We invite you to join our church, located across the street from St. Joseph's Hospital and the Cacace Justice Center. We offer you a beautiful prayerful church to participate in the Eucharist and receive all the other sacraments. The doors  to our church are open daily from 
7 AM to 3 PM.  Please come in & visit us.  

Rev.  Anthony Columba Ekanem, MSP - Pastor
Rev. George N. Okoro, MSP-Parochial Vicar of St. Mary's 
Rev. Fares Hattar - Parochial Vicar of the Arabic Community of the Good Shepherd of St Mary's

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 19, 2019

From the Desk of Rev. Fr. Anthony C. Ekanem, MSP: 

THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is seen looking forward to His glorification. He knows that His enthronement as Son of Man will bring confusion, and hence He took time to explain this long awaited hour of Himself passing from this world to the Father. This appointed time of glorification is the great moment of Jesus and His Father, because “the Father and I are one” (John 10:13). Jesus is using the word ‘glorification’ five times in two verses, emphatically pointing to the deepest meaning of the coming hour. To be glorified is to be greatly praised, and to be clothed in splendor. This glorification stretches from Jesus being lifted up on the cross, to His death, Resurrection, and exaltation.
 
Here in John Gospel, Jesus turned to His disciples by addressing them as “my children, I will be with you only a little while longer.” His focus is displayed in His tender bond of affection as He prepares them for the coming hour. That in the hour of his absence, they should persevere and not be discouraged. Like St Paul and Barnabas in the first reading, Act 24: 21 – 27, were encouraging the converts to the faith not lose faith when they are ridiculed and are rejected by their own family members. Jesus predicted also this in Luke 21:16, how they will be persecuted all because of His name.
 
 As Jesus predicts His betrayal by Judas, He never held anything against them rather throughout His ministry; He taught and healed many out of compassion. So, for Him this is a very decisive moment in His ministry. He shows love in His service and in His sacrifice at the Last Supper. It is difficult to choose to love when faced with hatred and anger.
 
The key to this new way of living is the new commandment of love: Love one another. With the love for one another, great things can happen in our hearts, in our homes, in our families and in our world.
 
Let us reflect on how love makes God manifest Himself in ourselves and in others. The early Christians who were identified as followers of Christ shared everything in common because they were of one mind and one heart. The only failure in the life of a Christian today is the failure to love another. “By this all will know that you are my disciples.”
 
Our prayer today should be, make us instruments of God’s providence in the lives of others. So, that our love may become the channel through which they will experience the love of God. St Teresa who cared for people along the streets in Calcutta expressed her love for Christ by imitating Jesus in her daily life. True love always demands the best of us; self - giving and brings out the best in us. Being loved gives one a surprising courage and energy to love another.
Sometime ago, I came across in a book something on varieties of love. I think the author mentioned five kinds of love. They are as follows:
Utilitarian love, Romantic love, Democratic love, Humanitarian love, Christian love.
 
No matter the complexity of human nature, the motive behind every kind of love is what determines the kind of love we want to express. In this case, especially for Jesus, His crucifixion on the cross was the highest of all love for His people. He bid them farewell with an example of love by washing their feet before they had last their meal. Finally, He laid down His life on the wood of the cross for us. And so, Christian love, goes beyond our selfish motives. It is rather a self – giving type of love that will lead to His exaltation and His glorification. Jesus is calling on us, therefore to put this attitude of selfless giving even of our lives for others in the Gospel today. Like St Paul beautifully puts it in Colossians 3:12, ‘put on heartfelt compassion’ in your dealing with one another. May the joy of this Easter Season continue to inspire us to love one another as Jesus Christ loves us.
 
Stewardship
Tithing - God’s Plan for Giving Sunday For 05/12/19 our Offering was $3,666.00. Next week we will have a second collection for Church Property Insurance.
 
2019 Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal Update
Goal: $39,500
Total Amount Paid: $19,163.00
Total Amount Pledged: $23,501.00
Number of Families: 73
 
Have you made your Cardinal’s Stewardship Appeal yet? Every appeal from our parish community helps. No matter how much you are able to pledge, each amount helps keep our “parishes healthy and vibrant.”
You can use the pledge letters that have already arrived at your home. And if you have not received one or have never made a pledge before, it is very easy to do so online.
Just go to cardinalsappeal.org, click on Donate, select an amount, and direct your gift to our Church: Immaculate Conception, Yonkers
 
Sundays Readings:
First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27 p. 24 Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news in Derbe. Lystra, Antioch, Pisidia, Pamphylia, and Attalia. They made numerous disciples and encouraged them to persevere in the faith.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13, p. 25 “I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.”
Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a, p. 25 John saw a new heaven and new earth. The former heaven and the former earth were gone. Now a new Jerusalem, the holy city, came down from God in heaven, beautiful as a bride. The One on the throne said, “Behold. I make all things new.”
Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35 p. 26 After Judas left, Jesus said to the others, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
 
Religious Education Classes -
Religious Education Students:
May 18 - Last Day of Class. Enjoy your summer!
 June 15  Registration for 2019-2020
 
 All are welcome to our Up Coming Events

• Fr George, MSP is away on vacation Monday, May 13 to visit his mother and family members in Nigeria.
• 39 of our brothers and sister will be confirmed on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 6:00 pm by Most Rev. Bishop Gerald T. Walsh
•  We will have a Mission Appeal for Pia Sociedad San Cayetano assigned by the Archdiocesean May 25 & 26. Come prepared to support them.
• Registration for Religious Education Program 2019—2010 will start on Tuesday, June 18

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.      

The Cardinal’s Appeal http://cardinalsappeal.org/
Archdiocese of NYhttps://archny.org/
The Vatican:           www.news.vatican
The Catholic Link: http://catholic-link.org/