Salutations! How are you? For the Daily Masses yesterday and today we have the opportunity to reflect upon the famous words of Jesus about, “The Vine and the Branches.” Found within the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John this is a beautiful explanation from Our Lord about the benefits and blessings and fruits that we will bear when we “remain” in Him. Saint Augustine, one of the great Doctors of the Church, expounded upon this astounding reality by stating: |
|
Abide in Me, and I in you: not they in Him, as He in them; for both are for the profit not of Him, but them. The branches do not confer any advantage upon the vine, but receive their support from it: the vine supplies nourishment to the branches, takes none from them: so that the abiding in Christ, and the having Christ abiding in them, are both for the profit of the disciples, not of Christ; according to what follows, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. Great display of grace! He strengtheneth the hearts of the humble, stoppeth the mouth of the proud. They who hold that God is not necessary for the doing of good works, the subverters, not the assertors, of free will, contradict this truth. For he who thinks that he bears fruit of himself, is not in the vine; he who is not in the vine, is not in Christ; he who is not in Christ, is not a Christian…
For then may His words be said to abide in us, when we do what He has commanded, and love what He has promised. But when His words abide in the memory, and are not found in the life, the branch is not accounted to be in the vine, because it derives no life from its root. So far as we abide in the Saviour we cannot will any thing that is foreign to our salvation. We have one will, in so far as we are in Christ, another, in so far as we are in this world. And by reason of our abode in this world, it sometimes happens that we ask for that which is not expedient, through ignorance. But never, if we abide in Christ, will He grant it us, Who does not grant except what is expedient for us. And here we are directed to the prayer, Our Father. Let us adhere to the words and the meaning of this prayer in our petitions, and whatever we ask will be done for us…
And what is Christ’s joy in us, but that He deigns to rejoice on our account? And what is our joy, which He says shall be full, but to have fellowship with Him? He had perfect joy on our account, when He rejoiced in foreknowing, and predestinating us; but that joy was not in us, because then we did not exist: it began to be in us, when He called us And this joy we rightly call our own, this joy wherewith we shall be blessed; which is begun in the faith of them who are born again, and shall be fulfilled in the reward of them who rise again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life and Joy and Love in Christ,
Fr. James Peterson
|
|
Fr. James Daily Video Message
Daily video messages from Fr. James and Masses celebrated by Father James can be found on Facebook, YouTube, our My Parish app and on our website:
|
|
Trivia Question of the Week
What is the final word from the First Reading for today’s Daily Mass (Acts 15:7-21)?
A. Word
B. Decision
C. Sabbath
D. Kindness
See the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
|
|
May is the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Join us to pray the Rosary at Immaculate Conception during the month of May:
Sundays after the 10:00 am Mass, led by the Council of Catholic Women, and weeknights at 6:00 pm in the church, led by the Knights of Columbus.
“I take refuge, then, in prayer, and turn to Mary, and our Lord always triumphs.”
(Saint Thérèse of Lisieux)
|
|
Pray for the Synod
Synod 2022 Prayer
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever. Amen.
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us
|
|
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. James! |
|
November 7 - 18, 2022
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey in faith while walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Sail on the Sea of Galilee, explore the Old City of Jerusalem and have Mass at the most meaningful sites in Christianity. Accompanied by an excellent local guide, learn about the spiritual, historical, and cultural significance of the Holy Land. More information coming soon! magitravelinc.com/holy-land
|
|
Enjoy a free subscription to FORMED.org
FORMED provides amazing online videos, audio and books 24/7 for you to grow in your faith. It's EASY and FREE to Register!
-
Go to iccsonline.formed.org and click next
- Enter your name and email and click sign-up
- Enjoy and share with others in our local community!
|
|
You can watch with your free parish subscription by simply selecting our parish’s name during registration at formed.org/signup.
|
|
We are registering students for the 2022- 2023 school year. Please contact any of the following with questions – we love to show off our wonderful school!
Jane Bona, 763-788-9065, x 220
Megan Sackmaster, 763-788-9062, x 207
|
|
WeShare, our online giving provider has been upgraded. When you log in, using your current email address and password, you will see the new landing page. Improvements to the platform include:
- Ability to donate to multiple collections at once
- Improved process of updating your payment source information
- The ability for more detailed receipts
- Ability to upload documents
- Easier Account Creation
- Simplified-Robust Event Registration Options
We have attached an updated Giver Guide to help you navigate this update. You may also reach out to the WeShare Support Team at 877-316-0260 option 1, and then option 2 for Donor Support.
Thank you for choosing online giving to support our parish. We appreciate your generosity.
|
|
Immaculate Conception Parish App |
|
Answer to the Trivia Question of the Week: |
|
Immaculate Conception
Church and School
Church: 763-788-9062
School: 763-788-9065
info@immac-church.org | ICCSonline.org
|
|
You're receiving this email because of your relationship with Immaculate Conception Church and School. To no longer receive messages from Fr. James Peterson, please click the link at the bottom of this email to unsubscribe. Thank you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
