Dear Parishioners and Supporters of Immaculate Conception Church,
As we prepare for our Annual Stewardship Renewal on November 12 and 13, I reach out to you to ask for your financial support of our parish. It is needed to continue the life and mission of our faith community, to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. We come to Immaculate Conception Church to celebrate the presence of God in our daily lives, to count our blessings and grow together as disciples of Christ called to serve.
Over the course of the COVID pandemic, many of you have experienced various personal trials and tribulations. Our parish and school have weathered more than one storm. And yet, you have persevered through it all. You have put your faith in God. You continue to affirm by your actions that you are members of Christ’s risen body, called, gifted and sent to build up God’s Kingdom here in Durham and way beyond. I am grateful to you for your steadfast commitment.
I am grateful to so many of you who are actively involved in the rich variety of ministries at our amazing parish and school. We are a diverse faith community with unique gifts, talents, and passions. There are over fifty different ministries within our parish. Some of you live out the Gospel and walk on the path of stewardship by focusing on promoting human dignity, economic, racial and social justice, or care for our common home. Others center on fostering the life of prayer and devotion or on religious education. These fifty plus ministries are all essential pieces of the living mosaic of Christ that emerges from within Immaculate Conception parish.
Your financial contributions to Immaculate Conception Church have also enabled us to have a talented and highly dedicated Parish Staff, which plays a key role in the life and mission of our parish. Last year 241 children were baptized at our parish; 710 children attended Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; 147 children were prepared for First Communion; 350 teenagers were part of our Youth Ministry program and 55 were prepared for Confirmation. 67 Adults received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil and 59 couples were prepared for marriage.
After moving in slow-gear due to the pandemic and the Parish Staff transitions, our Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Ministry is being revitalized. All the while, your great generosity channeled through the Love Fund and our JPIC budget have continued to lift up the poor and invest in addressing the systemic injustices.
Our parish has had a robust and exceptional level of high-quality participation in the synodal process of listening within the Church. I encourage you to see the reports posted on our website.
Our Immaculata School is flourishing with 502 students supported by highly dedicated teachers and administrators. We have made strides in strengthening the relationship between the parish and school.
Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to address many deferred maintenance and other facility-related projects on our campus this past year as I have explained in the last financial report. Between the school and parish, $469,000 was spent on repairs. There are still many repair and building facility projects planned for next year. The biggest ones are replacing the roof and the floor in the church. Your sustained involvement in the life and mission of our parish and your financial support are critically important to our community.
My brothers and sisters, during this annual Stewardship Renewal, please take some time to prayerfully reflect on how God has blessed you and on what you are able to contribute to our parish community this coming year. Having been called, gifted and sent, may we continue to witness to God’s love in action.
Peace and all good,
As we prepare for our Annual Stewardship Renewal on November 12 and 13, I reach out to you to ask for your financial support of our parish. It is needed to continue the life and mission of our faith community, to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. We come to Immaculate Conception Church to celebrate the presence of God in our daily lives, to count our blessings and grow together as disciples of Christ called to serve.
Over the course of the COVID pandemic, many of you have experienced various personal trials and tribulations. Our parish and school have weathered more than one storm. And yet, you have persevered through it all. You have put your faith in God. You continue to affirm by your actions that you are members of Christ’s risen body, called, gifted and sent to build up God’s Kingdom here in Durham and way beyond. I am grateful to you for your steadfast commitment.
I am grateful to so many of you who are actively involved in the rich variety of ministries at our amazing parish and school. We are a diverse faith community with unique gifts, talents, and passions. There are over fifty different ministries within our parish. Some of you live out the Gospel and walk on the path of stewardship by focusing on promoting human dignity, economic, racial and social justice, or care for our common home. Others center on fostering the life of prayer and devotion or on religious education. These fifty plus ministries are all essential pieces of the living mosaic of Christ that emerges from within Immaculate Conception parish.
Your financial contributions to Immaculate Conception Church have also enabled us to have a talented and highly dedicated Parish Staff, which plays a key role in the life and mission of our parish. Last year 241 children were baptized at our parish; 710 children attended Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; 147 children were prepared for First Communion; 350 teenagers were part of our Youth Ministry program and 55 were prepared for Confirmation. 67 Adults received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil and 59 couples were prepared for marriage.
After moving in slow-gear due to the pandemic and the Parish Staff transitions, our Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Ministry is being revitalized. All the while, your great generosity channeled through the Love Fund and our JPIC budget have continued to lift up the poor and invest in addressing the systemic injustices.
Our parish has had a robust and exceptional level of high-quality participation in the synodal process of listening within the Church. I encourage you to see the reports posted on our website.
Our Immaculata School is flourishing with 502 students supported by highly dedicated teachers and administrators. We have made strides in strengthening the relationship between the parish and school.
Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to address many deferred maintenance and other facility-related projects on our campus this past year as I have explained in the last financial report. Between the school and parish, $469,000 was spent on repairs. There are still many repair and building facility projects planned for next year. The biggest ones are replacing the roof and the floor in the church. Your sustained involvement in the life and mission of our parish and your financial support are critically important to our community.
My brothers and sisters, during this annual Stewardship Renewal, please take some time to prayerfully reflect on how God has blessed you and on what you are able to contribute to our parish community this coming year. Having been called, gifted and sent, may we continue to witness to God’s love in action.
Peace and all good,
