May 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
Preparing Students for First Communion
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Young Hearts Draw Nearer to Christ
ach May, many of our second-graders receive their First Holy Communion. It’s an exciting moment for them, to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, and it’s something they begin preparing for in September. “You can tell that they are longing for that day to come when they can receive Jesus,” says Sister Josephine Rasoamampionona, the Parish Catechetical Leader who has been part of the Parish School of Religion since 2017. “They are longing for Jesus.” Sacramental preparation for Holy Communion includes receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. Typically, September through mid-January is spent preparing the children for this sacrament. “We teach them the commandments and about God’s mercy,” Sr. Josephine says. “We tell them how to go to Confession knowing that God’s mercy and forgiveness are always there for us when we make mistakes or commit a sin. As soon as we ask for forgiveness, God is there to forgive us.” The students practice going to Confession before receiving the sacrament. “We spend the last month of preparation practicing how to go to Confession and role-playing,” Sr. Josephine says. “They go to the confessional with either me or one
of the catechists who plays the role of the priest. We are there to practice and make them more comfortable. We make sure that they know what they need to say and let them know it’s okay to be nervous and to not know everything — God knows everything and the priests are there to help you. We tell them to just be with the Lord and be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” Throughout the rest of January through May, the students prepare to receive their first Holy Communion by learning more about the Mass and coming to an understanding of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. continued on page 2
37940 Euclid Avenue
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www.immaculate.net
Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC
First Communion
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CHURCH
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“We emphasize the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as much as we can,” Sr. Josephine says. “We bring hosts and wine to class and ask the students, ‘Is this Jesus?’ ‘No,’ they’ll say, and we’ll ask them why not. The students use the word ‘blessed,’ and point out that the host and wine we’ve brought in are not ‘blessed’ by the priest yet. They understand that it looks the same, but once the priest blesses it and calls the Holy Spirit upon it, it’s not bread, but is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus.” In order to participate in First Communion Preparation, students are required to have received one year of formal religion class before enrolling in the First Communion Preparation class. Sr. Josephine points out that the domestic Church is a very important element of preparing children to receive the sacraments. “We are the parents’ assistants because they are the primary teachers of their children,” she says. “They should have the biggest role. It’s important for parents to be praying with them and discussing the Mass and Confession with them. It’s
good to pray daily as a family, if possible. We also give them assignment books and they read two chapters every month with the children to prepare them because there is only so much that can be covered in class. Parents teaching by example is important as well.” Additionally, Sr. Josephine relies on the help of volunteers and is always looking for more. This year, seven volunteers helped to prepare our 24 students. “I am very blessed to have so many wonderful volunteers who give so much of their time and sacrifice so much,” Sr. Josephine says. “Also, the parish staff is very appreciated as well.” As with Confession, the students practice before receiving the Eucharist, both in the classroom and during an evening practice Mass on the Thursday before the Saturday of First Communion. In response to the students’ eagerness to receive Christ, Sr. Josephine offers some heartfelt insight. “I tell them, ‘You think you are excited to receive Jesus? Jesus is so excited to be with you in your heart!’” she says
If you would like to learn more about the Parish School of Religion, please contact Sr. Josephine at 440-942-4500, or immaculateconceptionpsr@gmail.com.
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A Letter From Our Pastor
The Month of Mary: A Time for Celebration and Joy Dear Parishioners,
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n the Catholic Church, we designate a particular devotion for each month — and May is when we honor our Blessed Mother Mary. Thus, this is a good time for us to think about and concentrate on our devotion to the Mother of God. Perhaps we can add a few more Marian prayers to our daily routine. Praying the Rosary might be even more important. Of course, that assumes that daily prayer is part of our daily routine — which it should be. Our Blessed Mother is important to our faith and our Church. Her willingness to serve in a way that allowed the Lord to take human form made our salvation a possibility. Because of her complete trust in God, she lived her life free from sin, and after her life, she was assumed into heaven by the power of God and crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is, of course, not divine. We worship only our Lord Jesus Christ, but we honor Mary as a saint, and also in many other ways. We honor God when we remember the role of Mary in our salvation. Devotion to Mary always leads to Jesus Christ Himself. Mary was joyous when she said “yes” to God. That is the kind of joy we need to seek — and we, too, must
say “yes” to the Lord. Let us be grateful to Mary for bringing us her Son. This is why we crown her on our Catholic version of Mother’s Day. Through Mary, we are given an invitation into the Catholic fold. Her feminine presence and the safety of her motherhood may help us grow. For most of us, this time of year is a month of growth in relation to nature. It is difficult not to have May as one of our favorite months for so many reasons. May is a beautiful time. We are called to make it even more beautiful, and we can do that as we serve and love one another. I am deeply blessed to be your pastor. I may say that often, but it is true. My priesthood has been a blessing and serving you all has made that blessing even more significant. I pray for you daily. Please pray for me. God bless you and keep you always. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Michael Troha
Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC
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The Sacrament of Confirmation:
Sealed with Holy Spirit and Cultivated to Bear Fruit
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n important element of the Christian life is bearing fruit. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that does not bear fruit over three years. The owner of the garden containing the tree tells the gardener to cut it down, but the gardener says he will cultivate and fertilize the tree for another year, in the hope that given the right nourishment, it will yet bear fruit. Through receiving the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, and the three-year preparation process that includes the religion class that must be taken before beginning Confirmation Preparation, the souls of our students are being cultivated and nourished — by their parents, their sponsors, the teachers, and volunteers in the Parish School of Religion program, the Mass, their prayer lives and their communities. Before being confirmed, they are already bearing fruit with their lives, and the hope is that by receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, the students are empowered to bear even more. At Immaculate Conception, 12 hours of community service are required for each of the students who go through the Confirmation Preparation process. “Service is an important part of the process,” says Sister Josephine Rasoamampionona, Parish Catechetical Leader. “We have to support our faith with service because faith is not just between me and God. It includes other people in our life such as the other members of the Church. If we help the members of the Church and they are stronger, then the Church will be stronger as well.” Parishioner Laurie Lattanzio has been helping guide her son, John, through the Confirmation process this year. “The spiritual and corporal works of mercy are so important to the Confirmation preparation process,” Laurie says. “Serving others is such a wonderful way to truly see Jesus in others, and to have a sense of purpose. John has really grown
This year’s Confirmation class with Sr. Josephine (at right)
spiritually through altar serving, and plans on continuing beyond this year.” “Last year due to COVID, I did my service hours at home,” John says. “I was happy to help out with the yard work and extra chores. This year, I returned to altar serving. Participating in the Mass has brought me closer to God, and I have strengthened relationships with the priests and other servers. I learned that helping others brings me happiness.” By showing the love of Christ to others through their service, the students help to cultivate our Church community — a community that nourishes and witnesses to them as well. As the students prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, the role of parents, sponsors, and catechists comes to the fore. This year, 11 volunteers have generously taken their time to help Sr. Josephine to prepare the 40 students, divided between two classes, who are being confirmed. “The best way to support your student is to pray together, go to Mass as a family, and be a role model in their daily lives,” Sr. Josephine says. “Confirmation sponsors are there to assist the parents as well and to be available for the students whenever they need continued on page 5
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The Sacrament of Confirmation spiritual help. They assist the family in raising the child in their spiritual journey.” Sponsors attend three events a year with the student — a retreat-like preparation session, a practice session, and the Confirmation Mass. Laurie has witnessed spiritual growth in John through the Confirmation process. She says, “As he has gone through Confirmation preparation, I have noticed John asking more questions about our faith,” she says. “He has looked forward to the sessions and has enjoyed seeing his friends. He has definitely matured in his attitude about attending Mass and serving others willingly.” “In Confirmation class, we have discussed topics and questions as a group, without judgment,” John says. “Guest speakers tell us about the importance of Christ and the sacraments. The sessions helped me understand how important it is to have a personal relationship with God. I learned a lot more about my Catholic faith, and group leaders guided me along the way.” “The goal of the class is to deepen their relationship with God,” Sr. Josephine says. “Since they are preparing to be confirmed, we focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and enable them to use those gifts and be witnesses to the faith in their own lives.” Not only has John grown in his relationship with Christ through this preparation process, but Laurie has found that serving in the program, and accompanying John through this process, has strengthened her faith as well. “I have been fortunate enough to be a group leader of the Confirmation preparation sessions, as well as blessed to be a parent of a Confirmation candidate,” she says. “Doing the Bible readings and other activities with my son has really deepened my faith in ways I never thought possible, and has brought us closer. I have attended all of the sessions with my son, so I was able to witness firsthand all of the speakers and presentations, as well as listen to the other students during our group discussions. I have been so encouraged by the joy and hope I have witnessed, and my faith has never been stronger.”
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In turn, John looks forward to being sealed with Holy Spirit through Confirmation. “My hope for Confirmation is that I will be able to make better decisions towards what God has planned for me,” he says. “I hope that being a confirmed Catholic will make my faith even stronger, and give me the courage to always do what is right.” “My hopes for my son at Confirmation are many — that he will joyfully receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit; that he will use those gifts throughout his life; that he will be a faithful Catholic all his life; and that he will have a deep, personal relationship with God,” Laurie adds. Ultimately, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit that leads us to bear fruit for the Kingdom with our lives. As Jesus Himself was led by the Holy Spirit throughout His ministry, so we too must be open to being led by that same Spirit, and to receive His graces. “When we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, they empower us to be witnesses to our faith so we can serve those around us using those gifts,” Sr. Josephine says. Confirmation Preparation Classes are held once a month on Sundays from September through May and are intended for students in eighth and ninth grades who are part of the parish and have received one year of formal religious education immediately before starting the class. Though intended for parishioners only, if a student is unable to attend Confirmation classes at his home parish, he may join these classes. Classes start at 9 a.m. and end around 12:15 p.m., and include attending the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass.
If you would like more information, or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sr. Josephine Rasoamampionona at 440-942-4500 or immaculateconceptionpsr@gmail.com.
Immaculate Conception CATHOLIC
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Vacation Bible School 2022:
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Discovering the Wonders of God’s Creation
o, what are your child’s plans this summer in June? If it isn’t discovering God’s wonders at Vacation Bible School (VBS), you just might want to get out your pen and mark the dates on your calendar! “The VBS program is such a fun way to help the kids to get to know the Lord and learn to see Him as a friend,” says Sheri Bacher. “It is a great way to start off the summer as well. Although many of the children who come to VBS go to the parish school, some of them do not. This is a unique opportunity for the public school students to learn about their faith alongside other children and stay connected to our parish.” This year’s VBS theme is God’s Wonder Lab: Jesus Does the Impossible, where the children will learn how God can make the impossible possible. It will be held this year in the gym from Monday, June 6, through Friday, June 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The gym and classrooms will be transformed into science labs, while experiments and other forms of scientific exploration will enable the children to see how God made the world. According to the program’s official description, “At God’s Wonder Lab, kids will discover that in Jesus’ ministry, He did things that are impossible to explain, performing many miracles throughout His lifetime. Jesus shows us that He loves us by using His power to do marvelous things!” Through a variety of wonderful activities, this theme will be vibrantly brought to life before the children’s eyes. The typical day at VBS will open up with an assembly, including a prayer and a short video and/or lesson. Then the children will be divided by age into groups, and travel to five different activity stations, guided by teen leaders. They will also enjoy doing crafts, having snacks, singing inspirational Christian music, and playing outdoor games. The day will end with a closing assembly during
which the children can share about what they have learned, and enjoy dancing to the song of the day. Vacation Bible School is facilitated by a group of adult and teenage volunteers who generously do their part to make each day a memorable experience for the children. Volunteers such as Sheri, who has helped with VBS in past years by coordinating the snacks and Bible stories, find that giving their time and talent to this ministry is deeply rewarding. “I really enjoyed sharing the Bible stories with the children,” Sheri says. “It gave me a way to use my teaching skills and talk personally to the children about Jesus. During Bible time, the kids have time for quiet reflection, storytelling, and skits. They really seem to like it, and it helps them to take the Bible stories into their hearts.” From a parent’s perspective, Sheri believes that programs like VBS help mothers and fathers to live out their vocation to educate their children in the Catholic faith. Overall, it provides an amazing way to catechize our parish children and helps them understand that they are part of a loving parish family. “My children went to VBS, and I started getting involved when they started going,” Sheri says. “I believe that we have a responsibility as adults to provide faith experiences for our children.”
VBS is open to all children ages three through those in fifth grade, whether they attend our parish or not. Little ones must be fully potty trained. Registration forms are available at immaculate.net or through the parish office. Volunteers who are of high school age or older are needed to help throughout the full five days of VBS. For more information on how to sign up to volunteer, please call Barb Schoen at 440-946-5939. Further details will be also included in future parish bulletins.
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Grandparents in Faith
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Passing on the Gifts of the Catholic Faith to Future Generations
ver the years, Pope Francis has shared a lot of wisdom about the treasure that grandparents are and the importance of their role within their family and the church. He even instated an annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on the fourth Sunday in July, close to the Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim on July 26. Sts. Anne and Joachim are the grandparents of Christ, and thus the church has bestowed on them the honor of being the patron saints of grandparents. In one audience Pope Francis said, “They remind us that old age is a gift and that grandparents are the link between generations, to transmit to young people an experience of life and faith.” In the Diocese of Cleveland, several ministries are recognizing the crucial role that grandparents play in the lives of their families, and these ministries are looking for ways to support grandparents as they embark on this portion of their vocational journey. “We started talking about grandparents being a group that passes on the faith,” says Terri Yohman, Director of Family Life for the Diocese of Cleveland. “Knowing that many of our children are not in the faith, we as grandparents are looking to
evangelize our grandchildren. We are trying to not only validate what these grandparents are doing but also find ways to support them.” In recent months, several workshops have been held across the diocese to do just that. “We have involved Fr. Damian Ference (Vicar of Evangelization), Francine Costantini (Youth Ministry Director), Mike Hayes (Young Adult Ministry Director), and Miguel Chavez (Director of Missionary Discipleship),” Terri says. “They have put together several presentations about what is going on in the youth population and give practical advice and direction for evangelizing to them. We have also given many examples of practical things that grandparents can do as well such as putting together Baptism baskets or different types of prayers they can do with their grandchildren. These workshops have discussed talking with their grandchildren about their own faith story, even just sharing memories or photos of receiving your sacraments in the Church. This initiative of supporting and having workshops for grandparents has recently caught the attention of EWTN. This well-known Catholic media agency interviewed Fr. Damien Ference about this initiative and continued on back cover
“Knowing that many of our children are not in the faith, we as grandparents are looking to evangelize our grandchildren. We are trying to not only validate what these grandparents are doing, but also find ways to support them.” — Terri Yohman, Director of Family Life, Diocese of Cleveland
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Grandparents in Faith
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even filmed one of the workshops. The diocese is working to create a format for the presentations so that parishes can take them and adapt them to be used within the parishes. “We have also found that there is a Catholic Grandparents Association,” Terri says. “Our diocese currently does not have any chapters, but through the encouragement of these workshops, we would really like to see some parishes and parishioners take initiative and start a group.” Across the United States, there are 2.5 million grandparents who serve as the primary caregivers and providers for their grandchildren. “This is a whole other dynamic that we haven’t addressed yet, but we are hoping to shine a light on this as well,” Terri says. The theme for this year’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is “They shall bear fruit even in old age” (Psalm 92:15). We pray to Sts. Anne and Joachim to intercede for all grandparents as they live their lives, evangelizing their children and grandchildren.
If you would like more information on the Catholic Grandparents Association, please visit www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org.
