Weekly Bulletin

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Third Sunday of Lent

February 24, 2008

Today’s Gospel passage is one of the most beautiful stories in all of scripture. A woman, rejected by her own neighbors because of her sinfulness, is recognized by Jesus as one with potential for great faith and indeed she is transformed into someone who brings others to faith. Let us begin by recognizing that we are all sinners and that God sees

FIRST: 1 Sam. 16:b, 6-7.10-13a God sees not as humans see for God looks into our hearts.

To celebrate our IHM Parish Feast Day we will be going to Emmitsburg on Saturday, May 31^st . Bus leaves at 9:00 AM and returns at 6:00 PM Cost is $53.00 – Mass at the Grotto with Fr. Carrion. Dinner at the Carriage House. Tour the Mother Seton Shrine. Call. Dot Raab at 410-668-7760 or Bert McClellan at 410-665-5248. Send checks to Dot Raab 8537 Oak Road Balt. MD 21234. Make checks payable to IHM Pilgrimage.

Collections for the Weekend of February 17, 2008

Envelope Donations $ 8905.00

Loose $ 1806.07

Children $ 74.09

Total $ 10785.16

Less Cathedraticum $ 1617.77

Available for Parish $ 9167.39

Second Collection $ 2441.35 Archdiocesan

Poor Box $ 156.71

RESPECT LIFE - The Supreme Court is listening! Upholding the federal ban on partial-birth abortion, the Supreme Court cited The Justice Foundation's brief in its ruling. The Court heard testimony from women of Operation Outcry, The Justice Foundation's project to expose the truth that abortion hurts women, men, families and the culture. Although the Court said that abortion causes severe depression in some women, it also said that it does not have reliable data on the scope of the problem. In response The Justice Foundation plans to collect one million declarations to use as legally admissible evidence from people who have had abortions. If you or someone you know has been affected by the tragedy of abortion, you can help by becoming a Declaration Ambassador for Operation Outcry! For more information, go to www.operationoutcry.org and click on Declaration Forms.

To join the parish Respect Life Committee call Betty Steinbacher at 410 665-8645.

PRAYER CHAIN If you have a PRAYER REQUEST call any member of the IHM Prayer Chain: Call Ann Connolly 410-661-6947, Mary Ann Thaler 410-668-7738, Corrine Kelly 410-665-8193

Thank you for considering your faithful generosity to this year’s Lenten Appeal. When we make a gift that causes us some meaningful self-sacrifice, then we give of ourselves from the heart. That kind of self-giving, especially for the less fortunate, blesses us greatly with a fulfilling sense of purpose and a deep spirit of contentment and joy. Please continue to pray for the success of the Appeal.

HIGH SCHOOL LENTEN JOURNEY continues this Tuesday, February 26, 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room basement of rectory. Come and join with others as we explore questions about faith and grow deeper in our relationship with God!

Sign up now to help with 1^st Communion Retreat Workshop, Saturday March 1^st, set up is on Friday, Feb 29th after school at 3:00-4:00 pm; clean up Saturday, March 1^{st ,}12:30. -1:15 pm. Contact sr. Regina for more information! 410-661-3820.

Support the Empty Bowls fundraiser for Sarah's Hope and Beans and Bread: Help make bowls that will be given to the attendees at the event. Hot Pots, a paint-your-own pottery place in Timonium, has graciously offered a 50% discount to anyone who comes to make bowls on behalf of Empty Bowls. The normal price to make a bowl is $20; you can participate at $10. This is a fun activity and you will be helping raise needed funds for one of the leading organizations in the Baltimore region serving people experiencing hunger, homelessness and poverty. Hot Pots, 39 West Aylesbury Road, 410-561-3035. For more info on Empty Bowls, www.vincentbaltimore.org

ADULT VOLUNTEERS are needed to supervise the Church nursery during 10:30 AM Mass. Teens will be assisting you. If you could volunteer once every other month, please call Liz Littleton at 410-665-3857.

It’s not too late to be part of our ANNIVERSARY TRIP As part of the celebration of our 60th Anniversary as a Catholic Community, Immaculate Heart of Mary will host a trip to Rome, Florence and Venice, June 26 to July 6, 2008. Brochures will soon be available. Our group will be limited to 45-50 people. If you would like more information concerning this trip, please contact Fr. Mike (mcarrion@immaculateheartofmary.com or 410-668-7935). Archbishop O'Brien (the incoming 15th Archbishop of Baltimore) will be receiving the Pallium (symbol of Office given to Metropolitan Archbishops) on Sunday June 29, in Rome, we have placed our request with the Archdiocese and hope to procure tickets and attend this historic event.

PARISH LENTEN SCHEDULE

STATIONS OF THE CROSS - Friday Mornings after the 8:00 AM Mass and Friday Evenings at 7:30 PM

EUCHARISTIC SERVICE at 6:40 am .in the Church Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday If inclement weather delays opening or closing of Baltimore County schools, there is no 6:40 service that day.

PARISH SEDER MEAL

Sunday, March 9^th , 4:30 pm in the gym. The Seder (or Passover) Meal has been observed by the Jewish people since the time of the Exodus from Egypt as a remembrance of how God "passed over" the houses of the Hebrews when he slew the first born of the Egyptians. It was in the context of this ritual meal that Christ first celebrated the Eucharist with His disciples at The Last Supper.

PARISH PENANCE SERVICE at Immaculate Heart of Mary will be on Monday, March 10, 2008, 7:30 PM in the Church.

On Palm Sunday and on Easter Sunday there will be two 10:30 AM masses. There will be one in the Hall and one in the Church.

The choir will sing at the 9:00 am Mass on Palm Sunday in Church and at the 10:30 am Mass on Easter Sunday in Church.

PARISH BLOOD DRIVE – The next Blood Drive is Thursday, March 13^th in Cartwright Hall from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Please call Gary Brown at 410-663-4357 to schedule your life saving donation.

For Easter OUR PARISH OUTREACH will accept grocery gift cards and monetary donations for hams for the needy in our parish and community. You can drop them off at the rectory. We will accept Easter candy, Easter baskets and grass. You can drop them off in the back of church Thanks for your support for our annual Easter Collection.

ELECTRONIC GIVING AT IHM. – Electric Giving is a direct payment program whereby your contribution is debited automatically from either your checking or saving account, or it can be charged to your credit card. Your contributions to the collection can be weekly, semi-monthly or monthly. Sign-up forms are available at the parish office and in the pamphlet rack in the back of Church. You may make your contribution to the Resounding in Praise Campaign by Electronic Giving .