October 2, 2025

Feast of St Francis of Assisi

Transitus - 10/3

Join us for the Transitus, Friday, October 3rd at 7 PM in the Main Church. The Franciscan community will celebrate the death of St. Francis and his passing into eternal life. The service is bilingual. 

Bilingual Mass - 10/4

Join us at 8:15 AM for a bilingual Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Blessing of the Animals - 10/4

On Saturday, October 4th, we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of all God’s creatures. To honor his example and remind ourselves of our call to care for creation, we will host a Blessing of the Animals at 10:30 AM on the School playground.

Bring your pets—large or small—for a blessing and a sprinkling of holy water. Together, we’ll thank God for the gift of animals and the joy they bring to our lives. 

Stewardship Thought for the Week

October 5, 2025

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

When will I have given enough - of my income, of my time, of my talents? Today's Gospel suggests that only total stewardship will do: "When you have done all you have been commanded to do, say 'We are useless servants. We have done more than our duty.' "



Reflection Question:

When I consider all that I give—my time, my income, my talents—do I see it as fulfilling a duty, or as a loving response to God’s generosity? What might it look like for me to embrace total stewardship, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude?

Ministry Spotlight of the Week

Would you like to engage your spiritual gifts* of leadership, communication, service, mercy, administration, pastoring, knowledge, prophecy, or wisdom? Interested in being part of Immaculate Conception’s team of grassroots organizers helping our church identify the “signs of the times,” mobilizing parishioners collectively for public action ​to address a variety of social justice initiatives? Consider sharing your time, talent, and treasures by joining Immaculate Conception’s Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Community Organizing Core Team. 

Our JPIC Core Team serve as Immaculate Conception's main representatives in Durham CAN and other community organizations. They present our parish’s priorities, concerns, and questions, disseminate important updates, organize turnout for public action, identify/develop leaders responsible for organizing within our parish, and build an institutional culture of trust through relational practices. 

In addition to getting to know your fellow parishioners through “relational meetings,” the typical commitment includes attending a monthly core team meeting. To learn more, contact Robert Singagliese, JPIC Community Organizing Core Team Parishioner Leader or visit our JPIC Community Organizing Core Team and Durham CAN webpage. 

Campus Clean-Up Day!

Join us for the Campus Clean-Up on Saturday, October 11 at 10:00 a.m.

Let’s work together to make our campus more beautiful, in collaboration with the families of our school.

If you’re interested, sign up below and scroll all the way down to "10/11/2025".

We can’t wait to see you there!

National Pregnancy and Infant Loss 

Remembrance Day - Prayer & Candle Lighting 

Immaculate Conception's Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Ministry cordially invites you to an event on Sunday, October 12th, after the 9:30 Mass in the Daily Chapel. All are invited to join in a brief time of prayer and candle lighting to honor the children in our families and in our community who have died before birth or during infancy. This event is in honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, which is observed worldwide on October 15th.  

All are welcome: Women and men alike, those who have experienced loss personally, and those who would like to support families who have experienced loss. 

Saints and Stories

Join us for a new women’s faith sharing opportunity, as we gather monthly to learn about the saints of our Church and hear stories of faith from local women. Meetings will occur on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the youth ministry room on the 2nd floor of school building. Mark your calendar for our first meeting on October 14 and join us to learn more about St. Teresa of Avila.

Join Us for an Exclusive Wine & Will Event!

Plan Your Legacy Over a Glass of Fine Wine

Whether you need to create or revise your will, please join us for our Wine and Wills event hosted by the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh on Thursday, October 23rd from 5:30- 7:30 PM in the San Damiano Trailer.

Come join us and enjoy a great evening of wine, conversation, and planning for the future.

The Seminar will be led by a local Estate Planning Attorney, providing an excellent opportunity for parishioners to learn more about creating or revising your will. Seminar topics include legal steps required in personal planning, understanding wills and trusts, Beneficiary Designations, Power of Attorney, Advance Directive- Living Will and other important information.

Don’t miss out on this invaluable opportunity to take control of your future, protect your family and ensure your legacy for generations to come.

Thoughtful planning now will help those we love live peacefully in the future.

Contact Margie Burton for more information.

Please note that this is a free Seminar, and no solicitations will be made.

Advanced Funeral Planning

Talking about death is never easy—but making funeral arrangements in advance helps reduce the stress on loved ones during a difficult time and ensures that your wishes are honored. On Thursday, October 30th, George Yuhas from Hall-Wynne will give a presentation on Advanced Funeral Planning.

If you are interested in attending, please click the link below.

Memorial Mass

We will have our annual Memorial Mass on Saturday, November 1st at 11:00 AM as we prayerfully remember and honor our loved ones who have gone before us. If you have a family member or loved one who has passed away in the last year and would like them to be remembered during this special liturgy, please contact Olga to include them.

Financial Report

Last Sunday, we shared a financial overview of our parish’s last fiscal year during Mass. We’re grateful for your attention and continued support of our mission.

For those who would like to dive deeper into the details, the full financial report is now available on our website. We invite you to review it and see how your generosity has helped sustain and grow our parish community. Thank you for being part of our faith family and for your stewardship!

August Financial Report

Below is the offertory information for August. We are grateful to all of you for your financial support. For those of you who would like to sign up for On-Line Giving, here are the instructions.

World Day Against the Death Penalty 

Tell Governor Stein: Veto HB 307

Advocates & Abolitionists! Please join Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina once again this year as we observe the 23rd World Day Against the Death Penalty. This prayerful and peaceful march and protest will proceed from the Cathedral to Central Prison (1300 Western Blvd, Raleigh) where we will stand in solidarity with those 121 men and women on death row in our capital city. It will take place on Friday, October 10, 4–5:30 pm. More information can be found here.  

In addition, please consider the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty action alert to Tell Governor Stein: Veto HB 307 which would expand the execution methods in NC. 

More information can be found on our JPIC Prison Ministries webpage. 

33rd Annual Vigil Against Violence 

JPIC Gun Violence Prevention Ministry invites you to join Immaculate Conception parishioners and your neighbors around the Durham Homicide Memorial Quilt at the Annual Vigil Against Violence, hosted by the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham. It will be held on Saturday, October 11 at 10 am (Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church - 1209 North Elizabeth St, Durham). 

For the 33rd time, we offer this Annual Vigil as space to unite in public grief for the inequitable human toll of our violence. Join us to honor and remember 40 lives lost in a ritual of sacred attention to every named, loved one taken by violence in Durham County during 2024. For more information, please email ​​Theresa Hoke (Theresa.Hoke@icloud.com), our Gun Violence Prevention Ministry Parishioner Leader​.

Bread for the World: 

World Food Day Prayer & Action to End Hunger 

Bread for the World is asking all Immaculate Conception parishioners to take part in World Food Day on October 16th, with prayer and action to end hunger. 

Like the persistent widow in the Bible (Luke 18:1-8), we must continue asking Congress to fully fund and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and reinstate global nutrition and health programs to feed and care for people around the world.  

 Join your fellow parishioners as we follow Jesus’ call to put our faith into action by helping those most in need. Please write or email Senators Budd and Tillis using this link. For more information, please visit our JPIC Bread for the World webpage.  

Durham CAN Delegates Assembly 

The Durham CAN Delegates Assembly with candidates for Mayor and City Council will be held on Sunday, October 19th, 3 pm at St. Mark AME Zion Church (531 S. Roxboro Street).  

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a founding member of Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods). This summer, four Durham CAN Research and Action Teams have been working on strategies around Affordable Housing, Immigrant Rights, Violence Reduction, and Education. Candidates will be asked to respond to Durham CAN’s agenda for change in the areas of increased funding for immigrant legal protections, youth summer jobs, a comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence, and affordable housing at 505 West Main. Please plan to attend and support our efforts to make Durham a safer and more equitable city. 

To join a Durham CAN Research and Action Team or to learn more about our JPIC Core Team, contact Robert Singagliese, JPIC Community Organizing Core Team Parishioner Leader or Ken Chiha (chihak@icdurham.org), Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). You can also visit our JPIC Community Organizing Core Team and Durham CAN webpage.

Calendar

• 10/3 at 7 PM: Transitus
• 10/4 at 10:30 AM: Blessing of the Animals
• 10/6 at 7 PM: Holy Hour
• 10/11 at 10 AM: Campus Beautification day for Phil’s Challenge
• 10/18 at 4:15 PM: Meals for the Hungry