2016 Annual Catholic Appeal

Blessed are the Merciful for They Shall Obtain Mercy

BISHOP’S APPEAL MESSAGE

Commitment Weekend – April 9 & 10, 2016

Third Sunday of Easter – John 21: 1-19

Good Morning!

In today’s Gospel, John paints for us a wonderfully vivid picture of Our Lord gathering with his disciples on the shore of Tiberias sharing some bread and freshly caught fish. After the meal, Jesus turns to Peter and asks – not once but three times – “Do you love Me?” Peter, saddened to think that Jesus doubts him, replies each time more emphatically, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

But in his persistence, what was Jesus trying to do? Was it to make certain that Peter loved him or did He want to impress upon Peter the need to act on that love? Having received a profession of love, Jesus then needed an expression of that love. That is why He said, Feed My Sheep. We too are called to profess our love and to act on that profession.

The Annual Catholic Appeal makes it possible for each of us to be faithful to the mission of Christ: to feed and house the poor, to minister to the sick and discouraged, to educate our young people and to encourage strong, healthy, loving families.

For forty years, the Annual Catholic Appeal has brought Good News to thousands of our brothers and sisters throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Today, I take this opportunity to appeal to you directly to support this annual fundraising effort and share in Christ’s work.

The monies raised in the Annual Catholic Appeal are used to support ministries such as Casa San Francisco in Milton, Delaware that provides emergency help to the poor and homeless and Seton Center, a multi-purpose neighborhood community center in Princess Anne, Maryland. Through your gifts, Catholic Charities offers Basic Needs Programs to help low-income individuals and families become more self-sufficient and avert the threat of homelessness, and offers counseling for those troubled by addiction or mental challenge. Catholic Charities helps to resettle refugees from countries of oppression, and they bring comfort, protective love, and support for women with troubled pregnancies at Bayard House.

Dollars raised through the Appeal support our Catholic high schools, who share the light of Christ’s teaching in an atmosphere of respect and joy. Your donations provide funds for youth activities through our CYM programs such as sports, service outreach, and social events, and they bring the message of the Gospel to children and young adults in our schools, religious education programs, and college campuses.

The work of our Pro-Life Office promotes Catholic teachings on human life issues and encourages parishes and individuals to put those teachings into practice.

Those involved in Hispanic Ministry strive to meet both the spiritual and real life needs of so many who were once strangers and are now our friends in the Body of Christ.

The money you donate supports the works of our chaplains who bring God’s grace and healing in the sacraments to the sick in hospitals, to the elderly in nursing homes, and to those imprisoned.

The 2016 Annual Catholic Appeal, with its theme, Blessed are the Merciful for They Shall Obtain Mercy, reminds us that we are given the opportunity to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through our actions, touching people’s lives and offering hope.

The Church’s Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are the driving force behind every ministry and service supported by the Appeal. Your participation enables the diocese to reach out in mercy and love to those in need.

In a few moments you will be asked to complete a pledge card and financially support the 2016 Annual Catholic Appeal. I pray that you will consider making a sacrifice to this very important annual effort.

May God reward you for your goodness to all those who ask for help in His Name.

Please visit our website to learn more about our Appeal!

Immaculate Conception Parish has joined Habitat!

Young adults, adults, and teens 16 and older are welcome to participate. All skill levels are welcome, and no experience is necessary.

If you want to be added to the contact list for this ministry, just email office@iccparish.org and put “Habitat” as the subject. Please include your name & address, contact info (phone, email) and age.

Join us, and help change lives one family at a time!

Spring 2016 update:

We have a house to build!

Our parish Habitat for Humanity group is scheduled to help build a house in Charlestown, just west of North East!

Our group build dates are Friday, May 20 and Thursday, June 9th (June 8th is the last day of school for public schools .) The work day is 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM. Our group contact person is Ruthie Patterson. Please [ email ] her if you have any questions.

All participants must be registered in advance (before the group build dates).

1. See [ this link ] and click on the Construction Calendar on the left.
2. Register as a volunteer (if you are new) or sign in if you are already registered.
3. Find May 20th and June 9th on the calendar and click on  “Register Now” for those dates.

See you at the building site!!

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Fall 2015 update:

Susquehanna Habitat for Humanity hopes to have a house project in Cecil County in October 2015. The location will be Charlestown, just west of North East. Stay tuned!

Spring 2015 update:

We do not have a “group build” scheduled at this time. However all Habitat volunteers are welcome to participate in ongoing builds as individuals simply by signing up on the construction calendar. Please see [ this link ] and click on Construction Calendar on the left.

If you are new to Habitat, you must register before you can sign up for a project listed on the calendar. Thanks!

Another build in Charles Town will be scheduled later in 2015. Stay tuned….

Summer 2014 update:

Thank you to everyone who helped build the house in Charlestown! It was an awesome experience!

Be sure you are signed up for the Habitat for Humanity list on Flocknote, and you’ll be notified when we have our next building assignment. For more information, see the flyer.

Click [ here] to download a flyer to save or share.

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Click on the image to sign up!

Enjoy the Convenience of Electronic Giving

Immaculate Conception/St. Jude Church wants to remind you that we offer electronic giving as a way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers convenience for individual congregation members and provides much-needed donation consistency for our congregation.

Direct Debit Giving is used to automatically transfer funds from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.

Credit & Debit Card Giving lets you make offerings automatically on a pre-determined schedule using a credit or debit card.

Online Giving lets you go to iccparish.org at any time to set up an automatic donation plan, change your donation plan, make a one-time donation or view your online donation history.

As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving. Authorization forms and additional information are available from the church office.

Confirmation 2017

Registration for Confirmation in the Spring of 2017 begins March 1, 2016.

The sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated at (TBD) at Immaculate Conception Church.

Candidates must have attended a Catholic school or a parish Religious Education class in 8th grade and  must also attend one or the other in 9th grade to be eligible for Confirmation in 2016.

Questions?

For more information about this sacrament including sponsor eligibility, important dates, etc. please click [ here ].

Questions? Please [ email ] our Youth Ministry office or call 410 392 3551.

Service opportunities listed below are open to students in Grades 7-12, college students, and adults. FAMILIES are encouraged to serve together!

Please call or email the contact person listed for each opportunity, before you arrive on site. Information listed here is updated periodically and subject to change.

Service opportunities coordinated by the Youth Ministry office, and not on parish grounds, require a consent form for all 7-12th grade students. Please download [ this form ] and bring it to the parish office or the worksite location.

Date: November 15 & 16
Time: Contact Melinda DeLia
Location: IC Parish
Task: Volunteer at the Christmas Bazaar
Contact: Melinda Delia 302 584 7630

Service opportunities offered by local agencies and organizations require direct contact between participants and the organization.  Parents of school-age students are responsible for arranging volunteer opportunities for their children. Transportation, chaperones, etc. are not provided by Immaculate Conception Parish.

Dates: Your choice
Time: Your choice
Location: Elkton town limits
Task: Yard work for senior citizens. Great family service opportunity!
Contact: Mr. Jeff Holter jholter@iccparish.org  410 398 4999  8-4:30 Monday-Friday

Date: Mondays through Thursdays (ongoing; good opportunity for summer, holidays and other non-school days)
Time: See contact info. Please contact in advance for time.
Location: The Settlement House, 168 E. Main St, Elkton (across from the Post Office)
Task: Help with lunch
Contact: Mrs. Kathy Chamberlin 410 398 7299 or [ email ]

Dates: Fridays
Time: 11:30-1:30 PM
Location: Elkton Community Kitchen, 209 E. Main Street (Elkton Presbyterian Church)
Task: Help with lunch, set up and clean up
Contact: Mrs. Kathy Chamberlin 410 398 7299 or [ email ]

Habitat for Humanity

Our parish now has a H4H team! Please see [ this link ] for more information.

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More ways to serve….

Our diocesan Office for and Youth and Young Adult Ministry provides information on additional service opportunities locally and throughout our diocese. Please see [ this link ] for more information.

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Immaculate Conception Cemetery is located on Route 213 just past Childs Road in the Cherry Hill area of Cecil County.  Just minutes from Immaculate Conception Church, our ten acre cemetery is a Memorial Park with flush monuments.  There is a black granite monument sign with the name “Immaculate Conception Cemetery” in gold leaf lettering near the brick entrance, and, of course, the beautiful statue of Our Lady and the child Jesus in the center section.

Plot prices range from $650 to $1,500 and may be purchased on an instalment plan spread over 12 months (or paid off at time of interment, whichever comes first).

The center section has recently been opened; and we invite you to visit or call Peg O’Donnell in the ICC office (410-398-1100) Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM for further information regarding grave availability.

Taking care of your funeral arrangements now is one of the best gifts you can give your family.

Click on the image to create your account!

Thank you for your faithful support.

Every week our parish Outreach ministry provides food for hundreds of hungry men, women and children.

For both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays we pack food baskets for 90-100 families.

How can you help? Easy. Participate in our Ongoing Food Drive.

Fill a bag with non-perishible food items, and drop it off at Immaculate Conception or St. Jude churches or the Parish Center any time theses buildings are open.

At this time our pantry is in desperate need of ALL food items, including the following:

• mac & cheese
• baked beans
• soup
• instant potatoes
• rice a roni
• fruit
• cereal
• pasta