Archbishop Ronald Hicks celebrated the Saturday vigil Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe, Westchester County, on May 9, reminding the faithful that the love of Christ “is in the Father, the Father’s love is in us, and His love is shared with all of those who believe and follow Him.” The church is the lead church of the parish of Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady.

Officiating the Mass was part of the archbishop’s commitment to visit and celebrate the liturgy in as many parishes as he was able during his first 100 days as head of the Archdiocese of New York. The 100th day will be Sunday, May 17. The parish is part of the Westchester-Putnam Deanery. About 450 people attended the Mass.

“Place your trust in Jesus, the Son of God, crucified and risen, who saves us and sets us free,” Archbishop Hicks said at the start of his homily, citing the words of Pope Leo XIV. “These words were delivered just yesterday by Pope Leo at the Shrine of Charity in Italy. He was celebrating his one-year anniversary.” The archbishop noted the pope’s “Easter joy, and his enthusiasm, and his love for God and the people of the Church he serves.”

God is love

He spoke of many in the U.S. saying to themselves last year: “The impossible has just happened; we now have an American pope.” This was greeted with sounds of laughter and nods of agreement.

“In the Gospel today, from John 14, Jesus reflects with us on that theme of love. He reminds us that God is love,” Archbishop Hicks said. “His love is in the Father, the Father’s love is in us, and His love is shared with all of those who believe and follow Him. And the world might leave you feeling abandoned, but Jesus never will.”

The archbishop went on to talk about the importance of the next day, Mother’s Day, including his plan to call his mother and “tell her how much I love her, how she’s the best mom in the world. That love we share, that bond, is really beautiful.” He acknowledged that given the many different dynamics within families, the levels of joy are not the same on Mother’s Day. “It’s a mixed bag, and I recognize that.” But he noted the importance of not losing “sight of the gift, the gift of life through our mothers.”

He spoke of the significant devotion that St. John Paul II had to the Blessed Mother, a devotion that began when he was 8 years old. After his mother died, his father comforted him by taking him to a Marian shrine and saying: “Son, from now on, Mary will be your Mother until Jesus reunites you and her in heaven.”

Words from the pews

The Mass concelebrants included Father Anthony Sorgie, pastor of Immaculate Conception. A reception followed in the school gym, during which the archbishop and others spoke about the importance of the archdiocesan Stewardship Appeal and all the good works made possible through donations. The reception was held largely to thank and honor Appeal donors.

“I’m thrilled. It’s an honor to be here; he seems like a very devoted, very holy man. I think he’s going to be a great leader of our archdiocese,” Maria Reisman, 63, a longtime parishioner at Immaculate Conception, told The Good Newsroom after the liturgy. “I really loved his story about St. John Paul II, how he was so devoted to the Blessed Mother. The background was wonderful to hear.” Reisman’s husband, Deacon Paul Reisman, assisted at the Mass.

Maurice and Cassandra Hyacinthe, both in their 60s, also attended the liturgy and said they appreciated the archbishop’s visit to the deanery and his celebration of the vigil Mass. “It was a very warm, compassionate homily, reminding all of us what it means to be Christians, about loving each other and being kind,” Mrs. Hyacinthe said. The couple’s parish is Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Ursula Church in Mount Vernon; they were invited to attend the Mass and reception at Immaculate Conception.

Immaculate Conception, on Winter Hill Road, was founded in 1853. Assumption of Our Lady, on Wallace Street, was founded in 1911. The parish mission, stated on its website in English, Italian and Spanish, declares: “The Roman Catholic Parish of Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady is a Eucharistic Community: glorified by God, united with Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, and protected by Mary. We are called to pray, educate, and serve God’s people in this life and in the hope of eternal life.”