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Mass Times:
Monday: 12:10 pm
Tuesday: 7:00 am
Wednesday: 7:00 am
Thursday: 12:10 pm
Friday: 7:00 am
Saturday 4:30 pm
Sunday: 8:30 am
Sunday: 10:30 am
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
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Welcome to Immaculate Conception Parish!
We are a Roman Catholic Church located at 113 N. Geneva Street in Ithaca, NY. Whether you are a long-time parishioner or a first time visitor, we’re glad you are here. This is where we gather to meet as brothers and sisters to share our Catholic faith, worship and encounter our Lord, Jesus Christ through the Eucharist. We strive to make our parish a community of God’s love, and communion of hearts. Please join us!
About us
Immaculate Conception Church is Open Daily from 6:00am – 5:30pm
Parish Center Hours
8:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed for lunch from 12:00-1:00 pm)
Monday thru Thursday
Phone: 607-273-6121
Email: [email protected]
*How to use our website*
Mass times
Monday 12:10pm
Tuesday 7:30am
Wednesday 7:30am
Thursday 12:10pm
Friday 7:30am
Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30pm
Sunday 8:30am and 10:30am
Pray and adore together
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On Saturday, May 2nd, we will have our usual 1st Saturday Marian Mass at 9:00am, followed by May Crowning at 10:00am.
The rosary will continue to be prayed after Daily Mass and we offer our prayers especially for peace.
All families are encouraged to pray the rosary at home during May.
Novena to the Holy Spirit
The novena to the Holy Spirit starts on May 14th, the Solemnity of the Ascension. We shall be praying the prayer to the Holy Spirit after at the conclusion of the daily Mass.
Daily Mass: on Monday and Thursday 12:10pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7:30am, the rosary is said after each Mass.
Rosary in Spanish every Monday at 5:00pm
Holy Hour on Mondays will be offered at 6:00pm through May 18 and then will continue in the fall.
All attendees of the Monday evening Holy Hour will now need to enter strictly through the side door (parking lot side). Front doors will be locked.
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Saturday Adoration starts at 2:00 – 3:00 PM with confessions available.
Pope Leo XIV has declared the period of January 10, 2026 to the 10th of January 2027 the Jubilee of St. Francis, becoming models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace. A plenary indulgence is granted to those devoutly participating in this extraordinary jubilee. Pope Leo XIV has written the included prayer which may be said in private or public devotion throughout the year.
Prayer to Saint Francis for Peace
Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace, intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano, teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation that breaks down every wall.
You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war and misunderstanding, give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries.
In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers: unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.
Amen.
Pope Leo P.P. XIV
Visit the calendar webpage.
The Eucharistic Revival Team has asked me to share how I pray in the presence of Jesus during Adoration. Well, this is how I have prayed many times: I begin with deep gratitude for the gracious presence of the Lord who shows up for me in all His glory and for the world. He longs to be with me more than I long for him. After prayer of gratitude, which is often spontaneous, I pause for an extended silence, knowing He is there with me. Silence is not easy but necessary. This is followed by examination of conscience, repentance and resolution to be faithful. Before concluding my hour, I make prayer of petitions: for the sick, poor, the homeless, the elderly who are lonely, for our parish and for all parishioners, for the Church and for the mission of Christ in the world. My conclusion always contains words of more gratitude and renewed commitment to love the Lord deeply and to serve Him and His people with greater love.
Learn and grow together
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In June we will be starting a new Bible Study Group. Beginning Wednesday, June 3rd at 1:00pm weekly, we will study the Gospel of Matthew with a video series by Scott Hahn. Each session is 30 minutes long with questions and discussion afterwards. Please plan to join in.
* The reading for April 9:
Pnin, by Vladimir Nabokov
Nabokov’s most charming novel: short, funny, and often touching
The Immaculate Conception Book Club holds meetings on the second Thursday of every month at 7:30pm in the parish hall, all readers welcome. We read a mix of fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary, secular or spiritual-with-a-Catholic-bent. There’s no long-term commitment. Participate in as many or as few discussions as you like.
For more information or to get on the mailing list, please contact David Guaspari at [email protected]
The schedule for 2026 is:
January 8:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel
by James McBride
February 12:
That We May Be One: Christian Non-Duality
by Father Thomas Keating
March 12:
The Control of Nature
by John McPhee
April 9:
Pnin, by Vladimir Nabokov
May 14:
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, by Patrick Radden Keefe
June 11:
A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories, by Flannery O’Connor
July 9:
The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis
August 13:
Selected Poems of Philip Larkin (ed. By Martin Amis)
September 10:
The Soul of an Octopus, by Sy Montgomery
October 8:
The Apology, by Plato
November 12:
The Life You Save May Be Your Own, by Paul Elie
December 10:
This is Happiness, by Niall Williams
The women’s ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) group is starting back up on Wednesday, 2/4 at 6:00-7:30pm in the Parish Hall. New members are welcome. We are currently studying the encyclical, Deus Caritas Est by Pope Benedict XVI. Please contact Trish Burgess at [email protected] if you would like more information on the group or would like to join us.
Do you want to deepen your faith and progress on your journey to sainthood with a small group of faithful Catholics? If so, consider joining us to follow the path of Divine Mercy as taught by Saint Faustina and instituted by St. John Paul II. We will study the Diary of St. Faustina, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and scripture to enrich our faith and prayer life and to reflect on the meaning and impact of divine mercy in our lives. We follow a created curriculum and do a small amount of reading to prepare for our meetings. We meet every 1st and 3rd Tueday at 5:30pm in the Parish Center. For more information, including materials about Divine Mercy, send an email to [email protected] or text 607-227-3884.
The Wisdom of the Church group meets bi-monthly to read and discuss church writings on Catholic Social
Teaching. We’re currently reading Pope Leo’s first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You). It is by walking
with the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized, that we
can “see revealed the very heart of Christ.” Please join us in the rectory after the 10:30 mass on Sunday, 3/1 and Sunday 3/15.
Our parish is planning a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Ma. Date and details are yet to be determined. If you are interested in joining for this event, please contact Luke Dumouchel; [email protected] or Jan Nye; [email protected], or call the parish office.
Need to know
News
You may notice some reserved signs on certain pews in church. These are for Handicap Seating. Please DO NOT REMOVE these signs from the pews. Your understanding is appreciated!
THANK YOU to Beth Janowsky and Asia Cansler for their time, planning and leading our Family Based Faith Formation program. Thank you also to Kate Mackenzie for leading our First Reconciliation preparation and First Eucharist preparation Programs and to Coral del Mar Valle-Rodriguez for facilitating our High School Youth Group. May you all be richly blessed for all you do for the kids and families of our parish.
Birthright of Ithaca and the K of C Council are collaborating in a fundraiser to support mothers and newborn infants with essentials such as pregnancy testing, medical, housing and counseling referrals along with maternity and baby items. Representatives will distribute branded baby bottles on May 2 &3 at all parishes. Fill the bottles with your loose change and return the weekend of May 16 & 17. Thank you in advance for your generosity, support, and respect for life.
Saturday, May 30th from 10:00am—Noon in the Parish Hall, the Philosophy Family Farm will help sponsor “Celebrating the Laudato Si” at Immaculate. Come create some simple, fun and tasty treats using spring spruce tips from the family’s Christmas Tree Farm, while learning key concepts from Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ call to integral ecology, protecting both human dignity and the planet.
Please contact the parish office 6047-273-6121 to register so we know how many to prepare for. All are welcome, great for families and young adults!
Soap for Hope Drive: NOW through June 7th
Once again, we are partnering up with Catholic Charities to provide personal care products to benefit the Samaritan Center. This drive helps with donations of bar soap/laundry detergent, toilet paper/ deodorant/toothbrushes and toothpaste, and many more supplies. Drop off bins will be located at the entrances to church. Drop-offs are accepted through June 7th. See the flyer for more specifics.
The parish communication ministry is fully constituted. This ministry is designed to help the parish staff, parish ministries/committees to share information effectively with parishioners and the wider community. Their core responsibility is information distribution using the weekly bulletin, quarterly newsletter, to promote the parish locally and beyond, ensuring the parishioners are informed about the parish events/news. Together with the staff they will create clear and consistent messaging and timely updates to meet the pastoral needs of the parish.
We are in need of Lectors to proclaim the Word of God , especially for the Saturday 4:30pm and Sunday 10:30am Masses. Training will be provided. If you feel you could serve in this Ministry, please contact the Parish Office 607-273-6121. Scheduling is based on each person’s Mass preference and personal availability.
We are currently looking for several people to assist with the monthly Mass at Cayuga Ridge Nursing Facility. The Mass is
held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 11am.
Assistants would arrive at the facility at 10:30am and assist with getting the residents to and from their rooms for Mass. We usually finish up by noon or 12:30pm. If interested,
please contact the parish office (607-273-6121) or Jan Nye ([email protected])
If you pick up the “Word Among Us” booklet, there are blue envelopes to donate $1 for this. By donating just, a single $1, it helps us cover the cost so we can keep providing this wonderful booklet for you.
The St. Joseph and Sacred Heart Candles still have many openings for intentions coming up. They burn for a week, and a requested donation is $10. Please call the parish office to sign up for Intention dates. Deceased and/or living.
Please visit our CMA page for all the details!
Brett Burt from LPI, our bulletin printer, will be securing new ads for our church in the coming weeks. As a valuable member of the business community, we invite you to expand your reach and grow your business with a print ad in our parish bulletin and/or a digital ad featured on ParishesOnline.com You can contact Brett Burt at [email protected] or call him at 585-206-0678.
If you have retirement accounts and you must begin or are already taking taxable required minimum distributions, you can bypass a portion of the taxable income by making gifts to charitable organizations such as our parish. You can arrange
for these gifts to be made through your account custodian as a one time gift or periodic payments. If you have not taken your 2026 distribution yet, please consider designating a gift to the CMA so we can meet our goal this year, to Immaculate Conception Church, or to our Cemetery. A sincere thank you to all parishioners who support the church and its mission.
Immaculate Conception Church has its own app for iPhone and Android smart phones. The My Parish App allows us to better communicate with you throughout the week and bring you relevant parish news and updates. The app is very well designed and very intuitive. It is a great resource for parishioners by providing daily Mass readings, Catholic news and prayers, convenient prayer and Confession reminders, our bulletins and more. Download the app from your app store on your cell phone
We do have Low-Gluten Hosts available for anyone needing them during Mass. Please come to the ciborium which has a drop-down handle as this contains the low gluten hosts. If unsure, just ask the Communion Minister to point you in the right direction. Just note that these are low gluten, not non-gluten.
Your voice matters. If you have a suggestion, good idea around the pastoral goals of the parish; spiritual opportunities, outreach/community building, youth and family, buildings/grounds, cemetery and financial matters, kindly stop by the pastoral council meetings that occur every first Thursday of each month. You will be listened to because you love your parish.
Confessions are heard every Saturday from 2:00pm-3:30pm in the Church.
Call 607-273-6121 to receive this Sacrament or if your loved one is in the hospital.
For Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation email Rich at [email protected] for information or to register.
Call 607-273-6121 at least 6 months in advance of your wedding date.
Beyond our parish
Part Time Bookkeeper Needed for the Regional Finance Office based in the Ithaca/Lansing Area.
- Coordinates volunteers for money-counting
- Oversee counters to ensure accuracy
- Escort transportation of funds to Bank
- Issue tamper evident bags for Masses
- Attend monthly staff meeting in Auburn
- Participating in diocesan-sponsored training
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications: General account clerk experience, ability to maintain confidentiality and organize work effectively. Send Resume to [email protected]
Lakeside Day Retreats: Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Centers, Inc. invites you for a day of rest and renewal at our Seneca Lake property.
For more information visit the Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Centers, Inc. website, call/text: (716) 901-4313, or email: [email protected].
Looking for a great retreat opportunity? Visit the ND Retreat House Website for retreat options.
Are you a local business owner who’d like to gain more customers while supporting our diocese? Catholic Courier ad revenue stays within our diocese, and its ads reach 175,000+ print readers and 40,000+ unique monthly website visitors. If you’d like to learn more, please contact parishioner April Krueger at 607-216-5853 or [email protected].
First time visitor?
Current parishioner?
Mission and goals spotlight
Rev. Augustine Chumo
Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish
Your presence in our congregation is a true blessing. As we welcome your ideas and presence, may our love and faith in Christ increase during our time together. Subscribe to our Facebook page or Parish app. Contact the parish office for all your spiritual needs.
This week's message
Parish Mission Revisited
I wonder how many of us in our parish know our parish
Mission Statement by heart?
At Immaculate Conception Parish we are a Catholic Community of Faith, Prayer, Love and Service, centered on Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
Jesus had his mission statement in Luke 4: 18-19; his was a unique fundamental/transformational divine mission statement that outlined his mission. A Mission statement answers the question as to why an organization exists and the functions it performs. The mission statement must in a way express how an organization will go about fulfilling the stated function.
Do you think our parish mission statement is aligned to our parish goals?
How can the Mission statement inspire or shape parish ministries?
Abundant spiritual opportunities
Find Mass Times, Daily Scripture Readings, the Responsorial Psalm for the weekend, along with current listings of Prayer and Adoration times, special services, guest speakers, Bible Studies, and links to resources on the web.
Diverse youth & family ministry
Community outreach
Financial transparency | stewardship
We have an intentional focus on the prudent use of our parish resources and transparent communication of our financial health. Learn more about our Finance Council and access, online Giving or volunteer opportunities.
Meet our staff
Testimonials
Striving to be a community of God's love and service!
Other reasons to join our parish
Eucharist focused
In receiving the body of Christ we are strengthened to be the body of Christ in the world.
Distinctly marian
The Blessed Mother, Mary. is our parish patroness and the true model of faith. We honor her through prayers of intercession.
Service to the greatest in need
Our mission includes striving to be a community of God's love and service in our community and the world.
Healing confessions
Father Chumo hears confessions each Saturday from 2:00pm - 3:30 pm. This is a healing sacrament enjoyed by many, so come early!
Beautiful architecture
21 beautiful stained glass windows of the Saints are visible around our church building.
Supportive of new ideas for ministry
You'll find a vibrant faith community where ideas are welcome and many hands help to bring them to fruition.
Our parish in pictures
Advent 2023
Advent wreath in refurbished church.
Advent 2023
Advent wreath and creche awaiting Jesus, in refurbished church.
Advent 2023
Sanctuary on fourth week of Advent.
Columbarium
Columbarium Blessing and Dedication, November 2, 2023.
Columbarium
Columbarium Blessing and Dedication, November 2, 2023.
Mary Shrine
Mary Shrine and Prayer Garden July 15, 2023.
Photos courtesy of Claudia Ariza-Nieto, the Brooks family, the Rasmussen family, Erik West, and Anne Woodard