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

Easter Sunday:
March 31, 2024


Mass Livestream


Sunday Mass

Palm Sunday of Lent: March 24, 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


Triduum 2024 - Video Message from Fr. Mike

Triduum 2024 - Message from Fr. Mike

A Note from Fr. Mike

March 31, 2024

The first witnesses to the resurrection did not 1st encounter Jesus Risen from the dead. Their first hint that something tremendous was happening was when they went to the tomb after the Sabbath and found that the body they expected to see was not there. It is only after they encounter the empty tomb that they encounter the Risen Lord. We have spent the season of Lent trying to empty ourselves of the sins, attitudes, habits, practices etc. that bring death into our spiritual, and sometimes physical, lives so that we can encounter Him who gives life. We, in a sense, have emptied our tombs so that we can encounter our Risen Lord anew and allow Him to fill us with his love. In this way we become better and more prepared to live as dynamic disciples following Jesus and bringing his transformational love into our world and into the lives of others each day. On behalf of the clergy and staff of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, I pray that you have a blessed and holy Easter day and Easter Season.

Peace and Joy, Fr. Mike 


UPCOMING Events



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

March 31, 2024: 50 > 40
We need to live our lives recognizing that fifty is greater than forty. It’s simple math, but we don’t tend to express it with our lives. We’ve just completed our forty days in the desert of Lent. It was a time of reflection, abstinence, and penance. If we had done it right, it was a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Now it is time for 50 days in the dessert, or rather the joy of Easter. Today, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the culmination of thousands of years of salvation history. Jesus in His Innocence laid Himself down in sacrifice, and destroyed the powers of sin and death. 

While one day our lives will end, we will one day know a new life, eternally. While in this life we know struggles with sin, illness, broken relationships, and even pain, we will enter our new life as sons and daughters of our Creator, and brothers and sisters of Christ our Lord and Savior. As such, we will ourselves experience unknown joy. When we were baptized we died, and raised up with Christ, so as we mark the joy of the resurrection, we will remember our baptism, and be sprinkled with the new Easter waters. So let’s put that joy into perspective. We’ve fasted and abstained with the Church for 40 days as we sought to prepare for this very day and season. So please, when you receive Jesus in the Eucharist do so joyfully, when you go out into the world afterwards do so joyfully, and when people ask you what has changed tell them of your salvation.

This Easter Season, let us pray for all of those who continue to suffer, who live in an eternal Lent, without the joy of Easter, so that they may know the love and peace of our Lord. God Bless, Happy Easter, and enjoy your time in the dessert!

 

What in the Word?!

March 31, 2024

What in the Word?! Episode 7: Easter PSA. 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



get Involved!


Women’s Prayer Group

The women of the parish will gather to review scripture and discuss the readings. All women are invited to join us! If you are new to the group and would like to participate, please contact Tracey at tefoleyihm@gmail.com or call 908-889-2100. 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 will meet on Thursday mornings from 9:30 AM until 10:45 AM at the Nazareth Center. Contact Phyllis at tman18912@comcast.net or call 908-889-2100.

Men’s Scripture Group

The Men’s Scripture & Discussion group meet twice a month for discussions on prayer and reflection. We meet for virtual sessions on ZOOM and live events in the church basement. Donuts & coffee are served at in-person meetings! Contact David at dndiken@aol.com or call 908-889-2100.


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.

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. Sometimes we knit hats, scarves and gloves for folks in need. Meetings are on the 3rd Sunday of every month, after the 10:00 AM Mass in the Nazareth Center. All are welcome! Contact Marion or call the office at 908-889-2100 if you have any questions.


Choir/Music

IHM Church Choir has practice every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM in Church. 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 or call 908-889-2100.

Video Team

We offer volunteers opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to help livestream daily Mass at 8:30 AM in the Chapel. Typically Mass lasts between 25-35 minutes. No technical background required. We will teach you everything we know. 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 or call 908-889-2100.

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 or call 908-889-2100.


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 April 14, 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


March 15, 2024

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,  

Synodality calls us to be a Church in mission. The Church does not merely “have” a mission. The Church “is” mission. She is a community of missionary disciples who are sent to all the ends of the earth to announce and give witness to the Gospel of Joy. As Pope Francis frequently reminds us, the mission we have received compels us to “go forth,” especially to the outer limits of human society, the periphery.

Where do we find the periphery? The dictionary definition of periphery is “the outside edge of an area or the area that surrounds a place or thing.” But Pope Francis is not simply speaking of geography. He is also referring to those areas that contain people who are social outcasts, on the “margins” of social acceptability, as being the periphery. The pope admonishes us to step outside of our comfort zones and to open our hearts to others, especially those who have been rejected by society...


Good news


CYO State Champions 2024

March 19, 2024

CYO STATE CHAMPIONS!!! Very hard-fought win last night against a tough and loud East Orange St Joseph’s team! Nate left it all out on the court! All 3 of my boys have played at IHM for the past 12 years and this was our LAST IHM game ever! Sad to see it end but what a way to end it! Big thanks to John McNulty for coaching these boys with all his heart, Coach Tish, and Trish McNulty for all the stats and Father Mike for supporting! Photo credits Sharon Filler.

 

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!


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.



FOLLOW US ON Social Media



Immaculate Heart of Mary Church