Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

05/31/2026

The Trinity in Scripture

Today we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity – one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The word “Trinity” is not itself used in the bible, but the bible has numerous verses to teach us about God. We clearly learn that there is only one God. And yet we also learn that the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And that they are united as one God. Here are some of the most significant scripture verses to understand the Trinity:

• Genesis 1:1-2 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the fact of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.”

• Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.”

• Matthew 3:16-17 – “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’.” (Jesus the Son, the Father’s voice, and the Holy Spirit like a dove)

• Matthew 28:19 – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.”

• John 1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.”

• John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”

• John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.”

• John 14:16-17 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth.”

• 2 Corinthians 13:13 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.”

• Hebrews 1:1-3 – “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say: ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you’? Or again: ‘I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me’?”

You are in my daily prayers.
God bless you,
Fr. VanDenBroeke

05/29/2026

Dear parish family,

You have likely already heard of the fire in Lonsdale yesterday. It was the house of one of our parish families: the Crow family – Jason, Roxie, Chloe, and Cora.

This will be a difficult time for them as they seek to rebuild their life from the ground up.

Please visit their GoFundMe page and make a donation.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-roxies-family-recover-from-house-fire

If you would prefer to make a cash donation, you can do so through the parish office. (Cash or checks payable to the Crow family.)

And please keep them in your prayers.

God bless you,
Fr. VanDenBroeke

On the morning of May 28th, our family experienced a heartbreaking tragedy. M… Kristen Geer needs your support for Help Roxie's Family Recover from House Fire

05/26/2026

Happy 14th Anniversary to Fr VanDenBroeke!
Thank you for sharing your love for Jesus through leading us as our pastor! May Jesus bless you and the work you do for Him more abundantly each day!

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

The Christian in the World

Today’s pastor’s column is a quote from a text called A Letter to Diogentus, which was written in the 2nd Century. It is a very important text because it is one of the earliest Christian writings after the scriptures, and shows what the early Christians believed and how they lived.

This particular writing addresses how Christians are to live in the world as a leaven, while keeping their focus on our heavenly homeland.

You are in my daily prayers.
God bless you,
Fr. VanDenBroeke

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Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.

And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.

Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.

To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.

05/23/2026

Don't delay in registering! This is always a great week for the kids!

𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐔𝐒 𝐓𝐔𝐔𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍!

Experience the Joy of Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus is an exciting week of faith-filled fun for grade school and high school adventurers who are eager to connect with Christ! This week-long celebration shares the Gospel and honors our Catholic faith through engaging Christian witness, evangelization, Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration.

A Vibrant Journey of Faith
Totus Tuus teams arrive for a week packed with inspiring skits and teachings, guiding youth on an uplifting journey of Catholic enthusiasm, empowering them to embrace and live out their faith with confidence!

Day Sessions: Students entering grades 1 - 6:
Monday, June 15, Friday, June 19, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Evening Sessions: Students entering grades 7 - 12:
Sunday, June 14, Thursday, June 18, 6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.

All sessions are held at Holy Cross Catholic School, 6100 37th St. W. in Webster.

Follow the link to register https://stncc.net/totus-tuus-registration

05/03/2026

The Celebration of the Eucharist by St. Justin Martyr

This weekend we celebrate First Communion! Congratulations to our First Communicants! It is such a gift to receive Jesus in the Eucharist! May we all continue to grow in our love and appreciation for this Blessed Sacrament.

For my bulletin article, I’d like to share a writing from a very early Christian writer, St. Justin Martyr, who wrote an important defense of the Christian faith around the year 155AD. Although Christianity was still very young, notice how he describes the celebration of the Mass as so similar to how we still celebrate it today. His testimony is very important because it shows the faith of the early Church (just after the time of the Apostles), and especially highlights belief in the Eucharist as the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

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No one may share the eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ.

We do not consume the eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and drink, for we have been taught that as Jesus Christ our Savior became a man of flesh and blood by the power of the Word of God, so also the food that our flesh and blood assimilates for its nourishment becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving.

The apostles, in their recollections, which are called gospels, handed down to us what Jesus commanded them to do. They tell us that he took bread, gave thanks and said: Do this in memory of me. This is my body. In the same way he took the cup, he gave thanks and said: This is my blood. The Lord gave this command to them alone. Ever since then we have constantly reminded one another of these things. The rich among us help the poor and we are always united. For all that we receive we praise the Creator of the universe through his Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray.

On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward. The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give assent by saying, “Amen.” The eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates, and the deacons take it to those who are absent.

The wealthy, if they wish, may make a contribution, and they themselves decide the amount. The collection is placed in the custody of the president, who uses it to help the orphans and widows and all who for any reason are in distress, whether because they are sick, in prison, or away from home. In a word, he takes care of all who are in need.

We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world, and because on that same day our savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead. For he was crucified on Friday and on Sunday he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them the things that we have passed on for your consideration.

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You are in my daily prayers,
God bless you,
Fr. VanDenBroeke

05/03/2026

The Celebration of the Eucharist by St. Justin Martyr

This weekend we celebrate First Communion! Congratulations to our First Communicants! It is such a gift to receive Jesus in the Eucharist! May we all continue to grow in our love and appreciation for this Blessed Sacrament.

For my bulletin article, I’d like to share a writing from a very early Christian writer, St. Justin Martyr, who wrote an important defense of the Christian faith around the year 155AD. Although Christianity was still very young, notice how he describes the celebration of the Mass as so similar to how we still celebrate it today. His testimony is very important because it shows the faith of the early Church (just after the time of the Apostles), and especially highlights belief in the Eucharist as the real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

------------

No one may share the eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ.

We do not consume the eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and drink, for we have been taught that as Jesus Christ our Savior became a man of flesh and blood by the power of the Word of God, so also the food that our flesh and blood assimilates for its nourishment becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving.

The apostles, in their recollections, which are called gospels, handed down to us what Jesus commanded them to do. They tell us that he took bread, gave thanks and said: Do this in memory of me. This is my body. In the same way he took the cup, he gave thanks and said: This is my blood. The Lord gave this command to them alone. Ever since then we have constantly reminded one another of these things. The rich among us help the poor and we are always united. For all that we receive we praise the Creator of the universe through his Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday we have a ...

for the full article go to icchurch.cc/bulletin

04/26/2026

Interview with an Exorcist

For my column today, I want to highlight a fascinating interview I just listened to by an exorcist priest, Fr. Chad Ripperger. He was being interviewed by Tucker Carlson. He explained so many things, not only about the demonic and exorcism, but he also gives important insights into the spiritual world in general. For example, he explains:

• How demons work and how they try to tempt us
• How demons tempt spouses
• How angels work and how they have missions from God
• How demons are given power, including over our country when we cede power to them through immoral laws
• How excessive religiosity can be bad
• How the demonic is connected with Communism
• How mortal sin opens the door to demonic influence
• How po*******hy is often cursed to become more addictive, and how it can lead to demonic oppression or possession
• How abortion and homosexuality are connected to demons
• How to protect yourself from demonic influence and temptation
• He discusses some of the most powerful demons
• He explains how Satan is a mockery and inversion of the Holy Trinity
• Etc.

This interview is packed full of details and insights. I encourage you to look it up and listen to it. You can find the podcast by searching online or on YouTube for “Tucker Carlson Exorcist Fr. Chad Ripperger”.

Few people realize that the spiritual world is all around us, and we are in a battlefield for the salvation of souls. The purpose of this interview is not to get everyone looking for demonic influence in their lives or running around looking for an exorcist. But it is to be aware of the spirit world, the destructive intentions of the demons, and to see the way our world is abandoning Christ and giving itself over to evil. You and I, by our faith in Jesus Christ, are set free from these evils and we must guard ourselves and families from falling into them.

I hope you will take the time to listen to this interview.

Finally, here are some simple prayers that we can pray to protect ourselves and our families from temptation and demonic influence:
• “In Jesus’ name, I command you to leave me and stop tempting me.”
• Or to name and renounce the sin you are tempted to commit, and any demons that may be attached to that sin: “In Jesus’ name, I renounce the spirit of (lust, etc.) and I command it to leave me, and to go to the foot of the Cross.”
• Say the name Jesus repeatedly: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”. Or, “Jesus, help me.”
• Pray the St. Michael prayer.

You are in my daily prayers.
God bless you,
Fr. VanDenBroeke

Father Chad Ripperger has spent his life as an exorcist. It’s clear to him that demons are in charge of parts of American politics.Paid partnerships with:Van...

04/24/2026

Join us TONIGHT for an evening of prayer in this candlelit event, with music, prayer, and private confession during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.