IC Blessings

October 1, 2022

Our Lady of the most Holy Rosary, or Our Lady of Victory, was proclaimed to honor the miraculous victory of the Christian army over the powerful Muslim army at Lepanto in 1571. Our Lady of the Rosary gave us victory! The rosary has been termed a secret weapon by many saints, including Pope St. John Paul II.  Our Lady offers us this prayer for our sanctification. How comforted I am when I pick up my beads and know that the rosary is of divine origin and is a very powerful prayer. I am assured of Our Lady’s attention to my needs. She has made promises to those of us who pray the rosary faithfully. Placing myself in her presence and giving her my love and thankfulness for caring for me is how I begin. I know she will give my prayers to her Son. There is no better weapon to protect us from harm and lead us to heaven. May we all grow in practice of saying the rosary daily as she asked a Fatima.

---Loretta Franz   

REST IN PEACE

Rose Marie Patricia Kelly-Cunningham


Ruth Makins


Thomas Shepard,(March 5, 2022) husband of Ann Shepard 



Eternal rest grant to them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

Upcoming Events

Transitus of St. Francis - October 3, 6:30 p.m. - Our Lady of the Angels Chapel - Reception after Transitus - St. Francis Room.  All are invited. 


The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the annual Fall Culture of Life Bake sale after all Masses Saturday and Sunday October 8 and 9. 


Mountain Area Pregnancy Services is hosting their annual fall fundraising banquet on Thursday, Oct. 13th at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville. Dove award-nominated singing group, SELAH, will headline the event. Attendance is free, but RSVP is required. Doors open at 6:15pm with a buffet dinner, and the program begins at 7pm. 

To learn more or sign up, go to https://mtnpregnancy.com/fall-fundraiser/

MANNA EXPRESS EVENT:

Immaculate Conception Church - Thursday, October 13 - 4:00 to 6:00 pm

Any person in need of food and diapers is welcome to come and receive these items at no charge. 


Rosary to Our Lady of Fatima - Oct. 14, - 11:30 - outside by Our Lady of Hope on the left side of the church. Please join us in our devotion to Mary. Questions, call Becky Jansen at 828-595-9197.


Immaculate Conception Christmas Gift Program will be taking place this year.  

To donate to this worthy cause, volunteers will be handing out names the weekend of November 19th.

Check the upcoming November newsletter and weekly bulletins for more information.

Parish Life Commission Event

Join us for the Oktober Family Fest in the Immaculata School yard on October 16, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. We have a full afternoon of fun scheduled with something for everyone!! There will be a kids zone, games, inflatables, live music, dance exhibitions, bingo, prizes, food, and beer. So bring your game face, dancing shoes and appetite for a fun filled afternoon. 

Proceeds will benefit Immaculata School.

PARISHIONERS OF THE MONTH – THE PEREZ FAMILY

Sabas Perez and his family are our Parishioners of the Month. Sabas came to the Hendersonville area 20 years ago from Mexico. He and his wife, Raquel Roque, have three children. “Dylan is 15, Grecia is 13, and our youngest, Aaron, is 1 ½ years old,” Sabas explains proudly. As a family they are active in the Faith Formation Program here at Immaculate Conception.

Sabas serves as a catechist in Faith Formation working with the parents and families of the Spanish speaking community. “I love to be involved with the parents,” he shares. “I enjoy reading Scripture with them, and then sharing and meditating on God’s words with them.” Sabas models his love for Jesus and the Bible with his own family by praying together and talking about Bible passages.

In his spare time, Sabas enjoys playing soccer and listening to music. “I especially like to watch my children playing and see them smiling and having fun!” he says. He feels that his family is like a good sports team, learning and working together daily on this journey of life, and the journey to follow Christ in our daily lives.

“I feel close to Jesus at Immaculate Conception,” he explains. “I know that Jesus is always there, present in the Eucharist waiting for me, and all of us to visit him, and bring him our joys, sorrows, difficulties, and love. God is always with us in our hearts.”

Sabas and his family do catering for special events. “I enjoy helping to make something special in others’ lives a real celebration.” he says of his work.

Food for Thought

So last month you were left with the question “Do you believe it is more important to give your spouse/children/close friends quality time or quantity time? This is the question Susan and I were asked a number of years ago at the beginning of a three day Christian focused marriage retreat. There were nearly 900 in attendance, and when asked this question everyone answered “quality time”. From my perspective it was the obvious answer. I seemed to have little free time available, so spending “quality time” with my wife, children and friends seemed to be the right answer.

As the retreat proceeded, we were asked to spend time together, and also alone. We carefully evaluated our time spent during a typical week. The retreat leader asked us to take notes, and to separate time spent into essential and non-essential categories.

As the retreat progressed, the speakers challenged us to re-evaluate our time spent from a purely Christian perspective. That is, as a Christian spouse, parent and friend, were we satisfied that our non-essential time choices modeled the Christian life. This is where our self-evaluation began to get very challenging. One of my weekly activities was playing golf on Saturday morning/early afternoon. I rationalized that I needed this activity to de-stress from a tough work week. But as the retreat progressed, I finally realized this was a non-essential time choice. What message was I really sending to my wife and children? Could the message be golf is more important than spending time with them? Food for thought for sure!

Well, I decided to make a big change going forward. One Saturday each month, I spent the day with one of my children. I named it design-a-day. We left after breakfast and returned late afternoon, after doing things together of their choice. I cannot express how much joy came from these special days. I would not trade the memories from these special Saturdays for anything.

When the retreat came to a close, everyone had changed their mind. We all said quantity time was the correct answer. As a Christian we should spend as much time as we can with those we love.

Did you reflect on this question, and if not, you still can!

 

Blessings,

Doug Miller, Parishioner

CONGRATULATIONS IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH!!

Each year, the Hendersonville Times News presents the “Best of Blue Ridge” Official Community Choice Awards to winners in a variety of categories.

This year there were 118 winners in the “Best of the Best” categories.

Members of the community choose the winners by entering their choice of the best in the various categories. For 2022, the Community chose Immaculate Conception Church as the runner-up in the “Best Place of Worship” category! Congratulations to our priests, our staff, our volunteers, and our parishioners as it’s all of us who made this honor happen!

Parts of the Sanctuary Continued

Our Baptismal Font is located on the right side of the altar. The font or basin holds the water for the Sacrament of Baptism. In the early days of the church catechumens were immersed outdoors in bodies of water. Later in the 2nd century AD, Christians were persecuted and baptisms were held in more private locations: bathing rooms and residence’s fountains. The oldest known baptistery (a structure solely intended for holding baptisms) is from the 3rd century and is located in modern Syria. This baptismal font is coffin-shaped, representing the triumph over death. Most baptismal fonts today are smaller, big enough to allow the priest to pour the water of Baptism over the head of the catechumen.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Relics in Our Church Altar Stone

As the son of a princely family, Aloysius grew up in royal courts surrounded by affluence. With his military father, Aloysius also spent much of his young life in army camps as his father wanted him to become a military hero, but from the age of 7 on, Aloysius knew that was not the life for him.

At the age of 9, Aloysius came from his hometown of Castiglione to Florence to be educated. By age 11, he was teaching catechism to poor children, fasting 3 days a week, and practiced a stern, grave dress and demeanor. When he was 13, he traveled with his parents and the Empress of Austria to Spain where he became a Page in the court of Phillip II. He was discouraged by court life, and turned to learning about the lives of the saints. While reading a book about a group of Jesuit missionaries in India, Aloysius decided that he wanted to enter the Society of Jesus.

This decision angered his father and Aloysius spent 4 years going against his father’s manipulations to keep him from becoming a Jesuit until finally, he was allowed to renounce his right to succession and was received into the Jesuit novitiate. He spent 4 years in the study of philosophy, and trying to accept a different idea of penance. He was forced to eat more, forced to spend time with others, and forbidden to spend all his time in prayer.

In 1591, a plague struck Rome. To help the ill, the Jesuits opened a hospital of their own where Aloysius tended the sick, and soon caught the disease himself. He recovered but was so weak he could hardly get out of bed. He continued his strict life of prayer, and died 3 months later at the age of 23.

He is the patron saint of Catholic youth, teenagers, and seminarians. His Feast Day is June 21st.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE 

A PARABLE OF THREE PUMPKINS

As we approach Halloween and the encroaching darkness of fall and winter, let us be reminded that all the world’s darkness – resentment, anger, envy, fear, prejudice, hatred, violence, and oh so many more – are nothing in the presence of God’s light shining through us.

Once upon a time there were 3 little pumpkins. The first pumpkin looked around and said, “I don’t want to change into a jack-o-lantern! I don’t want to lose a part of myself. I’m scared to change! I’m staying just as I am!”

The second pumpkin looked around and said, “I’d like to change and be something different. I might like to be a jack-o-lantern, but I don’t want to let go of what I already have. I’m afraid to become something else so I won’t change either!”

The third pumpkin looked around and said, “I want to be different! I want to shine like the sun! I want everyone to see the light inside of me and be happy. But in order to become a jack-o-lantern, I need to lose a part of myself. I need to let go of my fears and doubts, worries and concerns. I need to change! Open my eyes, my mouth, and my nose and let my light shine!”

The light shone forth from the third pumpkin and brought delight and joy to all who came near. The light spilled from the third pumpkin, chased the darkness away, and made the night brighter than the day.

Lord, some people give off a lot of light because they have absorbed a lot of your light themselves. They shine – not with the kind of light we see with our eyes, but with the kind of light we see with our hearts. Let us not be afraid to change so that the light of our hearts, your love, may shine forth to all around us!

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT COMMUNITY

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately about how important Community is to developing a better sense of service. In so doing, the large wall behind our altar at church has played a prominent part in my understanding.

The wall is composed of natural stones, all different in size and shape, but neatly arranged to make the wall uniform. “That’s like us,” I concluded, “all different but when joined, all effective.”

Lately, much has been said and written to help us understand the need for real community at IC. There are a variety of organizations and ways which can benefit from our God-given gifts and talents.

Thinking about the way that the wall has been put together has helped me to understand Community much better. The opportunities are calling. Will you respond?


---Sid Baker

Thank you for the wonderful support and interest for this year's Oktober Family Fest on October 16, from 1-4p. There are many opportunities for volunteers to come forth to make this a wonderful event for our parish, school and community. There are two links here. One is for your time and the other is for items that are needed to make the event possible. Please click on the link that brings you to the appropriate information you are seeking.

Volunteer Opportunities: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f49afa82daaf58-fall

Donations Items: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E094FADAF2BA0FC1-october1

Due to limited storage, donated items may not be delivered until October 10-13. All items should be labeled for October Family Fest. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The prayer shawl ministry has provided prayer shawls located in the Brides’ Room, for anyone needing a shawl to comfort and keep them warm during Mass. If you need a prayer shawl for you, a relative or a friend, please contact Barbara Guenther at 693-9914 or gag4242@att.net; Mihoko Knudsen at 290-0128 or mihoko0148@gmail.com; Vivi DeTeresa (habla espanol) at 954-668-8961.

 Immaculate Conception Women's Guild

Sponsor's Open Arms Baby Shower

October is Respect Life Month. With all the turmoil surrounding abortion and the right to choose, this is the perfect time for the Women’s Guild to be sponsoring a “baby shower” for Open Arms Pregnancy Center. We can show our beliefs by donating to this great cause. The Guild will collect all donated baby items before all Masses on October 22 and 23. There is more need this year than ever. The Pregnancy Center has suggested these items: Diapers: sizes newborn through 6; baby wipes (name brands preferred); baby lotion, baby teethers, small safe stuffed toys; girls baby towels; receiving blankets; onesies: girls 6, 12, 18 and 24 months; for boys 12, 18 and 24 months. New clothes for girls newborn 0-3 and 18 months. One of their biggest needs is for sleepers for girls sizes 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months; for boys 12 and 18 months. Pack and Play as well as new car seats would be appreciated. The Center would accept gift cards in any amount especially from Walmart or Ingles. This is used for baby formula or meds and for a special need for a baby. Working together we can make a difference!

If you need additional information contact Florence Quinzel at (828)891-9069 or florbud@att.net.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN ATTIC

Because of the high demand the inventory at the Attic is at a record low. We currently find ourselves with no blankets, sheets, towels, pots, pans, dishes or drinking glasses.  As always, we are also in need of furniture. If anyone is moving, downsizing or would just like to donate some of these items, we would greatly appreciate it.

We thank you for your continued support to this ministry. If you have any questions or need to schedule a pickup, call Margaret Cavagnaro at (828)280-1298.

Calling All Parishioners

The garden committee invites you and your family members to join them in a COMMUNITY WORK DAY - Saturday, October 8th, from 9-11 A.M. [rain date Oct.15th] If interested, please bring garden gloves and tools (clippers, shovels, trowels, etc.)  We will be trimming, digging and transplanting to ready our church grounds for the Winter. Questions? Please call Ann Nolan @ 674 - 8492 or email Terry Sardinia @ terry.sardinia@gmail.com. Thanks and we're looking forward to seeing you on the 8th.  

Knights of Columbus

Council #7184

Knights of Columbus Council #7184 is collecting sweatshirts/sweatpants for patients at Charles George VA Hospital. New sweatpants and/or sweatshirts are needed for VA patients discharged without their own clothing. Occasionally, veterans are admitted wearing clothes that need to be cut or are so unserviceable and must be thrown out. The greatest need is for Large or Extra-Large sizes. Only new clothing can be accepted. If you wish to donate a sweatshirt, pants, or both, any Knight will be gladly accepting items or leave at Welcome stands for pickup before any Mass. Collections will be donated to the CGVAMC in time for Veteran's Day. Let's show our support to our veterans who have given so much and now need us.

Own the Day, Then Give it Away!

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5 [RSV]

Here in the Western mountains of North Carolina the month of October signals Apple Festivals-an abundant harvest time, orchards of apple trees are picked clean, then those apples are distributed everywhere people enjoy good fruit.

As I reflected on Jn.15:5, I realized Jesus was referring to “The Fruits of the Holy Spirit” fruits that are given to every believer in Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. Against such things there is no law ”[Galatians 5:22-23 -Amp. Bible]

Knowing that I, as a Servant Leader, do not always reflect those wonderful fruits, I decided to do something about it. So, I began what I call “Own the Day-Then Give it Away”.

Every morning when I get up, I review the Fruits of the Spirit in prayer, asking Jesus to guide me, as I pick one or two. Then, inviting Jesus to help I allow my day to be owned and governed by those fruits, looking for opportunities to distribute them, giving them away to those close to me, and those I meet in my daily journey, with Him.

Harvesting, bearing, and distributing His Fruit has changed me for the best, and as I do, I can see the peaceful results within me and for those around me. 

I invite you, right where you are to bear “The Fruits of The Holy Spirit", ask Jesus for His help. I would not be at all surprised if He invites you to get started by being filled on the inside with His forgiving Love, then give it away distributing it to those you meet along the way in your journey.

---Dave Coe, Master Facilitator, The Catholic Vision For Leading Like Jesus-S-3 Leadership

Need/Want Prayer? Contact Dave @ Ambaasadordhc@gmail.com

Stewardship Committee Hosts Estate Planning Seminars

The Stewardship Committee hosted estate planning seminars on Friday, July 29th and Tuesday, August 9th in the St. Francis Room. A total of twenty parishioners attended and learned how to begin an estate plan using wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other legal documents to help us protect our loved ones and carry out our wishes. Attorneys Lee Mulligan and Brad Henry of Strauss & Associates, P.A. shared their expertise and insight with examples of common practices employed including bequests in your will, life income arrangements such as Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Remainder Trusts, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions to minimize taxes and other useful strategies. Gina Rhodes, Director of Planned Giving for the Diocese of Charlotte, provided Estate Planning Toolkits for all attendees. If you have any specific questions please call Gina at 704-370-3364. Jim Kelly, Director of Development closed with information on stewardship and the Catholic Heritage Society. Several parishioners lingered afterwards to share refreshments and have their questions answered. We plan to have more educational events in the future. Thank you and God bless you.

---The Stewardship Committee

Immaculate Conception Church
208 7th Avenue West
Hendersonville, NC 28791 

Church Office
611 North Church St.
Suite 101
Hendersonville, NC 28792

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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