St. Mary's 

of the

 Immaculate Conception 

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The Bells of St. Mary’s
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
 
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2020

From Rev. Anthony Ekanem MSP
 
A Time of Watchfulness
Once again we begin our four-week preparation for Christ’s coming into our world on Christmas morning. This year our manner of watchfulness is going to be quiet different and very unique because of COVID – 19 pandemic crises. And so, we are urged to follow the distancing guidelines carefully as look forward not only for arrival of Christ into hearts like during the reception of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation, but also waiting for the final coming of Christ at the end of time. Since both times of our Lord’s coming are hidden from us, we should maintain diligently a state of watchfulness so that we are ready to meet Him at any moment.
Today’s readings remind us what that waiting for the Lord is not a passive exercise.
Isaiah (63:16-17) prays in a poetic fashion that God “might meet us doing right,” rejecting our sinful ways. This portion is considered to be written by a returned exile entreating God to come and save His people. He recalls God’s goodness, and candidly acknowledges the ingratitude and sinfulness of His people.
Jesus in Mark 13:33-37 warns His disciples that they must keep watch, because, like servants not knowing when the Lord of the house will return, we don’t want to be asleep when we should be ready to receive Him.
St Paul in I Corinthian 1:3-9 assures the people of Corinth that they “are not lacking in any spiritual gift” as they wait.
Both the Second Reading and the Gospel talk about the final coming of Christ, something the early Christians believed was imminent. For the faithful, the Lord’s coming is not something to fear. Rather, they were urged to live in such a way as to be ready to meet the Lord. These words especially during this second wave of corona virus pandemic is addressed to us now not to lose sight of our inner restlessness and longing for God like St Augustine describes it.
In this season of Advent in order to prepare well or understand the message we have to start at the beginning with the history of salvation. This liturgy relives in a microcosmic way the history of Israel, viewing it through the eyes of Christian faith. It shows that all of the history was pointing and leading to towards Jesus. He was the one who fulfilled the messianic prophecies.
As we begin anew this Advent, how can we allow the grace of God to cultivate within us a livelier attentiveness to this divine movement.
 

LITURGICAL CELEBRATION SCHEDULE

            SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - December 8
      Monday December 7, - VIGIL MASS AT 5:00 PM
      Tuesday December 8, - 8:15 AM & 12:05 PM

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OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE – Saturday, December 12,
      Mass at 7:00 pm. (Church open ALL NIGHT)
      Sunday, Dec 13, Mass 3:00 pm Mass.

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DAY OF ADVENT RECONCILIATION –
Monday, December 21, 4pm – 8pm
 

CHRISTMAS EVE MASS – December 24, 2020 at

5:00 pm Mass in English
8:00 pm Mass in Arabic
11:00 pm Mass in Spanish and in English (Midnight Mass)
CHRISTMAS DAY – December 25, 2020
7:30 am Mass in English
11:00 am Mass Bi – Lingual

NEW YEAR’S EVE – December 31, 2020
5:00 pm Mass in English
7:30 pm Mass in Spanish
NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS – Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
On First Friday, Jan 1, 2021 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 7:00 am
7:30 am Mass in English
11:00 am Mass Bi – Lingual

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES To open Churches

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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.      

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