PARISH MISSION

            I strongly encourage all of you to take part in the Parish Mission that we are holding this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, at 7:00 PM.  Father Richard McAlear OMI will be the presenter.  Father Mac, as he is known, has been involved with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since the early 1970’s, and is internationally known as a speaker and retreat director.  He has also had a powerful spiritual healing ministry.

On Monday evening Father will speak on Reconciliation with God, and there will be several priests available to hear Confessions.  This will be the Lenten Penance Service for our parish.  The healing of our relationship with God is the first step in whatever kind of spiritual or emotional or physical healing that we seek.  Through Reconciliation we open ourselves not only to forgiveness, but also to all of the graces and blessings that God wishes to pour out upon us.

Tuesday night Father McAlear will celebrate a Healing Mass, which will be followed by individual prayer for healing.  In the Gospels we see Jesus frequently laying hands on those who are sick.  There is also the story of the woman who reached out just to touch his garment, and who experienced healing of the hemorrhage that she had suffered for many years.  In the Acts of the Apostles and in the writings of St. Paul we see other examples of the laying on of hands as the means through which God sends his healing power into the lives of his people. 

Finally, on Wednesday evening, during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Father will speak on the healing power of Christ in the Eucharist, and will process throughout the Church blessing us all with Christ present in the monstrance.  We are reminded that Christ is truly, substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament.  When we are blessed by the priest with the Eucharist it is Jesus himself who is blessing us.  I have shared before that when I visited Lourdes a number of years ago we were informed that most of the healings that take place there happen during the Eucharistic procession, and not in the baths in the waters of Lourdes.  The same Jesus Christ who healed the deaf, the mute, the lame, the lepers, and others is the same Jesus Christ who is present in the Eucharist during the Eucharistic procession in Lourdes, on the altar in every Mass, in the tabernacle in every Catholic church, and is in the monstrance during Exposition and Adoration.

CHRIST RENEWS HIS PARISH

            The spring women’s Christ Renews His Parish will be March 27 and 28.  The weekend for the Men’s Christ Renews His Parish will be April 17 and 18.  This is a tremendous program that I have seen impact the lives of many men and women, here at IHM, as well as in other parishes in which I have served.  It is an opportunity to take your relationship with God to a new level, to become more actively connected to your parish, and to develop some wonderful new friendships. 

            If you are interested in learning more about Christ Renews His Parish you can contact

 

AWAY ON CURSILLO

            I will be part of the team for next week’s women’s Cursillo, which will be held at St. Ann Convent in Melbourne, Kentucky.  Because of that I will be mostly away from the parish from Thursday until Sunday evening.  There are a number of women from IHM who are on the team or who are candidates for the weekend.  Please keep them in your prayers.

What IHM Means to Me....

Immaculate Heart of Mary has welcomed me in like one of their own. I'm actually a member of another parish in the diocese, and when our youth program steadily declined, IHM's was rapidly on the rise. It picked me up when I was falling. The wholesome, God-loving atmosphere that the IHM community offers just makes me want more and more! Watching the parish strengthen over things like the law suits in the diocese, the loss of money, and especially the death of Fr. Britt has brought hope into my life and told me that there's always a light in the darkness--that is the Catholic Church, but more locally, IHM.
Thanks to all of those who were so hospitable and caring throughout the years. I always want to come back! A special thanks goes out to Karen Gutzeit who does so much for the parish's youth group. I've grown so much because of her.

Sean Ehlman