M I N I S T R I E S A N D O R G A N I Z A T I O N S

Parish Council Pres. Mike Lopez 438.9054 Finance Committee Javier Solis 290.5953 Sacristans Jesse Gomez 229.0102 Juan Rodriguez 229.5515 Choir Coordinator Naida Rios 774.3778 Communion Ministers Ysidro Peña 534.9587 Altar Servers David D. Solis 500.7307 Lectors Rene Sanchez 876.0904 Ushers Ramiro Peña 222.8857 Altar Society Nena Garcia 774.2604 Divine Mercy Sonya G. Torres 739.0087 ICC Food Pantry Adriana Moreno 543.7642 Immaculate Heart of Mary Nydia Tamez 688.0333 Knights of Columbus Edward Lara 229.2260 Sacred Heart Amelia Flores 443.9811 St. Bernadette Angels Belen Peña 558.4320 Vacation Bible School Tycee Sanchez 876.0904 Prayer & Praise Jeronimo Garcia 704.2136

BAPTISMS: Third Saturday of the Month at 10:30 a.m. BAPTISM CLASS: Tuesday prior of Baptism at 7:00pm; Must register at office RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MARRIAGE: By appointment only; Notice to Pastor six (6) months prior to wedding. QUINCEANERAS: Must be enrolled & attending Rel. Ed. Notice to Pastor six (6) months prior. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Anytime by request. COMMUNION FOR THE SICK: Contact the office.

Immaculate Conception Church Diocese of Corpus Christi

107 Church Street / P.O. Box 108

Gregory, TX 78359 (361) 643-4505

Website: iccgregory.org

PASTOR

Fr. James Puthenparambil

PARISH SECRETARY David D. Solis Jr.

BOOKKEEPER John Womack & Co.

DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION David D. Solis Jr.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION STAFF

Belen Pena, Assistant D.R.E. Janie J. Garcia, Office Coordinator

C E L E B R A T I O N O F M A S S Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm

Sunday Masses: 7:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 5:00 pm Rosary Recited 30 minutes prior to beginning of Mass

Weekday Masses: 5:30 pm Tuesday 8:30 am Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 5:30pm First Friday & Fridays of Lent

PARISH OFFICE: 643-4505 Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 am-12 pm;1pm-3:30pm

Fax: (361) 643-1509

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE: 643-8327 Office Hours: Wednesday 5:00pm - 8:45pm

L I T U R G I C A L M U S I C

Saturday 5:00 p.m. Rosendo Ortiz Sunday 7:00 a.m. Gina Lopez 10:00 a.m. Tony Rios 12:00 p.m. Karla Peña 5:00 p.m. Pedro Solis

P R A Y E R & P R A I S E Saturday 6:00 p.m. Chapel

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET

Recited Daily 3:00 p.m. Chapel

ST. JUDE NOVENA Tuesday 6:00 p.m. Prayer Garden

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT THIS SON OF MINE WAS DEAD, AND HAS COME TO LIFE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST, AND HAS BEEN FOUND.

-LUKE 15: 24

SATURDAY March 12, 2016 5:00 PM: Juan, Louis,

SUNDAY March 13, 2016 7:00 AM: Ysidro, John, Brenda 10:00 AM: Raymond, Jesus 12:00 PM: Jessie, Ofelia 5:00 PM: Juan, ,David

March 6, 2016 Immaculate Conception Church - Gregory, Texas

SATURDAY March 12, 2016 5:00 PM: Anita

SUNDAY March 13, 2016 7:00 AM: Elisa 10:00 AM: Kaitlyn 12:00 PM: Confirmation Class 5:00 PM: Jessie

SATURDAY MARCH 5, 2016 5:00 PM: Christina Rossel (Family) Annette Moreno Rodriguez (Rose de la Cruz) Alvaro Ortiz (Belia Ortiz) SUNDAY MARCH 6, 2016 7:00 AM: Richard Ortiz Sr. (Janie Ortiz) Juan G. Perez (Family) Salvador Ayala (Alfredo, Terri & Ana) 10:00 AM: Maria R. & Eugenio Flores (David Flores & Family) Jesus H. Moreno (Graciela E. Moreno) Anselmo & Guadalupe Sanchez (Dora Villarreal) Patricio Ramirez (Melissa Gonzales) For the Health of Jose Garcia (Albert Cavazos) 12:00 PM:Lelia Guzman (Guzman Family) Valente Lara & Maria de Jesus (Brigida Sabedra) Adrian G. Flores (Family) 5:00 PM: for the parishioners of Immaculate Conception MONDAY MARCH 7, 2016 NO MASS TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2016 5:30 PM: OPEN WEDNESDAY MARCH 9, 2016 8:30 AM: OPEN THURSDAY MARCH 10, 2016 8:30 AM: OPEN FRIDAY MARCH 11, 2016 5:30 PM: Amparo Rodriguez (Tina Chavez) SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016 5:00 PM:Annette Moreno Rodriguez (Rose de la Cruz) SUNDAY MARCH 13, 2016 7:00 AM: Richard Ortiz Sr. (Janie Ortiz) Juan G.. Gloria & Ana Perez (Family) Salvador Ayala (Alfredo, Terri & Ana) 10:00 AM: Maria R. & Eugenio Flores (David Flores & Family) For the Health of Jose Garcia (Albert Cavazos) Enrique Nesmith (Bertha Nesmith) Rachel Hinojosa (Idolina Esparza) Annette Moreno & Lupe Moreno Jr. (family) 12:00 PM: Lelia Guzman (Guzman Family) Adrian G. Flores (Family) 5:00 PM: Frank Hernandez (Radiology Associates)

† Belief ~ Trust ~ Faith † Prayer is the most powerful against trials, the most effective medicine against sickness and the most valuable gift to someone we care for.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially the following: Alfredo & Hermelinda Alcoser, Robert Alvarado, Victoria Arredondo, Jesse & Ophelia Avila, Leonor Banda, Rosa Barrera, Brae L Benavidez, Allen Bohns, Estevan Cantu Jr, Rosario Cantu, Gabriel & Matthew Claudio, Estella Cortez, Juanita Cortez, Pedro R Costilla III, Michael Duenes, Dominic De Leon, Nessiah Encinia, Alma Escobedo, Adan Flores Sr, Alberto Flores, Arturo Flores, Eudelia Flores, Bryce Ganley, Aurelia Garcia, Belia Garcia, Concepcion Garcia, Jose L Garcia, Josie Garcia, Juana S Garcia, Juanita Garcia, Oscar Garcia, Ramiro Garcia, Reyes Garcia, April Garza, Angie Garza, Elias Garza, Joe Garza, Jacob Goldapp, Alejandra Guerrero, Danny Gutierrez, Denis Guzman, Conner Heinz, Carolina Hernandez, Isis Hernandez, , Manuela Hernandez, Maria Hernandez, Senaida Hernandez, Jesse Hinojosa, Manuel Hinojosa, Sr., Fidel Labeiga, Elia Lopez, Lupe Lopez, Lori Lucio, Juanita Jimenez, Tina Juarez, Anna Juarez, Solomon Kahookele, Christopher Manka, Olga Moreno, Mimi Obregon, Candelaria Ortiz, Carmen Ortiz, Diana Ortiz, Jerry Oritz, Oralia Ortiz, Socorro Ortiz, Sophia Parker, Raul Padilla, Anita Pena, Luis Pena, Jr., Aurora Perez, Fela Perez, Johnny Pereida, Maria Pequeno, Alfredo Posas, Raul and Lenore Quintanilla, Josie Ramirez, Ramona Ramirez, Valentin Ramirez, Esther Rangel, Juan Reyes, Pepe Reyes, Santos Reyes, Cole Rivas, Datnacio Rivas, Anna Rivera, Antonio Rodriguez Jr., Domingo Rodriguez, Elena Rodriguez, Esequiel Rodriguez, Juan Rodriguez, Noreen Saenz, Richard Saldivar, Vanessa Steele, Teresa Sierra, Alfonso Solis, Braulia Solis, Licha Solis, Luis Solis, Mona Lisa Solis, Felicitas Trevino, Gloria Trevino, Joe & Sara Trevino, Maria L. Valdez, Chris Vela, Cynthia Vela, Miranda Vela, Alejandro Veliz, Renee Young and Leticia Zepeda.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Ss. Perpetua and Felicity Is 65:17-21; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13b; Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday: St. John of God Ez 47:1-9, 12; Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday: St. Frances of Rome Is 49:8-15; Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18; Jn 5:17-30 Thursday: Ex 32:7-14; Ps 106:19-23; Jn 5:31-47 Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Ps 34:17-21, 23; Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday: Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-12; Jn 7:40-53 Sunday: Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — God’s people enter the promised land, observe the Passover, and eat of the produce of the land (Joshua 5:9a, 10-12) Psalm — Taste and see the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 34) Second Reading — We are now ambassadors for Christ (2 Co-rinthians 5:17-21) Gospel — We must rejoice when our brother who was dead in sin repents and comes back to life (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)

Online Giving We now have a new “Online giving” feature for those interest .

Its fast, easy to use, & fully integrated into the parish website. You can do “one time” or “recurring” donations. Its also mobile friendly.

CHARACTER A simple judge of my character is how I treat a person who can do absolutely

nothing for me. —Anonymous

LOOSE COLLECTION 862.00 ENVELOPE COLLECTION 2,172.00 BUILDING FUND 50.00 CHILDREN’S COLLECTION 51.00 SECOND COLLECTION 0.00 February 28, 2016 TOTAL $3,135.00

A SUNDAY FOR REJOICING Today’s Gospel story of the prodigal son is a favorite of many. We can identify with all the major figures and their crisscross of emotions. The father’s initial grief over his young son’s avarice is turned to relief at his return. The son’s grief over his loss of fortune, family, and friends is turned to delirious joy at the sight of his father. We understand the eldest son’s bewilderment over his father’s generosity. For the older son, virtue seems not to be its own reward. For all his honorable toil and loyalty, there seems to be no celebration. The father, however, is prodigal in his forgiveness and mercy. He expects the same generosity from his older son. He wants all to rejoice when the lost one is found. This is a Sunday for rejoicing. It’s time to pause, consider, and encourage one another. We are the prodigal children heading home. We are the elder siblings waiting with the eager Father, who scans the horizon. In Christ Jesus we are reconciled to the Father and one another. In his death and resurrection we have passed over. We are a new creation. In this we rejoice.

UN DOMINGO PARA ALEGRARSE Pocas parábolas del Evangelio son tan queridas por el pueblo cristiano como la del hijo pródigo. Nos podemos identificar con todos sus personajes, y con las emociones que se entrecruzan entre ellos. El dolor del padre por la avaricia y desconsideración de su hijo se convierte en alegría al verlo regresar. El dolor del hijo por haber perdido todo lo que tenía –dinero, familia, amigos– se convierte en alegría delirante al ver como su padre lo recibe. Pero también comprendemos el desconcierto del hijo mayor ante la generosidad de su padre. Para el hijo mayor, la virtud no es su propia recompensa. Ha trabajado duro, y ha sido un hijo leal, pero eso no se celebra con fiestas ni banquetes. Pero su padre es un padre pródigo, y prodiga su perdón y su misericordia. Y espera que su hijo mayor tenga esa misma generosidad. Quiere que todos se regocijen porque el que estaba perdido ha sido hallado. Este es un domingo para alegrarse. Es día de hacer una pausa, y de considerarnos y alentarnos unos a otros. Porque todos somos hijos pródigos, en el camino de regreso al hogar de nuestro padre. Y debemos también ser hermanos mayores, pero hermanos mayores que esperan junto con el padre ansioso, mientras vislumbra el horizonte. En Cristo Jesús nos vemos reconciliados, con Dios Padre, y con nuestros hermanos. En su Muerte y Resurrección hemos pasado de la muerte a la vida. Somos una nueva creación. Y esto nos llena de alegría.

Jubilee Year of Mercy March 6, 2016

Fourth Sunday of Lent On Laetare Sunday, we rejoice as Luke’s Jesus proclaims that God is boundlessly merciful. The parable’s prodigal son returns home, not authentically repentant but desperate, having squandered on prostitutes (or so his older brother claims) the inheritance wrongly demanded while his father still lived. This selfish son is only spared ritual “shaming” when the father “shames” himself, running to embrace him, interrupting his prepared “act of contrition.” By doing so he challenges confessors, and all of us, to be signs, says Pope Francis, “of the primacy of mercy always, everywhere, and in every situation, no matter what.” Avoid the harshness of the elder son, Francis warns, “who stands outside, incapable of rejoicing,” his judgment “severe, unjust, and meaningless in light of the father’s boundless mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus, 17). If John’s Gospel is proclaimed, the “religiously observant” people there likewise serve to warn against harshly judging others, for the physical blindness of the man they expel from the synagogue is healed, while their own blindness of heart remains.

24 Hours with the Lord

In his Bull of Indiction for the Year of Mercy, the Holy Father called for an initiative of “24 Hours for the Lord.”

This initiative is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, March 19—20 In an effort to observe Pope Francis’ request we will have the chapel open for this occasion for 24 hours.

Church Cleaning Schedule Week of: Organization Mar. 7 Youth Group Mar 14 Altar Society Mar. 21 All If you are interested in helping any of these organizations please call either the organization leader or the parish office.

We will be having a Creating and Maintaining a Safe Environment (CMSE) Class for our parish volunteers

who work around or with children and/or vulnerable adults. This class will be on Saturday April 2nd @

10:30am. If you would like to sign-up for this class please call the parish office to register.

Parish Penance Service

We will be having our Lenten Penance

Service on Thursday, March 17th @ 7pm . Several Priests will be here for Confessions.

Prayer for the Year of Mercy

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Week Schedule Sat/Sun March 19 & 20 Palm Sunday Regular Mass Schedule Mon. March 21th Penance Service –OLMC Portland 7:00pm Tues. March 22th Chrism Mass (C.C. Cathedral) 7:00pm Wed. March 23th Weekday Mass 8:30am Thur. March 24th Weekday Mass 8:30am Mass of the Last Supper 7:00pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00pm - 12:00am Fri. March 25th Divine Mercy Chaplet 5:45pm Stations of the Cross 6:00pm Veneration of the Cross & Distribution of Holy Communion 6:45pm Sat. March 26th Easter Vigil Mass 8:00pm Sun. March 27th Easter Sunday Masses 7am, 10am & 12pm

Up and Coming Parish 2nd Collections:

March 12th & 13th

Building Fund

March 25th

Holy Land Collection

BULLETIN NEWS

The weekly Bulletins for the Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday Weekend will be going to print early to make sure your

Mass intentions, Ministry/Organization announcements or Prayer list requests make these weekends you must have

any information submitted by:

March 20th Edition (Palm Sunday) - Due by March 11th March 27th Edition (Easter Sunday) - Due by March 18th

Thank you for your cooperation