weekly planner

Week-at-a-Glance

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Saturday (12/7)
  1. The Parish Office is closed. 
  2. 9:00am Services Team PH
  3. 9:00am Marian Mass CH
  4. 2:00pm Confessions
  5. 2:00pm Holy Hour and Rosary 
  6. 4:30pm Vigil Mass
Sunday (12/8)
  1. The Parish Office is closed
  2. 8:30am Mass
  3. 10:30am Mass
  4. 11:30am FAMBRE PH
  5. 1:00pm Youth Group PH
  6. 1:00pm K of C Gingerbread Decorating PH
  7. 4:00pm Musical Meditation/Vespers CH
Monday (12/9)
  1. Solemnity of Immaculate Conception
  2. The Parish Office is open from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm
  3.  12:10pm and 7:00pm Mass
  4. 5:30pm Eucharistic Adoration
  5.  6:30pm OCIA PH
  6.  7:00pm Women’s Study Group CH
Tuesday (12/10)
  1. 7:30am Mass
  2. The Parish Office is open from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm.
  3.  1:00pm Food Pantry PH
  4.  5:30pm Choir Rehearsal CH 
  5.  6:15pm Adult Choir CH
Wednesday (12/11)
  1. 7:30am Mass 
  2. The Parish Office is open from 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm.
  3. 5:00pm ERC Mtg
  4. 7:00pm Endow Group PH
Thursday (12/12)

 

  1. 12:10pm Mass
  2. 4:30pm McGraw House Mass
  3. 6:00pm Cenacle CH
  4. 6:00pm KnightSong Rehearsal CH
  5. 7:00pm K of C Dinner PH
  6. 8:00pm KnightSong CH
Friday (12/13)
  1. The Parish Office is closed
  2. 7:30am Mass
  3. 9:30am Organ Tuning
Saturday (12/14)
  1. The Parish Office is closed
  2.  10:00am 1st Reconciliation @ St. Catherine
  3. 2:00pm Confessions 
  4.  4:30pm Vigil Mass
Sunday (12/15)
  1. The Parish Office is closed
  2.  8:30am Mass 
  3. 9:00am Knights Cookie Hour
  4. 10:30am Mass
  5. 11:30am Wisdom of the Church PH
  6. 4:00pm Musical Meditation/Vespers CH
Woman greeter stands at the doorway of the church

Need to Know

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Solemnity of Immaculate Conception 12/9

Monday, December 9th we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It is a Holy Day of obligation and our Feast Day. Masses are held at 12:10pm & 7:00pm. See the insert in the bulletin with explanations for moving the Solemnity to December 9th.

Church Availability and Access

The church is open weekdays from 6:00am through 5:30pm for Prayer. Lately, there have been many attempted break-ins occurring in the evenings, or people are looking for shelter from the cold which trip the alarms. Beginning this week, the doors will also be physically locked at 5:30pm daily. We appreciate your understanding.

Care during Flu Season

IMPORTANT NOTICE . As we are in Flu Season, and with COVID variant still prevalent, we continue to urge people to refrain from shaking hands during the Sign of Peace. Anyone feeling ill is urged to stay home. Let’s get through this season safely! Thank you so much for your cooperation in this matter.

Winter Weather Guidelines

If Ithaca City Schools CLOSE due to winter weather, the Office will also CLOSE, and the 7:30am Daily Mass is cancelled. Check the MyParish app as all updates will be listed. You can download the parish app by going to the app store on your cell phone and search for MyParish App. Once it is loaded, search for Immaculate Conception Church, Ithaca. Click on the parish and you are all set.

Christmas Flowers and Decorations - Deadline Dec 18th

Many Parishioners have received the Christmas Flower Envelopes with their personalized envelopes. There are additional envelopes available in the church for anyone who wishes to donate in memory/honor of a loved one. These do not automatically renew, so you must contact the office if you wish to have your prior intention included. Deadline: December 18, 2023.

Notify the Caring Team for Notes or Prayer Shawls

The Care and Concern Committee of the Church sends cards to church members in nursing homes. However, often people in our congregation are in the hospital, healing at home or are at rehabilitation centers to gain strength. We want to be sure that our church family knows that we’re thinking of them and praying for them. If someone you know would be blessed by receiving a card, please send the contact information (name and address) to cbgracem@gmail.com…so the Holy Spirit can touch lives one card at a time.

Is there someone you know who could use a warm, cozy shawl that comes with a prayer to help brighten their day? We have Prayer Shawls available for people to hand out. These shawls have been knitted by members of the parish with love and hope that they can help make a difference in someone’s life. Please contact the Caring Team or Parish Office  607/273-6121 if you would like one.

Advent Opportunities - Booklets are Available

Advent season is around the corner and Advent booklets are available. Kindly use the book to help you and your family pray and nourish your faith during this holy season. Also, if you know anyone, especially our homebound sisters and brothers, feel free to bring one to each one of them. We will share with everyone spiritual opportunities available to us during Advent. Stay tuned.

New 2025 Lector Workbooks are available in Sacristy

The new 2025 Liturgical Year Lector Workbooks are now available in the Sacristy for all Lectors. Please come and take one (1) per family.

CMA: Extending Christ's Mission

We are off to a good start! Participation by all is key to reaching our goal. There are many ways to make donations. There are envelopes available at the entrances of the church if you did not receive one from the mail. An online donation link is available on the DOR website. If you prefer to donate in any other way, kindly call the parish office for more information. Christ’s Mission depends on each one of us.

CMA Goal: $64,000

Current  Status: Donors – 84  Percentage: 38.58% $24,690

Church Care

Let’s all take care of our church by observing the following:

  • No wet umbrellas on the pews or the aisles. Leave the umbrellas in the foyer area/ entrances of the church.
  • Avoid leaving bulletins on the pews.
  • Keep the hymnals where they belong after Mass.
  • Kneelers are only used for kneeling, not for placing our feet on, the cushions will wear out quickly.

The goal is to keep the church in order to serve its purpose effectively: a sacred place of prayer with minimal distractions. We thank you for your cooperation in this endeavor.

Lost and Found

Have you lost anything or left something in the pews? It is probably well kept in the lost and found basket. There are precious items in the basket. Kindly stop by the lost and found basket located on the northern side of the church and see what is in there. It is full and we need to empty it as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation. probably well kept in the lost and found basket. There are precious items in the basket. Kindly stop by the lost and found basket located on the northern side of the church and see what is in there. It is full and we need to empty it as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.

Voice from the Pew

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. items in the basket. Kindly stop by the lost and found basket located on the northern side of the church and see what is in there. It is full and we need to empty it as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.

When are Confessions heard?

Confessions are heard every Saturday from 2:00pm-3:30pm in the Church.

Sacrament: Seeking Anointing of the Sick?

Call 273-6121 to receive this Sacrament or if your loved one is in the hospital.

Sacraments: Seeking Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation?

For Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation email Rich at rich.rasmussen@dor.org for information or to register.

Sacrament: Getting Married?

Call 607-273-6121 at least 6 months in advance of your wedding date.

tables of food at a reception

Social Events

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Knights Council Dinner 12/12

The Knights Council and Assembly will hold a dinner social event for Knights and spouses in the Parish Hall on 12/12 at 7pm. Please contact Tristan Thornton at 616-389-7253 by 12/10 to let us know if you will attend.

winter road

Beyond our Parish

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Knights of Columbus Council 277 "Keep Christ in Christmas" Events

Knights of Columbus Council 277 is sponsoring a “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest from November 17th – December 15th. Create a poster with the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas” on paper or poster board with art media selected by the artist. There will be two age groups: 8 & under and 9 -16. Knights of Columbus will judge the entries and prizes will be awarded for the best poster. Detailed Competition requirements are available. Winners will be announced on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Knights of Columbus Council 277 is sponsoring a “Keep Christ in Christmas” AI Digital Image Contest from November 17th -December 15th. Create a digital image using artificial intelligence with the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas” on 8-1/2 inch by 11-inch paper using Bing.com. There will be two age groups: 8 & under and 9 -99. Knights of Columbus will judge the entries and prizes will be awarded for the best entry. Detailed competition requirements are available. Winners will be announced on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Plans are also underway to produce a “Keep Christ in Christmas” dramatic video titled “Journey to the Inn: Christmas Meditations”. Needed are voice actors age 12 & over for approx. 1-2 hrs. for dramatic readings. Contact Dan Weed 607-256-6077 for details.

Additional Knights of Columbus Activities
  1. Please reflect on how you wish to become closer to Christ this Christmas season and write your wish on a paper ornament and hang it on the Christmas Wish Tree on the right side of the sanctuary as you are leaving church. The tree will remain lit through the Christmas season.
  2. The Knights are supporting our Diocesan seminarians and asking for parishioner prayers and gifts from 12/6 – 12/22. Please stop at the table in the Narthex and take a prayer card and contribute to their support. We are encouraged that 8 seminarians are now in training. Additionally, if you know someone that is considering a vocation, either as a priest, deacon, or nun, please take one of the Knights booklets as a gift to encourage their discernment.
  3. The Knight Council and Assembly will hold a dinner social event for Knights and spouses in the Parish Hall on 12/12 at 7pm. Please contact Tristan Thornton at 616-389-7253 by 12/10 to let us know if you will attend.
  4. As part of our “Keep Christ in Christmas” program this year, the Knights of Columbus have created a special video presentation to celebrate the Advent and Christmas season. The video presentation is called “Journey to the Inn: Christmas Meditations”, and it beautifully portrays the story of the First Nativity. Please go to Youtube.com and search for “Knights of Columbus Council 277 Keep Christ in Christmas” and the video should come right up. The video, with voice and music overlays, lasts about 24 minutes, and we hope this production helps in your Advent and Christmas celebrations.
Catholic Courier

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 amdg24@outlook.com.

Note: a summary of information from the bulletin is provided on this page for your convenience. 

For complete details, please visit this week’s full bulletin, available via the “Current Bulletin” tab on our main menu. 

digital calendar

A link to the Parish Calendar is provided below for Ministry Coordinators who wish to reserve space in the Parish Hall for an event. This calendar is “view only”. Please contact the parish office to schedule the event. 

camera

The renovations project was such a huge undertaking for our parish. The Brooks family captured photos as the project progressed. A link is provided below to our historical renovations page for those who wish to look back.