Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
1571 S. Martine Ave. Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Phone: 908-889-2100 | Email: office@ihmparish.net
Saturday (Anticipated) 5:00 PM
Sundays - 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 noon
Weekdays & Saturdays - 7:00 AM and 8:30AM
National Holidays - 9:00 AM
Holy Days - 7:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM
Morning Prayer - Monday - Saturday at 8:15 AM
Rosary: Monday - Saturday after 8:30 AM Mass
Novena to the Miraculous Medal & St. Jude: Saturdays after 8:30 AM Mass Reconciliation: Saturdays from 4:15 - 4:45 AM
Mission Statement
“We reach out to all through prayer and service, as we live our Catholic faith in Christ with Mary.”
Download Bulletin
2nd Sunday of Lent:
February 25, 2024
Mass Livestream
Sunday Mass
2nd Sunday of Lent: February 25, 2024
Please “Like” and “Subscribe” our YouTube Channel so we may provide more live-streaming content from our church directly to your home.
Daily Mass
Daily Mass and Holy Day Masses that were live-streamed at our church can be seen on our Facebook Video Channel. Click the Facebook Watch banner below to view all of our videos.
Pastor’s Corner
A Note from Fr. Mike
February 25, 2024
Often times God’s purpose and will seem strange and incomprehensible, as in the beginning of today’s first reading when Abraham is asked to sacrifice his only son. Isaac was to be the one through whom God would grant Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars, and was himself a gift from God in Abraham and Sarah’s old age. Yet Abraham intends to follow God’s will even when he may not understand the purpose or reasoning behind it. He remembers that he is called to be faithful to the covenant that God has established with him. He remembers that his loyalty is to the giver, God, not the gift, Isaac, and thus is rewarded.
Peter, James and John did not understand the need for Jesus to go to Jerusalem and experience his passion and death. They are given a glimpse of His true glory, of the only begotten Son, to strengthen and encourage them on this journey. It is when they encounter the risen Lord that they come to a fuller understanding of the Lord’s passion and death so that they can grow as disciples and experience greater conversion and commitment to the Kingdom
Both are a reminder to us that we are called, even when it seems difficult and incomprehensible, to place our trust in God’s love and discern His will for us. The Lenten practices of prayer, almsgiving (service) and fasting can help us to do just that.
Peace, Fr. Mike
Spirituality Seminar: The Eucharist
January 28, 2024
In this year of Revival in Eucharistic Spirituality we shall be reflecting on the very roots of our Eucharist, the source and summit of our spiritual life. How did Christians refer to the Eucharist before it had that name? How was the Eucharist celebrated at the very beginning? There is no better way to prepare for Easter than to contemplate the biblical foundation of the Eucharist.
Spirituality Seminar begins every Tuesday night at 7:15PM on ZOOM.
Please request an invitation by sending a message to Fr. Rob at frrob@ihmparish.net
Events @ IHM Parish
Online Giving Options
“Your continued support during these difficult times is important for the Church to continue to do its work. Thank you!”
Youth & Family
Get Excited!
Summer Academy 2024 will take place Sunday, June 23rd to Tuesday, July 2nd. Classes Monday-Friday will take place from 9:00 am- 1:00 pm.
On Weekdays each day will conclude with 12:00 pm Mass (all parents will be welcome to attend).
New to 2024: We will have two abbreviated Sunday Sessions. From 10:30 am-11:30 am, children and youth will do a shortened session with their catechists and classmates. Parents will attend their own sessions, then we will reunite for 12:00 pm Mass.
Sunday Sessions will also be an anchor point for program wide charity and service collections to be announced later!
Registration will open on Wednesday, February 14th!
A Message from Faith Formation
Pastoral Associate: John McGuire
February 25, 2024: Keeping it Orderly: The Return
Last February we offered a series of write ups on 4 religious communities, the Benedictines, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Jesuits. In that series we considered the foundational pillars, significant saints, a simple prayer, and specific writings of note that are significant to each order. Over the next four weeks, we’re going to revisit this format to consider the Franciscan order, Carthusians, Salesians (and what might be unique about that group). In our final week, we’ll consider an order of devout sisters called the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (the order my wife once belonged to).
We’ll take breaks for any important parish news, but otherwise let’s strap in for an enlightening ride! Whenever possible, we’ll also try to highlight food products and drinks these specific communities may produce for their support, so that families can purposefully indulge in those things during the Easter Season, to make their joyful celebrations even more meaningful!
As individuals we all experience the love of God, and prayer in diverse ways. Perhaps as we consider these faithful communities, we can each take something away that will enrich, and deepen our experience of faith! This week, let us pray for all of the faithful men and women in the world that have devoted their life to the service of God, and in many cases their neighbors, in consecrated life. Let us pray that men and women continue to dedicate themselves to religious life, and other important vocations within the Church. God Bless and have a wonderful week!
What in the Word?!
February 25, 2024
What in the Word?! Episode 4: Fortitude. Catholic musings by Faith Formation Coordinator John McGuire. Find out this and a whole lot more by clicking the “Play” button on this video. Please “Like” and “Subscribe” so we may provide more Catholic content for your family. Thank you for your support!
IHM Youth Ministry powered by BOLD
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR OTHER 7th & 8th GRADE NIGHTS in 2024:
The Search Begins Zoom Series: Tuesdays March 5, 12, 19. April 2, 9, 16, 22 @ 7:00PM
Living Stations of the Cross: Good Friday March 29 @ 7:00PM
get Involved!
Women’s Prayer Group
The Women's Prayer Group will gather again on Thursday night March 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM on ZOOM. The theme will be “Why is there suffering”. Email Tracey at tefoleyihm@gmail.com for more details. Prayer connects us all!
Lectio Divina/
Prayer Group
Join us for some Lectio Divina, reflection, discussion and quiet time as we deepen our personal relationship with God. Prayer Group is expected to return Thursday morning March 7, 2024 from 9:30 AM until 10:45 AM. Contact Phyllis at tman18912@comcast.net or call 908-889-2100.
Men’s Scripture Group
The next Men’s Scripture & Discussion group meeting will be a LIVE session on Saturday morning March 2, 2024 at 7:30 AM in the Church Basement. Donuts & coffee served! Contact David at dndiken@aol.com for details.
Alpha
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe and everyone is welcome. It runs online, in cafés, churches, universities, homes—you name it! No two Alphas look the same, but they generally have three key things in common: hospitality, a talk and good conversation.
BETA
Beta picks up where Alpha left off. Great conversations & a safe space to reflect. Explore your faith. Dive deeper! Discuss how faith affects your life. Open to all. You don’t have to be an Alpha graduate to join Beta. Everyone is welcome. Meetings twice a month on Zoom. Short films with small group discussions. At Beta, you can seek more answers to life’s big questions with others. Tell us what you think. We would love to know!
PRAYER SHAWL
Knitters and crocheters as well as those who want to learn are welcome to join the Prayer Shawl Ministry. The completed prayer shawls will be distributed to the sick of our parish. Meetings are on the 3rd Sunday of every month, after the 10:00 AM Mass. Starting on Sunday February 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the Nazareth Center. All are welcome! Contact Marion if you have any questions.
Choir/Music
IHM Church Choir has practice every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. All skill levels are welcome. If you can sing in the shower or in your car, you can definitely sing with us! Flex those vocal chords for the holy spirit and meet new friends from the parish. If you would like to share your gift of music with our church, or if you would just like to listen. Please contact Katie if you are interested.
Video Team
We need volunteers to help livestream daily Mass at 8:30 AM. Typically Mass lasts between 25-35 minutes. No technical background required. We will teach you everything we know. Role requires operating the camera while attending Mass. There is no long-term commitment. This will be great experience for film students or seniors wishing to expand their technical knowledge. Please contact Rick if you’d like to help.
Hospitality
We live to serve our parish and our community as a whole. The Hospitality Ministry is a collective of talented individuals that will gather for our parish events to help prepare food, serve our guests and clean up afterwards. It’s a great way to give back to our parish community and build healthy friendships along the way. Please contact Tracey if you would like to assist the Hospitality Ministry.
Food Pantry
“When is Food Pantry open?”
+ Every Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM
+ Every 2nd Sunday from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM
“Next Sunday Food Pantry?”
+ Sunday March 10, 2024
We are located behind the church at 1571 South Martine Avenue. Scotch Plains, New Jersey 07076. Please bring your donations to the back of the church. Place the items in the wooden crate near the backdoors. You may also drop donations off at the Nazareth Center. Thank you for your generosity!
Archdiocese Update
February 16, 2024
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In the four gospels, we see repeatedly that the disciples of Jesus are gathered together to experience communion with the Lord and with each other. Then, once they have been conformed to Jesus, their Master, they are sent out to the world to preach, to heal, to cast out demons, and, ultimately, to transform the world. The Second Vatican Council (Lumen Gentium) teaches that this dynamic of gathering and being sent is the work of the Blessed Trinity.
Synodality is an expression of this dynamism of gathering and being sent (communion and mission). As noted in the Synthesis Report for the October 2023 session, Synodality: A Synodal Church in Mission (see selection below):
Synodality translates the Trinitarian dynamism with which God comes to meet humanity into spiritual attitudes and ecclesial processes. For this to happen, it is necessary for all the baptized to commit themselves to the reciprocal exercise of their vocation, charism, and ministry. Only in this way can the Church truly become a “conversation” (cf. Ecclesiam suam 67) within itself and with the world, walking side by side with every human being in the style of Jesus.
In order to be of service to others, we must first encounter Jesus and become more deeply united with him and with each other...
Good news
Rite of Election Update
February 20, 2024
This past weekend we had a wonderful experience at our cathedral with the Call to Continuing Conversion for candidates from other Christian denominations seeking full communion with the Catholic Church and on Sunday for catechumens seeking full initiation at the Easter Vigil. This year there were 677 candidates and 444 catechumens from 123 participating parishes. I am happy to report that Union County had the most candidates and catechumens this year in our archdiocese. This is the result of the zealous work of our priests and your pastoral associates working with the OCIA/C. Congratulations! Thank you!
Bishop Elais
Spirituality Retreat 2024
February 6, 2024
Many thanks to Phyllis Mano for leading the wonderful Winter Day Of Reflection/In House Retreat. It was a wonderful morning of prayer, reflection and inner peace. Phyllis guided attendees to a deeper way of understanding God's love for us and Thank you also to Mary Anne Sopko for organizing this lovely event. We welcome you to consider joining our wonderful Rosary Altar Society. For more information please contact Janice Good-Piga at 908-759-6729. Whether you can attend all or only some of our meetings and events, we know that you will find in very fulfilling.
A Letter from our Sisters
January 30, 2024
Here's a thank you letter from our friends at St John the Baptist that visited from the Philippines! Thanks again to Sr. Maria and Sr. Rosita for the kind words. Click on the image to view the letter up close.
What is wrong with this picture?
Our latest Spirituality Seminar is hosting a limited 2 evening event on Saint Paul. Our presenter is Karen Schurtz. This was held over two Tuesdays: January 16 & 23, 2024 over ZOOM. Recordings are now available - click on the videos above to watch. If you want to do some pre-seminar reading, please read The Acts of the Apostle in your Bible. Session 2 has associated readings available here.
HELP US UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO!
January 1, 2024
Happy New Year Parishioners! As part of ongoing efforts to improve communications and outreach at the parish we want to update parishioner contact information, so we serve you better with effective, relevant and timely communications to members of household based on their preference. Please take a moment to scan the code or click on the link and complete the form to update your contact information. On behalf of the communications team at IHM, we thank you!
The O Antiphons of Advent
December 17, 2023
The O Antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are recited. They are the Antiphons preceding the Magnificat during evening prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, from December 17-23 as well as the Alleluia verse preceding the Gospel during daily Mass. This year the priests of Immaculate Heart of Mary offer reflections on these antiphons in the hope that they will help your prayer and preparation for the coming celebration of Christmas. May our loving God continue to bless you and your family this Advent season.
Resources
Formed.org is "Catholic Faith On Demand". Similar to Netflix, Formed.org gives you access to Catholic faith inspired movies, cartoons, audio books, comic books, radio talks, podcasts and a whole lot more. The parish council at Immaculate Heart of Mary has purchased a FORMED.org subscription so that all our parishioners will have access to great Catholic content at no additional charge to you. It’s our gift, so your family can have access to wholesome entertainment that is both engaging and informative.
Signing up on FORMED has become a lot easier and parish codes and custom registration URLs are no longer needed. Go to formed.org/signup. Enter zip code 07076 and select Immaculate Heart of Mary as your parish to activate your FREE subscription.
SCAM DISCLOSURE
As a periodic reminder, there has been an increase in the number of fraudulent emails across the country. Financial losses can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars and are often uninsured. Recently we have received notification of email and text scams that will use the name of one of our pastors to solicit funds in the form of gift cards or cash donations. You might notice Fr. Mike’s or Fr. Rob’s name concluding the request? Our pastors have already heard from parishioners who have received emails or text messages, seemingly from the priest asking for donations, account numbers or gift card requests. Please note that our parishes and schools do not raise money in this manner and to exercise the utmost caution when receiving this type of communication.
I: Always check the e-mail address and subject line from the recipient: Our communications always come from @ihmparish.net. If there is an unfamiliar e-mail address being used from a person you know, or if you notice spelling errors in their name, it's most likely a scam. DO NOT REPLY OR CLICK ON LINKS FROM THOSE MESSAGES! They are designed to "phish" important information from your computer.
II: Report Spam/Report Phishing/Flag E-Mail: Most e-mail platforms have the option to “Report Spam” or "Report Phishing" or "Flag" to properly discard suspicious e-mails. Be sure to take advantage of these security features if you suspect a fraudulent message. Law enforcement agencies urge parishioners to question any email or text that doesn’t come from a person they know from their contacts. If our pastor’s name is used, parishioners should contact the parish to verify the legitimacy of the appeal.
III: Anyone who feels that they have been the victim of this type of scam is urged to contact the local authorities:
Scotch Plains Police Department: https://police.scotchplainsnj.gov
Fanwood Police Department: https://www.fanwoodnj.org/departments/police
In addition, it's highly recommended to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission: http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov
Contact our office if you need assistance navigating through any potential problems. Call 908-889-2100 or email office@ihmparish.net
