September 21, 2023

Progress is being made on the roof replacement!

Thank you for making this possible!

The Season of Creation 2023:

Let Justice and Peace Flow 

September 01 – October 04 

During the third week of the Season of Creation, we continue our profiles of “Laudato Si’ Champions” who are taking action to care for our common home.

Joel Musser, Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at Immaculata, his wife Mallory, and children Lily and Titus, have become composting experts. Their family has joined with several neighbors as part of a network of 500 families chosen to participate in a City of Durham pilot program for curbside residential composting - City Composting. Joel learned about the program through a community posting and emphasized the value of staying connected with local initiatives. He pointed out that in addition to reducing household waste, composting reduces greenhouse gases as it captures carbon in the soil and prevents methane emissions. Mallory shared that when the children bring home leftovers from their Immaculata lunchboxes, they now ask “Should I put my leftovers in the trash, recycling, or compost?” Joel said that the city of Durham will be gathering metrics on the amount of compost collected each week and hopes that the program will eventually be offered citywide. Thank you to the Musser family!

World Youth Day in Lisbon and IC Parish in Durham - Called, Gifted and Sent

Kaylee and Bryce Fitzsimmons were among 1.5 million pilgrims who gathered in Lisbon, Portugal at World Youth Day last August. We invite you to watch a short video interview that Fr. Jacek did with Kaylee and Bryce who are IC parishioners and students at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Their father, Leo Fitzsimmons, coach at Immaculata School also went to Lisbon as a chaperon.

Altar Server Training

There will be two sessions of altar server training in September: 

• Friday, 9/22, 7-8:30 PM
• Friday, 9/29, 7-8:30 PM



Any youth who has received First Communion is eligible to join the altar servers. Attendance at one of these sessions is required. Please contact Fr. Hugh for questions.

Safe Environment Training

All volunteers working with children and youth need to take the Safe Environment Training every five years. The dates for our fall training are listed below. They will be held in the parish office. Please email Margie to register for the class.

• Tuesday, September 26 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM
• Wednesday, October 4 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM
• Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 AM - 12 Noon

If you need training but can not make the dates above check out the Diocesan site for the dates of their webinars.

Immaculata News

It's that time of the year again! The ICS Mum Sale is now open for orders ($15 per mum). Ordering closes Friday, September 22nd at midnight and the pick-up date is Monday, September 25th from 2:30-5:00 PM.  

Immaculata's Fall Fundraiser

Parishioners are invited to Immaculata's Fall Fundraiser on

Friday, September 29th at 7 PM

in Carolina Exotic Car Club.

Get your motor running, head out on the highway, and meet us in Raleigh for a truly unique Fall Fundraiser venue. This year we roll into Carolina Exotic Car Club for a fun Friday night of fellowship and fundraising. There will be heavy hors ‘d oeuvres, drinks, games, live auction and dancing. 

Blessing of the Animals: 9/30

Mark your calendars! We invite you to bring your pet to receive a special blessing on Saturday, September 30 at 10:30 AM in the playground.

Transitus of St Francis: 10/3

Join us on Tuesday, Oct 3 at 7 PM in the main church. The community will celebrate the passing of St Francis from earthly life to eternal life. Come join us for this short prayer service. Light refreshments to follow. 

Youth Choir

IC is forming a youth choir to sing at the monthly youth-led Mass starting October 15! If you are a middle school or high school student who sings or plays an instrument, please consider joining us and getting involved in music ministry. Once we have established everyone's availability, we will schedule bi-monthly rehearsals for the choir. Contact James Maxson for additional questions. 

Memorial Mass: October 21st

We are in the planning stages for our Annual Memorial Mass on October 21st. If you have a loved one who passed away in the last year, please send the name to Olga to have your loved one remembered at this year's Mass.

Love Fund Ministry

We recently told you about this new ministry! We are so excited that we have been able to help so many people! There are many in our parish who respond financially to the Love Fund each week. We have had (3) $10,000 donations in the last six months. What we need now is MORE VOLUNTEERS so we can help our neighbors!  Without more volunteers, we will have to turn away some of our neighbors in need. We can use any help you can provide. Contact Barbara Prince for more information.  

Special Needs Formation (all ages and abilities)

Registration for people with special needs is now open, and we are forming classes based on needs and abilities (Baptism, Confirmation, and/or First Communion). Please contact the Faith Formation Office directly for more information: 919-281-0718 or [email protected].

Eucharistic Congress Registration Now Open

Open registration for adults is available via the Eucharistic Congress mobile app. Signing in on the mobile app automatically registers you for the event; you may then register for the individual sessions you plan to attend.

Eucharistic Congress youth attendees must be pre-registered by a parish-designated chaperone. Parish-designated chaperones are able to register up to seven youth attendees per adult.

*Fr. Casey Cole (IC's own) is scheduled to speak in the youth track.

Knights of Columbus Career Opportunity

Have you ever considered a career that allows you to do good for others while doing well for yourself?

The Knights of Columbus has an opening for a career opportunity representing their insurance program. They offer a complete benefits package with this full-time position. In order to qualify, one must be eligible for membership in the Knights of Columbus. For more information, go to our website kofc.org/careers. Please contact Christopher Mahoney, General Agent, at (919)719-2715 or via email. 

St. Thomas More Job Opportunities

Administrative Assistant for Scheduling

This full-time position is to be the first contact for the parish, including direct contact, phone, mail, and e-mail, maintenance of all calendars, and training and supervision for receptionist volunteers and greeters. Bilingual English/Spanish required. Contact Carlos Lima at St. Thomas More Parish, 940 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or email by October 2, for the position available immediately.

Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Assistant

The Catholic Community of St Thomas More is looking for a candidate to assist with buildings and grounds maintenance for our church and school campus. This is a full-time position. General maintenance and landscaping experience is required. Candidates, please send the application letter and resume to the attention of the Maintenance Assistant Search Committee, 940 Carmichael St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or email, by October 2, 2023, for the position available immediately.

Highlights From the Past Week