DECEMBER 28, 2025 - THE HOLY FAMILY
Welcome Archbishop Ronald Hicks
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of New York, and has appointed Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks, currently Bishop of Joliet, as the next Metropolitan Archbishop of New York. He will be installed on February 6, 2026 at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Friends,
The season of Christmas is upon us—a time when the heavens proclaim peace, the earth rejoices in hope, and our hearts are renewed by the gift of God’s love. In the stillness of Bethlehem, a child was born who changed the world forever. That same light continues to shine in our lives today, drawing us together as one family of faith in the church.
We invite you to continue walking with us in faith throughout the coming year. The journey of discipleship is ongoing, and together we hope you will join us growing in prayer, deepening our love for Christ, and serving our brothers and sisters in need. In the months ahead, we encourage you to join us for Sunday Mass, volunteer in our parish ministries, attend our Bible studies, and seek out opportunities for service and fellowship. Each gathering is a chance to strengthen our parish family and to live out the Gospel more fully.
Let us make 2026 a year of renewal—renewal in our devotion to the Eucharist, renewal in our commitment to one another, and renewal in our mission to bring Christ’s light into the world. We look forward to sharing this journey with you, united in our Catholic faith.
On behalf of our parish, I wish you a blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with grace, hope, and happiness.
With prayers and joy,
Rev. Stephen Ries
Pastor
Words of Gratitude
Please join me in expressing our deep gratitude to all who helped make our Christmas liturgies so beautiful here at IHM. To our choir, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, and ushers—thank you for your faithful service at the Christmas Masses. And to the members of the St. Veronica's Guild who decorated the church so lovingly, your work created a prayerful and festive atmosphere for all who gathered.
Finally, thanks to the dedication and generosity of an anonymous parishioner, our parish Christmas lights and decorations shone more brightly than ever this year. New planters filled with winter greenery, additional Christmas lights, and—perhaps most striking of all—the beautifully illuminated tree by our Marian Garden—brought a renewed sense of joy and wonder to our grounds. These enhancements enriched our celebration of the season.
Dear Parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary,
As we celebrate Christmas and prepare to welcome the New Year, we are reminded once again that Jesus is truly at the heart of this holy season. At Immaculate Heart of Mary School, that truth comes to life each day in simple and beautiful ways.
Throughout Advent and Christmas, our youngest students in PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten joyfully shared the story of the Nativity, reminding us of the wonder, innocence, and hope found in the birth of Christ. Our students in Grades 1 through 8 then filled our church with the familiar sounds of Christmas through song, prayer, and reflection, beautifully bringing the Nativity to life for all who gathered. These moments, rooted in faith and community, are ones we carry with us long after the season ends.
As we look ahead to the New Year, we take time to reflect on what matters most. Our faith, our children, and our shared mission. Each day, we work together to form not only strong learners, but kind and compassionate disciples who live out their Catholic values.
At the end of January, we look forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week, a time to highlight the gift of Catholic education. I warmly invite you to visit our school, take a tour, and see firsthand the dedication of our faculty and staff and the joy our students bring to our halls. Our children truly are the light of our school, shining through their faith, kindness, and love of learning.
May this Christmas season bring peace to your hearts, joy to your homes, and blessings to your families. As we enter the New Year, may we continue to walk together in faith and rooted in our love for our Church and school.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year.
With Prayer and Gratitude,
Tracy Keelin
Principal, Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Tracy Keelin
Principal, Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Our fourth graders recently recorded “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” in October with Italian American tenor Luciano Lamonarca. In July 2025, Lamonarca received the Best Male Singer Award at the Catholic Music Awards held at the Vatican for his performance of “The Song of Saint Pio.” That same year, he recorded “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” in Italian, English, and Spanish to mark the 270th anniversary of the song’s first publication.
The recording featuring the children was later played during an outdoor concert in the town of Deliceto, in the province of Foggia. Deliceto is home to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Consolazione, where St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori drew inspiration in 1744 to compose this beloved hymn, now considered one of the most famous Italian Christmas songs.
Luciano said.
"I wish to express my gratitude to all of those who participated in the realization of this music project, in particular my friend pianist and composer Laurie Adamo, for arranging the music, and the students of the 4th grade elementary catholic School “Immaculate Heart of Mary” of Scarsdale, NY, who, together with my son Sebastian, performed along in English and Italian version of the video."
"I wish to express my gratitude to all of those who participated in the realization of this music project, in particular my friend pianist and composer Laurie Adamo, for arranging the music, and the students of the 4th grade elementary catholic School “Immaculate Heart of Mary” of Scarsdale, NY, who, together with my son Sebastian, performed along in English and Italian version of the video."
What a beautiful song and an unforgettable experience to be part of! Thank you, Dr. Adamo, for giving the fourth graders this wonderful opportunity.
2026 at IHM School
Sunday, December 28, 2025 | Feast of the Holy Family | Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23
Friends, on this feast of the Holy Family, our Gospel shows us Joseph and Mary’s flight into Egypt, pursuing their mission to protect the Christ child. This story prompts me to say something about the Christian family’s mission.
The family is, above all, the forum in which both parents and children are able to discern their missions. It is perfectly good, of course, if deep bonds and rich emotions are cultivated within the family, but those relationships and passions must cede to something that is more spiritually focused.
The family is, above all, the forum in which both parents and children are able to discern their missions. It is perfectly good, of course, if deep bonds and rich emotions are cultivated within the family, but those relationships and passions must cede to something that is more spiritually focused.
A biblical prioritization of values helps us to see what typically goes wrong with families. When something other than mission is dominant—a son’s athletic achievement, a daughter’s success at university, etc.—family relationships actually become strained. The paradox is this: precisely in the measure that everyone in the family focuses on God’s call for one another, the family becomes more loving and peaceful.
John Paul II admirably summed up what I’ve been driving at when he spoke of the family as an ecclesiola (a little Church). At its best, he implies, the family is a place where God is worshiped and where the discernment of God’s mission is of paramount importance.
Bishop Robert Barron
IHM New Year's Week Schedule
Sunday, December 28th - Feast of the Holy Family Masses
5:30 PM - Vigil (December 27th) | 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 Noon
Monday, December 29
6:45am and 9am Masses | Adoration until 8:00pm
Rectory Office Open
Tuesday, December 30
6:45am and 9am Masses | Adoration until 1:00pm
Rectory Office Open
Wednesday, December 31
6:45am and 9am Masses | Adoration until 1:00pm | No Evening Confessions
Rectory Office will close at 1:00pm
Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)
5:30 PM Vigil (December 31st) | 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM
There is no Eucharistic Adoration on January 1st | Rectory Office is Closed
Friday, January 2
6:45am and 9am Masses | First Friday Adoration until 10:00pm
Rectory Office Open
Saturday, January 3
8:30am Mass | Confessions Following
8:30am Mass | Confessions Following
Rectory Office Open
4:00pm Confessions | 5:30pm Vigil Mass
4:00pm Confessions | 5:30pm Vigil Mass
Please Note: The Parish Office will close at 1:00PM on New Year's Eve and be closed on Thursday, January 1st for the Solemnity of Mary
and in observance of New Year's Day
and in observance of New Year's Day
Please join us in wishing our Fr. Thumma a Happy Birthday
on Saturday, January 3, 2026
on Saturday, January 3, 2026
We want to help you celebrate the sacraments this season - everywhere you go! FindAMass.org allows us to find local Mass, Adoration, and Confession times wherever you travel. Now, you can stay connected to the sacraments while on the road!
REMEMBRANCES FOR THE WEEK
Week of December 28th
Church Sanctuary Lamp Intention for:
William Douglas Badger by His Family: Sandie, Ashley, Lindsay, Hayden
Bread & Wine Intention for:
Nicola S. Brusco by Francesco, Angelina and Anna D'Amato
Altar Candles in Our Lady's Chapel for:
Giovanni Mastronardi by Martin and Antonella Kilkeary
Church Altar Flowers Intention for:
William Douglas Badger by His Family: Sandie, Ashley, Lindsay, Hayden
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
SUNDAY, December 28, 2025
The Holy Family
5:30PM -Giovanni Mastronardi by Antonella and Martin Kilkeary
7:30AM - The People of Immaculate Heart of Mary
9:00AM - Augustine and Anna Trapasso, Ralph Della Cava, Sr and Eva Dias by Lorraine Verge and Family
10:30AM - Maria Antonia Gizzo (9 Year Anniversary) by Maria Cristina Giordano
12:00PM - Louise Marie Germano by Annemarie Germano DiCola
MONDAY, December 29, 2025
St. Thomas Becket
6:45AM - Father Ed Connors by Maureen Gorham
9:00AM - Catherine Murphy by the MacGillivray & Murphy Families
TUESDAY, December 30, 2025
6:45AM - Ettore and Rosa Russo by Anna Russo Mihalchik
9:00AM - Robert McDermott by Barbara Henry
WEDNESDAY, December 31, 2025
St. Sylvester I
6:45AM - Therese Li by Helen Wang
9:00AM - Marina and Jose R. Quesada by Jose A. Quesada (José’s parents)
5:30PM - Perri & Enrico Family by John & Lisa Perri
THURSDAY, January 1, 2026
Mary, Mother of God | New Year's Day
9:00AM - The People of Immaculate Heart of Mary
12:30PM - Fran Keuling Stout by Chip and Mary Rausch (10th Anniversary)
FRIDAY, January 2, 2026
Ss. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen
6:45AM - Kevin and Theresa Doyle by Kevin Meade
9:00AM - Andrew Scott by Barbara Henry
SATURDAY, January 3, 2026
Most Holy Name of Jesus
8:30AM - Month of December Remembrances by IHM
5:30PM - Marie Gleeson by Marie & Mike Amoroso
NYS Bishops' Statement
on Assisted Suicide Signing
The IHM High School of Religion (HSOR) held a Christmas Party & Game Nite with lots of holiday music, pizza, donuts and a White Elephant gift exchange!
The IHM HSOR welcomes all high school students to our weekly gatherings on Wednesdays from 7:30- 9:00PM in the lower Church Hall. We offer a fun and relaxing faith community of service projects, Prayer & Pizza, Game Nights, Sacraments, lively discussions and Open Gym.
Come see why our students say HSOR “is a night out in the middle of the week!”
Click the button below if you would like to enroll or for more information from our coordinator, Nancy Vericker
Come see why our students say HSOR “is a night out in the middle of the week!”
Click the button below if you would like to enroll or for more information from our coordinator, Nancy Vericker
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 the IHM Bible Discussion Group reflects on St. Paul's Epistles to the Corinthians. Through mid-June we meet every Tuesday at 7PM in the lower Church for an independent discussion ending about 8:30PM, so come when you are available and share your thoughts with fellow parishioners.
Chapter 9 of I Corinthians is January 6th's topic and we intend to study one chapter each week. If you sign up below you will receive the questions email on the weekend and a Tuesday reminder. At home participants are encouraged to share or inquire via email or just follow along on their own and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through His Sacred Scripture. Merry Christmas, a Blessed 2026 and a Joyous Easter!
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
Elizabeth Ann Bagnuolo
Patrick Briody
Patrick Briody
Nicola Brusco
Mary Connolly
John Dunleavy
Frank C. Greco
Stephen Guzzardi
Conrad Knowlton Harris
Rosa Pagiarulo
Joseph Piergiovanni
Lisa Rocchio
Fr. Stuart Sandberg
Christopher Walsh
Michael Thomas Walzer
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.
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