PORT CLINTON—“The Spirit of Jesus Alive Today. Pentecost in our Time.” Local people may recognize these words from material left at their doors in October of 2009. It was included in a packet left by parishioners from Port Clinton Immaculate Conception and was part of Bishop Leonard P. Blair’s evangelization campaign.

In celebration of the parish’s 150th anniversary, a special anniversary candle was lit Dec. 8 by the youngest Port Clinton Immaculate Conception School students, Samuel Roberts, son of Ben and Jennifer Roberts, and Kealy Kolar, daughter of Christopher and Jennifer Kolar. (Photo courtesy of Port Clinton Immaculate Concpetion)

After 150 years, the Spirit is alive and well at Immaculate Conception. The parish began a year-long anniversary on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It just so happened that the Catholic Adult Faith Enrichment team (CAFÉ) almost two years ago scheduled Paulist Father John Collins, from New York City, to “evangelize” the parish by asking them to “Give God a Second Thought.” This was the overall theme of a series of talks over three days that ended just as the anniversary celebration began.

Providence was truly at work as the last day of the parish mission coincided with the beginning of Immaculate Conception’s kick-off celebration. The Anniversary Committee chose Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and patroness of the parish, as the beginning of the celebration.

Fr. Collins had contracted two years earlier for Dec. 6-8 as the days for his mission talks. The combination of the two events could not have been more fitting.

After months of preparation by the mission team headed by Bart Erwin, and the 150th Anniversary Planning Team, headed by Eric Zjodzinski, more than 250 people gathered each day to hear Fr. Collins speak about how they can bring themselves into a closer, richer relationship with God. The participants also included members from Marblehead St. Joseph, Oak Harbor St. Boniface and Put-in-Bay Sorrowful Mother.

Many aspects were considered, including efforts to interest high school age and young adults, neighboring parishes were encouraged to attend, babysitting was provided for the evening sessions, and the students of Immaculate Conception School made decorations for the church. The Knights of Columbus provided transportation to the mission sessions for those unable to drive.

Father John Missler assists the oldest parishioner of Immaculate Conception, 102-year-old Mary Snider, as she lights the anniversary candle during an evening Mass. (Photo courtesy of Port Clinton Immaculate Concpetion)

For the anniversary celebration, new banners were built and processed into church, carried by the banner ministry team. These banners are to be carried in on other feast days for Mary throughout the year. On the outside of the church, two 40-foot banners hang from the bell tower. Commemorative clothing, glassware, and an assortment of special wines labeled for the anniversary have been commissioned. A crucifix, which had hung in Immaculate Conception school has been restored and suspended over the altar. A calendar of anniversary events for the year has been planned for each month.

A special anniversary light has been hung over the baptismal font and was lit for the first time during Masses Dec. 8. In the morning the candle was lit by the two youngest students of Immaculate Conception School: Samuel Roberts and Kealy Kolar. At the evening Mass, the candle was lit by the parish’s oldest member, 102-year-old Mary Snider.

Father John Missler, pastor Immaculate Conception, concluded the events by saying, “as we were enriched by Fr. Collins let’s enrich others with his many God messages.”