May 28, 2010
Catholic Charities presents Mother Teresa Awards at annual dinner
Glenda Hampton of St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville, poses with Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger after receiving her Mother Teresa Award May 19. She was one of 38 recipients honored. Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Family life, schools and people in need — these are the three areas of service for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Evansville, said Patrick Wahl, at a Catholic Charities event May 19.
Wahl is president of the Catholic Charities Board of Advisors. The annual dinner was held at St. Joseph Church in Vanderburgh County, and included the presentation of the Mother Teresa Awards.
Wahl spoke briefly at the dinner, acknowledging the service of outgoing board members, Father Jim Endress of Evansville and Sara Fritch of Jasper, and introducing a new board member, Michelle “Shelley” Uebelhor of Jasper.
Wahl also publicly thanked the retiring director of Catholic Charities, James Collins, and introduced the interim director, Gayle Uebelhor.
The annual report of Catholic Charities, distributed at the dinner, showed that service hours provided by the agency in 2009 totaled 11,306 hours, serving 12,866 unduplicated clients.
Among the highlights of the evening was a report by Mater Dei senior Bill Muensterman on the PEERS Project, intitated through the efforts of Catholic Charities.
Muensterman is one of the high school students who speaks on various topics to elementary school students and younger high school students. He said his message to eighth grade students about sexual abstinence is not just about avoiding STDs or pregnancy, but “respect for their own lives, their bodies.” He said it is possible to show high school freshmen that “morality can be kinda cool.” He said adults can teach young people, but “they need peers as role models.”
About 225 people were present for the dinner, catered by St. Joseph Men’s Club, and for the Mother Teresa Award presentations that followed the dinner.
The awards are “presented to faithful members of the Church of Southwestern Indiana, who daily live three qualities in an outstanding way: willingness to hear Jesus’ words, to listen to them, then respond to them,” said Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger in a letter of congratulations sent to each recipient.
Following is the list of recipients and the nominating description provided by their parishes.
Diane Bono | Sacred Heart, Vincennes
Diane has been a member of Sacred Heart parish from birth. She moves herself out of her natural comfort zone to visit the sick, both parishioner and non-parishioner alike. She sends cheerfully decorated birthday and get well cards to all. She continues to assist a woman in the nursing home, regularly washing her clothes, as well as helping get a woman with MS to bible study and other places. She is a great listener, always understanding, non-judgmental and has helped many through crises of faith.
Patricia A. Earley | St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes
In addition to serving as volunteer Religious Education Co-ordinator for many years, Pa-tricia has served as Why Catholic and CPC parish coordinator. She also assists with bereavement meals, Loaves and Fishes (a multi-parish effort to provide a hot meal weekly for persons in need), and with the parish’s Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets for the poor. She has involved the youth in the Loaves and Fishes and the Food Basket program.
Mildred Fischer | St. Anthony, St. Anthony
Mildred has spent many hours visiting parishioners homebound, in hospitals or nursing homes. She has coordinated the serving of funeral dinners to families and friends of deceased parishioners and offers her time and talent as a quilter. When asked, she has also been very forthcoming in volunteering to drive parishioners to doctor and other appointments. Currently she is Communion minister to the homebound, has served on the Parish Council, and the committee that oversees the parish cemetery.
Jerry Foster | St. Agnes, Evansville
Jerry has been a member of the St. Vincent dePaul Society for 23 years and president for six years and considers his work with the poor as a “vocation.” He has made well over 1,000 visits to the needy. He has made most of the deliveries of furniture, supplies and food. During the 23 years he has been the backbone of the annual food drive — soliciting the gifts and delivering the food to the pantry. Jerry has also been involved in the Men’s Club and the Summer Social.
John and Betty Gehlhausen | St. Mary, Ireland
John and Betty are active and dedicated members of St. Mary Church, Ireland. Betty volunteers as a Eucharist minister, helps count the Sunday collection, and is active in the quilting group. John volunteers to usher on weekends and gives a helping hand when needed at church. Both help out at the annual picnic, funeral bereavement meals and many other events. They are devoted to the parish and the parish is grateful for their generosity.
Mary K. “Kathy” Guntel | St. Anthony, Evansville
Mary K. “Kathy” has worked faithfully with the St. Vincent dePaul Society since she joined the parish in 1999. While making home visits, she exhibits a heartfelt compassion. Having experienced her own hardships, she harbors no judgment about the person’s situation. She simply desires to help everyone in need. When told she was nominated for this award, she broke into tears saying, “There are others who are more deserving.” Her reaction indicated she truly is a person who exemplifies the humble spirit of Mother Teresa in “doing small things with great love.”
Mike Hagerdon | St. Joseph, Jasper
Mike is currently the high school religious education coordinator and in charge of the Confirmation program at St. Joseph, Jasper. Mike was very instrumental in establishing the Dubois County Com-munity Meals Program and served in the St. Vincent dePaul facility. He also spent most of two days ministering to the high school youth following a 2009 tragic death. He is looked up to by many of the youth.
Richard Hamilton | St. Joseph, Evansville
Richard has been a dedicated worker for the St. Vincent dePaul Society for many years. In addition, he takes it upon himself to make regular visits to shut-ins and ailing parishioners in the hospitals and nursing homes.
Glenda Hampton | St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville
Glenda has a heart as big as the ocean. She never meets a stranger and is always first in line to help people. She is a lector and an usher and for many years she has made home visits in the inner city of Evansville for the St. Vincent dePaul Society, reflecting in her own life the generous service of Mother Teresa. Her kindness, concern and willingness to serve are inspiration to all.
John and Ann Johnston | St. John, Newburgh
John and Ann have served faithfully as day managers and members of the Board of Directors for the Mother Teresa Treasures thrift store operated by volunteers at St. John the Baptist Parish, Newburgh, for eight years. This task involves overseeing intake of donations, sorting the items, readying them for display, dealing with clients and customers, and planning for seasonal presentations of the store’s content.
Esther Kelley | St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County
Esther is a woman with a heart big enough to reach out to anyone in need. Fixing a meal for an elderly person, or a person down on their luck, checking on a person living alone, providing a welcoming place for friends of her children, even those she has never met before . . . these are but a few ways that she exemplifies the spirit of Mother Teresa. Her compassionate heart has been a blessing for the parish, the neighborhood and her community.
Janice Kemble | Holy Spirit, Evansville
Janice is the president of the Legion of Mary group. She spends many hours leading their meetings, recruiting more members, and ministering to all to fulfill their mission. The Legion is most active, visiting the sick, suffering and shut-ins on a weekly basis. Without her passion it would not be the dynamic group that it is and continues to grow to be.
Kim Kendall | St. Joseph, Jasper
Kim volunteers her time in so many ways in the parish and community. Kim coordinates the Thanksgiving Day dinner, serving over 1,000 meals annually for the less fortunate people in Dubois County. She volunteers for the AngelWorx Program, so that the sick and elderly that are homebound receive a daily delivered hot meal. Kim volunteers and helps coordinate the meals and workers at the Dubois County Commun-ity Meals program every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Jim Kerlin | Sacred Heart, Vincennes
Jim has been a member of Sacred Heart parish since 1980. He has been involved with the Sacred Heart Conference of St. Vincent dePaul for 25 years, having been secretary and treasurer. He has also been the local SVDP Store board secretary and district secretary for 20 years. Jim’s humble spirit of service is exuded in his quiet, unassuming attitude. He is always ready to volunteer and is the first call made from the parish when someone in need shows up at the door.
Edward and Kathy Knust | Sacred Heart of Jesus, Schnellville
Ed and Kathy mirror the faithfulness to the Gospel and commitment to God’s poor that Mother Teresa lived. They have been very active in the local conference of the St. Vincent dePaul Society both as members and leaders. Their involvement includes making home visits, helping to provide fruit baskets to the elderly, overseeing a monthly food drive, following up on phone requests, and attending all meetings of the local conference and district council. They are an inspiration to all who have witnessed their stewardship of time and talent to their parish and service to others. They serve all without prejudices, just as Mother Teresa had done in Calcutta.
Charles Martin | St. Bernard, Rockport
Charlie is presently the Confirmation service coordinator. He has been working with our youth for the past 15 years teaching the message of service and justice to the poor and vulnerable people of the world. He was a member of the Social Concerns Commission for 10 years. Charlie is also active in Pax Christi USA and the USCC’s Network. He writes for Catholic News Service and Liturgical Publishing on social justice.
Darlene Martin | St. Francis Xavier, Poseyville
Darlene has been a member of the parish for nearly 48 years. She is the neighbor and friend we all dream about having, going out of her way to help others. When complimented on it she says, “Oh, I just do it for the Lord.” She has looked after an elderly neighbor for years, often putting her own needs aside. She offered another neighbor housing during an ice storm in which the lady’s son was killed in a car accident. This was truly an act of more than kindness as this woman was an invalid and needed special care. Darlene even made sure the woman attended the funeral. That is the kind of “going out of the way for others” that she does. She truly exemplifies the qualities of Mother Teresa.
Angie Memmer | Holy Rosary, Evansville
Angie and her husband have been members of Holy Rosary for 30 years. She was first recruited to teach CCD classes and has served a PTA president and a scout leader. She has been a Eucharistic minister and now helps usher at the Saturday Masses. She was involved in the Martha’s and Mary’s group that is now the Bereavement Ministry. She organizes and cooks for funeral meals. She is a member of the Marriage and Family Life Commission and is constantly thinking of those in need by taking meals and sending cards. She gets everything ready for the social, selling quilt chances after Masses, and being there 24-7. She is the leader of the quilting group, quilts twice weekly and has donated a quilt.
Emma Meredith | St. Anthony, Evansville
Emma is being nominated for her tireless service to our area service men and women and their families. For years Emma has collected clothing and furniture, that she delivers to Fort Campbell for military families. Emma is a member of the Patriot Guard who provides support to soldiers and their families when they return from war. Through the National Guard in Evansville she offers her social work skills to families and often shares her own resources. Emma has financed and planted a lovely prayer garden at St. Anthony that she has dedicated to military families.
Marcella Meredith | St. Anthony, Evansville
Marcella is over 80 years old and actively volunteers many days weekly. She volunteers at the Little Sisters of the Poor and St. Mary’s Apothecary, she crochet’s a baby afghan for the St. Francis card party, she takes the elderly to church, among many other things. She just recently gave up cooking at the homeless shelter several days a week saying health issues are slowing her down but she still puts most of us to shame. Marcella is a very prayerful person and such a pleasant loving person. Mother Teresa would be proud of her for all the volunteer work she does.
Ramona Redman | Holy Spirit, Evansville
Mona is a very passionate and faith-filled woman. She has led the rosary before the 4 p.m Mass faithfully for our community. Most notably, she is our Pro-Life coordinator and makes sure that our parish stays involved in the Pro-Life movement. She makes it her constant mission to stand for life and the truths of the Catholic faith with many hours of service.
Florence and Cletus Rexing | Mary, Help of Christians, Mariah Hill
Florence and Cletus have been active at the parish for more than a half century. They are members of the St. Vincent dePaul Society. They are members of a team that bring Communion to the homebound, nursing homes and hospitals. They are prayerful people always attending prayer functions at the parish. Like Mother Teresa, it is the little things in life that make all the difference in the world.
Mark Richardson | Nativity, Evansville
Mark has been an active member of the St. Vincent dePaul Society at Nativity for over five years, meeting and visiting the poor and giving out funds every other Sunday year round. He has been a member of the choir and the official cantor at two Masses every weekend. He always helps at the summer social fish fries and many other ministries in the parish.
Earl and Grace Robertson | St. John, Daylight
Earl and Grace love Our Lord, their family and St. John’s! Earl is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and also serves as a Pro-Life representative for the Knights. In addition, he received the Knights’ Family of the Month Award. Earl is active in the Men’s Club and serves on the Catholic Charities Advisory Board. Grace is a fifth generation member of St. John’s. She has been the Pro-Life coord-inator for 20 years. She demonstrates her advocacy for life through the Gabriel Project and volunteers at the Pregnancy Resource Center. Grace is active in the Altar Society, Health Ministry, Religious Ed and Vacation Bible School.
Brad and Nancy Ruminer | St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County
Brad and Nancy have had a long history of service to others throughout their time at the St. Joseph parish. For many years they have coordinated the parish effort to help at the soup kitchen at St. John the Apostle and continue to this day. They have also been involved in the parish’s efforts with Habitat for Humanity as well as the ministry to the people of Haiti. Nancy, in her capacity as a hospice nurse, has also given much volunteer time to helping families cope with end of life decisions. Both Brad and Nancy have a great heart for service, especially to the poor.
Mary Margaret Rusch | St. Thomas, Vincennes
Mary Margaret is a very loyal member of St. Thomas Parish in Vincennes. She has been in charge of coordinating the bereavement meals for funerals for many, many years and has worked and helped with “Generations,” a community project that assists in aiding those with cancer. She attends every church function that her health allows. She is an inspiration to all parishioners.
Matt and Karen Scheessele | Good Shepherd, Evansville
Matt and Karen have been active members of the parish since 1989. They were original members of the Helping Hands Commission and have served as a sponsor couple. They have both helped at the summer social and participated in the Race for the Cure. Matt has been the Good Shepherd representative for Habitat for Humanity for several years, coached youth baseball and basketball and been a bingo crew chief for years. Karen has worked for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation for 26 years working with students with disabilities and their families. Both are very Christian and caring and have always kept God in their lives.
Norman and the late Helen Schmitt | St. Wendel, St. Wendel
Norman was a member of the St. Vincent dePaul Society for 25 years. During that time he made weekly visits to the sick and homebound. He also provided food, assistance with rent and utility bills, gasoline for vehicles, and any other items needed. Helen Schmitt was also a member of the Society as well as a lifetime member of the Deaconess Auxiliary where she volunteered over 7,000 hours in the hospital being present to the sick and their families.
Charles and Geraldine Seger | Holy Family, Jasper
Charlie and Geraldine have been life long, active members of the parish and just celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Charlie has been an integral member of our St. Vincent dePaul Society and served as a past Jasper District president. Charlie is well known for en-thusiasm in the work of the so-ciety, bringing Communion to the homebound, and other ministries he volunteers for. Geraldine is active in the Ladies Sodality and their various projects, and is also known for her generous spirit of volunteering time for the parish. The parish is honored to nominate them for the Mother Teresa Award.
Larry and Lynn Seger | St. Martin, Chrisney
Compassion and unconditional love — these are few words that describe the sense of mission of Mother Teresa. The same adjectives apply to Larry and Lynn. Their devotion to the homeless is a true model for their parish. They give their time to the local shelters. Their steady devotion to Christ makes them easy to be around. They lead the true Catholic life that Jesus intended for us to live.
Suzan Sorensen | St. John the Baptist, Newburgh
Suzan is an invaluable resource for the writing of grant proposals for the Newburgh Area Food Pantry, which is housed with the Mother Teresa Treasures thrift store at St. John parish. She is a Board member for the Ecumenical Social Outreach Ministry and serves the clients at the facility.
Rita Stone | Holy Cross, Fort Branch
Rita has been an integral part of the Scout program for over 20 years, serving on the Merit Badge Council, Order of the Arrow, the Eagle Scout program, among others. She is currently treasurer of the Gibson County Red Ribbon program. Rita is a military mom and belongs to the Armed Forces Services of Gibson County, holding fund raisers to cover the cost of sending care boxes to U.S. forces overseas.
Don and Joyce Villwock | St. Philip Neri, Bicknell
Both Don and Joyce have been involved in the Knox County 4-H, as leaders and Council members, helping with many fair projects. They are past presidents and presently board members of the Knox County Community Founda-tion. Don serves on the board of directors of Farm Bureau, is active in the Corn Growers Association and lately established “Hoppers for the Hungry,” wherein a portion of crops sold each year benefit North Knox Social Ministries and Vincennes Community Food Bank. Joyce is active in the Ag Classroom, American Associa-tion of Family and Consumer Science Committee, League of Women Voters, American Busi-ness Women’s Association and Generations.
Herbert and Ida Mae Welp | Precious Blood, Jasper
Herb and Ida Mae work as a team to reach out to the community. Ida Mae gives her support and blessing to Herb as he visits the nursing homes in Jasper, taking time to play cards with the residents. He distributes the Holy Eucharist to patients in the hospital and helps at the food bank. He also graciously helps senior church members who live at home with outside jobs.
Deacon Don Yochum | St. Theresa, Evansville
Deacon Don volunteers his time to visit hospitalized parishioners on a daily basis. In addition, he makes regular visits to the homebound, the elderly and others who are not always able to attend weekend liturgies. He is also very active in the St. Vincent dePaul Society, making house calls and assisting the poor. In a very real way, he is the face of the parish to so many people who otherwise might fall between the cracks.
Special Nominations
Franciscan Sister | Bridget Arnold
Sister Bridget, 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. Her teaching has gone beyond the fundamental of reading, math and science as she has imbued generations of children with a spirit of caring for those in need. From working with children to fixing meals at the local homeless shelters, to sponsoring young students and going on mission trips to Haiti, she has taught by word and example the call to make room in our hearts for those who are most in need. Beyond this, Sister Bridget has helped her students develop a sense of stewardship for our earth from helping plant and harvest garden vegetables to helping create in them a lifestyle for recycling.
Benedictine Sister | Karen Durliat
Sister Karen has spent her life living out the call to service especially to the poor. It began with her teaching career where she helped to develop mission awareness in the students she taught. It continued in her work with the Benedictine missions in Guatemala, where she worked directly with some of the poorest people in the country. It continues now with her work as the Diocesan Director of the Spanish-speaking Ministry. In her work with our Spanish-speaking sisters and brothers she is an untiring advocate for those who find themselves marginalized by our society. She is a great witness to the words of Jesus — “when I was homeless you opened your door to me.”
Father Henry Kuykendall | Nativity Parish, Evansville
In his 24 years of ministry as a priest in the Diocese of Evansville, Father Henry has shown a real sensitivity to those who often find themselves out of the mainstream of life. Growing out of his own hearing difficulties, he began a ministry to the deaf community by learning sign language and celebrating Mass with sign language. He has long been an advocate of calling the church to reach out to help those in need. Most recently, Father Henry has made special efforts to reach out to the growing number of Spanish-speaking Catholics who are now living and working in the Evansville area. He, along with the members of Nativity Parish, have been a great model for welcoming our Spanish-speaking sisters and brothers in our community while also allowing them to teach us through the richness of their culture.