Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

1220 Tioga Road, Ball, LA 71405

Office – 640-9446; FAX – 640-3864

Permanent Schedule Regular Office Hours

Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon & 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

Pastor- Fr. Rick Gremillion (ext. 3) Deacon L.G. Deloach (ext 4)

Parish Manager—Tara Christen (ext. 0) Youth Minister—Roger & Rhoda Christopher

Cantor—Chris Jardoin Pianist - Ariana Christopher

Dear Parishioners,

About a year or so ago, a parishioner and his grandson scraped all the gum off from the underside

of the pews, of which some has returned. I was amazed at the hundreds of pieces of gum removed,

and what amazes me even more today is the number of people who chew gum during Mass and

even come to communion with gum in their mouth. What happened to the Eucharistic Fast? To

my knowledge, the Church as not done away with it; it can be found in Canon 919 of the Code of

Canon Law, which states:

§1. A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour

before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine.

§2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day

can take something before the second or third celebration even if there is less than one hour be-

tween them.

§3. The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy

Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour.

The reason for the fast is to remind, us the faithful, of the sacred and special nature of the

Eucharistic food; whereas earthly food provides physical nourishment for a time, the body and

blood of Christ nourish the soul toward life eternal. Because Canon 919 §1. says, “one hour before

holy communion,” this does not mean that we should take a stopwatch to church, or try to figure

out the earliest point at which Communion might be distributed at Mass and time our breakfast to

end exactly 60 minutes before that. Such behavior misses the point of fasting before Communion.

We're meant to use this time to prepare ourselves to receive the Body and Blood of Christ and to

call to mind the great sacrifice that this sacrament represents.

- Father Rick Gremillion

Vol. 38, No. 13 Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord April 1, 2018

Is it fact or fiction? The totality of our

faith hinges on our fervent belief that the tomb is

empty. It all comes down to this. Jesus being

raised from the dead gives purpose to His

cross and ours. Without the Resurrection, all suf-

fering is absurd, death is the end and we are lost.

Saint Peter gives a summary of the Pascal

Mystery in our reading from Acts. In the reading

from Colossians, Paul reminds us that being

raised in Christ calls us to a higher standard. In

the gospel, Mary Magdala does not go into the

empty tomb right away. Instead, she seeks out

Peter and the Beloved Disciple.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MASS INTENTION REQUESTS— If you

would like a Mass offered in honor of or in

memory of someone, please call the church

office. The usual stipend is $5 per Mass. The

sanctuary lamp can be burned one week for a

loved one or an intention. Donation is $5.

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS— If you

need a 2017 statement of your donations

to IHM Church, please call the church office.

MAY WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES— Please

call the church office if you are celebrating a

wedding anniversary during the month of May.

Your parish family would like to recognize you

for your commitment.

EASTER FLOWER ENVELOPES—are avail-

able on the table at the church entrance. There is

still time to donate toward the beautiful Easter

lilies in the Church. You may drop your gift in

the collection basket.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL- “You

shall not covet” is perhaps a difficult

commandment to keep in our consumer-

oriented society. But as Christian stewards,

we know that we are the recipients and

caretakers of God’s many gifts. May this

understanding that all we have is a gift from

God and may this understanding help us be

generous to our church parish and to the

Annual Diocesan Appeal. +Bishop Talley

IHM goal is $16,782.00. Please prayer-

fully consider what you can give.

CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE

CLOSED—Monday and Tuesday, April

2nd and 3rd, for Easter.

NO 8:00 A.M. MASS—Please note that

there is no 8:00 a.m. Mass on Monday,

April 2nd.

Vigil (8 p.m.) All parishioners, living & deceased (**No 4:00 p.m. Mass**) Sun. (9 a.m.) All parishioners, living & deceased (11 a.m.) All People Mon. No Mass Tues. No Mass Wed. Gage LaVallie Thurs. Dcn. Ray “Whistle” Gibson Fri. Ruby Primeaux Mass intentions next weekend: Vigil (4 p.m.) -Michael and Irvin Brouillette, Shelby Clark; Sun. (9 a.m) - Lewis Dupray, Sr., Lloyd Gray; Sun. (11a.m.) - All people.

SANCTUARY LAMP WILL BURN– this week in memory of Louis & Annie VanAsselberg. Please remember them in your prayers.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION—There will be

no CCD class on Wednesday, April 4th.

Classes resume April 11th. Happy Easter!

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION—Please join us

on Sunday, April 15th, 11:00 a.m. Mass, as our

2nd graders receive the Body and Blood of

Christ for the first time in the Sacrament of

First Holy Communion. Practice for First

Communion will be held Wednesday, April 11,

during CCD class-time, and is mandatory.

SICK LIST- Dealva Abel, Nancy Affeltranger,

Kelly Allen, Brittney Arabie, Ernie Babineaux,

Leah Baden, Dorothy Barrios, Jeanie Basco,

Loretta Beebe, Sherri Bennett, Emma Benoit,

Ed & Rosemary Bonial, Aaron Boyt, Donald

Brouillette, Syble Brouillette, Louis Brunett,

Jennie Buckowski, Joyce Burge, Paul Burks,

Kylie Bush, Rita Cantu, Lily Ceasar, DeeDee

Chrobus, Lebo Clark, Susan Degeyter, James

Deslatte, John Deslatte, Sophie Douzat, Cathe-

rine Dupray, Doug Fairchild, Marie Finley,

Jack Goudeau, Ernest Griffin, Evelyn Hare,

Carolyn Hernandez, Bishop Ronald Herzog,

Mo Hoyal, Jane Hulin, Ellis & Iva Isom, Danny

Johnson, Jared Johnson, Audrey Kelley, Stacy

Kerry, Mike Killian, Shelly Larrieu, Stephanie

Larrieu, Arland McConathy, Mary Mantiply,

Truce Marble, Jimmy Mayeaux, James Mich-

iels Jr., Willie Milam, Melissa Miller, Annette

Moreau, John Musgrove, Josephine Norwood,

Paul Nugent, Abel Pacheco, Mary Perschy,

Kelsye Peterman, Frances Philpot, Rose

Quatrevingt, Judy Rechs, Alma and Mark

Reitzell, Carol Rose, Joyce Santos, Maddox

Sasser, Paul Schmidt, Ann Sellers, Gene Snow,

Angie Tarinton, Norma Thomas, Nick Tullier,

Mandy Vanderlick, Artis & Verla White,

Grace Zaunbercher, Residents at Tioga Manor .

MASS HYMNS—are in the missal, #159,

“Jesus Christ is Risen Today”; #457, “You Are

Mine”; #166, “Alleluia! Alleluia! (Hymn to

Joy)

OFFERTORY GIFTS :

Regular collection: $ 4,201.00

2nd collection Easter: Infirm Priest

2nd collection April 8: Improvement Fund**

Allen Hall roof fund: $26,171.00

Thank you for your generosity!