SAINT MARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 203 Fourth St. · Aurora, Indiana 47001 · www.mystmarys.com

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

Welcome in God’s Name! Through our loving and praying family may you find friendship, peace and serenity in this, God’s house. If you are a visitor interested in joining our parish or the Catholic Faith, please call our parish office for information. If you are returning after being away . . . Welcome Home!

July 4th & 5th , 2020 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Parish Mission

We, the people in the area served by St. Mary of the

Immaculate Conception Parish, Aurora, Indiana, called

to faith and salvation in Jesus Christ in the Roman

Catholic tradition, strive to live the Gospel by

worshipping God in word and sacrament, learning,

teaching, and sharing our faith with those in our parish

and beyond by serving human needs. We commit

ourselves to stewardship through the generous and

responsible use of our spiritual, physical, and material

resources for today’s and tomorrow’s needs.

Holy Mass – Schedule Wednesday & Friday @ 9:00 AM

Saturday @ 4:00 PM Office Hours (for this Summer only)

Monday thru Friday from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM

St. Vincent de Paul Society (812) 926-1637 Pregnancy Care Center (812) 537-4357

Reverend Ben Syberg, Pastor Email: frsyberg@sls-apps.org

St. Mary’s Office: (812) 926-0060

St. Lawrence’s Office: (812) 537-3992

After Hours Emergencies: (812) 537-1297

Anna Townsend, Secretary/C.R.E. – parish.office@mystmarys.com Tony Vincent, Facilities & Maintenance Jim Waldon, Director of Music jim.waldon@mystmarys.com Mollie Leibecke, Bookkeeper mollie.leibecke@mystmarys.com

St. Mary’s School – (812) 926-1558 fax (812) 926-2590 Bob Brookbank, Principal brookbank.science@mystmarys.com Ann Hutchinson,School Secretary ann.hutchinson@mystmarys.com

As office hours may vary, please call ahead to find out the hours of availability.

Pastoral Council Members Greg Ramsey - Chairman (812) 438-3109 Gr.ramsey@comcast.net Randy Tyler – Co-chair (812) 584-3024 Soleman3@comcast.net Patty Lohmiller – Secretary (513) 646-8094 patti@lohmillercontracting.com Lyndsay Hays (812) 907-0312 Lyndsay_81@yahoo.com Kathy Simon (513) 405-6268 Kathys1008@gmail.com Beth Hyde (812) 584-5894 Pizzabeth@msn.com Rick Schuler (859) 512-1985 Rick.schuler@fastsigns.com Julie Strasemeier (812) 744-4495 Strase80@gmail.com George Schewe (513) 312-7104 gjschewe@gmail.com Jonathon Andrews jonathonpandrews@gmail.com (513) 256-5758 Sara Dennis iuschwa@hotmail.com

Finance Committee Mark Neff, Chairperson markneff52@hotmail.com (812) 926-3192

School Commission Beth Legge, Chairperson (812) 537-4525 beth@mccabesflowers.com

Homebound Ministry: Eucharistic Ministers are available to bring Holy Communion to the homebound. Mrs. Emily Beckman (812) 926-2417

Anointing of the Sick: Call anytime (812-926-0060 or 812-537-3992) or see Fr. Ben. Given at home, nursing home, hospital or at church.

Knights of Columbus (812) 584-4498 Bill Ullrich, Grand Knight billullrich@comcast.net

*Aloisia Mattl, *Louis Hill, Jr., *Vernon Myers; *Jodi Jerger, *Travis Miller, *Becky Meyer Clark, *Christina Nelms, Gary Manford, Tim Heller, Neil Selley, Caroline Seaver, *Brenda Murr, ,*Marilyn “Jane” Borth, Hayle Brashears, Jared Hodgkins, Stefanie Veale, Nate Groh, Michael Renner, Larry Hagan, McKayla Schmits, Kelly, Gary Wainscott, Ruth Kern, Colton Mattingly, Agnes Kelnhofer, Tinker Walston, Ron Brunner, Payton Maurice, Kate Grossmann, Joan Fuch, Karen Kistner, Mark Chase, Velinda Seaver, Rose Donk, B&L Dunseth, Jessica McKittrick, Kristie Bockhorst Gilb,*Candi Elsen, Barb MCMurray, Chris Strautman, *Mary Leyendecker, Rebecca Oelker, Debbie Walker Russell, Dottie Fedroff, Judy, Brenda O’Neal, Liz Day, *John P. Hinrichs, Pam Dean, Graham, David Glenn.

Please remember our Troops, Doctors, Nurses, First Responders and their families in your prayers.

St. Mary’s Parish Collection Information June 27 & 28, 2020

Weekly Collection 7,205.00 Envelopes – 56; online – 11 School 70.00 Attendance: 100 SVDP 210.00 ALSO, please consider our online giving. Just go to our parish website @ www.mystmarys.com and click the blue box “online giving” to register. Thank you. COUNTERS: Since we only have one mass on a weekend, there is NO need for you to come on Mondays. Stay safe and we will keep you posted. Thank you.

The Word This Week:

Today’s Gospel in an answer to a very simple question: who is this Jesus we follow? What is he like? He tells us himself: he is gentle, and humble of

heart. There is a simplicity about this Gospel which speaks very clearly to

tired hearts. Indeed, it is often the case that we overlook the simplicity of

the Gospel message - which is why it is valuable to be as children, constantly wondering and marveling at the beauty and fascination of Jesus.

How much God must love us: the message of salvation is so easy to receive, the promise is

so welcome. This is a Sunday to wallow in the wonder of a God who is ‘kind and full of

compassion.’ https://www.salfordliturgy.org.uk/trinitya.htm

Natural Family Planning

Artificial Birth Control is a moral wrong. Come learn the Christian Way. A Natural Family Planning class will be held Sunday, July 5th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon at St. Louis Parish, Batesville, in the former Deanery Resource Center (18 W St. Louis Place) across the street from the church. This class is taught in one session. The Sympto-Thermal method is 98% effective, natural, and safe. There is a $40.00 fee for books and materials. For reservations call or text (812)212-4951 or (812)212-2719.

Mass Times and Intentions

July 4th Sat. Mass – 4:00PM @ St. Mary (Intention: † Marcella Heilig)

July 5th Sun. Mass – 8:30AM @ St. Lawrence Parking Lot 10:30AM Inside St. Lawrence Church

July 6th Mon. No Public Masses

July 7th Tues. NO PUBLIC Mass

July 8st Wed. Mass – 9:00AM @ St. Mary (Intention: Neff & Sheers Family)

July 9th Thurs. 9:00AM @ St. Lawrence

July 10th Fri. Mass - 9:00AM @ St. Mary (Intention: Neff & Sheers Family)

July 11th Sat. Mass – 4:00PM @ St. Mary (Intention: For St. Mary & St. Lawrence)

July 12th Sun. Mass – 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM @ St. Lawrence

Mass Times and location are subject to change, please check our parish website @

www.mystmarys.com or Facebook page for up to date information. Thank you!

IMPORTANT DIRECTIVES

♦If you, or anyone you live with or anyone you care for is SICK, you MUST remain at home and not come to church. ♦ If you are 65 years of age or older, or have a pre-existing health condition, you SHOULD stay home and watch Mass online. ♦ If you are not comfortable being out, you CAN stay home. Archbishop Thompson has extended the dispensation from Mass until August 15. ♦ If you test positive with COVID-19 within 14 days of being at Church for Mass, Confession or Personal Prayer, PLEASE NOTIFY THE PARISH IMMEDIATELY BY CONTACTING THE PARISH OFFICE BY PHONE OR EMAIL.

Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of

Mr. Harold Jameson, Father-in-law of Suzanne Ullrich-Jameson,

who passed away last June 23, 2020.

And to the family of Joan Lions Swango

May God give your family strength, peace and comfort in this most sorrowful times. God bless.

PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY

GRANT, WE PRAY, O HEAVENLY FATHER, A CLEAR AND UNITED VOICE TO ALL YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS GATHERED IN YOUR CHURCH IN THIS DECISIVE

HOUR IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATIONS, SO THAT, WITH EVERY TRIAL WITHSTOOD AND EVERY DANGER OVERCOME – FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR

GRANDCHILDREN, AND ALL WHO COME AFTER US - THIS GREAT LAND WILL ALWAYS BE “ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

FOR ALL.” WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

Hell is For Real

(By: Benjamin Popson, Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis)

Do not be duped. Hell exists and it is far from empty. While it should never be our chief focus, one cannot preach the Gospel without preaching about the imminent danger of Hell. Afterall, the Gospels beat this point like a dead horse in terms of sheep and goats and wailing and grinding of teeth. We have wrapped up the Easter Season and now follow in the Apostles’ footsteps to preach the Good News. But we cannot bear witness to the Gospel through holy Christian lives without loving God and understanding His love for us. Since God’s love entails the existence of Hell, and the fear of Hell aids our love for God, it is important to understand Hell rather than to foolishly doubt its existence or to mercilessly flaunt it as a scare-tactic. Hell exists because God is love. If God is love and love entails respecting others’ free choice, then God must honor the desires of those who choose not to live with Him forever in Heaven. Afterall, God does not force anyone to enjoy Heaven or endure Hell. He has already planned for us all to join Him in Heaven (Ephesians 1:4), but we must show in our lives on earth whether or not we accept His saving grace. Who would choose to go to Hell rather than Heaven? Anyone who has ever committed a mortal sin—which by definition is a free choice to commit a grave sin, fully knowledgeable that it is wrong, thereby damning oneself unless he repents in the Sacrament of Penance.

Fear of Hell is a first step in loving God. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church, outlines three general ways that we love God: fear of Hell, desire for Heaven, and love of God for His own sake. Each assumes the way before it: one cannot desire Heaven until he first fears Hell, and one cannot love God for His sake until he first fears Hell and desires Heaven. When you were a young child, you probably obeyed your parents because you didn’t want to get punished. Then at some point, you may have obeyed them because they bribed you with ice cream. Hopefully you eventually learned that you didn’t need a reason to obey your parents. You love them. That’s enough. Our relationship with God is similar. We have to start somewhere (i.e. fearing Hell), but we should by no means stop there. God deserves infinitely more than that.

Any topic in our faith is too dense to fully cover in a bulletin column. However, this topic is especially difficult because it is so scarcely talked about and so reluctantly received. I hope that these brief considerations help your understanding of Hell, but most especially of God’s love for you. It is true: if you die without repenting of a mortal sin, you will go to Hell; God cannot force you to love Him. But realize that He has given us grace upon grace so that we can turn away from sin and embrace His love and mercy; He lived thirty-three years, was tortured, and died to save us from sin. And on the feast of Pentecost, Jesus established a visible Church so that this font of grace would be available to us until the end of the world through Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Penance, and Extreme Unction. Thanks be to God!

Congratulations on your Baptism:

Aleigha Marie Yauch daughter of Jill and Dan Yauch!

“Baptism is the door to the Spiritual Life and the gateway to the

Sacraments.” ~ St. Thomas Aquinas

Save the Date! Fr. Ben will be leading a tour to the Holy Land next year, April 6 - 15, 2021. Brochure and Tour Package is now available at the parish office.

►ST. LAWRENCE FIREWORKS DISPLAY! Everyone is invited to come and enjoy an evening with friends and

watch the fireworks at St. Lawrence on Friday, August 7, 2020. Please bring your own picnic blanket or Lawn chairs. Also, Graeter’s Ice Cream truck will be in the vicinity for a cool, delicious ice cream.

►WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER. Nine years ago, Worldwide Marriage Encounter sponsored an annual search to honor the commitment of married couples and to give hope to younger couples – that marriage can last a lifetime. The 10th Annual Search is now on for the Longest Married Couple. In addition to honoring the longest married couple for the entire United States, recognition will also be given to a couple from each State who has achieved that distinction. Go to wwme.org to find out more information and to nominate couples. You do not need to know the Couple personally to nominate them. Nominations must be received by 31 July 2020. THANK YOU for participating in our 10th Annual search for the Longest Married Couple!

►PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: St. Mary's Prayer Shawl Ministry has been active despite the shutdowns caused by the virus. The ministry is carried out by devoted parishioners who make the shawls in their own homes, and we have several on hand. If you know of someone who faces ongoing or serious illness, please contact Anna in the parish office. We will do our best to get prayer shawls to those who need them. May God bless those involved in this ministry and those who wear the shawls as they pray for God's comfort and care.

Also, thank you to those who donated the yarn so we can make more shawls. We truly appreciate your

contribution.

►THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS will again be selling raffle ticket after mass for their Number 1 charity, The Gibault School for Children. The drawing has been extended to July 25th at the Gibault school, and tickets will be available thru July 18th. Your continued support will be very much appreciated, as always.

►THE 2020 TWISTER LAUF 5K RUN/WALK will take place at Oldenburg, Indiana, Saturday, July 18th at 9:00 am. Online Registration: https://www.racemenu.com/TwisterLauf5K or Email jkuntzrh@icloud.com or call at 859-750-4479. Proceeds will benefit Oldenburg Academy Students in Sports.

If you haven't decided what to do for the Fourth of July, we still have BBQ!

They are in 10 lb. bags for $40.00. Tony can also cut these bags in 1/2 or in a 1/4.

10 lb. bag @ $40.00/ feeds 40 people 5 lb. bag @ $20.00 / feeds 20 people

2.5 lb. bag @ $10.00/ feeds 10 people

You can call the school office at 812-926-1558 or the parish office at 812-926-0060 or send an email and we will make arrangements for you to pick it up.