Widows’ prayers support ordained ministry
Helen Krueger, left, and Karen Pierce, residents of Clare Meadows, Franklin, pray in the Clare Meadows chapel on July 19. [...]
Mother, daughter cook up book of family treasures
With daughter Sherry Willems looking over her shoulder, Marianne Gavel holds a copy of the cookbook she compiled for her grandchildren. The book contains many treasured family recipes that reflect her Polish heritage. (Catholic Herald photo by Allen Fredrickson)
“I can’t believe this is really me,” the 93-year-old member of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish, Kenosha, said smiling, “I was so young back then.”
Picking up Gavel’s cookbook, is not simply a shoebox full of cookery prescriptions, but a piece of history and a story of love between a mother and daughter.
Last January, Gavel moved to an assisted living facility for four months. After she broke a bone in her neck in a fall, she was unable to walk and relocated to St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged in Kenosha. For a woman who was proud of her independence, the move left her depressed and angry.
Girls, let’s kaffee klatsch
I gave my “When’s God Gonna Show Up?” workshop last week in Sleepy Eye, Minn. This time, my audience was [...]
Dust off your dancing shoes!
You may recall in the Feb. 13 edition I wrote how music has changed over the years.
As a follow-up, I wondered: What goes with music?
The answer is obvious – dancing.
As we are aware that everything has a beginning, I had suggested that music had its origin in the Bible … and … so does dancing.
Ss. Anne, Joachim are role models for grandparents
Spring in Wisconsin seems doubly welcome after the drab days of February and March. We celebrate renewal on many levels. We have Mother’s and Father’s Day to bond with our families. We also have occasions to applaud a star performance or cheer awards being presented to grandchildren. We renew our faith in the celebration of the Resurrection, the Ascension and Pentecost. Often we wrap Bibles and rosaries to give to those receiving the sacraments of Eucharist, penance and confirmation.
Many of us have learned our caring, involved grandparent role from our parents and grandparents. We listen to stories of role models from the Old and New Testament.
The Gospels are silent on the grandparents of Jesus. What we know of them is through “tradition” dating to early Christian times. Ss. Joachim and Anne, who was probably called Hannah in that time, became the parents of Mary when they were older. What a joy it must have been to them when their grandchild Jesus was born. I sometimes wonder what Jewish lullabies Anne sang to baby Jesus as she cared for him while Mary went to the well for their daily supply of water. Did she tell her friends how wonderful this blessed babe was and the pictures he could draw in the sand with one of the many stones that cover the Mideastern landscape?
To move or not to move?
Some decisions do not come easy. To stay in the family home or downsize may create disagreement among family members. [...]
Guild tallies more than 450,000 volunteer hours
Some 172 guests attend “A Fashionable Affair,” a spring luncheon presented by the St. Camillus Women’s Guild at San Camillo, Saturday, April 17. The event included a “Traveling Trunk Show,” a tribute to the wives of former United States presidents’ wives, hosted by Goodwill Industries. Funds raised at the spring luncheon and at a holiday boutique held in November help purchase large items such as a Wii system for the residents. (Catholic Herald photo by James Pearson)
They have logged more than 450,000 hours with twice-yearly fundraisers, games, holiday cookie deliveries, daily mail delivery, floral arrangements for new residents and by staffing the in-house thrift shop.
This year, the 172 guests of the guild’s 12th annual luncheon were treated to a fashion “Travelin’ Trunk Show” hosted by Goodwill Industries. The popular program was one of four offered by Goodwill, and served as a tribute to the wives of former United States presidents, explained Kathie Jensen, membership chairman and fundraiser coordinator.
“The show was really something,” she said. “We had to book it two years ahead of time. They started with Martha Washington and went all the way to Laura Bush. We had a combination fashion show and history lesson. It was wonderful.”
Funds raised from the annual luncheon go toward large items for the residents, such as a Wii system and games, wheel chairs, electric beds, Broda reclining chairs, pressure alternating mattresses and portable pulse oximeters.
How long can you keep $10 in your pocket?
Do you think it’s possible to keep a $10 bill in your pocket for two weeks? Just ask seniors who [...]
Dogs deserve prayers, too
John Mastel poses with his dog, Zoey. After Mastel’s aunt, Bette Zych sent a prayer shawl for Zoey, the dog [...]
Not a very patient patient
I had foot surgery a couple of weeks ago to relieve a condition that had become a major nuisance. Let’s [...]