IC Blessings
April 1, 2022
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Prayer for Peace by Jane Deren, Ph.D.
O Prince of Peace,
Once more we hear the guns of war,
Once more we see the faces
Of frightened children.
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
That they may be granted peace;
We pray for the people of Russia,
That they may demand peace;
We pray for our country,
That we may be a positive part
Of peacemaking in this world.
O Prince of Peace,
Lead us from this dark time
To a deeper understanding
Of the global human family,
So all may break bread together
In the secure embrace of peace.
Amen
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Lenten Schedule and Easter 2022
Confessions & Stations on Friday's of Lent in Main Church
Confessions from 5:00pm to 5:45pm
Stations of the Cross at 6:00pm
**NO CONFESSIONS SCHEDULED FOR HOLY WEEK**
Tuesday of Holy Week ~ April 12th
No Parish Mass
Chrism Mass – 10:00am at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Charlotte.
Watch the Mass live-streamed from Charlotte:
https://www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte
Wednesday of Holy Week ~ April 13th
No Parish Mass
Holy Thursday – April 14th
6:00pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper – Main Church
Good Friday – April 15th
12:00pm Noon – Stations of the Cross – Main Church
3:00pm – Passion of the Lord – Main Church
Holy Saturday – April 16th
No Confessions
11am – Blessing of the Easter Food – Main Church
(please bring only a small representation of your Easter food for this blessing)
7:30pm – Easter Vigil Mass – Main Church
Easter Sunday – April 17th
Masses in Main Church
8:00am (No incense)
10:00am - English
12:00am - English
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MEET OUR PARISH VOLUNTEER RECEPTIONISTS |
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If you’ve called or stopped by the Parish Office in the St. Joseph’s Center on a weekday afternoon, you will have been greeted by one of these volunteer receptionists. |
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Linda Bivens joined Immaculate Conception 17 years ago when she moved to Flat Rock from Camarillo, California where she worked for an insurance agency. She “enjoys meeting parishioners as they come to the office or call on the phone, and enjoys working with the staff.” |
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Susan Kovacs moved from Flat Rock, Michigan to Flat Rock, NC 40 years ago. She was a Special Education teacher here for 35 years. Since retiring, she volunteers at the Friends of the Library and is the Manager at the Henderson County Curb Market. She was a part of Rose’s Ministry and helps wash the small altar linens. |
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Kathy Meersman was a Director of Faith Formation in Racine, Wisconsin before retiring 20 years ago, and moving to Flat Rock. She has been a catechist in our Faith Enrichment Program, and a group leader for EDGE. She leads our parish Welcome Committee, and loves “meeting and greeting our parish family at the office, and the Welcome Station in the narthex.” |
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Marcie Scott moved to Hendersonville 15 years ago from California. “We loved the mountains and wanted to be closer to our kids in South Carolina,” she explains. Marcie was active in the Wednesday night potluck dinners before the pandemic, and is a volunteer with Rose’s Ministry. She also delivers meals to the doctors who volunteer at the Free Clinics. |
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For most of us, entering our church feels like coming home. We know where everything is and what it’s for. But we may not know the “official” name for each area and item we find there. Each of the areas of the church, and the objects contained therein, have a purpose and a history. The following is an overview of these sacred spaces and objects, and part of a series that we will feature over the next several months. |
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Gathering Space (Narthex)
The area between the outside doors and the doors leading directly into the worship space is known as the Narthex. The term Narthex comes from Greek and means “giant funnel”.
Originally, in the early days of the church, those not yet baptized and those penitents not allowed into the church for all or part of the Mass remained in the narthex outside of the worship space. While these restrictions on Mass attendance have been relaxed over the centuries, the term “Narthex” remains.
Today, this is the area of the church for parishioners to meet and greet each other, where we receive palms, and where weddings, baptisms and funerals begin. It is in this space that we discard, at least mentally, our secular ways and prepare to enter the worship place where our attitude, body language and even our attire reflect our belief that God resides in the tabernacle.
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Nave
When we exit the narthex through the interior doors we are entering the nave, that area of the church where the laity participate in the liturgy. The word “nave” comes from the Latin “navis,” meaning ship. Whether flowing from the “ship of St. Peter” or Noah’s ark, in earliest times the church was thought of as a ship destined for heaven in which we, the people of God, are passengers.
You can see this concept of a ship in the architecture of our ceiling. The exposed beams and wooden slats in our ceiling symbolically represent the keel or bottom of a ship. Think of the ceiling as a ship stripped of everything except the bottom structure, turn it upside down and envision our ship as designed by the architect.
For over 1,000 years the congregation stood in the nave, with men on the right facing the altar and women on the left side. In the 13th century, pews were added and, often to soften the financial blow to the parish, pews were rented or bought by individuals or families. Although no longer the norm today, this attitude of “my pew” and “my seat” is often on view today.
The nave is not a meeting place, but a very sacred space. The congregation is not an audience, but participants in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which St. Pope John Paul II called “the sum and substance of our faith”.
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Our K of C Council Supports Brother Knights in Poland |
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Knights of Columbus in Poland are aiding Ukrainian refugees at the border and providing housing for refugee families. At regional centers across Poland, Knights are also collecting supplies — including medicine, generators, sleeping bags and other necessities — and have begun to deliver them to the Archdiocese of Lviv in Western Ukraine.
Supplementing contributions at the first two Soup and Stations, Council 7184 donated $500 to the Ukraine Solidarity Fund. The K of C has pledged $2M to this fund. As seen in the March 11th Catholic News Herald, you may make a donation using this link:
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On April 16th at 11:30, after the Blessing of the food, there will be an America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally against Satanism. It will be held in front of the church by Our Lady of Hope and should last about 30 minutes. For questions call Becky Jansen 828-595-9197.
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Immaculate Conception Women's Guild Upcoming Events |
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Friday April 1, the Women's Guild will host Soup and Bread after the Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m. Donations will be used to support Ukrainian refugees.
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The ICWG will be selling raffle tickets on an Easter basket after all Masses the weekend of Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. The drawing will take place after the noon Mass on Sunday, April 3.
Proceeds will support local charities.
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The IC Women’s Guild will be having their Annual Rummage Sale on June 23, 24 and 25. As you begin your Spring Cleaning, please save your donations, and support this event. Watch the bulletin and the IC Newsletter for additional information. |
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All Parish Garden Work Day |
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Feliciano Botello, Terry Sardinia, Bob Gray, and Ann Nolan invite you to join them in a COMMUNITY GARDEN WORK DAY on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00-11:00 AM. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
(Rain date: April 30.)
Please bring garden gloves, a trowel and/or clippers. Don’t have any? No problem, we’ll have extras.
We will be doing “winter clean up” by weeding, raking dead leaves, doing some light pruning and generally preparing our beautiful gardens for their summer glory!
We’ll meet in the upper and lower parking lots and look forward to seeing you on the 23rd!!!!
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Due to the large number of families in Henderson County in need of furniture and household items, the inventory at the Good Samaritan Attic has once again become very low. This ministry provides used furniture and household items at no cost to those in need. We provide families with everything from tables, chairs, couches, beds, mattresses, pots, pans, bedding, dishes and much more. Your generosity makes it possible for this ministry to help so many in need. If you are moving or downsizing and would like to donate furniture or household items, please contact Margaret Cavagnaro at (828)280-1298 to schedule a pickup. We also offer receipts for tax purposes, if needed. |
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What: Immaculate Conception Synod Listening Session (Online)
When: Open until April 18th
“Synod” comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “walking together on the road.” Pope Francis is expanding this Synod (usually only for bishops) to include ALL the faithful as the Roman Catholic Church moves forward in the modern world. Tell Pope Francis your thoughts on the joys & challenges of the Church today! Our in-person listening sessions have closed, but you can still participate online! This first diocesan phase of the Synod on Syndodality in 2022 will have all responses sent to our bishop & will culminate in a 2023 Vatican gathering. To learn more about the Synod, visit the Vatican website https://www.synod.va/en.html For more information, please contact Noelle Thompson (our lay contact person) at
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St. Gerard House Needs Your Help.
The Feed the Need program provides life skills training for young adults who are on the Autism spectrum and we have a variety of classes in which our participants are involved. Our volunteers can help with these classes and share their experiences.
Art:: Lead participants in art projects from beginning to end. Painting, drawing, mosaics...we can discuss. We are open to your ideas! Each project can last for one session or several sessions.
Session Days: Wednesday 2:00pm-5:00pm, Friday 10:00-1:00pm
Garden: Teach participants proper weeding, planting and harvesting techniques in the Feed the Need Community garden. If interested, prepare gardening teaching materials. At harvesting time these vegetables can be incorporated into the culinary menus.
Session Days: Tuesday 10:00am-1:00pm, Thursday 10:00-1:00pm
Culinary classes: Lead participants through cooking exercises with the goal of teaching others how to plan and prepare healthy and simple meals. We are excited to learn about your favorite dishes.
Session Days: Monday 2:00pm-5:00pm, Thursday 2:00pm-5:00pm
Salvation Army Food Pantry: Along with clients, assist the Salvation Army Volunteers with sorting donated food items and packaging items to be shared with members of our community.
Session Days: Wednesday, 10:30am - 12:30 pm
**Each session has 4-9 participants along with the assistance of two staff members and all supplies are provided.**
Thank you again for your interest. Please feel free to reach out to Dawn Winter, FTN Program Manager (dawn.winter@stgerardhouse.org or 828-676-4086) with any questions.
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Thank you Knights of Columbus |
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A thank-you from an elementary student who received a wheelchair with the help of Op LAMB. |
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The Immaculate Conception Women's Guild Celebrates St. Patrick's Day |
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The Knights of Columbus Memorial St. Patrick's Day Dinner for Joel Carter |
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Immaculate Conception Church
208 7th Avenue West
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Church Office
611 North Church St.
Suite 101
Hendersonville, NC 28792
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We are a joyful Catholic community of disciples of Jesus Christ, moved by love, to seek the lost and the broken and bring them home |
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