February 22, 2024

Lenten Penance Service

We invite you to attend one of the Lenten Reconciliation Services. Several priests will be available to hear confessions at each Reconciliation Service. We hope you will avail yourself of this great opportunity to encounter a merciful Christ in the sacrament of Reconciliation and to prepare yourself spiritually for the celebration of Easter. All will start at 7 PM.

February:

• 22nd: Saint Julia Catholic Church, Siler City
• 27th: Holy Infant Catholic Church, Durham

March:

• 5th: Holy Cross Catholic Church, Durham
• 6th: Holy Family, Hillsborough
• 7th: St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Chapel Hill
• 12th: Saints Mary & Edward Catholic Church, Roxboro
• 13th: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Burlington
• 14th: Saint Matthew Catholic Community, Durham
• 20th: Duke Catholic Center, Durham
• 21st: Newman Catholic Student Center, Chapel Hill
• 22nd: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Durham

Way of the Cross for Children

On Friday, March 1st at 5:00 PM there will be the Way of the Cross for children followed by the fish fry. We hope you and your children can join us!

Lenten Fish Fry

Knights of Columbus will hold its SECOND Lenten Fish Fry March 1st beginning at 4:30 until 7:00 PM.

The price is $13.00 for Fish, hush puppies coleslaw, mac and cheese, and a dessert. Dine-in at the Fellowship Hall and Drive-through is also available. 

Bilingual Mass of Thanksgiving for our Parish Worship Space

Dear Parishioners, 

It has come to my attention that 21 years ago, on March 2, 2003, Bishop Joseph Gossman presided over the dedication of the present worship space at Immaculate Conception Church. In preparation for the dedication, Father David McBriar, OFM, then pastor of Immaculate Conception stated: “The new space is a symbol of our commitment to be a vibrant presence in the inner city of Durham and a powerful force for God’s work in Durham and beyond.” Fr. David's words are what Immaculate Conception Parish has become, from our worship we receive the strength to be witnesses to the Gospel in the city and beyond. Please join in a Bilingual Mass of Thanksgiving for our parish worship space on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 8:15 AM. 



Fray Manuel Viera, OFM 

Pastor

New Youth Small Group

Assistant to the Youth Director, Nicky Gutierrez, will be leading a High School small group starting on March 2^nd before Saturday night vigil Mass at 4:30 PM in the Youth Room. The group will meet from 4:30-5:15 pm. This small group is open to any high school-age youth. This small group will focus on building community and learning the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours which are the prayers of the Church. The youth will participate in Vespers or evening prayer, and then we will have a reflection on the reading. This will be an English-speaking small group. This group will only have ten open slots, so please sign up.

Bread for the World: Offering of Letters

The weekend of March 02-03, Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is proud to support Immaculate Conception’s annual “Bread for the World: Offering of Letters” to our Congressional representatives.  

This year, once again, we are asking our representatives to approve the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is our nation’s most important national food system legislation. It includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, (aka Food Stamps), and is critical to ending hunger at home and abroad.

Tables with supplies to write a letter to your representatives will be in the Gathering Space after all Masses. For more information, please visit our JPIC Bread for the World: Offering of Letters web page. 

Migrant Worker Hygiene Kits

Throughout Lent, JPIC will be organizing our parish-wide collection of hygiene items for farmworkers in our community. Every spring an estimated 150,000 farmworkers pour into North Carolina to harvest cucumbers, tobacco, apples, sweet potatoes, green peppers, and Christmas trees. Farm workers often work 12-14 hours a day in the hot sun with few breaks, and the average farmworker earns less than $11,000 a year. Would you be able to feed and support your family for that?   

You can pick up a plastic bag and a list of items needed for each kit in the gathering space. Please return completed bags to the collection bins in the church gathering space no later than March 17, 2024.

Phil's Challenge Spring Fundraiser

For the past ten years, Immaculata Catholic School has hosted Phil’s Challenge, our student-led Spring fundraiser. The event will take place from March 1 to March 15. This year, we are introducing to the community at large an opportunity to have our Eagles sponsored (adopted) by you! 

Our theme, “We are GREAT because WE SERVE!” resonates with each member of this school community. One of our very own core values at ICS is to live a life of service and with Phil’s Challenge, this is our ultimate goal. We will perform acts of service both in and out of school. In addition, we are partnering with our parish to collect toiletries for migrant workers in North Carolina. 

Please consider adopting an Eagle (a student at ICS) during Phil’s Challenge and in doing so, YOU are providing current and future Eagles the opportunity to be part of a school community where they can grow in faith, knowledge, and character. A life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

Register Now for the Parish Women's Retreat! 

Registration is open for the 2024 parish women's retreat, Hope for a Hurting World: Exploring Laudato Si' Through the Psalms. Join us April 12-14 at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC, as we explore the grandeur of the world as the "seamless garment of God's creation" and our response to Pope Francis's encyclical call to care for creation in all its sacred forms. Brochures can be found in the Gathering Space, or find more information and register online. Priority registration ends March 5; regular registration ends March 29.

Scuba Vacation Bible School

Take kids deep into an amazing undersea adventure where they’ll experience the ever-flowing, never-ending love of God. Kids will be immersed in the Word and discover what living water is all about! We are now accepting registrations for children from pre-k through 5^th grade. We also welcome adults and teen volunteers who would like to help. The camp will be held in Fellowship Hall from June 17 - 21^st from 9:00 AM - Noon. The price per participant is $50. We hope you can join us! You may sign up below:

You're Invited to Reality Ministries' LEAP DAY Community Worship

When? Thursday, Feb 29th, 7:00-8:00pm

Where? Reality Ministries (916 Lamond Ave, Durham 27701)

What? Join us for a family-friendly hour of worship led by Reality friends of all abilities. All are welcome!

Bishop's Annual Appeal

In recent weeks, you have hopefully received information at home and here in church about the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. You’ve learned about some of the vital ministries funded through the BAA that provide hope and love to those who need it most. The BAA is purely Christ’s arm, reaching all corners of eastern NC with his unwavering love and glory.  

Through your generosity, you: Support the formation of our seminarians studying for the priesthood; Strengthen our Catholic education programs; Form and mold the next generation of

Catholics; provide hope and warm meals through our various food pantries; counseling services; Foster a faithful catholic life via our many ministries and provide direct financial support to rural parishes, ultimately allowing us to spread the Gospel to every corner in NC. We are celebrating 100 years of our Diocese Learning from our History and Shaping our Future. 

Second Collection: Black & Native Americans

Mandated by the III Plenary Council in 1884, this National Collection for Black and Indian people continues as the embodiment of the Church's concern for evangelizing the Black and Indian peoples of the United States. The funds are distributed as grants to dioceses throughout the US, supporting and strengthening evangelization programs that otherwise would cease.

Thank You – You Broke Another JPIC Parish Record! 

On behalf of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and Bull City Fair Trade, we would like to thank all our Immaculate Conception parishioners for supporting our JPIC Valentine's Day Fair Trade Chocolate Sale again this year! We are particularly grateful for the efforts of our Hispanic Young Adults Ministry (PJH El Sembrador) for helping lead this event for our parish community.  



Thanks to the amazing generosity of our parishioners, for the second year in a row sales for our JPIC Valentine's Day Fair Trade Chocolate Sale were the highest level recorded in the history of our parish, breaking yet another  RECORD! “Bull City Fair Trade” sales totaled $3,517.59! Once again, 10% of their proceeds ($352) have been donated back to our JPIC budget so we can continue to serve our parish community. More information and a picture slideshow from the weekend can be found on our JPIC Valentine's Day Fair Trade Chocolate Sale webpage. 

Thank you to all our parishioners, volunteers, and Bull City Fair Trade for your continued commitment to the Gospel’s call to work for justice in the world! 

Financial Report

Below is the financial information for last month. We are grateful to all of you for your financial support. For those of you who would like to sign up for online giving, here are the instructions.