Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Newsletter — April 2022

Immaculate CONCEPTION Catholic Church

Contents: 3 All Things and All People Are Made New 4

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Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit Steadfast in Faith and Devotion: St. Catherine of Siena

7 Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #2255 Embracing the Spirit of Our Blessed Mother’s Devotion, Love and Generosity APRIL 2022

Sonfest Event Returns with an Evening of Fun, Food and Fellowship

Join Us on April 23 for Midnight at the Masquerade

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he past two years have brought about closures, interruptions, and separations.

Socializing moved to a computer or cell phone. Now, it’s time to get back together — and there is no better way to do that than to join us for the 21st annual Sonfest on Saturday, April 23, here at Immaculate Conception.

All of the money raised at Sonfest goes toward the capital campaign. In the second phase of the campaign, the goal is to add more space for our many ministries, bride and groom rooms, a choir room, and a kitchen. In past years, about $50,000 has been raised at Sonfest.

“After not having this event for the past two years, we are so excited for this year,” says Carmel Hanley, Administrative Assistant and continued on page 2

Immaculate CONCEPTION Sonfest Event Returns with an Evening of Fun, Food and Fellowship continued from front cover Sonfest committee member. “Because we’ve had to miss out on this opportunity the last few years, we’d love to have a very successful event.”

The event — for ages 21 and up — includes dinner, a silent and live auction, wine pull, raffle, whisky flight bar, and a mystery to solve.

Actors at the event will lead attendees through a mystery. Attendees can dress in 1920s attire.

There’s always a signature drink that’s part of the fun.

“We really want people to have a lot of fun while supporting the parish,” Carmel says.

The event will be capped at 300 people. There is an opportunity to sponsor tables at the event.

Sponsors come for a special social hour from 4 to 5 p.m.

Carmel is so thankful for the dedicated women who make this event happen. Their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

“One of my favorite parts about Sonfest is working with this team to put on a successful event,” Carmel says.

The murder mystery portion of the night will be a blast. A live painter will also create a piece that will be auctioned off that night.

“I can’t wait to see everyone having fun and socializing after the past two years,” Carmel says. “We all are yearning for that togetherness.”

Dinner tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at the parish office.

Be sure to join your fellow parishioners on Saturday, April 23, for Midnight at the Masquerade!

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A Letter From Our Pastor

All Things and All People Are Made New Dear Parishioners,

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his month, our Lenten journey comes to an end. We associate the Easter season with springtime — a time of new life and new beginnings — and Holy Scripture addresses this idea of newness many times. The Lord declares, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

This idea of being “new” is important to us as Catholics, and it is important to our parish. We need to strive to do this on a regular basis — even on a daily basis. Think of the fact that all was once new. Regardless of how you view the development of this earth and those of us who occupy it, all was once new.

As we prepare for this Easter season, we need to retain that idea of being “new.” And being “new” means conversion, and we have often pointed out that conversion is at the heart of a life of stewardship.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life” (654).

In other words, Christ’s Resurrection is the source of our new life — our own future resurrection. St. Paul wrote about it to the Romans (Rom 6:5) — “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.”

Hope for a new life beginning now and extending on into heaven is the result of Jesus’ Resurrection. What greater grounds for thanksgiving can there be than this Easter hope? We should sing with joy about God’s promise to us, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).

St. Paul also wrote (Col 3:1-2), “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” Jesus’ Resurrection and His promise of a new life for us mean that we need to live in conformity with our status as adopted children of God. How do we show our joy and our gratitude to God for this amazing gift He has given us? We join in worship and praise God by word and song. We share the Good News of Jesus’ victory over death with our family, friends, and neighbors. And we offer back to the Lord a portion of the time, talent, and treasure He has entrusted to us.

Yes, the Easter message that we share in the benefits of Christ’s Resurrection indeed makes all things new — the ultimate foundation for all Christian stewardship.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. John Wakube Pastor 3

Immaculate CONCEPTION

Celebrating the Sacra

SEALED

WITH

THE

We offer heartfelt congratulations to our young parishioners who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this spring.

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GIF

ament of Confirmation T

OF

THE

HOLY

SPIRIT

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Immaculate CONCEPTION

St. Catherine of Siena

STEADFAST IN FAITH AND DEVOTION: On April 29, we celebrate the feast day of a doctor of the Church — one who remained absolutely devoted to living her life for Christ, even in the face of familial misunderstanding in her youth, and through societal opposition and turmoil during her later years. As stewards in our fast-paced, highly technical — and often fractured — world, we can always look to the life and example of St. Catherine of Siena, and strive to remain steadfast in our faith while facing our own modern-day challenges.

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orn in mid-14th-century Italy to a large family, and in the midst of a plague outbreak, St. Catherine of Siena was her parents’ 25th child, although half of her siblings did not survive through childhood. Young Catherine resisted her family’s desire for her to marry — she even went so far as to begin fasting and cutting her hair short in protest. Her parents eventually relented, as Catherine strived to humbly serve her own family, treating her own father as Jesus, her mother as Mary, and her brothers as the apostles.

Such was Catherine’s desire to remain in service to her own family that instead of entering a convent, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic at age 18. This enabled her to continue serving her family at home, even as she was part of a religious society. In time, she learned to read and began giving her family’s own possessions to those in need — even though her parents didn’t necessarily approve of her entirely altruistic approach to service.

Continuing with her faithful devotion as part of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Catherine developed a following of her own, as she wrote letters

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offering spiritual encouragement and instruction. Controversy would ensue, as her writings began to comment on public matters through her firm lens of faith.

In the midst of these spiritual developments, at age 21, Catherine underwent a profound change, as she experienced what she called her “mystical marriage to Christ.” Through this experience, she was directed to help the poor and the sick.

Catherine began serving those in need in hospitals and homes, which inspired followers to assist in these important missions of service, love, and mercy.

Furthermore, she continued to comment on public matters, petitioning for peace in the midst of political fracture and strife. This continued through the Great Schism, beginning in 1378, as Catherine spent two years — the last years of her life — in Rome, praying and pleading for unity in the Church, and for the cause of Pope Urban VI.

By January 1380, Catherine was gravely ill, unable to eat or drink — shortly thereafter, she lost the use of her legs. At only 33 years old, she would pass away on April 29, 1380. She was canonized nearly a century later, in 1461.

Despite her short life, St. Catherine of Siena made a profound impact on the Church through her spiritually direct writings, her work serving those in need, and in preserving the unity of the Church in the face of great societal upheavals — all while being singularly devoted to living a life for Christ. Her status led her to be declared a copatron of Italy (alongside St. Francis of Assisi) in 1939. And in 1970, Pope Paul VI declared St. Catherine of Siena a doctor of the Church.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #2255 Embracing the Spirit of Our Blessed Mother’s Devotion, Love and Generosity

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mmaculate Conception Parish has a very active Court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), making it part of the largest and oldest women’s organization in the Americas.

“Immaculate Conception Catholic Daughters Court #2255 has embraced the spirit of the Blessed Mother Mary’s devotion, love, and generosity to help change our world in small ways,” says Elaine Hemann, Immaculate Conception CDA District Deputy. “The Catholic Daughters have a long history of supporting social and charitable activities that promote fellowship, spiritual growth, social justice, and equality.”

The Knights of Columbus founded the Catholic Daughters in 1903, but the Catholic Daughters became their own organization more than 100 years ago. The organization has charters, referred to as “courts,” in 45 states, as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. More than 63,000 dues-paying lay and religious Catholic women all over the

world are linked through the CDA. “Immaculate Conception CDA is not only our local court, but it is part of the Arkansas State court, as well as the National Catholic Daughters,” Elaine says. “Locally, we have nine meetings a year working from the Circle of Love program that brings together education, youth, family, spiritual enhancement, quality of life, legislation, and leadership. We are a very charitable and spiritual court. We pray together at our meetings for family, seminarians, and other religious vocations as well as say the Rosary together.”

Some of the projects, through the national Circle of Love program, are: Helping Hand, the food and clothing pantry; Smile Train, providing operations for children all over the world who suffer from cleft palate; Masses offered each month for the Sanctity of Life (Right to Life) and Masses for IC CDA living and deceased members.

The Circle of Love also prays for an assigned member through Prayer Partners and adopts continued on back cover

“Immaculate Conception Catholic Daughters Court #2255 has embraced the spirit of the Blessed Mother Mary’s devotion, love, and generosity to help change our world in small ways. The Catholic Daughters have a long history of supporting social and charitable activities that promote fellowship, spiritual growth, social justice, and equality.”

— E L A I N E H E M A N N , I M M A C U L AT E C O N C E P T I O N C D A D I S T R I C T D E P U T Y

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Immaculate CONCEPTION 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

North Little Rock, AR 72116 Church Office: (501) 835-4323 www.iccnlr.org

Catholic Daughters of the Americas a diocesan seminarian with prayers, cards, and Masses.

Our Court also supports national projects such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation that promotes the White Ribbon Against Pornography; collecting and recycling soda pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House; collecting old rosaries for Holy Cross Family Ministries and eyeglasses for Lions Club International Foundation.

“We prayerfully support our clergy, bishop, and the Holy Father in their work,” Elaine says.

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The court meets at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month in Immaculata Hall, making it possible for those who attend the first Saturday Masses to attend the meetings. There are no meetings in July, September, or January. Members enjoy coffee and refreshments after Mass in Immaculata Hall.

“All Catholic women 18 years and older are welcome to attend any of our meetings as our guests to see if they want to join,” Elaine says.

“We want and need new members.”

If you would like information about the Immaculate Conception Catholic Daughters Court #2255, please reach out to Elaine Hemann at 501-835-0066 or elainehemann@gmail.com.

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. | Sunday Masses: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Daily Mass: Tuesday, 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., Saturday: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

ADORATION

Adoration is now being held in the Adoration Chapel. If you are interested in spending time with the Blessed Sacrament, please contact Ramona Bourdo at 501.831.5040, for an available time slot. **Schedule subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines**