LENTEN ALMSGIVING – HOW TO TURN IN YOUR RICE BOWL DONATIONS Now is the time to turn in the coins/bills you have been collecting in your CRS Rice Bowl for this Lenten faith-in-action program. Seventy-five percent of the Rice Bowl donations support CRS programs around the world, and 25 percent goes to hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in our diocese. Please turn the coins you have been collecting into cash or a check (made out to IC) and mail them to Immaculate Conception or drop them off in the secure mail slot at the front door. Online Giving For online giving, parishioners can also donate via ParishSOFT Giving. Under the FUND Tab, please select “Diocesan Collections,” then navigate to the SUB FUND tab and select “Rice Bowl.” You may also donate by going to www.crsricebowl.org.

My dear parishioners and friends, It is with great eagerness and prayerful concern that I write to you today at the beginning of this most remarkable and unheard of Holy Week. It is difficult for me to pen these words. As it seems incredible to think, only 30 days ago, we would not have imagined experiencing this current state of events. I encourage each person and every household to truly approach this Holy Week with a spirit of prayer for one another and for an end to this pandemic crisis. Our prayer strengthens us in carrying the cross with Jesus who himself did not eliminate suffering but joined himself to it for our redemption. The Bishop of Bergamo, one of the most affected cities in Italy, Bishop Francesco Beschi reminds us: “Our prayers are not magic formulas. Faith in God does not magically solve our problems, rather it gives us an inner strength to exercise that commitment that one and all, in different ways, are called to live, especially those who are called to contain and overcome this evil.” We must all continue to work together for the common good of all in our community, praying for one another, and listening seriously to the restrictions and limits placed on us by our leaders both civic and Church! Although the Mass is no longer available publicly, Immaculate Conception is providing the Mass via live-stream to continue supporting the spiritual health and well-being of our community. To participate, please consider visiting our Facebook page, where you’ll find both live and recorded versions. We also encourage you to visit our website www.iccols.org, where you will find links to audio-recordings of the Mass, broadcasted versions of the Mass via YouTube and prayer and liturgical resources through the Diocese of Columbus. To continue providing these

Immaculate Conception Music for Holy Week Wednesday 11:30 a.m. – Daily Mass Holy Thursday 9 a.m. – Chrism Mass with Bishop Brennan, live-streamed, and broadcast on St. Gabriel Radio 820 AM 7 p.m. – Immaculate Conception Church will live-stream the Holy Thursday Mass. Please visit our Facebook page to view the mass live or YouTube to view the recorded version (which will be available after 9 p.m.) Good Friday Stations of the Cross will be available on our Facebook page and YouTube. Additionally, parishioners should visit EWTN, St. Gabriel Radio 820 AM, and watch for religious programming from the Diocese and from the Pope. Holy Saturday There will be no Easter Vigil at Immaculate Conception. Parishioners should visit Diocese of Columbus or The Holy See for prayer and liturgical resources. Easter Sunday Immaculate Conception Church will live-stream Easter Sunday Mass at 9:30 a.m. Please visit our Facebook page to view the mass live or YouTube to view the recorded version (which will be available after 11:30 a.m.) Diocese of Columbus Online Resources The Office for Divine Worship will have a book of prayers, devotions and activities available online prior to Holy Week. The Office of Social Concerns and the Marriage and Family Life Office have also contributed to the book. The book will be accessible via the Diocesan website at Liturgical and Prayer Resources. Holy Week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) Daily Mass — 12:05 p.m. Broadcast on St. Gabriel Radio Live-stream at www.columbuscatholic.org, Diocesan Facebook page, and Diocesan YouTube Channel   Diocesan-wide Lenten Retreat from St. Joseph Cathedral Broadcasts each day at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on St. Gabriel Radio, 820 AM, Columbus, and 88.3 FM, Portsmouth Live-stream at 1 p.m. on www.columbuscatholic.org, Diocesan Facebook page, and Diocesan YouTube Channel “The Gift of Holy Week” Leader: Father Michael Kelly, Director of Spiritual Formation, Pontifical College Josephinum Wednesday,

CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF OHIO Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today (April 2, 2020) Governor Mike DeWine extended the executive “Stay at Home Order” to continue to curb the spread of the Coronavirus in the State of Ohio. Out of deep concern for the common good, as well as the physical and spiritual well-being of all the people of Ohio, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio have agreed once again to cooperate with the governor’s direction. To that end, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio extend the temporary suspension of all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies at least through and including Sunday May 3rd. The Bishops of Ohio dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in their respective dioceses and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass during this time period. This decision has not been taken lightly and, as your bishops, together with you, we recognize the sacrifice we are called to make by being physically distanced from the Holy Eucharist and from one another. Trusting in the graces flowing from the celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord, we remain mindful of the hope that does not disappoint. As your bishops, we continue to encourage you to keep holy the Lord’s Day by participating in Sunday Mass by way of televised, live-streamed, or radio broadcast options and making a spiritual communion. Keeping in mind the gift of plenary indulgences offered to us by the Church, we encourage all the faithful to turn to the Church’s treasury of prayer, praying as a family or individually the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, the Liturgy of the Hours and Stations of the Cross, etc. Please join us in praying for all who are suffering from the Coronavirus, for all health care workers and first responders, and for an

Immaculate Conception Church will live-stream its Sunday Mass on our Facebook page. Enjoy the Mass from the comfort of your home!

In these difficult times, Immaculate Conception, under the direction of Bishop Brennan, invites all parishioners to worship at a distance. Please note that all public Masses are suspended. Parishioners should keep an eye on our website www.iccols.org and Immaculate Conception’s Facebook page for additional information, regarding a recorded or live-streamed Sunday Mass. Parish and school staff will continue to monitor emails and phone messages remotely. The parish website at www.iccols.org will continue to be updated with the most current parish information. You can find links to additional information and Catholic media by going to the Diocesan website www.columbuscatholic.org. This is the only official communication from the Immaculate Conception until further notice.