See the Church of the Holy Family, the Church of Cana, the Basilica of the Annunciation. See the outer doors, and the very place where the Word became flesh and the Yes of the Blessed Mother to God. The above image is from the interior of the Basilica of the Annunciation. It is reported to be the very spot where the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Go on a virtual pilgrimage with Fr. Sorgie and 39 parishioners who flew last night to Tel Aviv! What is a Pilgrimage? A journey you make to holy places to draw closer to God. During the Holy Year of Mercy we celebrated two Parish Pilgrimages to Old St. Patrick's and St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. We walked through the Holy Doors, prayed for the Pope, celebrated Mass and on our own received the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession.) You can go on pilgrimage too without leaving your house!
Discover all the best Catholic content in one place. Entertaining movies, enlightening programs, inspiring talks, and a great selection of popular ebooks— all just a click away! Take advantage of your FREE subscription to FORMED. Here is how easy it is: 1. Go to formed.org 2. Click on Register. 3. Enter your Parish Code W8YK28 4. Create your FREE account by entering your email address.
3 Steps: 1) Read the Mercy Minute with your family; then have another family member read it. 2) Talk about the question with each other. 3) Ask: What did we learn about Mercy? Sunday, Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. These words…sum up the mystery of the Christian faith. How does Jesus show you the face of God the Father’s mercy? Click the title for the Mercy Minute for today.
On Saturday November 7th, the men in Fourth Theology at St. Joseph’s seminary were ordained deacons. These were men who completed three years of Graduate studies in Theology at Dunwoodie from the Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Brooklyn and the Diocese of Rockville Center. They will be ordained to the Order of the Priesthood in May 2016.
Commit to asking Jesus for vocations to priestly and consecrated life. How? Sign up at the Invisible Monastery What is the Invisible Monastery? It is a group of people who agree to pray for vocations. Together they make up the Invisible Monastery!
Is RCIA Right for You? Is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults right for you? I have never been baptized and want to learn more about the Catholic faith. I was baptized in another Christian religion and now wish to become Catholic. I was baptized Catholic, but have not received any other sacraments and little if any religious instruction. I am married to a Catholic and attend Mass and would like to receive the sacraments. My kids are old enough to ask questions and I want to be able to practice what I preach and be a good role model. Recognize yourself in any of these statements? The RCIA journey just might be for you! Print and Mail to Fr. Sorgie: 53 Winter Hill Road, Tuckahoe, NY 10707 or call him at 961-3643 for more information. RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Parish of Immaculate Conception & Assumption of Our Lady
A glance can express and communicate many things. Did you ever wonder what it was like when Our Lord looked at a person, glanced at him or her? What was it like when His glance was felt to penetrate the deepest recesses of a person’s heart? His glance was often quite inviting and tender; but it could also be strong and quite challenging. One glance from our Lord and St. Matthew, the tax collector, was moved to leave everything behind and follow Him. Click title to continue.
St. Junipero Serra (1713-1784) Part the Second Last week I gave you a brief biography of St. Junipero Serra, the “Father of California” and Franciscan Missionary from Spain. Born in 1713 and died at his California Mission San Carlos in 1784. He founded nine missions in California that protected, taught and catechized Native Americans up and down what would become the State of California. You can still visit all of them and they are a national treasure.
On September 23rd, 2015, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. During Mass, Pope Francis will be canonizing Blessed Junipero Serra, a Spanish-born Franciscan Friar known for starting nine Spanish missions in California in the 1700’s. Born at Petra, Majorca, Spain, November 24, 1713, Junípero Serra was baptized on the same day
On August 1, 2015 my letter of appointment from Timothy Cardinal Dolan made me the first Pastor of a new parish in the Archdiocese of New York. Merging the two historically rich and important parishes of Immaculate Conception and Assumption into a single family in Tuckahoe and Eastchester, NY would form the parish. Throughout the Archdiocese of New York the two-year project of Making All Things New concluded with the merger and I want to thank Deacon Anthony Viola and the members of the parishes that joined the cluster to assist Cardinal Dolan in this monumental effort.
Was it just on July 1st, 2005, Father Raaser became pastor of the Churches of Immaculate Conception and Assumption? Has it really been ten years that Fr. Raaser has ministered among us: baptizing our children, witnessing our marriages, anointing our sick, burying our dead, celebrating God's forgiveness of our sins and celebrating the Eucharist? It is ten years! Ten years of selfgiving love.
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercies, our life, our sweetness, and our hope; To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this exile show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement,O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. —Traditional Salve Regina Hymn
The most precious gift that Jesus left to His Church is his Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Hidden under the appearance of Bread and Wine Jesus Himself is present in the Eucharist. The Host is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. We participate in the Liturgy and when we hear the words, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood” —we know that Jesus, our Lord is present. We receive Him in Communion and God is with us.
There are special questions today in regards to marriage. The first is In vitro fertilization. It is a very difficult situation when a young couple cannot conceive a child naturally. Some turn to in vitro fertilization as a solution to the problem. The first thing we have to remember is that children are not a right to marriage. No one has a right over another human being, not even an infant. Children are a gift from God. As reproductive technology becomes more powerful, artificial conception is not morally acceptable. Why? To read the rest of the article, click the title.
An annulment is a canonical investigation, to determine as humanly as possible, that the sacramental bond of marriage, which should have taken effect, never took place. The Bond of Marriage is presumed to have taken effect. The contrary has to be proven in a Court of Church law. There has to be something that blocks the sacramental bond either in the consent (intellectual knowledge of marriage, or the other person) and or the freedom of choosing you to be my spouse. How free, how mature, how much do I know about you and your values and ideas about marriage? To read the whole article, click the title.
The Immaculate Conception and Assumption Parishes offer a Bereavement Support Group Group for men and women who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Led by trained facilitators who offer encouragement and compassion, this faith based support group will explore the experience of loss and grieving. Do not grieve alone! Click the title for more information.
In the original Greek text of the Gospel (Matthew 5:32), the Lord uses the word PORNEIA which means 'illicit or unnatural relations' as the only exception to the permanence of marriage (which in reality means there was no valid marriage if it was an unnatural union, as in the case of incest or homosexuality, bestiality). However, the Greek word MOICHEIA means 'adultery' but that word is NOT used. Hence, adultery, while still a serious and mortal sin, does not itself invalidate a marriage (unless the person NEVER intended to enter a faithful union from the day of their wedding vows.) To read the remainder of the article, click the title.