The Spotlight Immaculate Conception Church Ira Township, Michigan August 8, 2021 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Enter for Worship, Depart for Service Immaculate Conception Parish, Ira, Michigan August 8, 2021 Page 2 Mass Times & Information IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH 9764 Dixie Highway, Ira Township, MI 48023 Phone: 586•725•3051 Fax: 586•725•8240 MON 8:30am .................Mass MASS SCHEDULE 3:00pm .................SVdP Meeting 6:30pm .................Fr. Joe’s Persecution Talk Saturday 4:30pm 9 Sunday 8am | 10am | 12pm Monday 8:30am Tuesday 6:30pm Dt 10:12-22/Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 [12a]/Mt 17:22-27 Wednesday 8:30am Thursday 8:30am 6:30pm .................Mass Friday 8:30am TUES 7:15-9:00pm ........Eucharistic Adoration PARISH OFFICE HOURS 10 Monday - Thursday 9am to 4pm closed 12-1pm 2 Cor 9:6-10/Ps 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 [5]/Jn 12:24-26 SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Thursday 9:15am 8:30am .................Mass Saturday 3:30pm WED 11 BAPTISM Parents must be registered for three months in the parish Dt 34:1-12/Ps 66:1-3a, 5 and 8, 16-17 [cf. 20a and 10b]/Mt 18:15-20 and complete two baptism preparation sessions before cel- ebrating baptism. MARRIAGE THUR 8:30am .................Mass Couple must meet with the pastor prior to choosing the wed- 9:15am................. Confessions ding date and complete six months of marriage preparation. 12 7:30pm................. Fatima Devotions ANOINTING OF THE SICK / HOMEBOUND Call the parish office to arrange for anointing for someone who is seriously ill or preparing for surgery or if you would Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17/Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/Mt 18:21—19:1 like Holy Communion brought to your home. PARISH REGISTRATION 8:30am................. Mass Registration forms are available in the parish office or you FRI 9:30-2:30pm ........Eucharistic Adoration may register online at iccatholic.org. 13 PARISH DATABASE Immaculate Conception invites you to create your own Jos 24:1-13/Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24/Mt 19:3-12 member account. You may contact the parish office with your e-mail address and we will send you a link to join our Breeze system where you may update your personal infor- mation and start or adjust online giving. (ic.breezechms.com) 3:30pm .................Confessions SAT 4:30pm .................Mass ONLINE OR TEXT TO GIVE 5:30pm .................College Student Blessing For your convenience we offer Online Giving. You may con- 14 tribute using a checking or savings account, credit, or debit card, and you may update or cancel at any time. You may Jos 24:14-29/Ps 16:1-2a, and 5, 7-8, 11 [cf. 5a]/Mt 19:13-15 make a one-time donation or set up a repeating schedule. We also offer Text-to-Give — just text your donation amount to 586-435-0011. To give online just visit iccatholic.org/e- SUN Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary giving, call the parish office, 586-725-3051, if you need 8:00am .................Mass help. 15 10:00am ...............Mass 12:00pm ...............Mass After All Masses ...College Student Blessing 1:00pm .................Baptisms Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16 [10bc]/1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56 Immaculate Conception Parish, Ira, Michigan August 8, 2021 Page 3 Fr. Joe’s Jottings (Aug 1 Column) This is Fr Joe’s column from Aug 1, I accidentally Danny has some very interesting and perceptive ideas ran the July 25 article in the Aug 1 Spotlight. for an eight-year-old. It’s not true, of course, that Jesus is The first Sunday of August is unofficially observed as a day God’s “secretary,” or that we should never bother God with in honor of God the Father, so the following reflection on prayers for little things—but it is certainly the case that God God—written some years ago as a Sunday school as- is everywhere, knows everything, and is concerned with signment by an eight-year-old boy named Danny in Chula each one of us. Life is meant to be an ongoing process of Vista, California, is timely and appropriate: coming closer to the Lord, whether we’re eight or eighty- “One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes eight, and if we honestly make this effort, we can be sure them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough of our Heavenly Father’s blessing. people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make * * * * * them grown-ups, just babies—I think because they are The Holy Father’s intention for August is “That the smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn’t have to Church may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. strength to reform Herself in light of the Gospel.” He can just leave that to mothers and fathers. * * * * * “God’s second most important job is listening to Tomorrow—Monday August 2—I will be offering a special prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, presentation at 6:30pm in church called “An Update on the Com- like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime. ing Persecution.” This talk will cover the spiritual condition of our God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because society and the Church in the United States, the possible course of of this. future events, and suggestions on how to prepare for what may be “God sees everything and hears everything and is coming. everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t Any interested parishioner is welcome to attend (though go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad’s some of the points raised may be frightening or upsetting); the head asking for something they said you couldn’t have. same talk will also be repeated on the following Monday, August 9. Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think * * * * * there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren’t any who We will be hosting a special Family gathering this Tues- come to our church. Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all day, August 3. Parish leaders and parishioners from the other the hard work like walking on water and performing mira- three parishes in our Family (St. Mary Queen of Creation in cles, and people finally got tired of Him preaching to them New Baltimore, St. Mary in St. Clair, and Our Lady on the River and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His in Marine City) will be joining us for the 6:30pm Mass, followed Father, and He told His Father that they didn’t know what by an event featuring prayer, learning, and fellowship. they were doing and to forgive them, and God said OK. His Wave One of the Families of Parishes restructuring is now Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and underway throughout the Archdiocese, and our parishes have all His hard work on earth, so He told Him He didn’t have already made preparations and have begun working more to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in Heaven. closely together. Please come this Tuesday to learn how this So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to will affect parish life, and welcome and meet some of our prayers and seeing things which are important for God to brothers and sisters from our neighboring parishes. take care of and which He can take care of Himself without * * * * * having to bother God—like a secretary, only more impor- An elderly man, smoking a cigarette while driving at tant. You can pray anytime you want and They are sure to 2am, was stopped by a concerned police officer, who help you because They got it worked out so One of Them asked where he was going at that time of night. He replied, is on duty all the time. “To a lecture about the bad effects and consequences of “You should always go to church on Sunday because it alcohol, smoking, and staying out late.” “Who would be makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to giving a lecture like that at this hour of the night?” the offi- make happy, it’s God. Don’t skip church to do something cer asked, and the man responded, “That would be my you think will be more fun, like going to the beach. This is wife.” wrong. And besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach * * * * * until noon anyway. Thought for the Day: “If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, Your accord and harmonious love is a hymn to Jesus you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go Christ. Yes, you should form all together one choir, so that, in perfect harmony and taking your pitch from God, you everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good may sing with one voice to the Father through Jesus to know He’s around you when you’re scared in the dark Christ, so that He may listen to you and know from your and when you can’t swim and you get thrown into real chant as the canticle of His only Son.