Catholic Church Offering Childrens Religious Education Classes

Childrens Religious Education classes for the 2009-2010 year will begin in Immaculate Conception Parish on Sunday, September 6th immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Parents can stop by the breakfast room in the Religious Education building that morning, to fill out registration forms. Alternately, you can pick up registration forms in the parish office during regular hours, or get them from the parish's Director of Religious Education, Wanda Mortensen.

The grade groupings and teachers for this year are as follows:
7th - 12th grade : Sylvia Olivares
3rd - 6th grade : Roxanna Zavala
Second Year First Communion Class : Reeys Falcon
First Year First Communion Class : Christine Soto
Pre-K and Kindergarden : Debbie Lopez

In addition, parent volunteers are needed to be an aide in each classroom. There will also be a sign-up sheet to provide breakfast items, snacks and/or drinks for the students each Sunday.

ICC Fall Festival Saturday

Skidmore's Immaculate Conception Church holds its' fall festival Saturday, October 4th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The annual festival features bingo, face painting, children's games, horseshoes, moon walk, horse rides, and a cake walk.

Feed the whole family with brisket and sausage plates, fajitas, mojella tacos, frito pies, funnel cakes, popcorn, and snow cones. Entertainment will include performances by Ballet Folklorico and music provided by DJ Mendez Entertainment.

The church will raffle off $1,000 in cash during the event. Call 287-3256 for raffle tickets.

ICC Announces Teen Dance

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will host a Teen Dance Friday, May 23, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for teens and adults. DJ Mendez Entertainment will provide music for the event.

ICC Fundraiser Saturday

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is holding a Barbecue Brisket Plate sale Saturday, April 19, at 11:00 a.m. in the lot across from the Junior High school on Highway 181. The brisket sale will be preceded by a Rummage Sale beginning at 8:00 a.m. Saturday. BBQ Plates are $7.00 and include brisket, sausage, rice, beans, and potato salad. Proceeds will benefit the parish insurance fund.

ICC Fall Festival a Success

A perfect outdoor setting attracted a large group of music aficionados to this year’s ICC Fall Festival as they listened to local band, Indomable. Enjoying the day with Father Sebastian were Agapito and Pablo Gonzales of Skidmore. - Photo by Delia Soto.

Immaculate Conception Church held its annual Fall Festival Sunday, October 7th, in a day of fellowship and togetherness. It also welcomed the community and folks from surrounding areas to the annual event.

"On behalf of ICC, I would like to thank everyone who came out and shared the day with us and to everyone who contributed to its great success. Your support is truly appreciated. We are grateful to Valero for its generous contribution of a barbecue pit donated in memory of Efraim “Jr.” Lopez as well as to our parishioners and businesses for their donations. Jr. was a valued parishioner of ICC who was tragically killed a year ago in an automobile accident. A special thanks to Dolores Perez and Ballet Folklorico, Indomable, El Grupo Temblor and DJ David Mendez, who provided great entertainment to the large crowd in attendance. I sincerely wish to thank the congregation for its loyal support and generosity. It gives me great comfort knowing that I can always count on you."

"Thank you and God bless." -- Father Sebastian."


The grand-prize winner of the barbecue pit was ICC parishioner Eva Garza, pictured at right.

ICC Annual Fall Festival Sunday

Immaculate Conception Church will celebrate its annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 7, starting at 12 noon. The event will be held on the parish grounds, located at 600 First St. in Skidmore.

Raffle items include a pipe barbecue pit, VCR/DVD player, gold frame, full detail service, bracelet, vacuum cleaner, microwave and numerous gift certificates. Raffle tickets are available at $1 each and may be purchased by calling the parish office at 287-3256 or by contacting a parishioner. They will also be available on the day of the event.

Festival-goers will enjoy playing bingo, competing in a horseshoe tournament and trying their luck in the cake walk and dart games. Several activities aimed for the younger crowd such as face painting, a toy walk and moon walk are also scheduled. DJ music and live entertainment will be heard throughout the parish grounds while Ballet Folklorico will put on a colorful and vivid performance for all to enjoy. A delicious barbecued meal consisting of brisket with all the trimmings will be available at a $6 per plate donation. Plates may be eaten on site or may be purchased to go. In addition to fajitas, sausage wraps, mollejas, turkey legs, snow cones, gorditas and funnel cakes will also be available.

“Everyone is invited to come help us celebrate our annual festival. Bring your entire family and friends and plan on spending a faith-filled family day at this year's annual Fall Festival,” said Father Sebastian.

ICC Students Celebrate First Holy Communion

Three students performed their First Holy Communion at Immaculate Conception Church in Skidmore on May 27, 2007. Pictured are Father Sebastian Vettath and Wanda Mortensen, Director of Religious Education. The children are from left to right: Isabelle Hinojosa, Felicia Ortiz, and Christiana Trevino. The girls attended religious classes for two years prior to making their first communion.

Torres Family to Host ICC Spaghetti Dinner

The Torres Family is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the Children’s Religious Education Department of Immaculate Conception Parish. This much anticipated event will take place this coming Sunday, December 10, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the parish hall. Plates will cost $5 each, and you can dine there or take plates to go. The menu consists of spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread and tea. A choice of desserts is included with the meal (as long as they last). Get there early for the best dessert selection. Chef Bruno, Sous-Chef Emma and assistants Diana, Humberto, B.J. and Liz invite everyone to come and enjoy the meal. - Submitted by Wanda Mortensen

Annual ICC Fiesta Sunday Oct. 8th

This 18-inch barbecue pit on wheels with fire box is just one of many items to be raffled off at this year’s Fiesta.

Father Sebastian and the congregation of Immaculate Conception Church in Skidmore will host the annual October Fiesta on Sunday, Oct. 8, on the parish grounds located at 600 First Street.

The event begins at 11 a.m. and will feature many activities including bingo, a horseshoe tournament, a cake walk, etc. Little ones will enjoy pony rides and numerous other games geared to attract the young at heart. Those attending can enjoy delicious brisket barbecue with all the trimmings while listening to live entertainment which will be provided by Indomable (the Garcia brothers) and Los Cascaveles (Ralph Menchaca and Pablo Gonzales), all of Skidmore. Also performing will be El Grupo Temblor of Freer, among others. Barbecue plates may be purchased for a $6 per plate donation.

This year's raffle features many fantastic items including an 18-inch barbecue pit on wheels with a fire box donated by Valero-Corpus Christi, a Toshiba Hi-Fi player/recorder, a fishman’s package, a microwave and various gift certificates. Raffle tickets are $1 each and may be purchased by calling the parish office at 287-3256 or by contacting a parishioner.

“Everyone is invited to come enjoy a faith-filled day with their family and have a great and fun time,” said Father Sebastian.

ICC Parishioners Enjoy Christmas Program

Immaculate Conception parish held their annual Children’s Christmas program and parish Christmas party last Sunday evening. The performance began with the Posada, which ended in the parish hall, with Mary and Joseph arriving at the stable. Then the play ‘Searching for the Christ Child’, created and directed by Reeys Falcon, continued the story. Shepherds carrying lambs or staffs searched in the audience for the Child, finally arriving at the stable. Angels appeared and the Star of Bethlehem moved in place ahead of the shepherds then settled over the manger. Songs included in the production were We See the Star, Where is the Child?, Silent Night and Joy to the World.

Afterwards, each individual performer walked on stage, was introduced, bowed and proceeded across to the opposite side.
Actors were: Mary, Beatrice Hinojosa; Joseph, Ralph Hinojosa; Baby Jesus, newborn Ralph Hinojosa, Jr.; Shepherds: Janelle Castaneda, Tori Contreras, Adam Gonzales, Maria Hernandez, Alyssa Hinojosa, Isabel Hinojosa, Shabree Mortensen, Tres Ortiz, Eddie Salas, Alexandra Sifuentes, Cassandra Soto, Clarissa Soto, Katrina Soto, Salvador Soto III, Pedro Torres, Viviana Torres and Christiana Trevino. Angels: Briana Castaneda, Kiana Castaneda, John Gabriel Cumpian, Felicia Ortiz, and Salvador Soto II. Star of Bethlehem: Zachary Mortensen. - Submitted by Wanda Mortensen

ICC Grotto Story in "South Texas Catholic"

The October 7 issue of the SouthTexas Catholic has a nice article by Paula Goldapp on the recent construction and blessing the Immaculate Conception Church grotto.

ICC Grotto Honors War Veterans

From left to right, the family of the late Jo Nell Malone/VanRenterghem who served as inspiration for the Grotto: son John VanRenterghem, son-in-law Matt Trapani, daughter Lauren Trapani, husband Jack VanRenterghem, daughter Caroline DiNardo, and son-in-law Richard DiNardo.

During the years of WWII, with all the young men and some of the young women gone off to serve their country, the parents, wives, children - indeed all of their relatives and friends - worried about their safety. The parishioners made a prayerful promise that if, through the mercy of God and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they all returned home safely, a grotto would be built in thanksgiving. The war eventually ended and families were reunited. Not one of those serving was lost, and so the parishioners bought the beautiful statue you see today, and built a stone grotto between the church and hall, as a place of prayer and remembrance.

In the late ‘40s and early 50’s a young girl, Jo Nell Malone, from San Antonio, would look forward to the end of the school year, when she would spend happy summers with her grandparents, John and Olga (Russek) Malone, in Skidmore, where she also spent many weekends throughout the year. Jo Nell attended Mass in Skidmore with her beloved grandmother Olga, and having a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, would often pray at the grotto. She and Jack Van Renterghem met in college in Detroit, married, and eventually moved to Illinois.

Sometime during the ‘60s, the grotto, which apparently had never been inscribed as a memorial, except in the hearts and memories of the people, was demolished and the statue was moved to a place inside the covered entrance to the new parish hall. Soon after that, it was practically forgotten, being out of the way, and it was only some of the parishioners from that time that remembered the statue as a memorial to the Skidmore veterans.

In later years Jo Nell would make annual visits to the original homestead in Skidmore, wanting her family to know their Texas and Skidmore roots, and on one such visit lamented to her husband about the loss of the grotto and the obscure location of the statue. In 1988 Mr. Reeys Falcon bought the homestead and immediately became close friends with the family. There was special bonding in particular with Jo Nell as her father, Harold Malone, from whom Reeys bought the homestead, had been friends with Reeys’ father, Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon, in Skidmore in the ‘30s and early ‘40s. The family visits from Illinois continued.

December 2003 brought great sadness to the family and Mr. Falcon when Jo Nell died suddenly. The family came to Skidmore in October 2004 to bury her ashes next to her father’s grave in the family plot at Evergreen Cemetery. It was then that they visited the Church and Jack mentioned to Reeys how Jo Nell had felt about the loss of the original grotto and how he would like to look into building a new grotto as a memorial to his wife of 46 years, and move the statue back out into the open.

The family asked Mr. Falcon to design the grotto and he started the process of securing approvals for building it. He also supervised the construction which was done by Alfonso Garza Concrete Contractor of Beeville. In August 2005 construction was completed; the statue was treated with special rosins, epoxies and sealants in an effort to restore it to its original appearance and protect it from the elements. Other concrete attributes, specially selected to carry out the simple, classic design of the grotto, were similarly treated. Nothing was left to chance and even the location of the grotto centered in front of the fanned branches of the tree behind it is part of the overall design. Landscaping and lighting will be added later this year. Mr. Falcon suggested the granite marker read in tribute, rather than memorial, so that Skidmore veterans, past, present and future, would be included.

The grotto, a gift to our Church and the answer to many hopes and prayers, will become a landmark for Skidmore at Immaculate Conception Church for all people to see and appreciate for years to come. It is a lasting and fitting tribute, a place for prayer and meditation, and a thing of beauty for our community. --Submitted by Reeys Falcon


Reeys Falcon composed music for the dedication ceremonies

Click here for more Grotto Blessing photos at Shutterfly.com

Invitation to Annual ICC Fall Festival

Immaculate Conception Church in Skidmore invites you to help celebrate our annual Fall Fest and barbecue Sunday, September 4th. The site of this year's festival will once again be the tree shaded church grounds located at 600 1st Street – a perfect spot for a picnic and fun for the entire family.

A $5 donation gets you a delicious barbecue brisket meal with all the trimmings, served at 11 a.m. Also available are turkey legs, beef fajita tacos, mollejas, and hot dogs! A full day of fun is scheduled including live entertainment, a cake walk, toy walk, moon walk and of course the all-time favorite game of old-fashioned prize bingo! The raffle drawing caps the day’s events. Prizes include $250 cash, 4 Astros tickets, a 20-inch flatscreen TV, a microwave, a DVD player and more!

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 4 and join us at Immaculate Conception Church in Skidmore, Texas. -- Submitted by Domingo Martinez Jr.

ICC Grotto Dedication September 17

The new grotto to the Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, at Immaculate Conception Church, is undergoing the next phase towards completion. Mr. Reeys Falcon reports the statue is being treated with special epoxy paints and sealers in an effort to restore it to its original appearance when purchased shortly after the end of World War II.

The concrete urns and benches, specially selected to carry out the simple, classical design of the grotto, are being similarly treated and finished as the statue. Lastly, the floor will be finished in a deep tone that will both complement and frame the total look which incorporates the tree behind the grotto. It was the “fan” of the tree branches that first moved Mr. Falcon to erect the grotto there. The builder, Alfonso Garza Concrete Contractor, listened well and positioned the statue precisely centered in that “fan.” “It is so exciting,” said Mr. Falcon, “to have witnessed construction from inception.”

The next phase, the memorial marker, will be installed in the next week or so. The congregation will see a totally different concept and develop a deeper appreciation of the grotto, which is the answer to many prayers, when they finally see the memorial marker in place.

The final phase, landscaping, will not be started until October or November after the severe heat we are experiencing. Lighting is also to be added.

The blessing and dedication of the grotto is scheduled for Saturday, September 17. Bishop Edmond Carmody will be with us to officiate. The blessing will be at 10:45 a.m., followed by the Holy Mass concelebrated by Bishop Carmody and our Pastor Father Sebastian Thomas, with a reception afterwards.

Mr. Falcon feels the grotto will become a landmark for Skidmore which will be there for people to see and appreciate for years to come. It is a lasting and fitting tribute and a thing of beauty for our community. Anyone interested in the blessing and dedication on September 17 is welcomed to attend the event.

Local Priest Featured in S.A. Express News Story

Father Sebastian Vettath, a Catholic priest from India now serving the congregation at Skidmore's Immaculate Conception Church, is featured in a San Antonio Express News story "Culture shock for foreign priests."

Enter Church Raffle to Win Custom BBQ Pit

Shabree and Zachary Mortensen with the big pit!

You may have noticed the very large, very nice, top-of-the-line barbeque pit that has been in front of the parish hall of Immaculate Conception Church, in recent days. It was made and given to the parish by a very talented and generous donor, and is being raffled off. The drawing will take place on Sunday, Apri 17th. Tickets are being sold now for one dollar each or six for five dollars. You can purchase tickets from many of the parishioners, or by coming by the parish office during business hours. Small community raffles usually provide the best chances for winning prizes. -- Submitted by Wanda Mortensen

Don't Miss Luxury Bus to Nuevo Progreso

The April 16 trip by luxury bus to San Juan de Valle and Nuevo Progreso is scheduled to leave from in front of Immaculate Conception Church at 5:00 a.m. If necessary, the bus will stop in Tynan to pick up anyone who would rather board from there, and then also will pick up travelers boarding from the front edge of the Super Walmart parking lot in Calallen. If you are boarding from either of these extra locations, you must call and let us know or the bus will not stop there. The bus will be on the road approximately 4 hours each way. It is estimated that we will arrive back home sometime around 6pm.

All ticket money must be turned in before Monday, April 4. You can call Lydia Longoria in the parish office (287-3256) during regular hours of Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between the hours of 9am and 3pm. Or you can call Wanda Mortensen at 287-3573. -- Submitted by Wanda Mortensen

From Bargains to Bundt Cakes - Support Weekend Fundraisers

Saturday morning will provide early risers with ample opportunities to find a bargain at one of two local fundraisers. As part of the annual Bee County Yard Sale Trail, there will be a rummage sale in the parish hall of Immaculate Conception Parish this Saturday, April 2. It will begin at 8 a.m. and go through the afternoon or until everything is sold. There will also be a plant sale with plants being donated from gardeners around the area. Leo Franco is donating 36 tomato plants, Mr. and Mrs. Brundrett from Normanna are donating monkey grass, some ferns and more, and others are donating Mexican Petunias, Wandering Jew, Ice Plant, and various other plants. Don’t miss this event. All money raised will go to the children’s religious education program.

And over at the Skidmore Museum, the Skidmore Historical Society will be holding a Bake Sale, also in conjunction with the Bee County Yard Sale Trail. The bake sale will commence at 9:30 a.m., giving the aforementioned rummage/plant sale shoppers plenty of time to attend both events.

Don't Miss Bus Tour & Shopping in Nuevo Progreso

Shopping in Nuevo Progreso.

Wanda Mortensen informs the Signal that bus seats are selling quickly for the upcoming trip to the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine. After visiting the shrine, the group will go shopping in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. This is the second such trip organized by Immaculate Conception Parish, and the money raised will benefit the children’s religious education fund. The date for this year’s trip is Saturday, April 16, and the cost per ticket is $30. The trip is open for one and all and with last year’s excursion being such a success, it is expected that the tickets will sell out. There is limited availability, so if anyone reading this is interested, please contact Wanda Mortensen (287-3573) or Lydia Longoria at the parish office (287-3256). The parish office is open Mondays, and Wednesdays through Fridays from 9am until 3pm.

The bus is a very comfortable luxury coach, complete with a movie to be shown during the drive. Wanda Mortensen made quite a few trips to Nuevo Progresso in recent weeks, accompanying a friend for dentist visits and shopping while she was occupied. They found it to be clean, safe, and totally hassle-free. They had no problems whatsoever, even driving in and parking in front of the dentist’s office. There were no overly pushy salespersons and no panhandlers, and it was a very enjoyable experience. In fact, there were many American tourists shopping there as well – mostly retirees enjoying their leisure.

If anyone reading this would like to make a trip there, don’t hesitate to buy your bus ticket now. With a group setting, and being there in the morning and early to mid afternoon, it will be safe and fun. You can see from the pictures that it is a very colorful, interesting place.

Three Shepherd Children Brave Snowstorm and More

On Christmas Eve, the Holy Mass at Immaculate Conception Church was scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (rather than midnight) to accommodate the CCD children Kinder - 5th grade who had rehearsed a special program to present after Communion. At about 6:30 p.m. that evening a bountiful snowfall started which gave Skidmore the first and very beautiful White Christmas in history, reportedly 10 - 12 inches of snow.

The first 3 pews were reserved for the anticipated 16 to 20 students, but it was soon realized the snow had kept all "Shepherd Children" home except for 3 (among the smallest of the students) who arrived in full costume:

Adam Gonzales, Zachary Mortensen, and Eddie Salas, Jr.

They looked so small sitting close together in what seemed like acres of reserved space acound them. And they soon knew it was up to them to present the program alone.

When the time came, they looked at each other, then bravely headed to the back of the Church where their program started. With the organ playing softly, they processed down the aisle "in search of the Infant Jesus" towards the creche, where they knelt, hands held in prayer, and sang/prayed a very soft "Silent Night." A loving and supportive congregation sang softly as backup and encouragement to the 3 lonely Shepherd Children, then responded with generous applause. The 3 managed to smile and appeared relieved but happy with themselves. They had done the work of 20!

Congratulations, admiration, kudos, way-to-go to these 3 students!
-- Submitted by Reeys Falcon