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Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi
(2026–2027)
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In the year 2026, the Church commemorates the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. On this occasion, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Jubilee Year, to be celebrated from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, in memory of the passing of the Saint of Assisi. During this time of grace, the faithful are invited to follow the example of Saint Francis, growing in holiness of life and becoming witnesses of peace, fraternity, and reconciliation in the world.
The Apostolic Penitentiary grants a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, to those who devoutly participate in this extraordinary Jubilee. The indulgence may be applied to oneself or to the faithful departed. Conditions for Receiving a Plenary Indulgence:
- Sacramental Confession (within eight days before or after).
- Participation in Holy Mass and reception of Holy Communion.
- Pilgrimage to a Franciscan conventual church or to a place of worship dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi or connected to him for any reason, where the profession of faith is renewed through the recitation of the Creed.
- Recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.
- Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, in communion with the Church.
Prayer of Pope Leo XIV for the Jubilee Year:
Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago
went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace,
intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano,
teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation
that breaks down every wall.
You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war and misunderstanding,
give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries.
In this time afflicted by conflict and division,
intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers:
unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.
Amen
| | Meals for the Hungry - 1/17 | | As a parish, we serve dinner to ~150-200 people on the third Saturday of every month. We ask that food donations be delivered in disposable (ie, aluminum) pans and that each donation be enough to feed 15 people. Donations can be dropped off at the Immaculata kitchen (attached to the school) between 4:15 and 5:00 pm on Saturday. Food will be kept warm and cold as necessary until transport to Urban Ministry on Liberty Street, where meals will be served in person. We ask that those who volunteer to serve at Urban Ministries arrive at Immaculata kitchen by 5 pm; an insufficient number of servers puts a burden on those serving. Thank you for your generosity and kindness. | | | Stewardship Thought for the Week | | |
Sunday, January 18
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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In Isaiah, God calls His servant to be “a light to the nations,” reminding us that we are created and strengthened to serve others, not ourselves. The Psalm responds, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will,” showing that true stewardship begins with a willing heart (Psalm 40). John the Baptist models this in the Gospel by pointing others to Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29–34). Stewardship is simply living in a way that helps others see Christ.
Reflection Question
Where is God inviting you this week to help someone notice Christ through your words, kindness, or generosity?
| | Ministry Highlight of the Week | | |
Would you like to use your spiritual gifts* of encouragement, hospitality, faith, or teaching? Why not consider becoming part of the Baptism Team?
The Baptism Team attend the monthly Baptism Classes - welcoming families that are preparing to Baptize their child. It is our hope that having you at the classes will help these families connect to our community and help them feel supported as they choose to have their child join our community in Baptism. Classes are once a month on Mondays at 6:30. You will serve about three times during the year. If you’re interested, please contact Margie.
| | Second Collection: Church in Latin America | | The Collection for the Church in Latin America supports pastoral programs as awarded by the Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Projects include the work of evangelization, formation of laity, religious and seminarians, as well as youth ministry and catechesis. Funding is limited to programmatic expenses and excludes building construction except in cases of emergency. | | Parish Office Closed on 1/19 | | |
The parish office will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. Thank you for your understanding.
Daily Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. instead of 8:15 a.m.
| | Immaculate Spaghetti Dinner 2026 | | There are many ways to support the 8th grade class as they raise money for their class trip--an Immaculata tradition. You can buy tickets and join us for dinner on January 30th, order take out, participate in the 50-50 raffle (where the winning ticket pockets half the total cash raised in the raffle) and more. Check out the ticket link for all the options. | | | It’s that time of year again! Girl Scouts from Troop 2215 will be selling cookies after each Mass on 1/31 and 2/1. Cookies are $6 per box. Cash, Venmo, and credit cards are accepted. Your support is appreciated. | | |
The next 50 Plus meeting will be held Wednesday, February 5, at 12:30 PM at Hibachi Grill Buffet, 4600 Durham–Chapel Hill Blvd. A guest speaker will open the meeting. Most members arrive between 11:30 AM and 12:15 PM to enjoy lunch and fellowship before we begin.
We are currently planning several trips, including:
- April 10–13: Bus trip to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.
- Chattanooga, TN (date to be announced)
- November 1–7, 2026: Iceland
- December 2026: 3-night, 4-day trip to Carmel, IN for the Christkindlmarket (rated the top Christmas market in the U.S.)
- April 20–May 9, 2027: Ireland
New members and guests are always welcome. For more information or trip brochures, contact Bob and Mary Jane Wiethe at 50pluspresident@gmail.com or 919-491-6445.
| | Hearts for Peace ICS Winter Gala 2026 | | Join us for the highly anticipated Hearts for Peace ICS Winter Gala on February 6, from 6:00–10:00 PM, at The Cookery in Durham, NC, as our community comes together in support of Immaculata Catholic School. | | | |
Join us the weekend before Valentine’s Day (Feb 7-8) as Immaculate Conception’s Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) teams up with Bull City Fair Trade for our annual Valentine's Day Fair Trade Chocolate Sale!
Why Fair Trade Matters:
Our JPIC ministries help parishioners live out Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospel’s call to justice, including supporting Fair Trade practices. When you purchase these delicious chocolates for yourself, friends, and loved ones, you are doing more than sharing sweetness… you are promoting justice!
Your Impact:
By choosing Fair Trade-certified products, you help ensure:
- Living wages and fair compensation for farmers and workers
- Safe working conditions
- Prohibition of forced and child labor
- Empowerment for farmers to lift themselves out of poverty and build sustainable businesses that strengthen their communities
Learn more about these economic justice issues on our JPIC Valentine's Day Fair Trade Chocolate Sale webpage. We look forward to seeing you at the sale.
Together, let us make love and justice part of our Valentine’s celebration!
| | 2026 Wedding Anniversary Mass | | |
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The Wedding Anniversary Mass, celebrated each year in the diocese, honors those celebrating wedding anniversaries, with special recognition to couples with 25, 50, or 60 years of marriage.
Saturday, February 14, 2026 - 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
| | | Family Lenten Prayer Activity | | |
If you are looking to more deeply engage with your family during the season of Lent, we've got the perfect activity for you. Pray, fast, and give together this year. Contact Bobby Denne to get your Family home kit. | | | Troops 424 & 412 Annual Pine Straw Fundraiser | | |
Support IC Scouting America Troops 424 & 412 Annual Pine Straw Fundraiser
Troops 424 (Boys) & 412 (Girls) are offering clean, high-quality longleaf pine straw for $7 a bale, with free delivery on orders of 40 bales or more ($10 otherwise). This sale is the only fundraiser of the year and provides funding for programming, service projects, and leadership development for Scouts at IC.
- Orders Close: Friday, February 27, 2026
- Delivery: Saturday, March 7, 2026 (in Durham County only for 10 bales or more)
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Questions: 424pinestraw@gmail.com
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As you may have noticed, we have new neighbors, and they have begun remodeling. Please be mindful if you park in that area. We suggest finding another place to park. Thank you for understanding. | | | | | |
