24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

12 September 2021

Immaculate Conception Parish

Fairbank, Iowa 50629

Today’s Readings Isaiah 50:4-9 Psalm 116:1-9

James 2:14-16

Mark 8:27-35

PASTOR’S PARAGRAPHS 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

September 12, 2021

“Faith, of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jam. 2:17). Faith has been compared to both a microscope and a telescope. A microscope is a scientific instrument that enables us to see tiny organisms invisible to the human eye; a telescope enables us to see objects far away, also visible (or nearly invisible) to the human eye. The microscope and telescope do not harm the human eye, but enable it to see more clearly. Faith, too, enables us to see what the human eye does not, namely, God’s presence and activity. Faith comes at baptism, and grows through grace, prayer, and sacraments. But faith, in and by itself, does not save us. Faith must be an active part of our experience in order to become saving faith.

We are in the Year of Saint Joseph, the 150th anniversary of his being declared Patron of the Church. Saint Joseph was a man of faith in action. His faith was the Jewish Faith. He was not baptized, nor did He live a Christian life. But he had faith in God, and was privileged to raise the Savior Jesus Christ, with Mary. In this sense, Jesus was like a burning furnace of grace in the home of Joseph, keeping the flame of his faith alive.

Joseph was raised by his father Jacob and his mother (see Mt. 1:16). He was circumcised on the eighth day, presented in the Jerusalem Temple, and raised in the Jewish faith community. Through prayer, study of the Torah, and the example of his parents, Joseph’s faith grew steadily. He became a carpenter by trade, and used his skills to improve the lives of people in his community.

The first mention (after the Genealogies in Matthew and Luke’s Gospels) of Joseph is when he was called to become the foster-father of Jesus. An angel appears in a dream, and asks Joseph to take Mary, his betrothed, as his wife. He had planned to separate from her when he learned she was pregnant (out of concern for her safety), but changed his mind, and did God’s will (Mt. 1:18-25). He married Our Lady and raised the Child Jesus as His own. Joseph’s “yes” came through his actions rather than words (there are no recorded words of Joseph in Scripture).

Joseph went on to witness the Lord’s birth in Bethlehem, and then flee with his family to Egypt when all their lives were endangered. This was a difficult and stressful time for him. It reminds us that saints go through the same struggles we do (even though their circumstances are often different). Mary and Joseph experienced shared pain and tribulation; they struggled to do God’s will. They later returned and settled in Nazareth.

Joseph raised Jesus, brought Him to the Temple for circumcision and the annual Passover celebration when He became lost in the Temple. These religious rituals were faith in action. Joseph passed on the faith he held dear to His Son, who was also the Son of God. This was the last time we hear about Joseph in the Gospels. He presumably died before Our Lord’s public ministry.

The point of all this is: faith is our lifeline to God. Faith enables us to see His plan and to embrace it, despite trial and tribulation, suffering and setback. Faith calls parents to baptize their children, teach them how to pray and worship, form their character through virtuous living, and give their lives to God. Children who leave the Faith put a tremendous cross on their parents, but faith helps them in these times too. Let us look to St. Joseph for help and inspiration to live the faith we have received, and pass it on to future generations. God bless you.

God bless you. Fr. Ray Atwood

dbq151@dbqarch.org 319-283-9577

Ma

With Waverly, IA 5

Lord, We Lift Up to You in Prayer…. Eric Schmidtke, Dave Chase, Charlie Corey,

Marci Willey, Ron Babinat, Lindsey Ernst,

Connor Franzen, Michael McDonough, Leo Wickman,

Mary Ellen Youngblut , Sherry Duffy, Don Brandt,

Jim Shields Dianna Snyder

victims of hatred, racism, violence, natural disaster; terrorism,

and all in our parish, our community, and our hearts who are

suffering and in need of Christ’s healing touch May they

know His loving Presence in the eyes, hands and hearts of those

who give them care. May our prayers for help and healing rise like incense

to our God of hope, love and mercy.

Communion To Our Sick Or Homebound Ministry: contact Michelle Weepie 319-635-2428 or Bob Byersdorfer 319-635-2330

I C Parish Prayer Chain Hotline: Please contact

Vivian Rourke at 319-238-3225 (V) or 319-238-2083 (M)

Sacrament Of The Sick ~ Anointing for the seriously ill

or dyng, call the Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743, or if having surgery speak with Father Atwood in the Sacristy before or after Mass

Baptism Class For Parents: All parents who wish to

have their child baptized at Immaculate Conception parish are required to attend a baptism class prior to scheduling the baptism. Please contact Deacon Jim at 319-509-1210 for scheduling details.

I C Cemetery – contact the parish office

Funeral Dinners: Group #2 May, June, July & August

We provide desserts & serve a catered meal

I C STAFF ~ Fr. Ray Atwood, Pastor ~

IC Parish Office Wednesday Mornings after 8:30AM Mass

Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743 Sacred Heart Rectory 319-283-9577

email: dbq151@dbqarch.org

~ Deacon Jim Patera ~ Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743

Cell phone 319-509-1210

~Glenda Kleitsch IC Secretary/Bookkeeper~

I C Parish Office PH: 319-635-2211 located at 405 Fairbank St I C Parish Office hours:

Mon-Thurs 8AM – 3PM Closed Friday Mailing address: P O BOX 505 Fairbank IA 50629

email: icfairbank@gmail.com website: http://icfairbank.weebly.com/

Archdiocesan website: www.dbqarch.org

~Dan & Lynda Cutsforth, DRE & Youth Ministry~ DRE Office PH :319-635-2211

located in the Parish Center at 405 Faribank St Mailing address: P O Box 505, Fairbank IA 50629

Dan email: dancutsforth@yahoo.com

Lynda email: cutsforthlynda@yahoo.com

Jean Sauerbrei, Facility Rental Coordinator PH: 319-635-9151/ cell 319-296-8459

or email jmsauerbrei@yahoo.com

Country Store 2021! Crochet items, canned and homegrown items welcomed! Gently Used Seasonal Items! All items should be priced!

Items can be brought into the hall this week!! Contact person: Carma Schmidtke & Lori Brickman

2 dozen cookies per family would

be appreciated by Sat, Sept 18.

Immaculate Conception Raffle $5.00 each 1St prize - $500

(5) prizes - $100 each Need not be present to win! Contacts: Norm & Pat Pint

September 2021 TODAY!! Tootsie Roll Drive – KC after 8:30 AM Mass

Sun Sept 12 Fairbank Community Club 9AM-Noon Waffle & Sausage Breakfast - Free Will Donation Fairbank American Legion Wed Sept 15 Parish Life Mtg 9:30AM Parish Hall Wed Sept 15 Choir Practice 7 PM NEW members are always welcomed!! Fri Sept 17 Baptism - Benson family – 6PM Sun Sept 19 Catechetical Sunday 10:30 AM Mass

Sun Sept 19 IC Fall Festival – 10:30 AM Mass!!! Wed Sept 22 4:30pm CEMETERY CORPORATE MTG

5:00pm FINANCE CORPORATE MTG 5:30pm PASTORAL/FINANCE MTG Thurs Sept 23 Staff Mtg Office closed 8:30AM-11AM Sat Sept 25 Hall Rented – Bridal Shower

October 2021 Sat Oct 2 Daycare Fundraiser – Parish Hall Sat Oct 2 Fairbank City Wide Garage Sales Sun Oct 3 Peanut Butter Sunday Sun Oct 3 Confirmation Mass – SH – 2PM Tues Oct 6 Fields of Faith 7PM Union High School Sat Oct 8 Hackeman/Richards Wedding 2PM Sun Oct 10 4-H Meeting/Atom Bombers Oct 11-19th Deacon Jim vacation Thurs Oct 14 KC Meeting 7PM

August was a very busy month for Helping Hands Clothing Closet with 226 client visits. Our volunteers gave 50 hours of their time. We will be putting out cold weather clothes on Saturday, September 18th, starting at 9 am. Many hands make this a quick job and any help is appreciated.

Anyone needing help with clothing needs is welcome at the clothing closet and we would be happy to help. Thank you for all donations and, as always, thank you to our terrific volunteers.

Sun Sept 12 8:30 AM IC For the People

M: Deacon Jim EM: Janice Martins Lector: Brenda Bodensteiner

Sun Sept 12 10:30 AM SH Don Meier Mon Sept 13 8:30 AM SH For the Sick Wed Sept 15 8:30 AM IC Robert & Ruth Kerns Thurs Sept 16 8:30 AM SH Ted & Jean & Jelinek Fri Sept 17 8:30 AM SH Bob Link, Jackie Link Scott

Sat Sept 18 4:30 PM SH John Falck

Sun Sept 19 10:30 AM IC Pat Shannon

M: Deacon Jim EM: Anita Destival Lector: Max Kayser

Sun Sept 19 10:30AM SH For the People Sunday, September 26 at 8:30 AM Mass

M: Deacon Jim EM: Kelly Galleger Lector: Jean Bellis

Ushers/Greeters for September Joe & Dianne Rubino, Mike Buenzow

John W Even, John Even, Chad VanDaele

We need a few more lectors & Eucharistic ministers!

Contact the office or Jean Bellis to volunteer ~ 319-240-4857 She will be training the new ministry people this fall so they can be

included in the new schedule. Thanks Jean!!

Parish Financial $upport Sept 5 - 9 Budget $2188 Offertory $122 Building Fund $185 Assumption of Mary $20

Mission Collection $747.00

Religious Education Registration Packets for the 2021-22 School Year

are available in the main entrance of the church and the parish office. Be sure to pick one up or you may also access the registration materials at our website: http://icfairbank.weebly.com The forms are in pdf format. The fees can be remitted separately if sending in the registration

electronically. Classes start today!!

Cemetery Notes: Due to the storm, many flower arrangements were destroyed.

- Some statues and ornaments were broken and had to be

to be disposed of.

- A big thank you to Adam & Kevin Kaufman for their help and

the use of their equipment in the clean-up of the cemetery.

- Also thank you to Scott & Amy Buzynski, Joe & Michelle Jans,

Joe & Cheryl Kleitsch and Todd Neil for their assistance.

Area events: Fall Dinner, Sept 19, Immaculate Conception, Sumner American Legion Hall – Serving 11-1 Menu: Roast Beef, Mashed potatoes & gravy, carrots, green bean casserole, coleslaw, pistachio salad, rolls & dessert bar. Drawing for J & C Grocery and Casey’s gift certificates Adults: $12.00, Child 5-10 $7.00 4 & Under Free Annual 2021 Sacred Heart Fall Festival, Walker, IA , Sun, Sept 19, Serving 11-1 Grilled Pork Loin, cheesy potatoes, green beans, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, dinner roll, pies and cupcakes. Meal Prices Adults $10, Seniors $9, 5-10 yrs $6.00 4 & under free Drive thru takeout meals only. Raffle prizes.

Background on the Gospel Reading Mark 8:27-35

Today’s reading is the turning point in Mark’s Gospel. In the presentation of the life and ministry of Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark, the deeds of Jesus have shown Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet many, including Jesus’ disciples, have not yet realized his identity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples for a field report by asking what others say about him. He then turns the question directly to the disciples and asks what they believe. Peter speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ. The word Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah, which means “the anointed one.” At the time of Jesus, the image of the Messiah was laden with popular expectations, most of which looked for a political leader who would free the Jewish people from Roman occupation. Jesus does not appear to have used this term for himself. As we see in today’s reading, Jesus refers to himself instead as the Son of Man, a term derived from the Jewish Scriptures, found in the Book of Daniel and in other apocryphal writings. Many scholars suggest that the phrase Son of Man is best understood to mean “human being.” Now that the disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely. The image of Christ that Jesus is giving is not the image of the Messiah that Peter was expecting. Jesus then teaches the crowd and the disciples about the path of discipleship: To be Chris’s disciple is to follow in the way of the cross. We can easily miss the fear that Jesus’ words must have evoked in his disciples. Death by crucifixion was all too familiar as a method of execution in Roman-occupied territories. It was also an omnipresent danger to the Christian community for whom Mark wrote. The path that Jesus was inviting his disciples to share meant tremendous suffering and death. This is the kind of radical commitment and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to adopt for the sake of the Gospel.

From Loyola Press Sunday Connection

Homily Notes: What did I hear that I would like to remember or think about later?

Update your information Be sure to update your address, telephone number, and email address if they have changed.

You can make changes thru the mail, collection, phone call to the office (319-635-2211).

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