Immaculate CONCEPTION
Meet Parishioners Jo Finding Home
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e all go through seasons turned 2 years old, Mary rein our lives. Different members the parish sharing a personal, professional, need for lectors at the 5 p.m. and communal responsibilities Sunday Mass. call for our time and attention. “I’ll never forget as I started So, it makes sense that how we the first reading, our daughter can give back to the faith comcalled out, ‘That is Mommy!’” munity will evolve as well. Mary says. “As our kids got “The parish is your home,” more involved in school, we says Mary Wallin. “Just like got more involved in helping your home, everyone has chores at school. The school relies on and responsibilities in relation your help, and then once peoto their ability. Everyone can do ple know who you are, you’re something and what they can asked to do other things.” do changes with time.” John became a Cub Scout Mary and John Wallin met leader and still helps with the through Central Arkansas Scouts, even though their son Catholic Singles in the early is 25 years old now. Mary also 1990s. Mary had moved back helped with the Girl Scouts and Immaculate Conception's John and Mary Wallin to the area, and when she saw was a co-leader with them for the group in the bulletin, she nine years. Over the years, they’ve thought it would be a great way to meet people. served on the PTO, the School Board, and the Pastoral “It was just a fun group that had different so- Council, as well as in other ministries and councils. cial and religious activities,” John says. “We prayed “If you want to start being involved, start small,” and went to church together. The faith was always John says. “Find something that fits with your perimportant for me and Mary. It was how we were sonality and start in some small way to help the brought up and how we formed our lives together.” church, school, and our community.” They were married in 1992, and in 1998 John During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary and John and Mary joined Immaculate Conception, which greatly missed the faith community, particularly athad been Mary’s parish while she was growing up. tending Mass together and participating in adoration. They particularly wanted their children to attend “I missed all of the social things that become Catholic school, and at first, they didn’t have much part of your life, like the Men’s Club and the fish time to become involved in parish life. fry,” John says. “You were part of this community, “It took us a few years to be more involved be- and then that was all gone.” cause when we moved here, we had a toddler, one Today, Mary and John are caring for Mary’s on the way, and then another on the way two years mother and have not been involved in parish life to later,” Mary says. “We were both working full-time, the extent that they used to be. They know this also and all that is a lot! And, when I wasn’t working, I gives new people the opportunity to come forward. wanted that time with the kids at home.” “We started out small, then became super When the youngest of their three children involved, and now have gone back to only being able 4
