Backpack Challenge 2024

Backpack Challenge 2024

August 23, 2024

This is truly a great community! A huge thank you to Donna, Joe and their incredible staff at Darby Road. They partnered with IHM again this year to help us provide new full backpacks to kids in the Union County foster system hosted by Kindness for Kids of Union County. Together with your overwhelmingly generous donations, they spent many hours putting together beautiful backpacks for these disadvantaged kids. We packed over 140 yesterday that will be delivered on Monday. Everyone at Darby Rd got involved with great enthusiasm. A huge thanks to everyone involved in making this year’s Backpack Challenge a success!

Catholic Charities Donation Update

Catholic Charities Donation Bin Update

July 12, 2024

Did you know about the donation bins in the church parking lot? Well, they are really making a difference. Catholic Charities received $3,382 as a result of your generosity to the Donation Bins from December 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. These funds, combined with monies from other parishes in the same program throughout the Archdiocese, enable us to provide counseling services for about 11,850 hours of counseling to 3,736 families in crisis in the past year. Thank you for being our partner and enabling us to bring Christ’s love to the most vulnerable in our society.

60th Anniversary Celebration

60th Anniversary Celebration

June 14, 2024

Our 60th Anniversary Celebration so far has been an enormous success! There have been several wonderful events, including the children’s bingo and ice cream, an Afternoon Tea, and our parish feast, and so many memories made and to be made! We have many, many people to thank. Click on the image to zoom in the details and view the list of winners for our raffle. Once again, thank you for being a part of our 60th Anniversary Feast!

Parish Council Update

PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE

May 17, 2024

The parish pastoral council convened for its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8th. It was a pleasure to welcome Tim, Thomas, and Alexandria, leaders from our youth ministry, who provided an update on the ministry's activities. They outlined the ministry's recent history, starting from when Rachael Flanagan was recruited in 2019 to revive the previously dormant teen ministry. Initially, the program engaged around 12 to 15 teens in bi-monthly meetings and has since expanded. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, which necessitated a shift to weekly virtual gatherings, the ministry has grown to serve 35-40 teens. The current program fosters a teen leadership team that organizes events and includes initiatives like a feeder program for 7th and 8th graders, as well as a college care program for those attending college.

Tim, Thomas, and Alexandria expressed a desire on behalf of their ministry to establish a monthly children’s mass and volunteered to assist with its organization. They also wish to participate more actively in regular masses by serving as lectors, ushers, and altar servers. Furthermore, they have outlined ambitious plans to expand their ministry by inviting friends and schoolmates to upcoming events and leveraging social media to enhance outreach. The council members were deeply impressed by the dedication of these young individuals to their faith and the parish community. They committed to supporting the ministry’s proposals and initiatives.

NPM LUNCHTIME CONCERT

April 24, 2024

Composer and pastoral musician Katie Wills shares some of her original music with us today in this Lunchtime Concert. Thanks to Katie and the team (below) for providing such beautiful music! Thanks to all who were involved: Ed Gardella, bass. James Gardella, drums. Michael Kuchar, rhythm guitar. Rodrigo Marciano, Acoustic guitar. Will Shore, violin. Andy Tremper, cello (also audio recording and mixing). Russ Wills video recording and editing.

CYO AWARDS WINNERS 2024

April 22, 2024

Congratulations, to Tish Catalano, Sarah Riley and Juliana Dowling for being recognized for their years of effort and hard work at Immaculate Heart of Mary and their participation in the CYO program. We look forward to your special day on Sunday, April 21st at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, as we celebrate your accomplishments in the Parishes and Schools of our Archdiocese. Thank you!

2024 CYO State Champions

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

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