Sr. Margaret Wasserman (Photo courtesy of Ken Dumminger)

FREMONT—Mercy Sister Margaret Wasserman received a throw and a party in honor of her retirement.

For 56 years Sr. Wasserman served in Diocese of Toledo Catholic schools as a teacher and administrator. The last 25 years of her ministry were devoted to teaching kindergarten in Fremont at St. Ann, St. Joseph, Sacred Heart and Bishop Hoffman Catholic School.

“My belief has been that teaching in a Catholic school is not just a job, but a continuous act of love,” Sr. Wasserman says. “I strongly felt that each day the children brought new life to me and made me energized and enthusiastic to meet the challenges of a new day, a new beginning.”

The Heartbeat of Fremont director and abstinence education coordinator accept cash donations from the Fremont St. Ann Social Concerns committee and area teens. The funds and other supplies were collected through a baby shower program the group hosted for Respect Life Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Fremont St. Ann)

During each Mass Oct. 1-2, parishioners were encouraged to donated items for the pregnancy center from a suggested list. Each church had a baby crib set up for collecting the items. The committee also hosted a baby shower that included a short presentation by Heartbeat, games and refreshments.

St. Joseph Central Catholic High School students also took part in collecting items for the project.

Heartbeat of Fremont is a pregnancy center supported by many churches and volunteers whose primary purpose is to provide alternatives to abortion and to support women through pregnancy and early childhood care. All of the work done by Heartbeat is done through donations.

The Catholic Community of Sandusky County helped found Heartbeat of Fremont and continues to support its important work.

The students who coordinated this project include Jessica Zavela, Katie Shell, Kelsey Nevius and Tricia Reinhart. Pat Heyman was the adult leader for the St. Ann Social Concerns Heartbeat Project.

Elaine Schultz, center, was named this year’s Clyde St. Mary Distinguished Graduate. With her are Sharon Kinnear, principal, and Father Ray Fisher, chaplain at St. Mary. (Photo courtesy of Clyde St. Mary)

Mrs. Schultz is the daughter of Harold and Irene Darr of Clyde and attended St. Mary from 1965 to 1973. She is a Clyde High School graduate, where she was active in the music program, debate team and speech team.

Mrs. Schultz was married in 1978 and has five children: Tara, Derik, Christa, Tyler and Justin. All five children are graduates of Bellevue Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Since 1985, Mrs. Schultz has worked for the U.S. Post Office as a carrier, clerk and officer in charge.

Her involvement at Bellevue Immaculate Conception Parish is extensive. She is a past president of the school advisory council, secretary of the liturgy committee and has organized community concerts and directed vacation Bible school. She has been a lector, Eucharistic minister, Cub Scout leader, member of the RCIA team and director of the folk group and adult choir. She can often be heard as a soloist at weddings.

Mrs. Schultz founded the “Music to Feed Our Souls” ministry and has recorded two CDs:  “Leading Them Home” and “Hail Mary.”

“Mrs. Schultz’s dedication to the Catholic faith and to the church is very obvious,” says Sharon Kinnear, principal at St. Mary. “She is a wonderful example for our students. She uses her God-given talents to serve Him, His church and Catholic education.”

Bishop Leonard P. Blair celebrated the Mass Aug. 6 in which Dominican Sister Maria Miguel Wright, a Genoa Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner, professed first vows with the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Photo provided by Kelly Kopinski)

Dominican Sister Maria Miguel Wright, 23, formerly Jennifer Wright, was one of eight women to profess first vows with the community Aug. 6.

Bishop Leonard P. Blair celebrated the Mass at Ann Arbor Christ the King.

Sr. Maria Miguel is the daughter of Jeff and Teresa Wright. She entered the community after attending Bowling Green State University during her freshman year.

She is taking classes at Concordia University in Ann Arbor for a degree in elementary science with a minor in math and is to teach after graduation. 

Founded in 1997, the Ann Arbor community has grown to 113 sisters with the median age of 26.

Swanton Holy Trinity parishioner, Sister Mary Rita Lumbrezer, 23, professed first vows with the community in August 2009.

Marie Verkin displays the 100th prayer shawl she created for the ministry at Genoa Our Lady of Lourdes and Oak Harbor St. Boniface. (Photo courtesy of Genoa Our Lady of Lourdes)

Shawls made by the group are given to shut-ins, nursing home residents and patients in hospitals and as gifts for other special occasions.

“The parish is proud of Marie and thanks God for her ministry,” says Tiffin Franciscan Sister Gemma Fenbert, pastoral associate of the twinned parishes.