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

 EASTER TRIDUUM SCHEDULE 
 

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
 April 14, 2019

 
From the Desk of Rev. Fr. Anthony C. Ekanem, MSP: 
On this 6^th Sunday after Ash Wednesday we can easily guess the theme of this week’s celebration from its name: The Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. For Jesus, suffering and death are necessary for a passage to a better life. This genuine insight should be ours too, especially concerning our own lives when suffering strikes us. As this mystery of our salvation unfolds, we see and hear people applauding us, just like in Jesus’ situation, the crowd cheered ‘Hosanna, Hosanna,’ and the next moment, we may be faced with harsh criticism as Jesus heard the same crowd jeer ‘crucify Him, crucify Him!’ as he entered into the holy city. This dichotomy in the passion of Jesus is described by some as bi-polar. Today clearly marks the beginning of His suffering and death which spans through the Holy Week leading to the Easter Triduum – The Resurrection!
As we begin Holy Week, Saint Luke’s focus is on our Lord’s approach to the works of His Father:
The supreme confidence of Jesus in His Father and His total submission to the Father’s will.
Isaiah in the first reading gives us an example of supreme confidence in the face of an abuser holding his head high as He places His trust in the Lord God. Saint Paul, on the other hand, provides us with an example of total submission by humbling himself to His Father’s will. I love reading the portion during the 14^th Stations of the Cross, where the priest says, ‘Help us, we beg You, so to empty ourselves of self-concern that we might see your hand in every failure and your victory in every defeat.’ Our prayer is that our faith may never fail so that like Jesus, we remain confident and obedient to God’s will. This triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was carried out in a total act of love and obedience to his Father.
The early Church saw in the passion and death of Jesus the triumph of failure. With the help of the Scriptures, they came to understand that this was precisely how Jesus triumphed and entered into His glory. His glory cannot be separated from His passion.
The passion Story shows how Jesus responded to what was done to Him. He absolved all the violence, transformed it, and returned it as love and forgiveness. This was the victory of love over all the powers of destruction. There was nothing but love in Him. Even when they nailed His hands and feet, He endured it. This kind of love should help us to think about our attitude when we are going through hard times.
It is a consolation for us to know that Jesus suffered. Yet, His suffering would have been wasted if he had not endured it with love. It was not Jesus’ suffering that saved the world but His love. Anyone who pretends to love suffering is crazy. Suffering is something that you would give almost anything to avoid. Yet, we are glad to suffer for someone we love. Our love gives meaning to our suffering. Jesus was the Good Shepherd dying because He loved His sheep. The suffering that is merely endured does nothing for our souls, except perhaps hardening them. It is the spirit in which we bear our burden that matters.
It is not just suffering to redeem the world, but our faith and love in God. It is not suffering that God wants but our love. However, love inevitably brings the pain. But, it also brings great joy. The Christian must not only accept suffering but must make it holy. Love makes it holy. It is our Lord’s love that makes this coming Thursday, a Holy Thursday, and this Friday, a Good Friday.
 
 “When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may  be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.” – St. Maximilian Kolbe.
 
Stewardship
Tithing - God’s Plan for Giving Sunday
Collection Update For 04/7/19 was $3,710.00
Hispanic Community donated $440.00
On Good Friday we will have a second collection for the Holy Land. Please be generous.
 Please invite families and friends to join us in our Palm Sunday Mass.
 
GUIDELINE FOR LENTEN OBSERVANCE
FASTING binds all persons who have completed their 18^th birthday through those who have completed their 59^th year unless prevented by poor health. On days of fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to one’s own needs.
Eating meals in between is not allowed although fluid may be taken. (Canon 1252)
ABSTINENCE binds all persons who have completed their 14^th birthday unless prevented by poor health. On days of abstinence during Lent, the consumption of meat of mammals or fowl is not allowed. The Church strongly encourages the observance of Friday abstinence throughout the year, but failure to do so is not regarded as sinful. (Canon 1252)
 
All are welcome to our UPCOMING EVENTS

• A Holy Week Concert by Rev. Fr. Fadi Tabet,

• Reconciliation Monday, April 15 from 3:00 - 9:00 pm 

• Chrism Mass Trip to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, April 16,

•  Parish Mission begins with weekend Mass on May 4&5 and continues May 6-8 at 7:00 pm in Church;

•  First Holy Communion, May 4, 2019, at 5:00 pm Mass

• Confirmation Friday, May 24, 2019, at 6:00 pm

Sundays Readings:
Gospel:    Luke 19:28-40
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.”
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7, p. 70
The servant of the Lord God was rebuffed but did not turn back.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18,19-20, 23-24 p. 70 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?   
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11, p. 71 Christ was in the form of God but did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped at.              
Gospel: Luke 22:14-23:56; p. 71 Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” said one of the criminals, Jesus replied, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
 
2019 Cardinal’s Annual Stewardship Appeal Update
Goal: $39,500
Total Amount Paid: $16,158
Total Amount Pledged: $20,056
Number of Families: 59
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
 
It is important for the Archdiocese to know that our parishioners are supporting the Cardinal’s Appeal.
Thank you to all who have pledged and to those who plan to contribute this Easter.
 
Religious Education Classes - April 27
Religious Education Students:
April 18 - Holy Thursday Celebration, 6:00 pm.
April 19 - Good Friday - Stations of the Cross
April 20– Holy Saturday, No Classes
April 21 - Easter Sunday Mass
Be sure to attend.

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/