdevelopment@littlesistersofthepoor.org for more details.
- Christmas Around the World Crèche Display Open Daily: 10AM–3PM Located on the 5th floor - The Atonement Friars invite you to contemplate the amazing gift of Christ’s birth through our annual Christmas Around the World Crèche Display. A long-standing tradition, the display features 150 crèches with unique designs reflecting diverse cultures. At the same time, these examples from Japan, Italy, Nigeria and other countries reflect a common theme: love and adoration for the baby Jesus. Details:
- Starts: Saturday, November 29 | Ends: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
- HOLY MOUNTAIN FRANCISCAN RETREAT CENTER
- 40 Franciscan Way Garrison, NY 10524 United
Sts. Peter & Paul and St. Ursula Church
129 E Birch St, Mount Vernon, NY 10552
129 E Birch St, Mount Vernon, NY 10552
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