From Father Steven - June 25, 2023

​Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
This weekend, we say goodbye to two cantors that have been singing here at Immaculate Conception Parish for several years as they will be heading to College. They are Bethany Gibson and Morgan Weatherbee.  We also have a parishioner Marco Ferrari who will also be leaving the parish to enter into religious life.  Please see their write ups below.  Please keep them and their families in your prayers.  
 
God Bless,
Fr. Steven
 

 
Bethany Gibson - "My parents first brought me to church 2 weeks after I was born, and since then have guided me on my path of faith. My many years at IC as a parishioner, and as a CCD student, will always be a part of my heart and soul. This beautiful and historic church is not only a place of worship for me, but my home and gathering place with family and friends to share my faith with God. My faith allowed me to share my source of feeling toward the good Lord, through my voice as the lead cantor at the Sunday 5pm Mass for quite some time. Singing gives me great joy by expressing my love and faith through my voice. This Fall, I will be starting my college journey at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, with a double-major in Exercise Science for Physical Therapy, and also majoring in Musical Theater. I know my long history here at IC, both in faith, learning, and singing, will guide me along the way as I venture out into this beautiful world God has provided. To my parents, my parish, and parishioners, I love you all and will miss you." - Bethany Gibson
 

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Morgan Weatherbee - I’m Morgan Weatherbee and I am a recent high school graduate from Hudson High School. I’ve been a cantor at Immaculate Conception Parish for about two years now, and my love for singing has always been closely intertwined with this community. I grew up with this parish, as I attended the former Immaculate Conception School from preschool up until the fifth grade, and during my time there had the opportunity to join the children’s choir. There, I discovered my love for singing and continued to pursue my musical passions both within the church and outside it as I participated in musical theater. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, I pursued cantoring to continue to connect with the parish that has been my home for all these years. It has been such a privilege to serve the Immaculate Conception community through song. This upcoming school year, I will be attending the University of Vermont to study biology, and look forward to returning to the parish on holidays and summer breaks.
 

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​Marco Ferrari - Why do young men go to war? Perhaps it's because they see the result of the war pressing on their lives, especially in the lives of those who are near to us. I have personally witnessed the effects of a different kind of war. The war that can  lead people we love into eternal despair or hopefully to eternal joy.
 
As a young adult, I have been to several funerals and been rattled by the knowledge
that my friend had made his last decision. And now he awaits to see the beatific vision
or God forbid eternal suffering.  This left me feeling like those boys who want to enlist in the promise of a better tomorrow.  And so I pondered what that would look like. I thought of what the bombs of the devil look like and I thought of what the defending forces of heaven have countered with.  I was again frightened and almost despaired at all that was in the enemies disposal the kids of feeling of abandonment and deceit all around the least complex of souls. 
 
Then I was reminded that Jesus never abandons us. I was reminded that even if the enemy wins some battles; God has and will always win the war. I thought about how God acts and I found that all of heaven in my opinion is built on three main things that saints and angels spend eternity with. Charity, prayer and obedience to God. And with these three simple things the All mighty wins all the wars necessary for His kingdom to come. Armed with these three weapons one can make the biggest of sinners change for good. Change out of love and knowing that he matters no matter the cost.
 
So I am enlisting to do what angels spend their whole eternal life doing, I am enlisting to make my life have the biggest impact on those I love. I am Happily and through God's grace, going to be a Benedictine Monk. This way I will spend my days in prayer obedience and charity. 

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