May 21, 2010
Mother Teresa Awards presented for Christian service
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
The annual Mother Teresa Christian Service Awards were to be presented Wednesday, May 19, at St. Joseph Church, Vanderburgh County.
(A Wednesday evening event is past the deadline for the current issue of the Message. Coverage is planned for the Message, May 28. )
The awards are presented at the annual dinner of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Evansville, to honor parishioners who strive to imitate the example of Mother Teresa, by “doing small things with great love.”
Nominees are chosen by the parishes of the diocese.
Among them are Mildred Fischer, from St. Anthony Church, St. Anthony, and Ed and Kathy Knust, members of Sacred Heart Church in Schnellville. The three nominees were featured in a recent issue of the parish newsletter, Connections.
In part, the newsletter notes that “Mildred has spent a multitude of hours visiting homebound parishioners and those in hospital and nursing homes.”
The newsletter points out that “Ed and Kathy Knust . . . are individuals who mirror the faithfulness to the Gospel and commitment to God’s poor that Mother Teresa lived. Both have been very active members in the local Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society, serving in leadership positioins as well as being members.”
The descriptions of the award recipients, provided by nominating parishes, will be published in the coming issues of the Message.
Following is a list of the nominees for the 2010 awards:
- Diane Bono, Sacred Heart Church, Vincennes
- Patricia A. Earley, St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes
- Mildred Fischer, St. Anthony, St. Anthony
- Jerry Foster, St. Agnes, Evansville
- John and Betty Gehlhausen, St. Mary, Ireland
- Mary K. (Kathy) Guntel, St. Anthony, Evansville
- Mike Hagerdon, St. Joseph, Jasper
- Richard Hamilton, St. Joseph, Evansville
- Glenda Hampton, St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville
- John and Ann Johnston, St. John, Newburgh
- Esther Kelley, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh Co.
- Janice Kemble, Nativity, Evansville
- • Kim Kendall, St. Joseph, Jasper
- Jim Kerlin, Sacred Heart, Vincennes
- Edward and Kathy Knust, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Schnellville
- Charles Martin, St. Bernard, Rockport
- Darlene Martin, St. Francis Xavier, Poseyville
- • Angie Memmer, Holy Rosary, Evansville
- Emma Meredith, St. Anthony, Evansville
- Marcella Meredith, St. Anthony, Evansville
- Ramona Redman, Nativity, Evansville
- Florence and Cletus Rexing, Mary Help of Christians, Mariah Hill
- Mark Richardson, Nativity, Evansville
- Earl and Grace Robertson, St. John, Daylight
- Brad and Nancy Ruminer, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh Co.
- Mary Margaret Rusch, St. Thomas, Vincennes
- Matt and Karen Scheessele, Good Shepherd, Evansville
- Norman and Helen Schmitt (Helen Posthumously), St. Wendel, St. Wendel
- Charles and Geraldine Seger, Holy Family, Jasper
- Larry and Lynn Seger, St. Martin, Chrisney
- Suzan Sorensen, St. John, Newburgh
- Rita Stone, Holy Cross, Fort Branch
- Don and Joyce Villwock, St. Philip Neri, Bicknell
- Herbert and Ida Mae Welp, Precious Blood, Jasper
- Deacon Don Yochum, St. Theresa, Evansville
In addition to the nominations from parishes in the diocese, the following persons received special nominations:
- Franciscan Sister Bridget Arnold, a member of the Franciscan Community of Oldenburg, has spent many years teaching at Catholic schools on the Westside of Evansville, most recently at St. Joseph Parish in Vanderburgh County.
- Benedictine Sister Karen Durliat is diocesan director of the Spanish-speaking Ministry.
- Father Henry Kuykendall, pastor of Nativity Church, Evansville.