Immaculate CONCEPTION Catholic Church Contents: 3 A Month and Year to Honor St. Joseph 4 Meet Parishioners Roy and Nancy Bennett 6 From the Catechism What is Almsgiving? 7 Catholic School Week Recap
March 2021
The Men’s Club Provides a Sense of Community Through Service and Fellowship
I
n today’s world, it can be hard for Catholic men to find support in living their faith. But here at Immaculate Conception, we hope to provide a place where men can find camaraderie and fellowship, as well as opportunities to serve others while deepening their understanding of our faith. “Men’s Club exists to help guys in the parish connect socially and spiritually, and to continue doing the work of the church and the school, to help where we can, and where we’re needed,” says lifelong parishioner Casey Simon, who joined the Men’s Club in 2013 and has previously served as the President of the group. “I joined because of the guys — I didn’t know them that well, but there were great guys who were involved, and I was looking for a new place to spend time and focus energy and get involved.” While the Men’s Club currently remains on hiatus, the group usually gathers about once every two months for a social, spiritual, or service event. And, while they are notably missing this year, the Men’s Club annual Fish Frys are an opportunity for fellowship not only among our parish and school but also for our broader community. The Men’s Club fundraisers — the Fish Frys and an annual golf tournament —primarily support the various needs of the parish and school. continued on page 2
Immaculate CONCEPTION
The Men’s Club
continued from front cover
For Casey, being part of the Men’s Club has been an opportunity to get to know a broader circle of the men in the parish, benefit from the wisdom and experience of those older than him, meet friends in similar stages of life, and provide informal mentorship to those a few steps behind him. “There are guys with their children still in grade school, and then there’s another group who has long since passed that,” Casey says. “You have a good mix of guys and life experiences, and what they can offer. “I think what I have gained is realizing that there are other people who have walked in my shoes and you’re not alone,” he adds. “You can draw on their life experiences to help you get through what you’re going through because they’ve done it, and you can also mentor those who are in a spot where you’ve been.” Although it can sometimes be challenging to find meaningful friendships with other men, Casey has found that those who are involved in the Men’s Club are open and genuine, truly hoping to encourage their fellow parishioners, while also welcoming newcomers. “If you can let down your guard and you’re willing to peel back some layers, you’ll find a lot of common ground between the guys,” Casey says. “You can spark a friendship with people you normally wouldn’t come in contact with.”
2
In many cases, getting involved in the Men’s Club and meeting other guys also opens the door to other forms of involvement in the parish and school. “You get involved in one thing and you see those guys doing something else, and it can inspire you to take an adoration hour, or to usher, or to get involved in the school,” Casey says. All men of the parish are invited and encouraged to attend a Men’s Club meeting, and to find out what it’s all about! “If you’re looking for a laid-back group of guys to hang out with and have a good time with, Men’s Club is definitely the place for you,” Casey says. “It’s an easy-going group of guys that will work hard and play hard and are there for each other. “I think it’s important to be involved and to know what’s going on in your parish, and this gives you an education on what’s going on in your parish and gives you a sense of community,” he adds. “You get to feel like you are part of something — an organization that benefits the parish and fills a need.”
If you would like more information and updates on Men’s Club events in the coming months, please email icmensclub18@gmail.com or refer to the weekly bulletin for announcements.
Although suspended during the present pandemic, the Fish Fry is a community tradition hosted by the Men's Club.
A Letter From Our Pastor
A Month and Year to Honor
Dear Parishioners, ur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose to enter the world through the human family. He came as an infant born into the marriage and home of the two holiest human creatures who ever lived — Joseph and Mary. At a time when our world and our Church needs family and faithful disciples now more than ever, could there be a more fitting time to venerate the man who gave his life and his love to the Blessed Mother and the Son of God? Pope Francis has declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. Our pope said he established the year so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.” As Christians, we are blessed to have Mary as our spiritual mother and Joseph as our spiritual father. Just as Mary guides us from heaven with loving devotion, St. Joseph also diligently provides for the needs of the family of God, the Holy Catholic Church. Because of his special role as foster-father of the Child Jesus, St. Joseph has merited singular privileges in heaven unmatched by any saint aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary. To give some modern-day perspective to the significance of this special year, Pope Francis has said the coronavirus pandemic heightened his desire to reflect on St. Joseph, as so many people
O
during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others, just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus. “Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble,” the pope wrote. At the end of the First Vatican Council in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the patron of the Universal Church. He is also the patron of carpenters, workers, fathers, and a happy death because he died in the presence of Mary and Jesus. The title of Joseph’s March 19 feast day is “Husband of Mary.” Pope Pius XII later declared May 1 to be the feast of St. Joseph the Worker to counteract the Communist May Day holiday. As Catholics pray and reflect on the life of St. Joseph this year, they also have opportunities to gain a plenary indulgence or remission of all temporal punishment due to sin. An indulgence can be applied to oneself or to a soul in purgatory. An indulgence requires a specific act, defined by the Church, as well as sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the pope’s intentions, and full detachment from sin. Special indulgences during the Year of St. Joseph can be received through various prayers and actions, including praying for the unemployed, entrusting one’s daily work to St. Joseph, performing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, or meditating for at least 30
St. Joseph
minutes on the Lord’s Prayer. As we devote 2021 to St. Joseph’s honor, we will undoubtedly unlock many special graces — not only for our parish but for each of the faithful who increase their devotion to him during this special year. There is no greater model than St. Joseph from whom we can learn how to live virtuously in imitation of Jesus and Mary. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. John Wakube Pastor
To read more about Pope Francis’ declaration on the Church granting plenary indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph, visit www.bit.ly/StJoseph2021
Pope Francis’ Prayer to
St. Joseph
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted His only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
3
Immaculate CONCEPTION
Roy and N
Meet Parishioners
Living Stewardship and Dis
I
f you have been coming to Mass at Immaculate Conception for a while, chances are that you have received a warm welcome from Roy and Nancy Bennett at some point! Roy and Nancy have served together as ushers since they first joined our parish family in 2002. The ministry is just one of many they have enjoyed over the years and the one that perhaps best fulfills their desire to make and maintain close connections to so many others in our faith community. Reflecting on life at Immaculate Conception, Nancy is quick to give credit where credit is due. She is thankful for the many ways that her twin sister, Joan Finnegan, encouraged her to make a full return to the Catholic Church and really dive into parish life. For many years prior, Roy and Nancy had been alternating their Sundays between Catholic churches and the Methodist churches of Roy’s upbringing. After years of splitting their time between faith traditions, the Bennetts realized that they needed to make a change. “We were going to Catholic church every other weekend and Methodist church every other weekend, and I felt totally lost,” Nancy says. “Something was missing and I wasn’t getting
Roy and Nancy Bennett (second and third from left) with their daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons
anything out of it. We needed to get our trust back in God. My sister, Joan, was the one who got me to come get involved with the church. She is my mentor.” Not long after the Bennetts committed to attending Mass weekly, Roy decided to enroll in our parish RCIA process. He entered the Church, and he and Nancy had their marriage convalidated in the Church by Fr. West in 2002.
Roy still remembers the feeling he had as he was confirmed in the Catholic faith during the Easter Vigil Mass. “The word that comes to mind is ‘humbling,’” he says. “The RCIA process was enlightening, and the Easter Vigil was the end of a long journey. I was very satisfied with it.” As demonstrated by his 37year career in the Army, followed continued on page 5
4
Nancy Bennett
scipleship Through an Active Faith Life by continued service and volunteerism, Roy has always felt called to serve others. As soon as he joined the Catholic Church, he was eager to get involved in our faith community. From that moment on, Nancy and Roy plunged right into parish life, and they haven’t looked back! In addition to serving as ushers, the Bennetts often spend time in adoration and sign up to bring the Vocations Chalice Box home. Nancy participates in the Altar Society and volunteers with a group that cleans the church. She is an Extraordinary Minister at Mass and, before COVID-19, for the homebound. She also helps coordinate funeral meals. Participation in all of these ministries has provided a great opportunity for connecting with fellow parishioners. “We started ushering right
away because it’s a great way to meet people and we were the new kids on the block,” Nancy says. “And coordinating the funeral meals is so rewarding. You get to know the people and the families, and they are so grateful and appreciative.” Having landed at Immaculate Conception almost 20 years ago, the Bennetts are thankful for the wonderful friendships and connections they have forged here over the years. “I’ve met a lot of good people here who have become friends,” Roy says. “I know I can pick up the phone and call them if I need something or just need to chat. Staying involved and going to Mass is a blessing to me.” Like Roy, Nancy feels a deep sense of gratitude for the abundant blessings the couple has found in their active faith life.
“I don’t think there was a time that we both didn’t want to be involved,” Nancy says. “We knew that this was going to be our calling — to be involved in the church and community. We have thoroughly enjoyed it and the people. We’ve had some great pastors that have always been very supportive and wonderful fellow parishioners. It’s just a lifetime of relationships, and that includes being with God, as well. “This parish is like our second home,” she adds. “We just count our blessings every day [in this pandemic] that we can still do this and go to church. After last spring, we couldn’t wait for those doors to open up again! Some people understandably still haven’t come back, and I pray that one day we will be able to be together as a family in the Catholic Church.”
“I don’t think there was a time that we both didn’t want to be involved. We knew that this was going to be our calling — to be involved in the church and community. We have thoroughly enjoyed it and the people. We’ve had some great pastors that have always been very supportive and wonderful fellow parishioners. It’s just a lifetime of relationships, and that includes being with God, as well. — Nancy Bennett 5
Immaculate CONCEPTION
From the Catechism
What is Almsgiving?
“G
iving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2462). During the seasons of Advent and Lent, it is not uncommon to hear about fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Most of us are familiar with at least two of the three penitential practices — prayer and fasting. We engage in prayer each day, while fasting becomes a regular part of our Lenten routines. But what is almsgiving? It is simply giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. This can be through donations of canned goods to the local food pantry, spare change to the Salvation Army during the Christmas season, or even through person-to-person contact with the poor. This Lent, if your family has not regularly engaged in almsgiving, consider making a change.
Search for opportunities to serve the poor and vulnerable, making their lives easier — even if in a small way. Things to do with your family: • Place a coffee can in a prominent place in your home, and commit to filling it with loose change throughout the week. Then, donate the money to a local charity. • The next time you shop for groceries, buy a few extra canned goods and donate them to a food pantry or food bank. • Research a charity that works with the poor, and make a commitment to regularly give to that organization. • Resolve to never judge those who are less fortunate, and teach your children the same.
H o ly W e e k S c h e d u l e A p r i l 1 — Holy Thursday, 7 p.m. A p r i l 2 — Good Friday, 7 p.m. A p r i l 3 — Easter Vigil, 8 p.m. 6
A p r i l 4 — Easter Sunday, 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5 p.m.
Celebrating Catholic
Schools Week 2021
Our students, faculty and staff celebrated the gift of Catholic education during Catholic Schools Week 2021.
7
Immaculate CONCEPTION 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd. North Little Rock, AR 72116 Church Office: (501) 835-4323 www.iccnlr.org
Our Sister
Parish in Russia
The February issue of our parish newsletter featured an article on our sister parish, Most Holy Mother of God Parish, in Vladivostok, Russia. The website listed in the article was incorrect. To find out more about this historic parish and the Mary Mother of God Mission Society and to donate to our sister parish, please visit:
vladmission.org
LITURGY SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. | Sunday Masses: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Daily Mass: Wednesday, Thursday, and First Saturday of the Month at 8:15 a.m. Confessions: Tuesday: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
ADORATION
Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the main church