West Point IC marks 141 years of faith By Fabvienen Taylor
WEST POINT — Tiffany Neuman, lay ecclesial minister (LEM), said the Mass of Homecoming and “Celebration of 141 Years of Faith, Family and Friends” on Sunday, Sept. 5, at Immaculate Conception Parish had great significance for the parishioners.
Over the last several years the people of the parish have transitioned from having a resident pastor (priest) to a resident deacon/ecclesial minister (Larry Campbell) to a lay ecclesial minister and sacramental minister.
Both Father Robert Dore, pastor of Annunciation Parish and Immaculate Conception sacramental minister, and Neuman live in Columbus, where Neuman is youth minister at Annunciation. Both jobs are part-time for Neuman.
“We are really blessed to have people so enthusiastic about getting together because sometimes people can get into a rut,” she said.
“This has been quite a transition for them but they have come around to the whole idea of having a lay minister. It has been tough. There is a lot of hurt about losing their resident priest,” said Neuman, who was appointed Dec. 1, 2009.
“But it’s the reality, and things like this celebration help them to realize they are the church and that it takes them to run this church, this faith community.”
Neuman described parishioners as diverse and dependable. “All you have to do is call someone to do something and they are going to do it. Organizing and planning this celebration was pretty easy because people took their particular jobs and did them to the one millionth percent.”
Currently there are 78 families in the parish. “We have large, well-established families who have been here for many years and really represent the Catholic faith and tradition such as the McTaggarts, Porteras, Dichiaras and Diminos. They and others are the ones still here carrying things through. And that’s a good thing.”
In addition to celebrating 141 years of Catholic faith the parish celebrated the 110th anniversary of the first church built in 1900.
After Mass visitors and parishioners received a brief parish history and at the reception there were two books of photos and clippings and a video slideshow of photos of families, priests and events.
“Debbie Dichiara did a wonderful job and put so much effort into getting that material together and ready for people to see,” said Neuman.
As she watched the slideshow, Velma Caskey pointed out her children and husband, William, now deceased, at baptisms, first Communions, confirmations and other events.
“Things are good here,” she said. “We don’t have as large attendance as we used to but we have Mass once a week on Saturday evening which is a blessing. We are aware some churches don’t have Mass every week but every two weeks. We also have a youth group and a ladies group, so I feel blessed we have what we do.
“The people who come to our church are very faithful. Some have fallen away which is true of every community but what we have are strong-hearted people who know their faith and they keep coming,” she said, “which shows they’ve got a good spirit.”
Catholics knowledgeable about their faith are essential to them and the future of the church, Bishop Joseph Latino, principal celebrant, said in his homily.
“You have to know your faith in order to pass it on to future generations. Today we are celebrating the traditions and faith passed on to you. The best way to celebrate this anniversary and anniversaries in the future is to renew your commitment to your faith and pass it on”
Concelebrating the Mass were Fathers Dore, former pastor Father Sam Messina, now pastor of Batesvile St. Mary/St. John, and Father Jeffrey Waldrep, Jackson St. Peter pastor and vocation from Immaculate Conception Parish.
