IMMACULATE CONCEPTION THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 15, 2020 MARRERO, LOUISIANA VOLUME 49, NUMBER 37

Sunday, March 8, 2020 Weekly Collection

Envelopes……………....$4,723.00 Loose……………..…….$1,525.00 Total Collection.…...…...$6,248.00

Thank you for your generosity.

"Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the presbyters of the church. They, in turn, are to pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James11-35:J.4-J.5) Parish-ioners who are seriously ill or antici-pating hospitalization for a serious

illness are requested to call the parish office if they wish to receive the sacrament. Some hospi-tals provide full time priests/chaplains. Patients are regularly visited and offered the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, as well as daily Com-munion. This, however, presumes inpatient ad-mission. Those patients who are interested in receiving this sacrament, but are scheduled for outpatient or same day surgery, should call the parish office to ensure anointing before going to the hospital.

The Third Sunday of Lent

Water is necessary for life. It is so essential that

scientists search for its presence on other plan-

ets to determine whether they can support life.

The Israelites were desperate for it when wan-

dering in the desert. The well in Sychar had

supplied water to residents going back to Ja-

cob. This source of water had sustained life for

generations. But Jesus raises the stakes on the

woman at the well. His source of water sustains

life eternally.

Repeatedly Pope Francis has stressed the mis-

sionary character of the Church. The woman at

the well typifies this character. She encounters

Jesus, has a transformative experience, then

drops everything to go tell her friends and

neighbors. Her testimony bears fruit, as it leads

them to go out, find Jesus, and convince him to

stay. They begin to believe, but after hearing for

themselves, they become convinced. Like living

water, her faith in Jesus flows out from her to

transform those around her.

In the passage from Exodus, God would have

every right to punish the people. They were

openly revolting against Moses, complaining

that they were worse off than when they were

enslaved. Instead, God gave them the water

they needed to survive in the desert. Similarly,

Jesus could have condemned the woman for

repeatedly divorcing her husbands and now liv-

ing with a sixth man outside marriage. Instead,

he offers her living water. Neither the woman

nor the Israelites deserved the life-giving water

they were given. Nor did we do anything to de-

serve the life-giving waters of baptism. But, to

paraphrase Paul, God gave us the waters of

salvation while we were still sinners.

Question of the Week

What do I thirst for spiritually? Can I find suste-

nance in the life-giving water I have received?

How can I share this living water with those

around me?

The ICS Pops will sponsor a Fish Fry on Fri-day evenings from 5:30pm—8:00 pm. during Lent in the school cafeteria. Please join us on March 6th, 13th, 20th and April 3rd. Join us also for the School and Parish Pre-Boil Family Fun Night on Friday March 27th from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm. The evening will in-clude class performances, food and drinks a live band and amusement rides. Admission is FREE! Come back Saturday, March 28th, for our an-nual Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championship from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm. Tickets are $25.00 ages 18 and up ($30. at the gate), $13.00 ages 13-17 with a valid school ID ($15. at the gate). Purchase your tickets on line at: https://louisiana-crawfish-boil-championships.eventbrite.com

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Saturday, March 14th 4:00 p.m.

Charles Barras, Bernadette & Vic Cortez, Floyd Toups, Malvin Orgeron, Marian “Dolly” Naquin & Den-nis Naquin, Sr., Raymond P Juno, Sr., Edward Chris-

tian Gerding, and Baby Connor Champagne. Sunday, March 15th

8:00 a. m. Laurent & Betty Verdin, Brook & Bennett Mackie, Bet-ty & Michael Daigle, Guy & Laura Adams, Benjamin

Hernandez & Marie Schouest, & Edward C. Gerding. 10 a.m.

Ockmand Family, Doris Carnes, Sloan & Boudreaux Families, Betty Daigle, Michael Hinojosa, Bang On,

Sr. Beth Lieux & Kenneth Moreau. 12 Noon

Nelly Esther Villalta, Julian Henriquez Castro, Accion de Gracia St. Lucia

6:00 p.m. All Parishioners of Immaculate Conception

Monday, March 16th 6:00 p.m.

Myra Bellanger LaChute Tuesday, March 17th

6:00 p.m. Pierce Family

Wednesday, March 18th 8:30 a.m School Mass

Jamie David & Sal Monfra, Sr. 5:00 pm—6:00 pm –Confessions

6:00 p.m. Paul Ponthieux Thursday, March 19th

6:00 p.m. Mass Guiseppe Albergarno

Friday, March 20th 6:00 p.m.

6:30 pm Stations of the Cross 7:00 pm Stations of the Cross (Spanish)

Schedule: Ministers of the Eucharist

4:00 PM Mass Mar 21 & Mar 28— Robert Billiot,

Elaine Klibert, Katie Liljeberg, Kim Ranson, Del

Woolsey and Janice Thibodaux.

8:00 AM Mass Mar 22 & Mar 29- C. D’Aquin, R.

Lamy, C. Lasserre, D. Modenbach and M. Verdin.

10:00 AM Mass Mar 22 – J. Bellanger, D. Barril-

leaux, D. DiMarco, R. Rawle, F. Stevenson.

10:00 AM Mass Mar 29– P. Camardelle, L. D’Aquin, D & J. Mailhos, S. Nguyen 6:00 PM Mass Mar 22 & Mar 29— F. Lipovsky,

H & G. Smith, S. Verret, D. Guise.

Schedule: Ministers of the Word

4:00 PM Mar 21— G. Richard

Mar 28—R. Billiot

8:00 AM Mar 22—D. Rudolph

Mar 29— M.Totten

10:00AM Mar 22—K. Moser

Mar 29— D. Barrilleaux

6:00 PM Mar 22—H. Smith

Mar 29— A. Gongora Vigil Lights

This week the vigil light at the Blessed Sacrament is in loving memory of Wilson Bernard, Jr.

This week the vigil light at the St. Joseph Statue is in loving memory of Peggy Mayfield Winnie.

This week the vigil light at the Blessed Mother Statue is in loving memory June T Marrero.

The feast day of St. Joseph—March 19th—Let us Pray- O Blessed Saint Joseph, faithful guardian and protector of virgins, to whom God entrusted Jesus and Mary, I implore you by the love which you did bear them, to pre-serve me from every defilement of soul and body, that I may always serve them in holiness and purity of love. Amen.

SANCTUARY CLEANING

Mar 21-D. Barrilleaux, L. D’Aquin, V. Davis,

D. DiMarco, M. Eiswirth, & S. Hymel.

Mar 28—M. Hennigan, C. Lasserre, D.

Michel, P. Monfra, D. Ovalle, L. Slocum,

L . Waguespack

Confessions will be available in all parishes on three consecutive Wednesdays, March 18th, March 25th, and April 1st, from 5:00 PM-6:30 PM, at Immaculate Concep-tion Church, our time is 5pm-6pm.

You are invited to attend a St. Joseph Altar, given by Mary Gulizo Hennegan’s Family and Friends on March 19th at 1721 Robin Street, Marrero. From 12 pm—6 pm. Parking available at the Belle Terre Playground. Bring your family & friends.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 15, 2020 MARRERO, LOUISIANA VOLUME 49, NUMBER 37

GRUPO de ORACIÓN y HORA SANTA

El Grupo de Oración Jesús Con Nosotros de la Renovación Carismática de Inmaculada Concepción te invita a que te unas con noso-tros todos los miércoles a las 7:30. Estamos en la Capilla de la Escuela, ubicada en la Ave. D Para mas información favor llama al (504) 220-4084 o al 615-9341.

Tercer Domingo de Cuaresma

El agua es necesaria para la vida. Es tan esen-

cial que, para determinar si en otro planeta pu-

diera existir la vida, los científicos buscan pri-

mero si ahí hay agua. Los israelitas estaban

desesperados por tener agua cuando atravesa-

ban el desierto. Desde el tiempo de Jacob el

pozo de Sicar suministraba el agua de sus hab-

itantes. Esta fuente de agua había sustentado la

vida de muchas generaciones. Pero Jesús le im-

plica algo mucho mayor a la samaritana. El

manantial de agua de Jesús sustenta la vida pa-

ra siempre. • El Papa Francisco ha enfatizado

repetidamente el carácter misionero de la Iglesia.

La samaritana tipifica tal carácter. Ella se

encuentra con Jesús, experimenta una transfor-

mación y lo deja todo para ir a contarles a sus

amigos y vecinos. Su testimonio da frutos, pues

la gente sale a encontrar a Jesús y a convencer-

lo de que se quede entre ellos. Comienzan a

creer; pero después de escuchar a Jesús ellos

mismos, se convencieron. Como agua viva la fe

de la samaritana brota de ella y transforma a los

que la rodean. • En el pasaje del Éxodo, Dios

hubiera tenido todo el derecho de castigar a la

gente, que se había sublevado públicamente

contra Moisés, quejándose de que estaban peor

que cuando estaban en el exilio. Así y todo, Dios

les dio el agua que necesitaban para sobrevivir

en el desierto. De manera similar Jesús pudo ha-

ber condenado a la mujer por haberse divorciado

repetidamente de sus maridos y por vivir ahora

con un sexto hombre en concubinato. Así y todo,

él le ofrece el agua viva. Ni la mujer ni los israel-

itas merecían el agua viva que recibieron.

Tampoco nosotros merecemos el agua viva que

recibimos en nuestro Bautismo. Pero, en paráfra-

sis de Pablo, Dios nos dio el agua de la

salvación cuando aún éramos pecadores.

Pregunta de la Semana

¿Cuál es mi sed espiritual? ¿Puedo encontrar mi

sustento en el agua viva que he recibido?

¿Cómo puedo compartir esa agua viva con los

que tengo a mi derredor?

Los ICS Pops patrocinan pescado frito cada viernes por la noche de 5:30 a 8:00 p.m. durante la Cuaresma en la cafetería de la escuela. Únase a nosotros el 6 de marzo, 13 de marzo, 20 de marzo y 3 de abril. Únase a nuestra escuela y parroquia a una Noche de diversión familiar el viernes 27 de marzo de 6:00 a 10: 00 p.m. La no-che incluirá presentaciones en clase, co-mida y bebidas, una banda en vivo y atracciones. La admisión es gra-tis. Únase a nosotros para nuestro Cam-peonato anual de crawfish el sábado 28 de marzo de 11:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m. Pre-cios de las entradas: $ 25 a partir de los 18 años o ($ 30 en la puerta) $ 13.00 a las edades de 13 a 17 años con una identifi-cación de la escuela válida o ($ 15 en la puerta). Compre sus boletos en línea en: https: //louisiana-crawfish-boil-championships.eventbrite. com

Every Monday morning Come out and share the Word of God with friends! Join us on Monday morn-ings from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon

at Margaret Andrus’ home, 5225 August Avenue, in Marrero. Everyone is welcome to attend. Bring a friend. If more information is needed call 340-

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Tree of Life

We offer parishioners a way to re-

member a loved one, a special event,

special sacrament or just to have a

family name listed on one of our

leaves on our Tree of Life. This tree is

located on the St. Joseph side wall to the rear of

our church. At your convenience check it out

and call the parish office if you are interested in

having a leaf engraved.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY’S READINGS

“Is the Lord in our midst or not?” (Exodus 17:7).

The Chosen People asked each other this ques-

tion during their difficult journey through the bar-

ren desert, but one could imagine many of us

asking the same question here and now. Wheth-

er considering the state of the world or our own

personal situation, we may ask ourselves,

“Where is God? Has God abandoned us?” The

Samaritan woman was undoubtedly perplexed

when a strange man spoke to her at the well. But

after he revealed himself, she asked herself and

her neighbors if the Messiah was possibly in

their midst. Here she was, a Samaritan, a wom-

an, living in a situation known to be sinful, yet

she became the means through which his identi-

ty was spread. Within two days, the people of the

town came to believe that indeed the Messiah,

the Christ, the savior of the world, was in their

midst. Here and now, we are assured that Jesus

is in our midst as well and when we gather to-

gether in his name, when we share the Eucharis-

tic meal, and when we go forth to carry on his

mission.

When do you feel abandoned by God? What

helps convince you otherwise?

My House Men’s Group, A Ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, has begun a new Westbank Chapter. This is a support group for men struggling with addiction to pornography. This program is a Catholic, confidential 12 step program. For more information, please contact Michael Valldares at 504-224-1429 if you are in-terested in attending or have any concerns.

CYO will meet April 19th bring the kids out for the CYO Easter egg hunt after the 10:00 a.m. Mass. Do-nuts will be served in the Parish Hall after the Easter egg hunt. Please join us.

WOmAN’S NEW LIFE CLINIC’S mission is to promote the sanctity of life, the dignity of women, and the sacredness of sexuality through medical and mental health services. Their two locations, strategically placed in New Orleans next door to Planned Parenthood and near the local abortion clinic and in Baton Rouge next door to an abortion clinic, uniquely position them to save lives. The clinic is empowering women to choose life. Since their start in 2001,they’ve saved over 2,249 lives from abortion. They offer free professional coun-seling, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and case management to women in unplanned pregnan-cies. They also offer professional post-abortion counseling, pregnancy loss counseling, and mate-rial assistance ALL FREE OF CHARGE. In addi-tion to these services for women in unplanned pregnancies, Woman’s New Life Clinic has launched new programs, allowing them to com-pete with Planned Parenthood, such as family planning instruction (natural, of course) and wom-en’s healthcare, including well-woman care, gyne-cologic care, and STD testing and treatment. Woman’s New Life Clinic operates strictly through private donations from people like us. Donating to Woman’s New Life Clinic is something tangible that each and every one of us can do in the fight

for life. We are hosting a Baby Bottle Campaign to benefit the Woman’s New Life Clinic on March 21 & 22, please take a bottle after Mass and return it the following week-end filled with coins, dollars, or a