Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Newsletter — February 2021

M a rc h 2 0 2 1

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 Immaculate Conception’s

Website and Social Media 

I

Offer Ways to

Learn About Our Parish and Our Faith

n the encyclical Redemptoris Missio, Pope St. John Paul II called for the “new evangelization,” where the faithful find ways to reach out to not only those who have never heard the Gospel but also those who have fallen away from the faith. The pope also stated that we need to use new ways to spread God’s Word. In the 30 years since Redemptoris Missio, the Internet has transformed our world and the spread of information. To keep up with our culture, having a presence on the Internet and social media is essential.

For more than three years, Janet Kushlan has ensured that our parish’s website and social media are up-to-date.

Jack Peterson also helps Janet with this work, and she appreciates all of his help.

As Janet notes, in this day in age, many people rely on the web and social media to not only get information on events but also to pray and learn more about the Catholic faith.

“Some folks have even moved away from paper hardcopies and now prefer electronic media for their information gathering,” she says.

Our website has a lot for information seekers. Fr. Michael Troha and Fr. Dennis McNeil provide updates and the parish bulletin is also posted. There is also an events calendar, as well as information on parish ministries and the sacraments.

Our website has a lot for information seekers. Fr. Michael Troha and Fr. Dennis McNeil provide updates and the parish bulletin is also posted. There is also an events calendar, as well as information on parish ministries and the sacraments. The weekend Mass homilies are available, as well.

Janet manages the calendar, and she says it should be checked often to keep up with all the events at Immaculate continued on page 5

37940 Euclid Avenue

Willoughby, OH 44094

440-942-4500

www.immaculate.net

Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC

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STEWARDSHIP

The Wise Men’s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations

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e experience great joy when we celebrate the coming of the Magi at Epiphany each year. For many of us, it is the completion of Christmas.

Yet, the gifts offered by the Magi — gold, frankincense and myrrh — can serve to guide us as we observe Lent this month.

It may seem strange to connect the joyful celebration of Epiphany with the penitential season of Lent.

Yet, our spiritual life should not be divided into separate bits having no connection with each other. In the same way, the Church’s liturgical year should also flow from one season to another. The different feasts and seasons certainly have different emphases, but they are intended to build on each other. So let’s see if we can connect what the Magi gave Jesus with what we’re going to offer Him this Lent.

The basic ingredients for our Lenten rule normally come from what are termed the Three Notable Duties — prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These in turn come from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

How do we connect the wise men’s gifts with the notable duties? Actually, what the gifts symbolize matches up surprisingly well.

Frankincense is the basic ingredient in the incense used in the worship of God, in the ancient world and in the Church today. Offering it to Jesus points out His divine nature, and so it symbolizes prayer. Our Lenten rule needs to include prayer and worship. Of course, we are bound to worship at Sunday Mass year-round.

Maybe during Lent, we might add a weekday Mass.

Perhaps we can increase the time we devote to private prayer at home or at adoration. Devotional reading from the Bible or another appropriate book can be added. In addition, don’t forget the possibility of adding family devotions during Lent, so that the whole family prays together.

When we offer our gold to Christ to build His Church and to help His poor, we are engaged in almsgiving. While giving from the treasure God has

entrusted to us is a duty throughout the whole year, maybe this Lent we can practice being a little more generous than usual. If our giving is a thankful response to the gift of eternal life that God has given us, we will find that the giving is indeed a means of grace.

For centuries, myrrh has been associated with fasting. Although myrrh comes from the same family of plants as frankincense, it has a more pungent scent and bitter taste. In the ancient world, it was regularly used in embalming. Generations of theological writers have seen the gift of myrrh as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sufferings. And fasting strengthens us in holiness and prepares us to come into God’s presence after our own deaths. St. Thomas Aquinas himself linked myrrh with repentance and fasting when he wrote that myrrh represents the penance by which we preserve our souls from the corruption of sin.

Fasting may be the most difficult of the three notable duties for modern Americans. After all, most of the advertising and many of the magazine articles we see are devoted to making us more, not less, comfortable. We usually think of fasting only under the heading of dieting to lose weight. Instead, try to think of fasting as a way to become more spiritually fit. Body and spirit affect each other. The whole sacramental system is built on the truth that we can receive spiritual grace through material things and physical actions. Our specific requirements of fasting are limited — abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, and a reduction in the quantity of food we eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But discipline of our physical bodies for our spiritual well-being does not have to be limited to Lent!

Gold, frankincense and myrrh were indeed valuable gifts for the wise men to present to the Child Jesus. When we look at their symbolism, we can see their relationship to the three notable duties of almsgiving, prayer and fasting. What gifts are we going to offer to Jesus this Lent?

A Letter From Our Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

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A Month and Year to Honor St. Joseph

ur Lord and Savior Jesus Christ chose to enter the world through the human family. He came as an infant born into the marriage and home of the two holiest human creatures who ever lived — Joseph and Mary.

At a time when our world and our Church needs family and faithful disciples now more than ever, could there be a more fitting time to venerate the man who gave his life and his love to the Blessed Mother and the Son of God? Pope Francis has declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. Our pope said he established the year so that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”

As Christians, we are blessed to have Mary as our spiritual mother and Joseph as our spiritual father. Just as Mary guides us from heaven with loving devotion, St. Joseph also diligently provides for the needs of the family of God, the Holy Catholic Church.

Because of his special role as foster-father of the Child Jesus, St. Joseph has merited singular privileges in heaven unmatched by any saint aside from the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To give some modern-day perspective to the significance of this special year, Pope Francis has said the coronavirus pandemic heightened his desire to reflect on St. Joseph, as so many people during the pandemic have made hidden sacrifices to protect others, just as St. Joseph quietly protected and cared for Mary and Jesus.

“Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble,” the pope wrote.

At the end of the First Vatican Council in 1870, Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the patron of the Universal Church. He is also the patron of carpenters, workers, fathers, and a happy death because he died in the presence of Mary and Jesus. The title of Joseph’s March 19 feast day is “Husband of Mary.” Pope Pius XII later declared May 1 to be the feast of St. Joseph the Worker to counteract the Communist May Day holiday.

As Catholics pray and reflect on the life of St. Joseph this year, they also have opportunities to gain a plenary indulgence or remission of all temporal punishment due to sin. An indulgence can be applied to oneself or to a soul in purgatory. An indulgence requires a specific act, defined by the Church, as well as sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the pope’s intentions, and full detachment from sin.

Special indulgences during the Year of St. Joseph can be received through various prayers and actions, including praying for the unemployed, entrusting one’s daily work to St. Joseph, performing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, or meditating for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer.

As we devote 2021 to St. Joseph’s honor, we will undoubtedly unlock many special graces — not only for our parish, but for each of the faithful who increase their devotion to him during this special year. There is no greater model than St. Joseph from whom we can learn how to live virtuously in imitation of Jesus and Mary.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Michael Troha To read more about Pope Francis’ declaration on the Church granting plenary indulgences for the Year of St. Joseph, visit www.bit.ly/StJoseph2021

Pope F rancis’ Prayer

to

St . Joseph

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted His only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen .

Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC

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The Schnieders Family: E mbracing

the

C all

to

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ver the years, Larry Schnieders has learned valuable lessons about stewardship, especially about what it means to give one’s time and talent to Our Lord.

“As I’ve gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I have learned some things about participation in ministries,” Larry says. “One is that I wish I had been more involved in them when I was younger. Of course, I can give the excuse that I was just too busy with work and family. I could also argue that I didn’t have any special or useful talents to contribute. I now realize that we all have gifts that can benefit ministries, whether they are great or small.”

Consequently, he can’t help but agree with the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta.

“She worded it best when she said, ‘Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love,’” Larry says. “Maybe I won’t do great things in my life, but I can strive to do little things that will help.”

And doing “little” things with great love is what Larry and his wife, Mary Ann, enjoy doing for our parish family, day in and day out. Since they joined our parish in 1988, they have offered their gifts and talents to our community in wonderful ways. In the past, Larry was involved with the Parish Council and

Mary Ann and Larry Schnieders

the Holy Name Society. He is currently involved in the Men’s Prayer Group, the Knights of Columbus, and as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

In previous years, Mary Ann helped out with the Parish School of Religion and the Cleaning Angels Ministry. She is currently involved in the Oktoberfest Chinese Auction and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

She has also recently signed up to help with funeral luncheons. continued on page 5

“ We are called to evangelize, and I think this means we need to be involved in ministries where we’re spreading the Word of Christ outside the comfortable walls of Immaculate Conception. We need to move outside our comfort zone to spread the Word of God. Watching the evening news just reinforces how the world needs to hear the Gospel.” — Larry Schnieders

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The Schnieders Family

continued from page 4

“The Chinese Auction is the best in the area and it has drawn quite a few attendees to our festival,” Larry says. “In addition to the Masses, there is always a church event going on that we can attend. Some of these are simple events like Lenten suppers or parish picnics, but some are very big, like our annual Oktoberfest. We feel like we are part of a community.”

Furthermore, they also have a great desire to radiate the light of Jesus Christ to those around them in darkness.

“We are called to evangelize, and I think this means we need to be involved in ministries where we’re spreading the Word of Christ outside the comfortable walls of Immaculate Conception,” Larry says. “We need to move outside our comfort zone to spread the Word of God. Watching the evening news just reinforces how the world needs to hear the Gospel.”

Larry and Mary Ann have two grown sons who both live in the Washington, D.C., area — Matthew; and Patrick, who is married to Christina Gardner, and has one son, Gabriel Gardner-Schnieders.

Witnessing the example of their sons, Larry and Mary Ann continue to be awed and inspired by how the love for stewardship can carry across generations.

“We believe we are called to service,” Larry says. “I am a convert to Catholicism so, in the past, I didn’t really understand this, but Mary Ann did, and she influenced our family in this way. She is a Registered Nurse and both of our sons served in medical fields in the military after they acquired college degrees. Patrick did infectious disease research in the U.S. Army and Matthew is attending medical school through the U.S. Air Force. It’s very gratifying seeing them using their God-given talent to help others.”

Immaculate Conception’s Website and Social Media continued from front cover Conception. And when it comes to Facebook, Janet also posts updates from our priests, news from various ministries, and much more.

“It is important to use today’s platforms to educate and inform all of what Immaculate Conception Parish has to offer them and how they can get involved,” Janet says.

Now retired, Janet spent much of her career working with national retailer websites. She enjoys website work and currently manages the websites and social media platforms for several other organizations. So this

is a perfect ministry for Janet given her experience with website work.

“After I retired, I had time to be able to volunteer on a more robust level,” Janet says. “I thought working on the website and the social media platform was a good way to use my talent and interest for my church.”

Janet hopes everyone will consider using their talents to give back to Immaculate Conception and glorify our Lord.

“Stewardship is our obligation to manage and utilize intelligently the gifts that God has given us,” she says.

Be sure to check out the Immaculate Conception website at immaculate.net.

The parish Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/ImmaculateConceptionChurchWilloughbyOhio/.

Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC

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From the Catechism

What is Almsgiving?

“G

iving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2462).

During the seasons of Advent and Lent, it is not uncommon to hear about fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Most of us are familiar with at least two of the three penitential practices — prayer and fasting.

We engage in prayer each day, while fasting becomes a regular part of our Lenten routines.

But what is almsgiving?

It is simply giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. This can be through donations of canned goods to the local food pantry, spare change to the Salvation Army during the Christmas season, or even through person-to-person contact with the poor.

This Lent, if your family has not regularly engaged in almsgiving, consider making a change. Search

for opportunities to serve the poor and vulnerable, making their lives easier — even if in a small way.

Things to do with your family: • Place a coffee can in a prominent place in your home, and commit to filling it with loose change throughout the week. Then, donate the money to a local charity.

• The next time you shop for groceries, buy a few extra canned goods and donate them to a food pantry or food bank.

• Research a charity that works with the poor, and make a commitment to regularly give to that organization.

• Resolve to never judge those who are less fortunate, and teach your children the same.

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The Art and Environment Ministry

Elevating the Worship Experience for All Who Enter Our Church

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t’s the little things at Immaculate Conception that can make a big difference — whether it’s a green ambo for Ordinary Time or a beautiful antependium in front of the altar. The average person attending Mass won’t see every detail, but they are impacted by the beautiful environment when they enter our church.

Art and Environment Ministry Leader Maureen Hogan has a knack for decorating, and she has an eye for the details — for instance, spotting a picture that’s tilted slightly on a wall. When she stepped in and volunteered to “fluff” a tree that was set up for Advent, she was asked to lead the Art and Environment Ministry. This was more than five years ago, and Maureen still enjoys this work.

It was around that same time Maureen also started as a sacristan. Working in these ministries has shown her the importance of using our gifts to serve the Lord. In particular, she found a strong example in one parishioner with woodworking skills who created a box in which to place the Cross for Lent.

Another parishioner, Shirley Marsh, who has since passed away, was able to help cut open flower wraps, even with her limited mobility.

“People don’t think there is much they can offer,” Maureen says. “It doesn’t take a whole lot. If everyone does their part, like Shirley, the work gets done.” continued on back cover

Our church is decorated for Easter.

“People don’t think there is much they can offer.

It doesn’t take a whole lot. If everyone does their part... the work gets done.”

— Maureen Hogan

The Art and Environment Ministry members enjoy decorating Immaculate Conception for Easter.

Immaculate Conception

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The Art and Environment Ministry continued from page 7

Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmas are major seasons for which the Art and Environment Ministry members decorate. Maureen’s sister, Mary Jane, often helps find volunteers after weekday morning Mass.

“People are almost always willing to help,” Maureen says. “They just want to be asked, and they are more than willing.”

Maureen says this ministry has helped her learn more about the liturgical seasons and the behind-thescenes work at the parish. She welcomes anyone, man or woman, young or old, to get involved.

This Lent and Easter are especially exciting for Maureen since churches were closed for part of last Lent, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“I texted pictures of what it would have looked like to be in church to friends,” Maureen says. “I told them, ‘Look at this picture and pretend you are in a pew.’”

In the end, Maureen does all this to glorify the Lord and serve others. She wants everyone to have a beautiful experience when they enter Immaculate Conception, all year long.

If you would like to get involved in the Art and Environment Ministry, please contact Maureen Hogan at 440-479-8255 or Mghogan.ic@yahoo.com.