January 2022
oncept Monthly
Newsletter
I m m a c u l a t e C o n c e p t i o n C a t h o l i c C h u rc h
A New Year Means New Opportunities for All of Us to Grow in Our Faith
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new year is always full of opportunities, offering us a valuable chance to reset and get our priorities back in line. Here at Immaculate Conception, we have several wonderful options to strengthen our prayer and faith lives. The past two years have brought so much despair, suffering, and interruption. Like all of us, Fr. Michael Troha looks forward to a new year — a time to start fresh and reevaluate our priorities as Catholics. “The Eucharist Unites Us’’ is our current stewardship theme. Fr. Troha looks forward to building on this and finding ways to celebrate the Eucharist. He asks all parishioners to consider signing up for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, especially since the Chapel has been beautifully renovated. “Eucharistic Adoration started in 1988 here,” Fr. Troha says. “We need more people to commit to an hour. It’s really a beautiful chance to spend time with our Lord. The newly renovated chapel is there to aid in your prayer time.” The parish vestibule is also being renovated in 2022. Fr. Troha is also excited about the future of our Youth Ministry at Immaculate Conception. Kwami Adoboe will be leading middle school and ninth-grade youth. Other adult volunteers are assisting him. They will begin by discussing prayer and also follow EDGE, a youth ministry program through Life Teen. “Kwami will be leading kids through how to pray,” Fr. Troha says. “He believes they just need someone there to help with
The renovated Adoration Chapel
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37940 Euclid Avenue
Willoughby, OH 44094
440-942-4500
www.immaculate.net
Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC
S T
CHURCH
R D A SHIP W E T
he New Year has arrived, and we have all been busy making — and trying to keep — our list of New Year’s resolutions. Many of us choose resolutions geared toward health and fitness. After all, possessing good overall health is critical to our well-being. Others may try to avoid a particularly bad habit. Maybe you need to quit smoking or stop swearing. Still, many of us plan things we have always wanted to do but never get around to doing. As the days of January continue onward, however, many of us find the inspiration of keeping our good-intentioned resolutions to be fading fast. By the end of the month, most of us have given in to our temptations and returned to our old ways. We are only human, right? Discouraged by this yearly failure, many of us don’t even bother making New Year’s resolutions anymore, especially if we feel like we won’t succeed. Maybe our failures lie in both how we make our resolutions and what resolutions we actually choose. What we need to understand is the “root” of our resolution. For example, if you resolve to eat less candy to drop those recently added holiday pounds, is the “root” of your resolution a selfish one — wanting to look better since you overindulged? Or, are you genuinely seeking to stop giving in to each “sweet tooth” craving by practicing mortification — giving up of a personal pleasure to glorify God? If the “root” is a selfish one, only to benefit yourself, then it is often
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difficult to keep in the long run. However, if we are trying to glorify God, our mission is much more important and worth keeping. Tying your New Year’s resolutions into the principles of stewardship — giving of your time, talent, and treasure back to God — is a great way to ensure that the “root” of your resolution is right on track! For instance, resolving to pray each evening before going to bed glorifies God, brings you peace before slumber, and allows you to grow in your relationship with Christ. The “root” is pure. Your desire to keep it will be stronger and make it easier for you to keep. In the same way, resolving to return your talents to God by helping others in need is an excellent choice in creating a selfless resolution with the right “root.” Furthermore, resolving to re-evaluate your finances is also extremely important, and the beginning of a new year is a great time to do it. Are you giving back to God out of gratitude for all He has given you? Or are you merely dropping a dollar or two in the collection basket just to feel good about yourself? If you are not where you would like to be as a good steward — either with sharing your time, talent or treasure — you can resolve to do better. The New Year is a perfect opportunity to start anew and become the good steward that God desires each of us to become. And when we choose selfless things that build His kingdom instead of ours, we are sure to not only stay on track but to succeed!
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A Letter From Our Pastor
Start 2022 with a Clean Spiritual Slate Dear Parishioners,
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e were all taught in school that the month of January gets its name from Janus, the ancient Roman god of doors and gates. His image was always carved or painted with two faces, one looking forward and the other backward. This reflected, of course, that you can go either out a door or in through one. From this very specific function, his role was generalized to include all beginnings and new endeavors. Because of Janus’ place in the Roman pantheon, it seemed natural to the Romans to name the first month of the civil year after him. (The Church year began back with the First Sunday of Advent, you’ll remember.) And although we no longer worship the pagan gods of the ancient Romans, the name has stuck down the centuries. But we’re not immune to the human instinct that moved the Romans to name the first month after Janus. His double countenance, facing forward and backward, reflects how we approach the coming of each new year. The last week of the old year finds the newspapers and TV programs giving a glance back at the past year (“the 10 best, or worst, movies of…” and such) along with predictions of what the new year will bring. My personal favorite is always “the 10 worst predictions” for the year just ending. Just like the secular world does — Janus-like — we both look back at our own successes and failures, happy events, and sad ones, during the year just ending, and forward to the new year as we prepare our resolutions. When we reflect back on the blessings we’ve received, our hearts should be filled with gratitude — and blessings there have been, no matter how difficult the year has been. But for most of us, there have been
failures and failings, too. That calls for repentance, and perhaps a trip to the confessional — but God, who makes “all things new” (Rv 21:5), will then give us a clean spiritual slate with which we may begin the new year. I’d also like to challenge you to include your grateful response to God as you make your resolutions for the new year. You don’t have to wait until you fill out a commitment card to decide this is the year when you’re actually going to attend Mass once a week in addition to Sunday (or begin worshiping every Sunday if you haven’t been doing so) or to pray the Rosary every week or to begin regular prayers with your family. Include in your resolutions how you are going to get involved in some ministry in the parish or some service to the community, and then do so. Decide to become more faithful in your financial stewardship if your treasure commitment is less than it should be. Look forward to the new year and bring Christ and His Church to the center of your resolutions. Then see what a good year it will be, with God at the center! Have a happy, and holy, New Year. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Michael Troha
Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC
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Catholic Schools Week C
Students to Celebrate Gifts of Catholic
atholicism and community are cornerstones to the education that is provided to students at Mater Dei Academy. This year’s Catholic Schools Week is a unique opportunity for the whole school community to celebrate and enjoy the gifts and blessings of Catholic education at Mater Dei Academy. As the parochial school for Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Mater Dei Academy enrollment mostly consists of students from these two parishes. Jan. 30 is the official kick-off of Catholic Schools Week, and Mater Dei Academy is excited to open the school to all in the community from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., following the 11:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. In addition, there will be a second Catholic Schools Week Open House on Wednesday, Feb. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. All are invited to join us to learn more about Mater Dei Academy, especially our interest in STEM. “Mater Dei Academy is recognized as an Ohio Department of Education STEM School,” Mrs. Klemens says. “In fact, we are becoming known for over-the-top STEM projects for our students.”
What started as a way for the teachers to see students before the holidays in 2020, the Christmas light displays quickly turned into an incredible project for our students in 2021. The children were assigned different portions of campus to design a weather-appropriate light display. They had to consider Cleveland winters with snow, rain, cold, and, especially, wind. They learned that cardboard is not suitable and stronger materials hold up better in these conditions. “We opened the students’ light project up to the greater community and asked for a donation to our food pantry as the admission fee,” Mrs. Klemens says. “We stocked the pantry and our students got an incredible learning experience out of the project and can’t wait to improve for next year.” Finally, the focus on community is one of the most exciting things about Catholic Schools Week. We recognize local leaders — emergency responders, service members, and veterans — as well as priests and sisters in the community. Thursday features our student appreciation activities, sometimes celebrated with a guest
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at Mater Dei Academy Education, Jan. 30 to Feb. 5 speaker or games. Finally, we recognize our incredible teaching staff on Friday. “Our emphasis on community during Catholic Schools Week gives our students the opportunity to meet and look up to role models in the community — especially the service members and veterans,” Mrs. Klemens says. “Our students can thank them for their service that allows us to be free to express our religion in a school environment.”
Join Mrs. Klemens to learn more about Mater Dei Academy at Immaculate Conception on Sunday, Jan. 23, and at the Open Houses on Jan. 30 and Feb. 2.
A New Year Means New Opportunities that. This program will not just be social time. It will help the youth focus more on Jesus.” In May, a group of students will see their preparations come to fruition as they receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. This will be another wonderful way to celebrate how “The Eucharist Unites Us.” In 2022, Fr. Dennis McNeil will continue Movies with McNeil on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 and 7 p.m. Also, Deacon Paul Hlabse will present an eightweek video series called Kingdom of Happiness: Living the Beatitudes in Everyday Life beginning on Jan. 13. The session will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Fr. Troha asks parishioners to continue considering ways they can more deeply engage at Immac-
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ulate Conception. He is particularly hoping to see more altar servers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion come back to assist at Mass. Every ministry is important and it takes us all to make Immaculate Conception a vibrant parish. Stay tuned to the bulletin for information on a Chili Cook-off and Spaghetti Dinner, both planned for this spring. There will also be an adult faith formation series this spring. Immaculate Conception will host Dinner with the Easter Bunny. Save the date for Oktoberfest from July 15-17. In April, a newly ordained deacon, who is studying for the priesthood, will be joining us at Immaculate Conception. Let’s use 2022 to grow in faith and make it our best year yet!
Eucharistic Adoration started in 1988 here. We need more people to
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commit to an hour. It’s really a beautiful chance to spend time with our Lord. The newly renovated chapel is there to aid in your prayer time. — F R . T RO HA
Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC
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CHURCH
The Feast of the Epiphany
Celebrating the Revelation of God to Mankind
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hile “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is one of the most popular and widely recorded Christmas carols in America and Europe, its lyrics are rarely recognized as referring to the 12 days that stretch from Christmas Day on Dec. 25 until the glorious Feast of the Epiphany. For centuries, we as Catholics celebrated this feast as the commemoration of the coming of the Magi on Jan. 6, but the decision was made a number of years ago (at least in the United States) to celebrate Epiphany on the Sunday that falls between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8. The Feast of the Epiphany, which originated in the Eastern Church, marks the end of the Christmas season and is intended to celebrate the revelation of God to mankind in human form through the person of Jesus. The word “epiphany” is taken from a Greek word meaning “appearance” or “manifestation,” and finds its earliest reference as a Christian feast in the fourth century. But exactly which “manifestation” of Christ Jesus do we recognize on the Feast of the Epiphany? These three men, traditionally named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, travel in haste towards the Christ Child and remain an undying testimony to the long pilgrimage of peoples in search of salvation.
On the Feast of the Epiphany in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged that this celebration elucidates not only man’s pilgrimage towards God, but also God’s pilgrimage towards man in the person of Jesus Christ. He spoke of the glorious incarnation with these words: “It was out of love that He made Himself history in our history.” On the Feast of the Epiphany, therefore, we come to realize that we are all on a pilgrimage towards Christ, the source of salvation. This pilgrimage is unique to each and every man, but results in a universal and dynamic experience — a constant “growing closer” between God and man. It is for this opportunity that we rejoice! In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “Happy are those who, while possessing the truth, search more earnestly for it in order to renew it, deepen it and transmit it to others. Happy also are those who, not having found it, are working toward it with a sincere heart. May they seek the light of tomorrow with the light of today until they reach the fullness of light.” Now when asked: “What occurs on the 12 th day of Christmas?” we can respond with joyful certitude: “Epiphany!”
On the Feast of the Epiphany, we come to realize that we are all on a pilgrimage towards Christ, the source of salvation. This pilgrimage is unique to each and every man, but results in a universal and dynamic experience — a constant “growing closer” between God and man. It is for this opportunity that we rejoice!
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MEET PARISHIONERS
H E I D I A N D DAV I D C O L L I N S
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“The Faith Gives Me Hope”
ver the years, Heidi Collins has understood more and more the importance of the Catholic faith and the solace it provides her and her family. “The faith gives me hope when I look at the difficulties we are dealing with in society,” Heidi says. “I rely on my faith during difficult times when raising and providing for a family. I am grateful that I have the faith and am passing it on to my son.” Heidi’s husband, Dave Collins, attended Immaculate Conception Parish essentially all his life, and Heidi and Dave met on a blind date. “To be honest, it was really and completely a blind date,” Heidi says. “A friend of mine told me that I was going to meet someone for dinner, and afterward we talked for several months and connected from there.” The youngest in her family, Heidi had been raised Lutheran, but at some point, her family left the church, and she was never confirmed. “On the other hand, my husband was very dedicated to his Church, and I made the choice to follow along and learn more about Catholicism according to my own desires,” Heidi says. “In 2004 I went through RCIA, was confirmed, and took First Communion with Fr. Troha the year before we began marriage preparation with him.” Heidi and Dave were married at Immaculate Conception by Fr. Troha, who also baptized their son, Johnathan. They each have been involved in parish life in different ways over the years, from David participating in Oktoberfest to Johnathan attending Mater Dei and being an altar server. “We’ve always loved this community,” Heidi says. “What helped me get involved was when someone approached me or when someone shares what they need. I began getting more involved with the school with Johnathan, and for Johnathan, being involved helps him create a connection with the clergy and the Mass.” continued on back cover
Heidi and Dave Collins celebrating Johnathan's Baptism on Jan. 11, 2009 — the date was important to them because the Mass was the Baptism of Jesus, and it was also the birthday of Heidi's mother's birthday, who passed away four months before Johnathan was born. It was also Dave's grandmother's birthday.
Johnathan Collins serving at Mass on Dec. 27, 2021
Immaculate Conception
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H E I D I A N D DAV I D C O L L I N S continued from page 7
This year, Johnathan will complete eighth grade at Mater Dei, the school he has attended since kindergarten. Though Heidi and Dave aren’t sure where Johnathan will attend high school yet, they hope to continue his education in Catholic schools as he prepares for his Confirmation next year. “Catholic education is so important,” Heidi says. “We want a faith-based education and environment for Johnathan. That kind of education reinforces their Catholic community. Hopefully, they will be more likely to raise their own family with these values and stay involved in Church.”
Heidi and Dave are grateful for all that Fr. Troha has done for their family over the years including marrying them, baptizing Johnathan, and saying funeral Masses for multiple different family members. They know that he and that the faith community of Immaculate Conception are always there for them and for their family. “The more you give, the more you get back yourself,” Heidi says. “There’s a satisfaction in giving back to this faith community and a humility in the act. To get started, I’d suggest looking at the different opportunities the church provides and seeing what you connect with and what speaks to you.”
