PARISH PICNIC AND CASH RAFFLE This year our Parish Picnic and Cash Raffle will be on Saturday, July 14 following the 4:00pm Mass in the Social Hall. Information and tickets have been mailed out. Additional tickets can be obtained during normal office hours of the parish office. This year the parish will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, beverages and place settings and we are again asking each family to bring a dish to share. Families with the last name beginning with the letter A thru N to bring a side dish and O thru Z a dessert. Along with the cash raffle of four drawings, there will be door prizes, games, good food , and an opportunity to socialize with fellow parishioners.

HOLY LAND GIFTS - JULY 14 & 15 - TOBIN HALL There will be a display of handmade articles (nativity scenes, crucifix, rosaries, etc.) for sale in Tobin Hall after all Masses on July 14 and 15. Because of the continued conflict in the region, many Christian families in Bethlehem are struggling to make ends meet. Holy Land Gifts represents over 100 Christian families who make a living selling traditional olive wood handcrafts and religious articles. Thank you for supporting this project to keep the Christians present in the holy land of Jesus birth.

RCIA...An Invitation to Journey in Faith... Are you thinking about joining the Catholic Church? The Immaculate Conception Parish community welcomes you as you seek to enrich your faith life and explore the possibility of becoming a Catholic Christian. Our community shares and celebrates this journey with you, through a process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Through a series of weekly sessions, which will begin this fall, interested adults will be gradually introduced to the Catholic faith and way of life in a small group setting. We invite you to explore the RCIA. For more information please contact Eileen Edwards, Director of Religious Education, at 330-296- 6434.

CARE TEAM SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE Catholic Charities of Portage County is currently collecting school supplies to be distributed to families in need for the 2018-2019 academic year. Immaculate Conception has always been very generous in supporting this collection for our school children. Please consider donating any of the following items for the upcoming school year:

Backpacks/Book bags, Spiral notebooks, notebook paper, 1" & 2" three-ring binders, blue, black, red pens, #10 pencils, colored pencils, Sharpie markers, dry erase markers, highlighters, glue sticks/bottles, pocket folders, scissors, erasers, pencil boxes/pouches, tissues, disinfectant wipes.

Bring your donated items to Tobin Hall the weekends of July 21st & 22nd and July 28th & 29th. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!!

WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FATHER MCGIVNEY - SEPT 1-5 The Portage County Chapter of the Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a trip "Walking in the Footsteps of Father Michael J. McGivney" the founder of the Knights of Columbus! Departs Ravenna September 1, traveling to Bar Harbor Maine and New Haven, Connecticut. Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Church, founded by Father McGivney, a tour of the Knights of Columbus Museum, free time in Bar Harbor, Maine and a stop at the Turning Stone Casino in New York which will be giving a $30 casino bonus. Limited availability. For more information please call David Bender at 330-388-9305.

VOCATIONS "Before the foundation of the world God chose us in Christ." What vocation has God chosen you in Christ? Might it be to serve the Church in the consecrated life or priesthood? To find out more, contact Father Christopher Luoni at 330-744-8451, or email him at: cluoni@youngstowndiocese.org.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP RUMMAGE SALE OLPH Parish Hall, 342 S. Chillicothe Rd., Aurora. Thursday, July 19, 12:00-7:00pm and Friday, July 20, 12:00-6:00pm (Bag Day). All proceeds benefit our Youth Ministry & Faith Formation programs.

ST. JOSEPH MANTUA 55TH OX ROAST FAIR Delicious food and family fun for all ages!

Friday, July 20th, 6:00-11:00 pm
Saturday, July 21st, 1:00-11:30 pm
Sunday, July 22nd, Noon-10:00 pm.

Over $20,000.00 in main raffle prizes and hourly progressive drawings each day plus several raffles, souvenir T-shirts and mugs, tractor, truck and semi pulls, trade booths, Ox Idol Karaoke Contest, indoor casino with instant bingo, security, handicap accessibility, clean grounds an much, much more! For more information, please check www.stjosephmantua.com or call the parish office at 330-274-2253

NINTH ANNUAL FAITH & FAMILY FESTIVAL A day of fun and fulfillment for families, students and friends to be held on Sunday, September 23, 2018, on the West Quad of the campus of Walsh University at 2020 E. Maple St., North Canton. The day will begin at 11:00am with Mass, planned with Bishop Murry, and will feature local and nationally known musical acts, including polka artist Matt Schafer, Puerto Rican ensemble Conjunto Riquena, Gospel singer Felicia Landry and Christian rock band Remedy Drive. In addition, there will be activities for kids and young people, vendors and affordable food by Cafe Augustine.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AVAILABLE There are volunteers available for this service. If you are interested, please call Karen at 330-296-4682 or Dorothy at 330-296-4191. This is for Parish events ONLY: Masses, confession, spaghetti dinners, rosary or other church related activities.

BAPTISM PREPARATION Parents anticipating the arrival of their infant, those who have recently celebrated the birth or adoption of their child, and those who have children under the age of 7 whom they wish to have baptized, must first attend a preparation session prior to arranging celebration of the sacrament. Please contact Eileen Edwards in the parish office (330) 296-6434 for more information and to register for the class.

ARE YOU REGISTERED? To avoid problems and misunderstandings, especially when planning baptisms, marriages, etc., be sure that you are registered and active at IC. Attending Mass at Immaculate Conception does not automatically mean you are registered. Each family member, 21 years of age or older, should be registered separately. Please contact Eileen Edwards at the parish office (330-296-6434).