NEWS AND EVENTS

First Friday First Saturday Night of Reparation

There will be no First Friday-Night of Reparation for the month of April due to Holy Week. It will be rescheduled for the following week, April 10th, starting at 7pm.

There will be no First Friday-Night of Reparation for the month of May due to Confirmation. It will be rescheduled for the following week, May 8th, starting at 7pm. Thank you for your understanding.

Notices

WINTER HELP
With winter upon us, our increase in heating for all of our buildings, and the snow and ice removal, add expenses to our monthly bills. During the weekend of March 28-29, we will have a special 2nd collection to help cover the parish's large expenses this winter. If your means allow, and if you can afford an increase or a one-time donation, it would help with these additional costs and would be very much appreciated. Please be as generous as your means allow. Thank you in advance your kindness.

Divine Mercy Sunday
The Sunday after Easter (April 12th) is Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Lord promised Saint Faustina that on this day, the “divine floodgates” of His Mercy are poured out upon the world. To receive the special graces, you must go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation 20 days before or after that Sunday and go to Mass and receive Holy Communion. The Divine Mercy novena begins on Good Friday, April 3rd and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday. Pamphlets with the prayers are in the back of church.

St. Josephs Bench.
The Mens Group at ABVM, Saint Josephs Bench, usually meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 pm in the AMC at the back of the school building. The Bench usually takes trips to various local religious shrines and locations.

Would You Like to Bring Up the Gifts?
We invite families, couples, and individuals to participate in the Offertory by bringing up the gifts during Mass. If you are interested, please sign up in the book located in the vestibule or speak with an usher before Mass. This is a beautiful way to be involved in the liturgy!

Other Mass Volunteer Opportunities
ABVM is always looking for volunteers to become Readers, Extraordinary Ministers, Sacristans, Ushers, or Altar Servers. To inquire about helping your parish, please speak to an usher before or after mass for further information.

ABVM Choir Seeking Members
The ABVM Choir is looking for people who like to sing for liturgical events; we especially need female voices (soprano and alto). If you are interested in joining, we practice on most Monday evenings in the choir loft at 8PM. Perhaps you're not sure you can commit to the whole year; you can try it out for Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. It is not necessary for you to know how to read music; all that is requested is a joyful singing voice to contribute. If you are interested, you can contact the music ministers (Kathy McLaughlin or Margie Crooks) by calling the rectory, or just show up on Mondays in March.

E-Giving and Raise Right
Thank you to all the Parishioners who have already signed up for the E-Giving and the Raise Right Program. If you have not done so but are interested, please contact the Finance Council by way of an email addressed to the Parish email address info.abvm@gmail.com along with the following information:

Attn: ABVM Finance Council I am interested in finding out more information about: E-Giving _____ Raise Right Program _______ Your name: Your email address:

A member of the Finance Council will reach out to you to help you sign up for either or both programs.

Weekly Eucharistic Prayer Meeting Thursdays, 7:30 pm
Join us for our Eucharistic Prayer Meeting every Thursday evening at 7:30PM. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a short teaching by Father Wackerman, quiet time, and Benediction. Come and be renewed by the Holy Spirit! All are welcome!

Lenten Information and Events

Rice Bowls
Boxes are available in baskets in the vestibule of church during Lent. Take one home, fill it with change or checks and return the week before Easter.

The Knights of Columbus Annual Lenten Food Drive
Runs from Ash Wednesday to March 29th. Anyone can drop off donations before or after Mass at the back of church or hand donations to any Knight.
Donation suggestions include:
Week 1 Cereal, Oatmeal, Pancake Mix and Syrup, Breakfast Bars, Peanut Butter, Jams and Jellies
Week 2 Soups (Chicken Noodle, Tomato, Hearty Varieties), Chili, Stew, Canned Tuna, Chicken, Salmon
Week 3 Canned Vegetables, Instant Potatoes or Rice, Meal Kits (Hamburger Helper, etc.)
Week 4 Pasta, Spaghetti, Egg Noodles, Sauces, Broths and Gravies, Canned Ravioli, Beefaroni or Spaghetti
Week 5 Cake, Cookie, Brownie Mixes, Crackers, Cookies, Fruit Juice, Coffee, Canned .Fruits and Applesauce
Week 6 Condiments (Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise), Cooking Oil, Laundry Detergent

Stations of the Cross
You are invited to walk the Way of the Cross during our Lenten program of Stations of the Cross, held each Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm followed by Mass at 7:00 pm. We are celebrating 5 different versions this year, scheduled as follows: February 25 - Contemporary Stations of the Cross (Clarence Enzler), March 4 - Musical Stations of the Cross (Jeff Pagliaro, soloist and guitarist), March 11 - Traditional Stations of the Cross (Saint Alphonsus Liguori), March 18 - Scriptural Stations of the Cross (Pope Saint John Paul II) and March 25 - Mary's Stations of the Cross (Richard Furey).

Tenebrae Service
The service of Tenebrae, meaning darkness or shadows, has been practiced in Christian churches since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week. This year, Assumption BVM Parish will once again join Christians of many generations throughout the world in celebrating the liturgy of Tenebrae. Tenebrae is a prolonged meditation of Christ's suffering. Readings trace the story of Christ's passion, music portrays his pathos, and the power of silence and darkness suggests the drama of this momentous day. As lights are extinguished, we ponder the depth of Christ's suffering and death. We remember the cataclysmic nature of his sacrifice as we hear the overwhelming sound of the strepitus (a loud clatter intended to invoke an earthquake at the moment of Jesus's death). On Wednesday, April 1st, Assumption B.V.M. Parish will offer our Tenebrae Liturgy at 7:00 PM in the church. All parishioners, neighbors, and their guests are invited to attend and experience this very moving meditation on the death of Jesus. This liturgy will provide a prayerful opportunity for those who wish to begin the Triduum with time set aside to reflect on the upcoming events of Good Friday.

Community Meals

Thank you to all, including the St. Vincent DePaul Society members, who helped make our March Community Meal a success. If you would like to learn more about how you can help ABVM volunteers provide dinner in the church hall to the homeless and those in need on the 4th Thursday of every month, contact Rose Jacobs RosemarieJacobs64@gmail.com, 215-219-9047. You do not need to be a member of our parish to get involved. Our next meal will be Thursday, April 23rd. To learn more about the ABVM Conference of the St. Vincent DePaul Society svdp.abvm@gmail.com, 215-357-1221, Ext.21.

Updates

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Please be patient as we update our website. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding!