Immaculate Conception Church

2310 Robertson Avenue, Norwood, OH 45212

Telephone: [513] 731-8771

Emergency only: [513] 382 -1200

Second Sunday of Lent “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”

Please keep in your prayers: Deceased: Catherine Fiore, JoAnn and Michelangelo Pedicini, Jennifer Nies, Gerda Percy, Ron Ackerman, Mike Foley, Marie Penner, Anna Rita Hayden, Gerard Kennedy, Tom Airgood, Gregg Lochor, G.Bolte,J . Kelbley, W.Martin,D. Wolf, Fr. Collins, F. Eichler, A. DeTar, B. Leininger, S. Lavery, J. Donohoe, A. Marshall, M.L. Duerr, R. Hutchinson, I. Sarlo, A. Reed, M. McCune, D. Meyers, M. Bochkor, S. Reen, P. Patton, C. Storch, M. Morow, B. Lutkehaus, D. Votruba, A. Dewel, C. Nies, R. Tihista, T. Gripshover, M. Miller, Fr. D. Cooper, R. Regner, H. Gentry, J. Snyder, P.&C. Dye, C. Feibusch, M/M. Schappacher, J. Ackerman, M.Klinec, K.Ackerman, S.Uribe, F.Gaskins, M.Derksen, R.Greenwell, C.Zint, E.Bowman, R.Hebert, K&J.DiMartino, W.King, C.Newman, J.Kemmerer, E.Howard, R.Murphy, Sr. Marilyn, R.Faith, W.Lee, R.Petrilli, N.Nies, M.Peter, J.Schmitz, T&N.Schoech, T.Skierka, Sr.M.Dolorosa, W&L.Kotylo, T.Lichter, M.Lemmick, R.Desborough, J.Calwell, W.Cicatelli, C.Kraft, A.Heller, D.May, W.Reist, M.Bumb, P.Hunt, C.Dale, O.Hawes, I.McCoy, A.Wietholter, M.Marshall, T.Maguire, B.Baumberger, E.Frizzell, J.Santay, A.Priest, Wm.Jenkins, D.Hayden, J.Carso, E.Gorey, S.McQuillen, Z.Hauser, A.Kurtz, M/M Casanova, E.Davis, A.Macek, R.Sitar, D.Kemmerer, M.Abraham, T.Vuksta, A.Huizar, R.Condit, Sr.M.Cecilia, C.Smith, A.Birch, J.Hannikman, M.Kunkel, R.Shawhan, L.Brugger, M.Shiver, J. Whatmough. R.DeLawder. R.Cole, Ill and injured: Bishop Kelly, Mother Mary Bosco, J .Baumberger, D.Veitkus, B.Shawhan, R.F iore, E.Hamlin, J .Ring, M/M Kramer, G.Hubley, D.Johnson, J.Capetillo, M.Connelly, T.Jordan, J.Evans,Sr. Fr.Berry & parents, K.Cline, M.Shawhan, M/M Wildt, Tina J., N. Boylson, S. Smith, Fr. Jenkins, Fr. Greenwell, Fr. Buckley, J. Marsh,A. Bermudez,M. Mathiasen, R. Gorey, B. Lyons, L.Haughey, J. Nosko, T. Herrington, D.Windisch, babies J. Wittman, B. Mueller, James & Rosa Maria, child C. Sauer, P. Bendel, S. Lech, A. Strouse, L. & D. Lamping, Theresa, B.Piersall, S.Stephenson,Y.Kramer,L.Veitkus, R.&C. Lurker, J. McMahon, M.Evans, S. Field, J. Sapp, J . Reyes, M. & S. Egbers, S&S Keenan, G. H. Burger , C.Herman, G. Yeager

Spanish Classes Available for

Children

Anita Yavorsky

513-490-8543

gallegosplc@hotmail.com

“The truly humble reject all praise for themselves, and refer it all to God.” St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori

Interested in advertising?

Contact Judy Schultes

jschultes@icaohio.com

Young Living Essential Oils

Contact Sheri Schoech

mysunshine@zoomtown.com

513-284-9516

Distributor # 2940737

“”For perfection does not con-

sist in macerating or killing

the body but in killing our per-

verse self-will.” St. Catherine

Need a new hard-wood, laminate, or luxury vinyl floor installed? Call Mike Mon-tesano for a free estimate today!

716-697-4132 Put Mike’s 27 years of ex-perience to work for you!

ICA STUDENT VOICE LESSONS ONE FREE LESSON (30 min.)

30 Minute lesson for 1 Student $20.

30 Minute lesson for group of Students $30. balesm3@nku.edu

or mariablaes96@gmail.com

“Believe me, the writing of pious books, the compos-ing of the most sublime poetry, all that does not equal the smallest act of self-denial.” St. Therese of Lisieux

Sunday (March 8): Second Sunday of Lent — St. John of God, Confessor 7:00 a.m. Low Mass — Intention: Missa pro populo 8:45 a.m. High Mass – Intention: Fortitude to model Mary & Christ in dress & behavior by Our Lady’s Sodality Mission Mass — Intention: Special Intention by S. & L. Piscitelli

Monday (March 9): St. Frances of Rome, Widow 10:50 a.m. Low Mass — Intention: Dorothy Smith by Rita Orzechowski

Tuesday (March 10): Forty Holy Martyrs 10:50 a.m. Low Mass – Intention: Harry Smith by Rita Orzechowski

Wednesday (March 11): Ferial Day 10:50 a.m. Low Mass — Intention: Gregorian (11)

Thursday (March 12): St. Gregory the Great, Pope, Confessor & Doctor 10:50 a.m. High Mass – Intention: Gregorian (12) 8:00 p.m. Holy Hour in Reparation to the Sacred Heart

Friday (March 13): Ferial Day 10:50 a.m. Low Mass — Intention: Novena for Families 5:15 p.m. Confessions 6:00 p.m. Low Mass – Intention: Gregorian (13) (Supper will be served in Sacred Heart Hall following the Mass) 7:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross & Benediction

Saturday (March 14): Ferial Day 8:00 a.m. Low Mass — Intention: Gregorian (14)

Sunday (March 15): Third Sunday of Lent 7:00 a.m. Low Mass — Intention: Missa pro populo 8:45 a.m. High Mass — Intention: Patricia Greenwell

Monday 10:50 a.m. Low Mass: S. Bischel / L. Field

Tuesday 10:50 a.m. Low Mass: S. Capetillo / M. Bischel [E. Donohoe / T. Melotik]

Wednesday 10:50 a.m. Low Mass: D. Johnson / B. Veitkus [Li. Urling / A. Walker]

Thursday 10:50 a.m. High Mass: (MC) G. Kunkel /(Th) G. Montesano / (Cr) A. Melotik / (Ac 1&2) N. Birch&T. Melotik / Torches: J. Kunkel / S. Kunkel / S. Lichter / M. Lichter / A. Lawson / C. Lawson [D. Johnson / J. Bruner] 8:00 p.m. Holy Hour: F. Shawhan / Do. Shawhan

Friday 10:50 a.m. Low Mass: J. Yeager / D. Roosa 6:00 p.m. Low Mass & Stations of the Cross: W. Shawhan / M. Brueggemann / G. Butler / G. Shawhan

Saturday 8:00 a.m. Low Mass: A. McClorey / R. Bales

Sunday 7:00 a.m. Low Mass: N. Donohoe / J. Walker 8:45 a.m. High Mass: (MC) P. Boylson / (Th) T. Urling / (Cr) Da. Byrne / (Ac 1&2) Dv. Bischel & I. Schoech Torches: Q. Jones / T. Birch / M. Montesano / C. Sargent / M. Radwanski / A. Johnson

Collections & Contributions

Sunday, March 1st: $8,171.54

Please remember the Church and the Academy in your Last

Will and Testament.

† The 24-hour Rosary Crusade will resume this month on this

Friday, March 13. Please see M/M Butler after

Mass today.

Announcements: + Holy Communion: One hour before weddings and funerals (please be kneeling at the Communion rail at that time) + “What Catholics Believe” has a new website of its own: WWW.WCBOHIO.COM – Please use this to access all programs, which now number more than700, with almost 1,990,000 views and more than 8,500 subscr ibers. Thanks for your support! + Catholics believe that the church is the House of Prayer and that the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, His body and blood, soul and divinity. Therefore, we rightly require that all who enter this church show great respect by the way they behave and the way they dress. + Traditional standards of dress require that ladies wear dresses, or full skirts and blouses. Hemlines must be long enough to touch the floor when kneeling, and to reach at least below the kneecap when standing or sitting. Necklines must be no more than two finger-widths below the collarbone. Slit skirts are not acceptable (a skirt is too tight if it needs to be slit to allow walk ing). Ladies are also required to wear a suitable head-covering while in church. Women wearing slacks, sleeveless dresses (including “capped” sleeves, which are not sleeves at all) or low necklines are not suitably dressed to receive Holy Com- munion. They should not even enter the church if their dress is immodest. + Gentlemen also must wear modest and decent clothing in church. Men must wear dress slacks and dress shirt, preferably with suit coat and tie. If their attire is immodest or indecent, they should not enter the church. + Flip-flops, shorts, sweats, and T-shirts are not acceptable attire in the church. The wearing of revealing, tight-fitting and trans parent garments of sheer material is forbidden. + Please do not come to receive Holy Communion at this church today if you do not meet these standards. Rather, please return more appropriately attired. Furthermore: Anyone who adheres to the erroneous teachings of Father Leonard Feeney and Saint Benedict Center (denying the Church’s teaching concerning “baptism of desire” and “baptism of blood”), or who worships at religious services conducted by any of the Thuc bishops and their clergy, must not receive Holy Communion at Immaculate Conception Church. Please discuss this with our priests. + No one may carry a firearm (CCW) at the church or school without written authorization signed by Fr. Jenkins. +Pray for Matthew Shawhan, Dave Windisch, Robert Gorey, James Ring, Rossana Fiore, Daniel Veitkus, Laura Veitkus, Stuart Field, Jonathan Sapp, Blaise Mueller, Jonah Wittman and Cash Herman. +The ICA Basketball program, which includes both Academy and homeschool students, requests donations to help offset their annual budget. Please call Denis Boylson (673.9201). +Confirmation testing will take place Tues., Mar. 24, at 8:15 a.m. Call the Academy office by March 20 to register for the exam. +If you have a non-Academy child to receive First Holy Communion this May, call or text the church office (731-8771) + Save the date for the young adult get-together in Cincinnati Wed., June 10, 2020 through Sun., June 14. For more information, contact Julianna Butler at nanaknew13@hot mail.com or 859-743-2057. + The men of The Holy Name Society invite men of Immaculate Conception to join them. Please contact Mr. Montesano.

+ Immaculate Conception Church will participate in the 40 Days for Life on Sunday, March 15, from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. in front of Planned Parenthood on Auburn Ave. Please see an I. C. A. Student Council member in the vestibule after the Masses today to sign up. +Retreats at St. Thomas Aquinas Retreat Center: Ladies’ Retreat -5:00 PM June 17 through noon June 20; Men’s Retreat -5:00 PM June 24 through noon June 27. + The boys’ camp will take place Thursday, July 16 until July 26, and the girls camp will run from July 27 until August 2. + Round Top retreats: Ladies’ retreat May 15-18 given by the Daughters of Mary. Call 518-622-9833.

Mass Intentions for the Week:

Fr. Jenkins:

Sunday (March 8): Gregorian (8); +Sue Lavery; Monday (March 9): Gregorian (9) Tuesday (March 10): Gregorian (10); Wednesday (March 11): Novena for Families Thursday (March 12): Novena for Families; Friday (March 13): As listed on front page. Saturday (March 14): Novena for Families Sunday (March 15): Gregorian (15); Novena for Families

Fr. Greenwell: Sunday (March 8) through Sunday (March 15): As listed on front page.

Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

The feast day of the Forty Holy Martyrs this coming Tuesday commemorates the sacrifice of 40 Christian Ro-man soldiers who were condemned to death for their Faith in Jesus Christ while serving in Sebaste, Armenia (the city of which St. Blaise was Bishop). They were condemned to death by freezing, sentenced to be laid out unclad on a frozen lake throughout a bitterly cold night. In order to tempt their resolve, a large cauldron of warm water was set on shore under guard with the understanding that anyone who tried to escape the ice was thereby renouncing his Faith in Christ. They had made a pact among themselves that all 40 of them would be resolutely faithful, even down to the youngest—a teenager of 17 years. Yet, one of the condemned men weakened and sought relief from the warm bath, only to die as soon as he entered the water. One of the guards then saw angels with 40 crowns descending upon the 39 remaining mar-tyrs. He then and there decided that he would claim the 40th crown, professed Faith in Christ and went to join the others on the ice. These 40 martyrs would be excellent patrons for Catholics who are suffering with debilitating illnesses. Stretched out valiantly on their “bed” of suffering, enduring patiently the rigors of their torment for Jesus Christ, what a marvelous example they set for those who are confined to bed for a long time by illness or injuries. If we could be like them, setting an example of faith and fortitude for all around us — rather than by complaints and impatience, making life miserable for everyone! It would be a wonderful work of charity for a Catholic to devote himself to this work of comforting the sick, the invalid, the terminally ill, under the patronage of these Forty Holy Martyrs, by bringing them comfort and encourage-ment to persevere. One could pray the Rosary with them. One could supply them with resources such as recordings of sacred music, sermons and conferences which would help them spend their time profitably, rather than wasting their lives with frivolous and degrading TV “entertainment” or wallowing in self-pity. One could take a few moments out of the day and a few steps out of the way in order to visit the sick and suffering and show that they are not forgotten and that someone does care about them. There is no better time to do all of this than during the season of Lent. “Behold, now is the time of grace…!” Final Document of the Amazonian Synod From the very beginning of his apostolic exhortation about the Amazon Synod, Querida Amazonia (February 2, 2020), Francis makes it clear that the agenda for the future church is to be found in the Synod’s final document : “I will not go into all of the issues treat-ed at length in the final document. Nor do I claim to replace that text or to duplicate it. I wish merely to propose a brief framework for reflection that can apply concretely to the life of the Amazon region a synthesis of some of the larger concerns that I have expressed in earlier documents, and that can help guide us to a harmonious, creative and fruitful reception of the entire synodal process. 3. At the same time, I would like to officially present the Final Document, which sets forth the conclusions of the Synod, which profited from the partic-ipation of many people who know better than myself or the Roman Curia the problems and issues of the Amazon region, since they live there, they experience its suffering and they love it passionately. I have preferred not to cite the Final Document in this Exhortation, be-cause I would encourage everyone to read it in full.” Thus, if we wish to understand the new path which the “Synodal Church” of Fran-cis is following, we must go to that final document. Here are but a few samples (emphasis added): “108. In order to offer future priests of the Amazon’s churches a formation with an Amazonian face, inser ted in and adapted to the reality, contextualized and able to respond to the many pastoral and missionary challenges, we propose a formation plan in line with the challenges of the local churches and the reality of the Amazon. Its academic content should include disciplines such as inte-gral ecology, ecotheology, theology of creation, Indian theologies, ecological spirituality, the history of the Church in the Amazon, Amazonian cultural anthropology, and so on. The formation centres for pr iestly and religious life should preferably be inser ted in the Amazonian reality, with a view to keeping the young Amazonian in formation in contact with his or her own territory while prepar-ing for the future mission, thus guaranteeing that the process of formation not distance itself from the people’s lived reality and their culture, as well as offer ing other young non-Amazonians the opportunity to take part of their formation in the Amazon, thus fos-tering missionary vocations. “116. The Second Vatican Council created possibilities for liturgical pluralism "for legitimate variations and adaptations for dif-ferent groups, regions, and peoples" (SC 38). In this sense, the liturgy should respond to culture so that it may be the source and summit of Christian life (cf. SC 10) and be really linked to the people’s sufferings and joys. We should give an authentically catholic response to the request of the Amazonian communities to adapt the liturgy by valuing the original worldview, traditions, symbols and rites that in-clude transcendent, community and ecological dimensions. “119. The new organism of the Church in the Amazon should establish a competent commission to study and discuss, according to the habits and customs of the ancestral peoples, the elaboration of an Amazonian rite that expresses the liturgical, theological, discipli-nary and spiritual patrimony of the Amazon, with special reference to what Lumen Gentium affirms for the Oriental Churches (cf. LG 23). This would add to the rites already present in the Church, enriching the work of evangelization, the capacity to express the faith in their own culture, and the sense of decentralization and collegiality that can express the catholicity of the Church. The commis-sion could also study and propose how to enrich Church rites with the way in which these peoples care for their territory and relate to its waters.” From what we witnessed in the Vatican Gardens and in the churches of Rome before, during and after the Amazon Synod, the theology and spirituality of the “ancestral peoples” includes worship of Earth “Goddess” (Pachamama) and of Serpent “Goddess” (Sachamama) in rituals of idolatry, blasphemy and sacrilege.

Today’s Recessional: The Glory of These Forty Days

1. The glory of these forty days, / we celebrate with songs of praise, For Christ, through Whom all things were made, / Himself has fasted and has prayed. 2. Alone and fasting, Moses saw / the loving God Who gave the Law, And to Elijah, fasting, came / the steeds and chariots of flame. 3. So Daniel trained his mystic sight / delivered from the lions’ might, And John the Bridegroom’s friend became / the Herald of Messiah’s name. 4. Then grant us, Lord, like them to be / full oft in fast and prayer with Thee; Our spirits strengthen with Thy grace / and give us joy to see Thy face. 5. O Father, Son and Spirit blest, / to Thee be ev’ry prayer addressed, Who art in threefold name adored / from age to age the only Lord. .