“Were not our hearts burning within us”   

       November 15, 1954 + May 12, 2012

It is with sad hearts that we mourn the death of Deacon Joseph J. Kosman. 

Deacon Kosman died on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at his home in Bear,Delaware, after a courageous battle with abdominal cancer.

Ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Wilmington on November 17, 2001, Deacon Joe ministered at Immaculate Conception, his parish, for over ten years.  In addition, he was assigned by the Diocese for the chaplaincy and liturgies at Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland until 2008 when he and his wife, Pat, took responsibility for the RCIA catechesis program for our parish.

Deacon Kosman wants to be remembered as like the recipients of the Word, found in the Gospel story of Emmaus Luke 24.  Easter night, two disciples of Jesus traveling home to Emmaus unknowingly come in contact with the Resurrected Lord and He explains His fulfillment of Scripture.  After Jesus breaks bread with them at table and disappears, the two disciples return to Jerusalem to give witness to Christ’s resurrected presence.  They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

Deacon Joe was most enthusiastic about the Gospel; It burned within him. Joe was compelled to absorb Scripture’s holy richness and share it with everyone.  He not only preached the Word in liturgy but lived It out in his conviction of Christian values; precisely the ultimate respect for human life always.  His Doctorate degree in chemistry scientifically enabled him to speak out against abortion, stem cell research on fetuses, and any posture that dehumanized the person. 

He is greatly missed by this parish for his countless duties as deacon, for us.  We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife of 33 years, Patricia, and his daughters Christine McGarvey & her husband Todd, and Mary Kosman.  Surely, Joe’s devotion to his family cannot be replaced.  His coworkers at Gore lose a solid example of true Christian in their midst and many, including I, lose a faithful friend.    

Calling hours will be in Immaculate Conception Church, 454 Bow Street, Elkton, Maryland 21921, on Friday evening, May 18 from 6 to 8 PM and Saturday morning at 10 AM.  Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial with Bishop W. Francis Malooly of the Diocese of Wilmington will be at 11 AM on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairhill, Maryland.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Immaculate Conception Outreach, P.O. Box 345, Elkton, MD  21922.

                                                                                 May he rest in peace.

This [blessing] provides an opportunity to give thanks, affirmation, and blessing to your mother. Since time passes so quickly, accept this invitation to bless your mother this year.

The National Directory for Catechesis, #26 states: “The sacred duty and the joy of each succeeding generation of Christian believers has been to hand on the deposit of faith that was first entrusted to the apostles by Christ himself. We have received this gift, the deposit of faith-we have not conceived it. It is the heritage of the whole Church. It is our privilege and our responsibility to preserve the memory of Christ’s words and the words themselves and to teach future generations of belivers to carry out all that Christ commanded his apostles.”

In reflecting on this quote from the National Directory for Catechesis, ask yourself if the Lord is calling you to serve our parish. Openings are available for pre-school through grade 12. Programs meet on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings. Now is the time to volunteer.  The upcoming summer months afford the needed time for training and to become familiar with the resources.

Contact the Religion Office at (410) 392-3551 or email us at re@iccparish.org with any questions or to volunteer. Let us pray that God’s call will be heard and our future generations will come to know Our Lord Jesus Christ more deeply through this ministry.

This interactive resource is designed to give you unlimited access to easy-to-use tools, tips, family activities, blogs, forums, and advice–everything you need to build a stronger, more faith-focused family.

All of the faith-forming activities are written with a specific audience in mind such as Young Family or Teen Family or Adult/Couple, but many activities are perfectly appropriate for individuals and families of all ages and stages. See [this link] to learn more.

Mass & Mingle is an opportunity for young adults in the Diocese to meet each other and share the Eucharist.   Young adults (21-35) meet the fourth Thursday of each month at 7pm at St. Ann’s  in Wilmington for Mass followed by mingling at a local pub.  Catherine Rooney’s has reserved space and will have specials for us after Mass on April 26th.

Please e-mail Bill Larson at  with any questions or to volunteer to help coordinate, lead music, lector, or serve as an Extraordinary Ministry of Holy Communion.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently updated their website, which now features daily video reflections on Scripture. Celebrate the Easter season by taking a minute each day to view these reflections. While you are at it, explore the new site and see all that the USCCB has for you.

So many people come to our Outreach food pantry. In March 2012 we gave food to 171 families, including 304 children and 383 adults.

One of our customers is a senior citizen living alone on a fixed income. She has no family members to help her, so she comes to us.

One family had to move in with another whole family just to keep from being homeless. They have 13 people sharing one apartment, and they come to us for help.

Can you help us help them?

Our pantry is in desperate need of the following items:

• mac & cheese
• baked beans
• soup
• instant potatoes
• rice a roni
• fruit
• cereal
• pasta

The Catholicism Study Sessions at Immaculate Conception Parish are perfect for adults (Catholic and non-Catholic alike) of all ages (young adult to mature), including those who have serious questions about the Catholic faith, those who perhaps grew up Catholic but have found it difficult to make the Catholic faith their own, or parents whose children are going through religious education, first communion, confirmation, etc. who would like to brush up on Catholicism.  These sessions are perfect for Catholics who have had their faith challenged by non-Catholic Christians (or even non-Christians) and would like to learn effective and loving ways to respond–ways that not only answer objections but draw others to the truth of the Catholic faith.

These sessions will provide topic-based lectures, videos, and plenty of discussion; attendees will leave each meeting with plenty of new information and perspectives on the Catholic faith, all 100% faithful to Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Click here for more information and to see the session schedule!

WHEN:  Every Monday evening from 6:30–8:00 p.m. and Tuesday morning from 9:15–10:45 a.m.  Check the parish website for schedule and information regarding cancellations.  Please email Daniel Stevens at iccadulteducation@gmail.com to be added to a mailing list for the Catholicism Study Sessions.

WHERE:  The ICC Parish Center (in the conference room)

WHO:  Parishioners, Family, Friends, Co-workers, Neighbors, Catholic and non-Catholic alike!  This is a chance for us to enrich the entire Elkton/Newark community with the glorious truth of the Catholic faith, delivered to us from the apostles (Jude 3).

WHY: Because our Lord, Jesus Christ, calls us to be ready to explain our faith (1 Peter 3:15–16) and live our faith to the full.  Both of these missions are difficult to complete if we do not know the support for our faith in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterial teachings that come to us from the successors of the apostles.  Our late Holy Father, Blessed John Paul II, issued a clarion call for all Catholics to participate in the New Evangelization, a new Pentecost for the third millennium.  Let us pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and in our parish, that we may love Jesus and his Church more fervently and that, by this love, we may draw others to know Jesus in the heart of his Church.

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Immaculate Conception Church opened its doors on Bridge Street in 1849. By 1973, the original building was replaced by the present church on Bow Street Extension.

It is hard to imagine that almost forty years have passed since the construction. Of course, even with constant maintenance, materials wear out. During inclement weather the church ceiling has been leaking. Residue from the rains is streaking the interior walls causing unsightly stains.

The professional engineering company from New Jersey, TBS, was hired by our parish to investigate the problems with the roof. Their study showed an aging sky light that has many weak spots and is beyond repair. The sky lights over the altar and from the front to the back of the church, retaining what they already look like, have to be restored. Reconstruction requires new flashing, energy saving windows, ventilation louvers and capping of masonry walls. Acid rain and severe weather conditions have taken their toll over time.

Following Diocesan guidelines, the project was open for bids. The bids returned with the lowest at $119,000 for the reconstruction. The job is being awarded to the Nowland Construction Company, who originally built the church. Permission from the Diocese was granted for this project because of the serious need for building soundness and safety.

Parish income from donations and fund raisers basically cover our normal operating expenses throughout the year. There is no surplus available for projects like this. Thus, a campaign for this project has begun. The need is very real and urgent, otherwise I would not initiate a campaign under the present economic conditions.

This project will begin construction in the spring of this year without interrupting Sunday services. Our campaign goal is to raise $150,000 to pay for the reconstruction, engineering fees and the much needed cosmetic refreshing, like painting and carpet, in Immaculate Conception Church. I am asking you to seriously recognize this need, to pull together and to help pay for these projects. I am sure you know what this involves and feel a responsibility to our church. It is God’s home and our home, too. Catholics naturally want their churches to reflect their united love for the Lord.

Please consider what Immaculate Conception Church means to you, and pray fully consider your contribution. Donations may be made as one-time gifts or as part of a payment plan. Please make checks payable to IC Church and indicate “Sky light campaign” so that we can apply the payment to your pledge. Thank you for generosity.

Sincerely in Our Lord,

Rev. Joseph Piekarski, Pastor