Welcome to Immaculate Conception and Saint Luke Roman Catholic Parishes. Please click the links below to see the bulletin and weekly Mass livestream. Mass can also be viewed by clicking on the "Live Stream Mass" tab above. Please explore our website to learn about our Parish's ministry, history, and outreach, serving western Lycoming County, PA since 1838.
I hope you are doing well! As you may or may not know, while at Pitt, I have been involved with a missionary organization on campus called FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. This spring, through FOCUS, I have an exciting opportunity to go and make a difference. I am currently organizing to embark on a FOCUS mission trip to the Dominican Republic this upcoming spring break. 14+ college students, 5 FOCUS missionaries, and a chaplain will journey to the Dominican Republic to serve and work alongside locals. We will be directly ministering to their material and spiritual needs, serving communities in the jungle countryside outside of Santiago, helping them to build latrines and water sanitation and filtration systems. Through this mission trip, I hope to grow deeper in my relationship to God, and help others to do the same, as I serve His people in the Dominican Republic. I write to you today to invite you to join us all on our mission in the Dominican Republic. In order to have the ability to go serve God’s people, I need to build a team of partners, people like you, who will contribute to make this trip possible.
You can join me on this mission in a couple of ways: with your prayers and with your financial gift.
I ask that you prayerfully consider joining me as a financial partner as we serve in the Dominican Republic, if it aligns with your goals for giving. I need to raise $3200 by February 8th. To meet this goal as quickly as possible, gifts of $100, $150, or $200+ are greatly needed. There are no minimums or maximums, and all gifts are truly appreciated!
If you would like to join my mission support team, simply go online and donate by credit card or bank transfer at https://tinyurl.com/4vuf9nyb. Gifts made online and checks made payable to FOCUS are tax-deductible, charitable gifts. Feel free to donate as soon as you are able.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to text or call me at 570-220-6574 or by email at hunterkelley50@yahoo.com. Additionally, if you know any other people who you think would be passionate about this mission, I would be happy to connect with them and share more!
Thank you for your prayerful consideration!
Sincerely in Christ,
Hunter Kelly
A form of prayer; the worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass. The Eucharistic Host is displayed in a monstrance on the altar so that all can see and pray in the presence of Christ.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that, “Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is a creature before his Creator. It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us and the almighty power of the Savior who sets us free from evil. Adoration is homage of the spirit to the “King of Glory,” respectful silence in the presence of the “ever greater” God. Adoration of the thrice-holy and sovereign God of love blends with humility and gives assurance to our supplications.” (CCC 2628)
We can show our adoration to God in many ways, but in Eucharistic Adoration, we spend time adoring the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
One powerful story about Eucharistic Adoration is told about the Curé d’Ars who noticed a parishioner who spent a considerable amount of time in adoration. So one day while the parishioner was sitting there, he approached him and asked, “what are you doing when you are sitting there praying?” He answered, “I look at Him, and He looks at me.” And that is precisely the essence of Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus appreciates when we just want to go and sit with Him and spend time with Him.
You are invited to recommit and deepen your faith and devotion in the real presence of Jesus Christ within the Holy Eucharist. The truth is that we live in difficult times. Disease, war, political turmoil and public unrest seem to scar the land. Divisions among people groups are raising tensions, and it can seem like the world is spinning out of control. But as Catholics, we have a hope greater than all these things — our hope in Jesus Christ.
We can only hope to accomplish this goal by first deepening our own faith in the presence of Jesus Christ at the Eucharist. For many, this personal journey of impacting the world begins by recommitting to Eucharistic Adoration.
St. Pope John Paul II said about adoration: “The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and in contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease.”
Jesus said [to Martha], “You worry and fret over many things, but only one thing is necessary [and Mary has chosen the better part].” Will you?
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ADORERS Experience: Avail-ability. Compensation: Out of this world. Benefits: Heavenly. Responsibility: An audience with the most prestigious King of Kings one hour a week, or one hour every other week, or one hour a month, or on an as-needed basis. Apply in person. Hours: Sunday, 7:00 p.m. to Monday, 7:00 p.m.
If you are interested in joining this ministry, or if you want more information regarding this ministry, please fill out the form below and and we will contact you with more information on how to get involved.
After practicing Roman Catholics, the second largest religious grouping in our country is “fallen-away” Catholics, i.e., those who rarely or no longer practice the Faith. A website has been created to assist those who wish to become active Catholics once again: www.catholicscomehome.org If you want to “come home” or know someone who needs some encouragement to do so, visit this site for some inspiration.
