Immaculate Conception  & 

Assumption of Our Lady 

Each year on October 3, Franciscans all over the world join together to ritually remember the passing of Francis of Assisi from this life into God. For Franciscans, this is a reminder of their own commitment to follow Christ in the way of the poor man of Assisi. The Little Portion Secular Franciscan Fraternity would like to invite you to join them on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:30 PM at Assumption Church to share in this ritual.

Wednesday, October 4
3:30 PM
Garden of St. Francis
Immaculate Conception

You and your pet are invited to our Blessing of the Animals in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on Wednesday, October 4, at 3:30 PM. The blessing will take place at the Garden of St. Francis (pictured below) between Immaculate Conception Church and School. Bring your cat, dog, goldfish, hamster, iguana, or other animal, but please, all animals must be leashed or caged.

Everyone is invited even if you don't have a pet and are just an animal-lover.

Please join us for Hospitality Sunday in Fr. Fata Hall on Sunday, October 1 after the 9 AM Italian Mass at Assumption Church.

Enjoy some light refreshments and the company of your fellow parishioners.

Ways for NY Catholics to Assist the Recovery fom the Wildfires in Hawaii

Below is an excerpt of the letter from the Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, requesting prayers and support. The full letter can be read below.

“To our Catholic Faithful in Hawaii and Beyond:

Peace be with you! Today, our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the island of Maui. As a community of faith, we are called to come together and provide unwavering support to those who are suffering. […] You can make a tax-deductible contribution [to the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation] by visiting the following link: https://tinyurl.com/MauiCatholic. […] Let us also remember the power of prayer. In our collective prayers, we ask for strength, resilience, and healing for the fire victims and their families. […] May God bless you all abundantly, and may our efforts bring comfort and hope to those in need.”
 

Read the Full Letter

Italian classes for returning students at the intermediate level will begin again on Saturday, September 23, at 10:30 AM in Fr. Fata Hall.

Beginner level classes will be on the same day, September 23, at 9:30 AM.

Both sessions will meet for 10 weeks with a fee of $250 per person.

Registration is now open and space is limited. To register, contact Ms. Persampieri directly at:
(914) 645-0784
or
[email protected].

In Fr. André's homily on the weekend of August 27, he challenged us to consider and answer the question that Jesus asked Peter in the Gospel: "Who do you say that I am?"

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Below is a brief introduction, in both English and Italian, from Fr. Antoine Guerini, who is staying in the rectory through October 6 as he continues his studies. Please give him a warm welcome if you see him.

About Fr. Antoine

Feast of the Transfiguration
Sunday August 6, 2023

Several of you, after the 12 Noon Mass, asked for a copy of the poem I read at the beginning of my homily. My good friend Peter Ricca, a Green Beret Veteran of the Vietnam War, graciously allowed me to make it available to you.

Fr. André, OFM

The Difference
by Peter Ricca

Do you think there’s a difference
between listen and hear?
I sure do and the difference
is quite clear!

Hear is strictly automatic.
Sound, Ear drum. Reply.
Listen is all heart.
I’m here if you want to cry.

Hear is “hurry up”;
I’ve got something to say.
Listen is take your time,
I’ve got all day.

So keep that in mind when
a friend comes to your door.
You may need to listen as
you’ve never “listened” before!

Pre‐Baptism Class: Baptismal Catechesis

Parents who are planning for their child’s Baptism are required to attend a Pre‐Baptism Class to prepare themselves for their child’s reception of the Sacrament and to understand the importance of their role in developing their child’s relationship with God. Our Parish offers a class on one Thursday a month at 7:00 PM in the Parish Center at Immaculate Conception.

Please call the Parish Office to register for the class in advance so the instructor may have the appropriate materials ready. The upcoming Pre‐Baptism Classes are Thursdays:

October 19
November 16
December 14

As construction continues on the St. Frances Cabrini Apartments for Adults with Autism, the local news published the following article:

“In a former convent in Eastchester where Franciscan sisters lived for decades, workers are building apartments for adults on the autism spectrum.

Donna Maxon said the building’s new purpose will provide what she and other parents, as they age, want: A place where their adult sons and daughters lead lives of independence.

'To see that our children are OK, that they have a happy life, that they are safe, that they’re accepted, that they’re welcomed,' said Maxon, independent housing managing agent with ArchCare, the continuing care community of the Archdiocese of New York.

The St. Frances Cabrini Apartments at Immaculate Conception Church – eight units each with their own kitchenettes as well as first-floor community/activity and dining spaces – are slated to open in 2024’s first quarter. [...]"

Read the Full Article

Rev. Fr. Theophilus Akyeampong Pepra (Fr. Theo) has been invited to spend his two and a half month holiday with us in the Parish of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady. Fr. Theo was with us for one summer before the pandemic.

Fr. Theo is a priest in good standing in the Catholic Diocese of Goaso in Ghana, West Africa. He is the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Goaso and the pastor of St. Mary, Queen of Peace Parish in Tepa, Ghana. He has the permission of his bishop to spend his vacation with us. Besides his seminary training, Fr. Theo studied Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Italy.

He will reside in the parish rectory and work for the time he is with us. He will leave us for his home country of Ghana on September 20, 2023.

We hope that Fr. Theophilus will have a wonderful and fulfilling summer with us.

After thoughtful consideration and with the blessing of Cardinal Dolan, our Parish has returned to the two options for receiving Holy Communion: in the hand and on the tongue.

As a reminder, when you receive Holy Communion:

• You should be in a state of grace, with no mortal sin on your conscience.

• You should make a reverent bow to the Body of Christ before stepping up to the minister of Holy Communion.

• Before receiving, respond “Amen” when the minister says, “The Body of Christ.”

• If receiving in the hand, you should make a throne, placing your left hand over your right hand, with your hands at chin level and parallel to the ground. You should never take the host from the minister; the Body of Christ should be received in the palm of your hand.

• If receiving on the tongue, please stick your tongue out of your mouth so that the minister has the proper area to place the Body of Christ.

It has come to our attention that there are a number of individuals arriving for Mass late and leaving Mass early. We appreciate that you lead busy lives, but, out of respect for the Third Commandment and the holy sacrifice of the Mass, you should be arriving at least 5 minutes before the start of Mass so that you can prepare yourself to experience the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Just as you would never leave a friend’s house after putting the last bite of dinner into your mouth, you should never leave church with the Body of Christ still in your mouth and should remain to receive the final Blessing from the priest as he sends you forth into your lives in Jesus’ name, which is a beautiful way to begin your week.

We thank Salvatore Somma, who will begin his senior year of college in the fall, for his two months of service to our Parish.

We pray for him as he continues in his vocation.

A Prayer of Pope Francis to
Mary, Undoer of Knots

Holy Mary, full of God’s presence
during the day of your life,
you accepted with full humility the Father’s will,
and the devil was never capable
of tying you up with confusion.
Once with your Son,
you interceded for our difficulties,
and full of kindness and patience,
you gave us example
of how to untie the knots in our life.
By remaining forever Our Mother,
you put in order and make more clear
the ties that link us to the Lord.
Holy Mother, Mother of God and our Mother,
to you who untie with a motherly heart
the knots of our life,
we pray to you to receive us in your hands,
and to free us of the knots and confusion
with which our enemy attacks.
Through your grace, your intercession,
and your example deliver us from all evil,
Our Lady,
and untie the knots
that prevent us from being united with God,
so that we, free from sin and error,
may find God in all things,
may have our hearts placed in God,
and may serve God always
in our brothers and sisters.
Amen.

On Saturday, March 18, Fr. Joseph Kelly concelebrated the 5 PM Mass at Immaculate Conception. He spoke of his book On Second Thoughts: A Book of Stories. Below is the synopsis (courtesy of Amazon) and a link to the Amazon page.

In his book On Second Thoughts: A Book of Stories, Father Joseph Kelly recalls experiences from his eventful life (e.g., his childhood in New York City, his time in the U.S. Navy, his life of priestly service) and reflects on those experiences and how they illustrate faith and the presence of God in all things. His engaging stories are an aid to the reader’s own faith in God inviting meditation and prayer.

On Second Thoughts

Remember a Loved One
Reserve a Mass or Donate Flowers
2024 Mass Book is Open

The 2024 Mass Book is now open and will take Mass Intentions for the living and deceased during the year 2024.

The cost for Announced Masses is $20. No more than five Mass Intentions can be taken at any given time. To arrange for and donate flowers for either church in honor of a loved one, call the Parish Secretary at the number below for details.

Information for all memorials can be obtained by calling the Parish Office:
(914) 961‐3643

Going forward:

1. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Thursday and First Friday at 9:00 AM in the Divine Mercy Chapel in the Parish Center.
2. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Thursday and First Friday at 3:00 PM in the Divine Mercy Chapel in the Parish Center.
3. We need people to sign up and commit an hour so that we never have the Blessed Sacrament exposed without anyone to adore the Lord.

The Divine Mercy Chapel was built within the Father Anthony Domenic Sorgie Parish Center in 2020. You can enter the Chapel by going to the Parish Center front door, which is located behind the School, and, after being let in, walking to the Chapel.

It has come to our attention that the names of the pastors of our three local parishes (IHM, St. Joseph's, and ICA) are being used in an email scam. We would like to officially state that Fr. Sorgie would NEVER ask for gift cards or anything of the sort through email. If you have any doubts about the veracity of an email, please call the parish office - (914) 961-3643 - and speak to a staff member before responding.

If Fr. Sorgie were to ask for assistance, he would reach out through more personal means, such as a phone call or speaking in person. Thank you for your assistance in stopping this cyber-crime.

The image below provides an example of where to find the information detailed underneath. It is not an actual Scam email.

• When receiving an email of uncertain origin, look at the sender's email address (black arrow in image above) at the top of the email.
  • Our parish emails will always have an "@icaparish.org" or "@flocknote.com" address.
• If you receive a scam email, please report it, within your email provider, as "phishing," "spam," or a similar type of description (blue arrow in image above) so that these thieves cannot take advantage of anyone.
  • Within Gmail, the menu to report an email can be found by clicking the vertical ellipsis (blue star in image above).

The opening of our long-awaited, new Parish Center began with the move of all Parish Offices out of the Rectory. The Parish Center can be entered from the original entrance to the school building. There is a handicap ramp between the Church and School and a new sign to lead you directly to the new center.

For all Parish business, please visit our new offices and see the center as we prepare for its complete opening.