Immaculate Conception Parish IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH

ST. MARY’S ACADEMY ST. MARY’S CEMETERY

Bishop of Albany Diocese:

Edward Scharfenberger

Bishop Emeritus: Howard Hubbard

Pastor: Fr. Tom Zelker

tomzelker@gmail.com

Office Secretary: Tina Becker

Our Parish Office & Mailing Address

67 Main Street

Hoosick Falls, NY 12090

Phone: 518-686-5064

E-Mail: immconcept@roadrunner.com

Office Hours: Monday—Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Website: www. icchoosickfalls.com

Facebook page: Immaculate Conception Hoosick Falls

WE PRAY EASTER

These 50 Days are the heart of our Catholic faith. The stone is rolled away from all tombs: we remember our lives have meaning and

purpose and we are alive forever! And so we are overcome with joy. Waters flow; bells ring; aromas, flowers, and banners brighten

our senses. Our Easter liturgies are energetic and effervescent. We sing the ancient Gloria with new voices. Our response to the Acts

of the Apostles (our first Scripture during the season) is Psalm 66: “Lift up your hearts to the Lord, praise God’s gracious mercy! Sing

out your joy to the Lord, whose love is enduring.” Our Gospel Acclamation in contrast to Lent’s quiet, is the enthusiastic Caribbean

“Alle, Alle, Alleluia.” We renew our baptismal promises in our Creedal questions. When we come to the Lord’s Table and break bread

and drink wine Christ is really present among us...changing and transforming our lives into what our community needs. We sing of our

mystery: “Savior of the world, by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.” We are sent forth, renewed and energized in

God’s love to live fully every day!

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Saturday, May 5 4:00 PM Mass

Ray Vogler William “Chub” Sargood, Sr. John & Eleanor Jenuskevice

Sunday, May 6 9:00 AM Mass

Frank & Molly Kennedy Lynn O’Brien Patrick Flynn

Monday, May 7 12 Noon Mass

“For Our College Students”

Wednesday, May 9 8:30 AM Mass

at St. Patrick’s Church, Cambridge

Thursday, May 10 12 Noon Mass

at Immaculate Conception Church 6:00 PM Mass

St. Patrick’s Church, Cambridge

Friday, May 11 12 Noon Mass “For Families”

Saturday, May 12

4:00 PM Mass “ All Mother’s”

Sunday, May 13 9:00 AM Mass “All Mother’s”

6th Sunday of Easter may 6, 2018

Please bring any type of the following items: tuna fish, canned fruit, canned goods, cookie/cake mixes or toiletry items to our donation box in church. There is always a need for old bags to be reused. Food Pantry Volunteers … We are looking for volunteers at the Food Pantry to help. If you are interested, please call Dianne Hosterman at 686-5310.

CHANGE FOR THE GOOD We have a change collection box at the entrance of our church. Spare change can be dropped off any time. These donations will be used to support good charities that serve our people. This is a place where all jingling contributions are welcome.

PLANT A ROW As you till and plow your gardens this spring, please consider adding an extra row of vegetables dedicated to our Food Pantry. We serve many elderly and young families in our community. Fresh fruit and vegetables are crucial in a healthy diet. Any fruits or vegetables may be dropped off at the “Veggie Bin” at the Pantry any time.

SIGN-UP

As part of our parish and school wide effort to become ever more a people and place of peace, we are

asking all parishioners - adults and students to sign “The No Place for Hate Promise.” This is a resolution

to live respectfully; treating all people fairly, with kindness and tolerance. In the midst of a world em-

broiled in violence and fear, we need to be a church of welcome, peace, and joy. Our sign up sheet is on

the hospitality table. So far 198 parishioners have signed this “Declaration” of Independence from hate.

Let this freedom ring throughout our land.

PRISION MINISTRY

Can you write a letter of hope and encouragement to a person incarcerated? Tell them to have a good day, write out your favorite quote so they can remember people outside prison love them and care that they exist. Loneliness abounds in the isolation in prison and we would like to do a little something to share God's love, in fact Our Holy Father challenges us to think about the least of our sisters and broth-ers. If you are interested in such a small but significant gesture, the please contact Patty Austin on 518/428-8686 and leave your name and number we will start meeting once a month to write the letters, make it fun, and a time fellowship as well.

SPREADING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL:

IT STARTS WIT YOU! OUR 2018 BISHOP’S APPEAL

The 2018 Bishop’s Appeal begins this weekend, May 5/6. This is our opportunity to unite together as one Catholic family to answer the challenge given to us by Jesus Christ to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and to promote justice for every person. In these next weeks, please take the time to prayerfully reflect on the gifts that you have been given by God and respond to the Bishop’s Appeal as generously as you possibly can. Your participation is essential to the success of the Bishop’s Appeal. Please join other Catholics from throughout the fourteen counties of the diocese in supporting this very important collection. Our second collection this weekend is for the appeal. Envelopes may be dropped off at our office or dona-tions may be made online at www.thebishopsappeal.org. Our parish assessment this year is $22,726.

ST. MARY’S ACADEMY 4 PARSONS AVENUE, HOOSICK FALLS, NY

PHONE: (518) 686-4314, FAX: (518) 686-5957 Principal, Mrs. Amanda Goyer

Mrs. Mary Beth Smith, Secretary St. Mary's Academy is the parish school of the Immaculate Conception Faith Community. Founded in 1891, St. Mary's Academy

provides education for students beginning in Pre-Kindergarten and continuing through Grade 8.

CLASS TODAY: May 6th Final class of the year: May 20th

All classes are at St. Mary’s Academy. Class assistants are needed.

contact Deb Kapron, Deb Mahar, or our parish office today.

SPIRIT FILLED DISCIPLES

We celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with 34 of our young pa-

rishioners on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 6:30 PM. Bishop Howard Hub-

bard will be with us to preside at Eucharist. A dinner will follow. Let us

be inspired by this Young Church. Please keep them in your prayers

Lilly Abbott; Faith Adamczenko; Fred Adrion; Zaine Becker;

Keelyn Bradley; Melanie DeLaurentis; Tania Delgado;

Brianna Elwell; Sophie Estes; Sarah Flynn; Bethany Hassett;

Kelsey Haynes; Skyelyn Haynes; Ally Hoag; Delilah Hoag;

Hailey Houghton; Nicholas Houghton; Brianna Jones;

Ben Kapron; Jonathan Kempf; Quinn Kinney; Maxwell Kipp;

Kaylee Maynard; Nathaniel Miller; Amy Perry; Samuel Richard;

Dmitri Rose; Tyler Senecal; Jonathan St.Hilaire; Christina Stagnitti;

Stephanie Stowell; Madeline Walker; Grace Wysocki; and

Conner Zedalis.

Rehearsal for candidates and sponsors is Monday, May 14th at 6:30PM in church.

Thanks to Austin St. Hilaire for his great, creative, faithful teaching.

Dear Friends of SMA, May’s fruit of the spirit is Gentleness. We celebrate May as the month of Mary, patron saint of our school and church. Students will be learn-ing about Mary and her importance in our faith throughout the month. Thank you for your support of our chicken BBQ last weekend! We sold all 224 dinners! As part of our faculty dress down for a cause this year, we have raised over $800 for various causes including: hurricane relief, Catholic Chari-ties, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Karen and Molly McGovern Foun-dation, Stand Up to Cancer, The Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association, and St. Baldrick’s. Thank you to our faculty for their commitment to their charitable giving throughout this school year! May 7th-11th is Teacher Appreciation Week. We at SMA are grateful for all our faculty and staff and the work they do with our students each day! Our students will be performing a spring concert on Wednesday, May 16th beginning at 1:15pm at SMA. All are invited to attend! SMA is taking registrations for the 2018-2019 school year. Call SMA at 518-686-4314 to book your tour today! As always, I encourage you to stop by and visit your parish school. With many blessings,

-Mrs. Amanda Goyer-

Sunday, May 6th

We celebrate First Communion with 9 of our young parishioners.

We welcome to the Lord’s Table:

CLARA ADRION; LEAH ANGELL; GRAYSEN CASE; LOUIE GARDELL;

BRETT GIGLIO; SAWYER SADDLEMIRE; JACKSON STARR;

KURT WAUGH; LILLY ZWINGE

Thanks to their families and their teachers

Maggie Kinney and Amanda Goyer

The 8th grade of St. Mary’s Academy come out of Everett’s Cave in the Taconics while studying rock formation and erosion,

climbing techniques, and conservation. No one got hurt and most found their way out of the cavern.

WE HAVE FREE COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS AT OUR PARISH OFFICE. PLEASE RESERVE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -

AVAILABLE AT A FIRST COME - FIRST SERVE SIGN IN.

THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION

People ask, "What did you decide to do about the church?" From that question we realize information is not being shared enough or isn't being heard. Here is an update: there are three parts to this situation: 1. It became clear that ICC cannot stay the same. Our current revenue

does not support our expenses. The Diocese has helped for at least a decade helping to make ends meet.

2. The structure needs repairs. 3. Change in the local population in Hoosick Falls. All of these issues are part of the decision making and the final decision involves the parish as a whole. Although the Pastoral Council will ulti-mately have to make a recommendation to the Pastor ---we all need to look at the big picture and determine what is our individual part.

We are looking at the fourth quarter of 2018 to be able to make a rec-ommendation. Our pastoral council and critical review committee are meeting to eval-uate surveys, parishioner input, finances, structural reports, repair and construction costs. These are analyzed in relationship to repairs to our whole church building, constructing a smaller worship space within our existing church building (returning to the original 1869 church), or cre-ating a new church at St. Mary’s Academy. Much hard work, prayer, and discussion is involved in planning for our sustainable future. Please keep our whole community in your faithful prayer.

SPRING STROLL & STAINED GLASS

Saturday May 19, 2018 9am -12noon

Come and stroll along Hoosick Fall's

Main street, USA and view the historic and beautiful works of art in the

stained glass of our churches while enjoying the vibrant spring of our

village along the Hoosic River.

Sponsoring Churches: St. Mark's Episcopal, First Baptist of Hoosick Falls,

First United Presbyterian, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (all

within 2 blocks of each other in downtown Hoosick Falls)

To all the police, fire fighters, parishioners, and workers

from Doug’s Oil who responded so quickly last Monday

to the electrical emergency within our church furnace.

They averted further difficulties in our parish.

Thank You!

WE NEED YOU! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody here was a Minister of Communion?!! Yes, you can...and yes you are needed to help share our Eucharist at Mass. Please see Mary Waytkus or Fr. Tom Zelker soon.

SPRING ENRICHMENT: COMPANIONS ALONG THE JOURNEY

Wednesday, May 16 - Friday, May 18, At the College of St. Rose

All sorts of classes and courses - examples: cultures and values; Catho-lic Social teaching; Sacraments; Mary and the Saints. All classes are paid for by our parish. For more information, stop by our office.

ASCENSION THURSDAY May 10th

Mass - 12 Noon at Immaculate Conception Church Mass - 6PM at St. Patrick’s Church, Cambridge

Immaculate Conception Parish

May 5 & May 6, 2018

YOUR SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS & ATTENDANCE

YOUR SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS April 28 & April 29:

Offertory……………………………..……..$3,616.42

Evangelist..…………………………………$75.00

Candles...…………………….………………$54.65

Total: $3,746.07

ATTENDANCE April 28 & April 29:

4 PM……...125 9 AM……. 170 Total: 295

ELECTRONIC GIVING Our automatic withdrawal system is working well. This may be an easy way for you to support our parish. Please contact our office for more information.

We ask for your prayers for the following:

Pat Finzer, Mary McCaffery, Chick Thurber, Robert Sargood, Scott Wil-liams, Marie Godfrey, Mary Carter, Corinne Philpott, David Martin, Rosemary O’Malley, Cheryl Kresky, Jim Baker, Judy Quackenbush, Bev-erly James, Winnie Restino, Frank Marmillo, Sandy McCart, Mark Rice, Al & Anne Eberle, and Mary Austin. Those who have been on the list for quite some time will still be prayed for, but will not appear in the bulletin. If you are in need of prayer for yourself or someone you know, please call: Margaret O’Malley at 686-7835.

This Week: May 5 & May 6, 2018 Lay Ministers: Team #1 Counters: Bob Medvetz, Mike Shea, & Andrea White Next Week: May 12 & May 13, 2018 Lay Ministers: Team #2 Counters: Terry Hewson & Heather Hassett (It is your responsibility to find a substitute if you are unable to serve.)

Advertiser of the Week … CHARITY’S

HAIR STUDIO 18 Ball Street

Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 PHONE: (518) 686-5619

Charity King Owner/Stylist

Wednesday mornings at 10 AM: Bulletin proofreaders. Call the office. Sunday morning: Collection counters. Call the office. Lectors (readers) at Mass: See Mary Merriam, Gloria Shufon,

or call the office. 686-5064

Holy Communion...Please be sure to let one of the greeters know if you are unable to approach the altar. The usher will then make arrange-ments for Communion to be brought to your pew.