During the past two years, like churches around the world, we in Immaculate Conception Parish in the South Bronx, New York have had to adjust our ministry. We have become accustomed to having

meetings, religious education classes for adults, teens, and children, youth group gatherings, prayer moments, and many other events online.
 

During this pandemic we have found that the internet is a valuable tool. As much as we appreciate the internet, our parishioners long for the good old days when the vast majority of ministry was done in person and we were able to meet socially.

These days are slowly but surely arriving. During March most of our meetings, all our religious education programs, our youth gatherings, and prayer moments will be in person. There are even tentative and cautious plans afoot to have a social event on Mother’s DDuring this very difficult time several organizations have used our facilities to provide much needed services to the community: Hispanic Star - products for cleaning and personal hygiene; Catholic Charities - food and financial assistance; Somos and New York Presbyterian Hospital - Covid 19 testing and vaccines; and especially the Mexican Coalition, who, along with their regular immigration work, now run a regular food pantry and clothing distribution center in the Parish. They also provide a link to so many needed services. If they do not provide the service themselves, they will surely find out who does.
 

We are very happy to announce that the Mexican Coalition will be renting a rather large vacant convent from Immaculate Conception Church in the coming months. The convent is located right next to the church. With the added space they will be able to expand their services to the community. We as a church will also be able to assist them in their expansion and increase our cooperation with them in their many beneficial programs. We pray and hope that this will be a long and fruitful relationship for both the Coalition and Immaculate Conception Church.                                                                                                                      
During the pandemic, Immaculate Conception School has continued to provide a wonderful education to 423 children in our community. Since September all classes have been in person with very few setbacks related to the pandemic. Like the rest of us the students, staff, and parents are looking forward to more normal times.
 

In August of last year, we added two new members of our community - Rev. Charles Hergenroeder, C.Ss.R., and Br. Augustus Riviere, C.Ss.R. Fr. Charles is stationed here for the parish and has been nourishing the people with his insightful homilies and classes in our adult formation programs. Br. Augustus is a student in the society and ethics program at Fordham University. His primary focus is environmental intersectionality. He will be providing a much-needed ministry in this area in the future. Presently he also assists in the adult formation programs.

(Courtesy of Baltimore Beacon.)