March 4, 2011
People of Faith
Deacon Don Yochum makes prayer and helping others the focus of his faith
BY STEVE HALBIG
The People of Faith feature is compiled by Steve Halbig, who asks a series of questions of people of the diocese — some who have reached the “age of wisdom” and some who are younger. All will share stories of faith.
I am a 72-year-old retired truck driver. I am presently assigned to St. Theresa Parish, Evansville, as a deacon. My wife, Martha, and I both have been blown away with the wonderful acceptance by the St. Theresa parishioners. I have repeatedly boasted that I have been treated royally from the first day I stepped on the parish grounds as part of the parish staff.
Martha and I have two daughters, a son, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Our children live in New Orleans, Sparks, Nev., and Knoxville, Tenn.
Family of origin
I was born on a farm in Lawrence County, Ill., in 1938. I was the second of six children (one brother and four sisters). A few years later my parents moved to a small farm just south of Vincennes. This is where I grew up. I really enjoyed the farm work. I have fond memories of milking the cows every morning and night, feeding the pigs and livestock and, of course, I don’t want to forget the chickens. I also enjoyed driving the tractor, plowing and disking the fields. Putting up hay was the hardest and hottest job on the farm. Our family went to Sacred Heart Church and I attended Sacred Heart grade school and Central Catholic High School in Vincennes.
I really didn’t know what I wanted to do after I finished high school. I joined the Navy right away and served aboard the USS Savage and the USS Lowe. In 1960, I started working for Motor Freight Corp. in Vincennes. This was the beginning of my trucking career.
On June 10, 1961, Martha Thais and I were married in Sacred Heart Church in Vincennes. In 1969, we moved to Evansville and became members of Good Shepherd Church. Our children went to Good Shepherd grade school and Memorial High School. I retired from Consolidated Freightways in 2003. I was ordained a Deacon in July 2005 and was assigned to Good Shepherd. I was reassigned to St. Theresa on Oct. 1, 2007.
Influences
I think that my parents influenced me more than anyone else during my younger years. I remember they taught us to respect and to obey the priests and the nuns. When I first started school, I was almost afraid to say anything to the priests because I held them in such high authority and thought they were special people who were really close to God and I knew better than to cross them. I believe that my Dad’s work ethics have rubbed off on me. He was an implement mechanic and he worked long hours in the fields on farm equipment so the farmers could get their crops in and the harvesting done on time.
The bishop of the diocese is a good example and role model to look up to. Everyone who attends special liturgies that the bishop presides at is inspired to a deeper faith. Every parish and school has role models that teenagers and adults alike can look up to . . . such as our priests and pastoral life coordinators who lead our parishes forward and guide us in way to strengthen our faith. Some of our parishioners who have taken leadership roles not only at church but also as parents are certainly role models of our time.
My Mom and Dad made sure that we attended all the services at Church . . . Mass every Sunday morning and Vespers every Sunday afternoon, Forty Hours and all the Lenten services. In high school, my brother and I had an Hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament every Monday night. And we better not miss it. I think this has helped me in my life when things got tough and seemed to go wrong. That’s when I prayed and prayed. It always seemed that praying to the Lord helped make those difficult situations work out for the best.
Hobbies
Yes, I do have hobbies. I love to go fishing. I enjoy it even if I don’t catch anything. Just being around the lake where it’s quiet, peaceful and plenty of fresh air is great. Martha and I both enjoy being with our friends, eating out, playing cards and dominos or just socializing. I really don’t get any exercise because I spend a lot of time visiting our parishioners at the hospital and nursing homes and those who are homebound as part of my ministry.
First memory
of Church
My first exciting memory of Church was making my First Communion. What a wonderful day that was. I appreciate our Catholic faith because it is rooted in Christ and was formed upon a strong foundation inspired by the Trinity. Our Catholic faith was structured in a way that it is universal. We as Catholics are a welcoming and spiritual people and I have found St. Theresa parish and school to be a very welcoming people with their spirituality running high. I regret not spending more time in the school with the students because they are a super bunch of children, full of energy and eager to learn and practice their faith. They respect their teachers and love praying and writing to their prayer partners.
Hope for the future
I would like our faith family to return to a closer relationship with God. Everyone should eagerly want to attend every Liturgy and event that is offered at their parish. We should have a desire to focus in on God by using every Christian tool that is available to us, such as all kinds of prayer services, the saints, Christian books and participation in Catholic groups, such as Cursillo, retreats and prayer groups. In fact, my favorite saint is Don Bosco, because when he was in the monastery, at prayer and studies, he had a hard time keeping up with the others. But when the rest of the monks and priests left the Church after prayer, St. Don would do acrobatics and tumbling in front of the Tabernacle in Church. He did this because he was good at it and felt comfortable offering it up to God. I often have that same kind of feeling. I know that I am doing what God wants me to do and I work hard at it. Everyone should remember that they may not be the very best at everything, but they should always do their very best.
Prayer life
I always start my day by offering up everything I think, do and say that day to God and ask him to help all those persons that I need to pray for. Prayer is a strong point in our faith and does get results. I believe in helping everyone that I can, in any way that I can, regardless of who or what they might be. I ask you to pray for me as I continue to carry out my ministry of helping others. I hope and pray that I can help others in their spiritual life and give comfort to those in need.
Contact Steve at shalbig@evdio.org