September 11, 2025

Ministry Spotlight of the Week: JPIC Ministry Fair

“A Call to Serve – Faith in Action”

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”- 1 Peter 4:10

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” - 1 Corinthians 12:4

Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) warmly invites all parishioners to participate in our JPIC Ministry Fair in the gathering space after all masses this weekend (September 13-14th)! This special event offers our parishioners a meaningful opportunity to explore how we, as a faith community, can live out the Gospel and Catholic social teaching through acts of justice, solidarity, compassion, advocacy, and service.

Whether you are discerning a new way to serve or simply wish to learn more about our JPIC ministries and initiatives, parishioner leaders will be available to share their experiences, each ministry’s mission, and answer your questions. JPIC ministries in Catholic Social Teaching Faith Formation (CST), Promoting Human Dignity (PHD), Care for Creation and Economic Justice (CCEJ) and Community Organizing, Peace, & Global Solidarity (COPGS) will be represented. We invite you to consider how your unique spiritual gifts might serve the Church and the world by sharing your time, talent, and treasures in responding to God’s call with courage and love!

Let us come together in faith and fellowship to celebrate the wonderful work we do as a parish community and reflect on how the Holy Spirit is moving within us to be agents of justice and peace. Additional information about our JPIC ministries and events can always be found on our JPIC webpage. We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Stewardship Thought for the Week

September 14, 2025

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

On this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we are reminded that the Cross is not just a symbol of suffering, but of love freely given. Jesus embraced the Cross so that we might know the depth of God's mercy and the power of self-giving love.

As Christian stewards, we are called to respond to this love with gratitude — offering our time, talents, and treasures in service to others. Stewardship is our way of lifting high the Cross in our daily lives, showing that love and sacrifice still transform the world.

Let us live generously, remembering that every act of kindness echoes the love of Christ crucified.

How is God inviting me to “lift high the Cross” in my daily life — through service, sacrifice, or love for others?

Youth Led Masses

Beginning September 14, during the 2025–2026 school year, every second Sunday of the month, the 5 PM Spanish Mass will be bilingual, and youth led.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas

Catholic Daughters of the Americas – Court Durham will have our CDA Book Club discussion on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 6:15 PM in the Youth Room at IC in the Olive Tree Building. Kyle Bartee will lead our discussion on The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg. Please bring an appetizer to share with the group in lieu of dinner. All ladies, 18 years of age or older, are welcome to attend, whether they have read the book or not. Come and meet the wonderful ladies of Court Durham. You may also join via Zoom for the discussion. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Regent Jayne Stephens.

Financial Peace University

Missed the first class? No worries! You can still join us for the next one on Wednesday, September 17.

Ever feel like you can't get ahead with money?

You're not alone. You'd be surprised how many people feel that way. But there's hope—with a financial Peace University class.

Over nine weeks, you'll learn biblical principles for handling money that will give you peace with your finances. Class starts on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 PM.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone who has taken the class, contact Margie.

Meals for the Hungry - 9/20

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. Thank you for your generosity and kindness

Homebound

If you or someone you know is homebound and desires to receive Holy Communion, please contact Margie at 919-682-3449, Ext. 260. There are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion available to bring Holy Communion to those who are unable to attend Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity to keep those unable to attend Mass connected to the Parish.

Hospital Visits

If you are going to the hospital and would like to receive Communion or have someone pray with you, please contact Margie at 919-682-3449, Ext. 260. An Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist will be happy to visit you.

Please note: Due to new hospital policies, we no longer have access to the names of Catholic patients. You will need to provide us with your name if you wish to be visited.

Gun Violence Prevention Ministry:

Solidarity with the Church of the Annunciation

Immaculate Conception stands in solidarity with the Church of the Annunciation community in Minneapolis as it recovers from the August 27 school shooting. We ask all to continue praying for the students, staff, and community impacted by this tragedy.

As Catholics, we uphold the principles of protecting life at all stages and opposing forces that threaten human life. Gun violence is one of those threats. ICC's Gun Violence Prevention Ministry welcomes other parishioners to join us as we explore avenues for preventing harm caused by guns and promoting healing among those who have been affected.

If you would like to know more, please visit our table at this weekend’s JPIC Ministry Fair. You also can contact Ken Chiha (chihak@icdurham.org), ICC’s Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) or Theresa Hoke (theresa.hoke@icloud.com), Parishioner Ministry lead. Please also see the JPIC Gun Violence Prevention Ministry website for a Family Guide for Talking about Gun Violence.

Parish-Wide Listening Session Report

JPIC Community Organizing Core Team

The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Community Organizing Core Team would like to thank the more than 150 parishioners who participated in the parish-wide listening sessions held in both English and Spanish from last fall 2024 through the spring of 2025. The goal of the sessions was to identify those Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) issues that parishioners most wanted community and parish leaders to address in the next two years.

Notes were taken during all sessions, and all responses were shared in a written summary and during an in-person meeting with Immaculate Conception’s pastor, Fr. Manuel, and the JPIC Director, Ken Chiha. Additionally, Core Team members shared priorities for community action with Durham Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods (Durham CAN), an interfaith community organization dedicated to collaborative action to improve quality of life in Durham. Immaculate Conception has been a core member organization of Durham CAN since its founding in 1999. A summary of the issues that featured most prominently with parishioners can be found on our JPIC Community Organizing Core Team and Durham CAN webpage.