SAINT MARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 203 Fourth St. · Aurora, Indiana 47001 · www.mystmarys.com St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Welcome in God’s Name! Through our loving and praying family may you find friendship, peace and serenity in this, God’s house. If you are a visitor interested in joining our parish or the Catholic Faith, please call our parish office for information. If you are returning after being away . . . Welcome Home! The Ascension of the lord Seventh Sunday of Easter Parish Mission We, the people in the area served by St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Aurora, Indiana, called to faith and salvation in Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition, strive to live the Gospel by worshipping God in word and sacrament, learning, teaching, and sharing our faith with those in our parish and beyond by serving human needs. We commit ourselves to stewardship through the generous and responsible use of our spiritual, physical, and material resources for today’s and tomorrow’s needs. Holy Mass – Schedule Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am Wednesday 8:30 am Friday 8:30 am Office Hours Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM until Noon Regular Mass & Office schedule will resume until further notice! St. Vincent de Paul Society (812) 926-1637 Pregnancy Care Center (812) 537-4357 Reverend Ben Syberg, Pastor Email: [email protected]St. Mary’s Office: (812) 926-0060 St. Lawrence’s Office: (812) 537-3992 After Hours Emergencies: (812) 537-1297 Anna Townsend, Secretary/C.R.E. – [email protected]Tony Vincent, Facilities & Maintenance Jim Waldon, Director of Music [email protected]Mollie Leibecke, Bookkeeper [email protected]St. Mary’s School – (812) 926-1558 fax (812) 926-2590 Bob Brookbank, Principal [email protected]Ann Hutchinson,School Secretary [email protected]As office hours may vary, please call ahead to find out the hours of availability. Pastoral Council Members Greg Ramsey - Chairman (812) 438-3109 [email protected]Randy Tyler – Co-chair (812) 584-3024 [email protected]Patty Lohmiller – Secretary (513) 646-8094 [email protected]Lyndsay Hays (812) 907-0312 [email protected]Kathy Simon (513) 405-6268 [email protected]Beth Hyde (812) 584-5894 [email protected]Rick Schuler (859) 512-1985 [email protected]Julie Strasemeier (812) 744-4495 [email protected]George Schewe (513) 312-7104 [email protected]Jonathon Andrews [email protected](513) 256-5758 Sara Dennis [email protected]Finance Committee Mark Neff, Chairperson [email protected](812) 926-3192 School Commission Beth Legge, Chairperson (812) 537-4525 [email protected]Homebound Ministry: Eucharistic Ministers are available to bring Holy Communion to the homebound. Mrs. Emily Beckman (812) 926-2417 Anointing of the Sick: Call anytime (812-926-0060 or 812-537- 3992) or see Fr. Ben. Given at home, nursing home, hospital or at church. Knights of Columbus (812) 584-4498 Bill Ullrich, Grand Knight [email protected]
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SAINT MARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 203 Fourth St. · Aurora, Indiana 47001 · www.mystmarys.com
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Welcome in God’s Name! Through our loving and praying family may you find friendship, peace and serenity in this, God’s house. If you are a visitor interested in joining our parish or the Catholic Faith, please call our parish office for information. If you are returning after being away . . . Welcome Home!
The Ascension of the lord Seventh Sunday of Easter
Parish Mission
We, the people in the area served by St. Mary of the
Immaculate Conception Parish, Aurora, Indiana, called
to faith and salvation in Jesus Christ in the Roman
Catholic tradition, strive to live the Gospel by
worshipping God in word and sacrament, learning,
teaching, and sharing our faith with those in our parish
and beyond by serving human needs. We commit
ourselves to stewardship through the generous and
responsible use of our spiritual, physical, and material
resources for today’s and tomorrow’s needs.
Holy Mass – Schedule Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am Wednesday 8:30 am Friday 8:30 am
Office Hours Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM until Noon
Regular Mass & Office schedule will resume until further notice!
St. Vincent de Paul Society (812) 926-1637 Pregnancy Care Center (812) 537-4357
*Aloisia Mattl, *Louis Hill, Jr., *Vernon Myers; *Jodi Jerger, *Travis Miller, *Becky Meyer Clark, *Christina Nelms, Gary Manford, Tim Heller, Neil Selley, Caroline Seaver, *Brenda Murr, ,*Marilyn “Jane” Borth, Hayle Brashears, Jared Hodgkins, Stefanie Veale, Nate Groh, Michael Renner, Larry Hagan, McKayla Schmits, Kelly, Gary Wainscott, Ruth Kern, Colton Mattingly, Agnes Kelnhofer, Tinker Walston, Ron Brunner, Payton Maurice, Kate Grossmann, Joan Fuch, Karen Kistner, Mark Chase, Velinda Seaver, Rose Donk, B&L Dunseth, Jessica McKittrick, Kristie Bockhorst Gilb,*Candi Elsen, Barb MCMurray, Chris Strautman, *Mary Leyendecker, Rebecca Oelker, Debbie Walker Russell, Dottie Fedroff, Judy Edwards, Brenda O’Neal, Liz Day, *John P. Hinrichs.
Please remember our Troops, Doctors, Nurses, First Responders and their families in your prayers.
St. Mary’s Parish Collection Information May 16 & 17, 2020
Weekly Collection 3,716.00 (Envelopes –29; Credit Cards – 11) School 50.00 SVDP 245.00 ALSO, please consider our online giving. Just go to the parish website www.mystmrys.com and click the blue box “online giving” to register. Thank you. COUNTERS: Since church is closed for the time being, there is NO need for you to come on Mondays. Stay safe and we will keep you posted. Thank you.
Memorial Day Prayer
God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. R/. Amen
May 26th Tuesday 9:00am Mass @ St. Lawrence parking Lot 5:00-7:00pm Confessions at St. Lawrence rectory porch May 27th Wednesday 9:00am Mass @ St. Lawrence Parking Lot May 28th Thursday 9:00am Mass @ St. Lawrence parking Lot 5:00-7:00pm Confessions at St. Lawrence rectory porch May 29th Friday 9:00am Mass St. Lawrence parking lot 8:00am-5:00pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament @ St. Lawrence Church; contact the office you want to take an hour May 30th Saturday 4:00pm Vigil Mass @ St. Lawrence parking lot May 31st Sunday 10:00am Mass for Pentecost Sunday @ St. Lawrence parking lot A separate closed mass with be celebrated next week for all our two parish catechumens and candidates entering the Church. Pray for them! Look for updates on our website @ www.mystmarys.com or on St. Mary’s Facebook page
St. Mary’s Church is NOW OPEN for visitation!
Monday thru Saturday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm
Sunday from 8:00 am until noon
Due to contruction, temporary access will be by the Sacristy door (Back)
The Ascension of the Lord / Msgr. Owen F. Campion (Source: https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2020/05-22/campion.html)
▪ Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 ▪ Ephesians 1:17-23
▪ Matthew 28:16-20
The Acts of the Apostles once again this Easter season furnishes the first reading for Mass this weekend.
In the readings of the weekends earlier in this season, the identity of the Apostles has clearly been given. The Apostles had exercised the authority of Jesus in naming a new member of their group, Matthias, who succeeded Judas. St. Peter healed the sick and spoke on behalf of the Apostles as Jesus had spoken.
It was not just simply that the Apostles had been with Jesus as specially selected students and followers. The Lord commissioned them to discharge divine authority itself. Thus, they continued the mission of Jesus the Redeemer.
In this reading, clarifying this identity continues. While Acts already has clearly established that Peter was the head of the Apostles, the character of apostleship also belonged to the others. For this reading, the central figures are Philip and John. They performed miracles, as Jesus had done.
They were part of the community of Apostles, then centered in Jerusalem, gathered around and beside Peter. The Apostles in Jerusalem sent Philip and John to Samaria. Just as Jesus had led the Samaritan woman,
among other foreigners, to embrace the Gospel, the Apostles looked to the eternal life of all people. The love of God stops at no borders. It embraces all humanity. Later, the Apostles went much farther afield, bearing with them the mercy and power of Christ.
They began the brilliant history of evangelization in the Church, still a critical goal for Catholics. The second reading is from the First Epistle of St. Peter. This reading is a strong, joyful and enthusiastic proclamation of Jesus as Lord, calling believers to listen to and follow him. The Lord should be in their
hearts and minds. St. John’s Gospel furnishes the last reading. Not a resurrection narrative, it nonetheless serves the
Church’s purpose as it teaches us this weekend. After celebrating the resurrection for these weeks since Easter, the Church is summoning us to look at our lives. This reading is our blueprint for life. Our task as disciples is to love others as Jesus loved all. It is crystal
clear. Our salvation is in God’s love, given to us in the Lord. Indeed, the very act of providing us with a blueprint for living is a vitally important gift given in love to us by God.
Reflection: The next major liturgical event for us will be the celebration of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Soon after this feast, we will celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. Within sight now is the close of the Easter season.
Already, for weeks, the Church has informed us of the resurrection of Jesus, gloriously occurring after the dreadful events of Good Friday. It has shared with us its joy, echoing the joy of the first Christians. It has reported again and again of the risen Lord’s appearances and admonitions.
Gently, gradually but emphatically, the Church has begun the process of leading us in our day to ask what the resurrection truly means for each of us individually. Is it an anniversary or, for each of us, a personal experience?
The Church will reassure us. Our communion with Jesus was not lost with his ascension when he returned to the Father. Communion remains clearly in the Church, standing with the Apostles and their successors. This link with Peter and the other Apostles also is God’s gift to us.
Through the Church, we hear again the words of Christ. In the Church’s sacraments, Christ’s eternal strength and life continue to flow to us. These readings call us to peace, hope and goodness. They teach us about life and how to live. †
(By: Benjamin Popson, Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis)
For a few weeks now, the Church has been celebrating the season of Easter; we have been rejoicing that Jesus rose from the dead after dying on the Cross for us. As you know, Easter is the pinnacle of the Liturgical Year and the center of our Christian faith. But do you know why?
Contemporary Christian music has its merits. While the radio is heavily dominated by rap music—which adds obscenity upon obscenity and does little more than degrade the dignity of women—Christian music at least attempts to focus on spiritually edifying themes. However, Christian artists have not been creative enough to avoid the modern tendency of needlessly repeating words and phrases until they lose their meaning. The careless repetition of phrases like Jesus is Lord and Jesus died for our sins, has led Christians to forget what these phrases exactly mean. Jesus is Lord means that Jesus is God—the second person of the Holy Trinity—yet how many Christians treat Jesus like He is simply God’s best miracle worker! Jesus died for our sins means that He chose to pay the punishment for sin—death—so that we do not have to automatically go to Hell when we die (Praise God!), yet how many Christians remain ignorant of this essential puzzle piece because they brandish Christless crosses and probably don’t even believe in Hell.
Similarly, I would argue that the general evangelical culture in the United States has rendered the phrase Christ is risen meaningless. We hear it and say it so often without reflecting on how Christ’s resurrection is at all significant to our lives. So, what if God couldn’t stay dead for long. He’s God! That’s not impressive. So, what if He beat sin and death. He’s God! That’s not impressive. What is impressive and what is dearly relevant to our lives today is how Jesus demonstrated that a human being could be raised from the dead, body and soul, and dwell in heaven forever!
When Jesus resurrected, He was restored to new life with His same soul and His same body, albeit glorified. When He ascended into Heaven forty days later, He entered the Kingdom of Heaven, body and soul. This means that after we die, we will be resurrected, body and soul, and hopefully live with God forever in Heaven. (This means that Heaven is not a purely spiritually realm where souls float around like dumb drops of dust; it is also physical, because we are physical.) So why is it important that Christ is risen? Because there is hope that we will be raised like Him and live with Him forever in Heaven! Alleluia!
This knowledge brings us hope that can console us in tough times and spur us on to love God and neighbor. When a loved one dies, we can hope that they might one day see God face to face—not as a matter of expression, but literally. When we are overwhelmed by temptation or on the brink of sin, we can remind ourselves of the joy we could experience resting with our Creator forever. What kind of husband could cheat on his wife when reminded of her love for him, and what kind of Christian could sin when vividly reminded of God’s love? God lived as a baby, a boy and a man, was betrayed, flogged and crucified, and rose, ascended and reigns so that He might see each of our glowing faces in Heaven. Let us be patient with one another. Let us cherish each other on earth as in Heaven. Let us bow down before the Word who became flesh and dwells among us in the tabernacle, for CHRIST IS RISEN! Alleluia.
“Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s
creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: St. Mary's Prayer Shawl Ministry has been active despite the shutdowns caused by the virus. The ministry is carried out by devoted parishioners who make the shawls in their own homes, and we have several on hand. If you know of someone who faces ongoing or serious illness, please
contact Anna in the parish office. We will do our best to get prayer shawls to those who need them. May God bless those involved in this ministry and those who wear the shawls as they pray for God's comfort and care.
Married couples go home from a Worldwide Marriage
Encounter Weekend more in love with each other than ever! Want to find out more? Future Marriage Encounter Weekends will be at Mount Saint Francis Centre for Spirituality, New Albany, from 14-16 August 2020, and at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, Indianapolis, from 6-8 November 2020. Visit www.wwme.org for further information.
Quote from the husband of a couple who made a Marriage Encounter Weekend: “We have been married 33 years, and I didn’t realize how much my wife still loves me.”
Volunteer Help Needed At St. Mary’s!
Currently we have construction going on in church. They are repairing the ceiling in the back of church and putting up drywall. Tony will need help over the next few weeks with painting and cleaning, so that we can once again celebrate mass together in church! If you have some time, please call Tony Vincent @ 812-532-0014 or email him @ [email protected]. Please leave your name and number and Tony will call you back. Thank you for volunteering.
Plan for Reopening of Churches and Resuming the Celebration of Public Sunday and
Weekday Masses and the other Sacraments in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Update (05/14/2020): Archbishop Thompson and his staff are continuing to explore and evaluate all the possible ways the public celebration of Mass may resume in the many different parts of the
archdiocese. Because the conditions and local restrictions vary in different parts of the archdiocese and because of the complexities of navigating all of the requirements of opening our churches and restarting public liturgical celebrations, all of the faithful are asked to only follow the timeline of and to attend the
services at their home parish for the next month/until June 15th. This will enable parishes to more accurately assess the numbers of attendees and to communicate effectively with them before their arrival. So, while parishes may resume the public celebration of Mass at slightly different times, all
parishioners are asked to only go to their home parishes for the next month.
