St. Mary's 

of the

 Immaculate Conception 

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The Bells of St. Mary’s
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
 
Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

 
From Rev. Fr. Anthony Ekanem, MSP
 
Fifteenth Sunday of the Year
Today being the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate Christ who came to sow the seed of the WORD OF GOD in our hearts and the world. Through this celebration, the Church urges us to re-evaluate our relationship with the WORD OF GOD, which His ministers and Christ representatives sow in our hearts. We must also re-evaluate our souls' fertility and how much fruit we allow this WORD to bear in our life.
 
See, how appropriate it is this middle of summer to hear readings from Scripture that speak of the fruitful earth. Even during this pandemic, we still see the green color coming out of our garden. The summer rain and sun nourish trees and grass and flowers. Now, what can we learn from this amid what all we are facing now?
 
Isaiah's poetry and Jesus' parable tell us in complementary ways the power of God's Word. Like we hear in the Scripture from the Hebrew says, “For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. The word of God has indeed proven itself to be sharper than any two-edged sword. It separates the truth from the lie by sharply cutting to the quick. It can cause someone to sharply change the direction of their life when its admonition is applied in one’s life. Just as a sword can save a life so can the application of bible truths.
 
First Reading Isaiah 55:10-11 extols its fruitfulness, the Lord promising that it will flower just as the fertile earth does when watered by rain or snow. " ... do not return there till they have watered the earth" (verse 10). God cares for our world by sending rain to make it fruitful. He cares for us by sending us His Son, the word made flesh.
 
Matthew, the evangelist, compares the Word of God to a seed falling into the ground. It might seem (from Matthew 13:1-23), that Jesus taught in parable to prevent His hearers from understanding. But such a purpose is entirely alien to the character of Jesus. Jesus used parables as an effective way of teaching. Those who were open to Him received more. Those who had closed their minds against Him received less. The fault lay not with Jesus but the receiver.
 
Second Reading (Rom 8:18 - 23) tells us about the glory which awaits us in the next life. That it far outweighs anything we could suffer in this life.
 
The above passage again serves as a summary of this prophet's message to a people who suffered greatly during years of exile from their homeland. The worship of human pride and its misguided agendas led them only to ruin and hardship. Mortal plans are no match for God's plan. If people learn to trust God's Word about all world, everything will go smoothly.
 
Just take a look at the cycle of life used by Isaiah with the rain and snow. They fall from the heavens, enabling the growth of plants and trees, which abundant in oxygen, fruits, and vegetables, and rivers and lakes, which they full of life-giving water. They evaporate to return to the heavens where the cycle can begin anew. Jesus tells the crowds of the cycle (period) that starts with a seed. When it falls onto the fertile soil, it produces fruit. What originated as a handful of seeds can now feed dozens. The cycle keeps going. Our Lord Jesus explains to His disciples that the seed is the word of God. When the seed lands on fertile soil, the word digested by someone who understands it, takes it to heart, and spreads it on to others, making more disciples inspired by this same word.
 
At the beginning of His Gospel, John identifies Jesus as the Word. Jesus came down from heaven, gathered disciples for His mission, suffered and died our sins, then returned to the Father in glory. The rain, the seas, and the word, Jesus Christ: all have come down to earth as gifts from God, giving us life and nourishment, sustenance and delight, purpose, and mission in our journey through life.

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• We are to follow the NYS EXECUTIVE ORDERS, CDC, ESDC, and OSHA COVID 19 guidelines at all times. 
• All persons coming to church for Mass must wear masks and gloves at all times.
• We must follow Practical and orderly COVID - 19 ushering at all times. 
• A maximum of six feet of social distancing must be observed and maintained at all times. 
• Divide Sanctuary space into sections of singles, couples or families with three or more members
• Follow guidelines for each section for singles, couples, or families with three or more members. 
• Skip one pew for seating for singles 
• Pew sections for two or more persons sitting together must skip two pews
• Church to be filled from front to back 
• Pews to be filled from both ends to avoid anyone crossing someone else's path
• Allocate a minimum of two feet per person when seated
• Maintain six-foot distance between strangers while seated 
• If side or back aisles next to the wall are eight-foot or more, we can use folding chairs while maintaining a six-foot social distancing between them. 

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English:  Saturday 5:00pm, Sunday  7:30am  & 11:00am  
Spanish: Saturday-7:00pm, & Sunday-9:00am   
Arabic: Sunday-12:30pm                   

Weekdays:
English-8:15am & 12:05pm,    Spanish– Thursday 7:00pm
Eve of Holy days: 5:00pm,   
Holy Days: 8:15am, 12:05 pm 7:00pm
First Fridays: Exposition of Blessed Sacrament- 11:00am to 12 noon in English & 7pm in Spanish                                                                             
Mass Intention:  To request a Mass, you may go the rectory; send an email to icmary@gmail.com: or call the parish office at 914-963-0156. Please include your   contact number. Thank you

Confessions: 
English-
Monday to Fridays:  11:45-12noon
Saturday  11:45-12noon & 4:30-5:00pm
Spanish-
Friday’s 11:30-12 noon and 
In the  Rectory- 
Monday & Friday 3:00 - 5:00pm

Sick Calls–   Any hour Day or Night
Baptism:
In English–
the last Sunday of the month at 3:00pm (please call  ahead and make an appointment  with Fr. Anthony)
In Spanish–
The 2nd Saturday of the month at  2:30pm (please call ahead                                                      and make an appointment with Fr. George)
Marriages-
In order to provide sufficiently time for the Marriage Preparation Course, please call the parish office and ask to speak with any of the priests at least six months in advance.      

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