Abigail Tadena's artwork is available to send as a Christmas e-greeting on the HCA website, www.hcakids.org.

A reproduction of her artwork is available to send as a Christmas e-greeting on the HCA website, www.hcakids.org, and is to be displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington during Advent and Christmas.

According to the HCA website, the organization has only had one focus since it was founded 160 years ago: to bring the love of Jesus to the world's children. The annual contest is open to all Catholic school, parish religious education and home school students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

All winners received a commemorative plaque, and the artwork of one grand prize winner was reproduced as the official Christmas card of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.

Mr. Evert’s talks offer blunt, honest and uplifting reasons for why a person is worth waiting for. He offers the demands of authentic human love without fear tactics or guilt trips.

He believes romance without regret does exist. But those who want the real thing should be prepared to sacrifice. Then people can find that the peace and joy that comes from chastity is worth more than all the pleasure in the world.

Mr. Evert earned a master’s degree in theology and undergraduate degrees in counseling and theology, with a minor in philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is the author of 10 books, including “How To Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul,” “If You Really Loved Me,” “Pure Love” and “Theology of the Body for Teens.

The high school program begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at Ottawa-Glandorf High School. The junior high program is at 9 a.m. Oct. 27 at Ottawa SS. Peter & Paul. The adult program begins at 7 p.m. at Ottawa-Glandorf High School.

All talks are open to the public and each presentation is one hour, 15 minutes with time afterward for questions.

For more information, contact Jill Schumaker at 419-523-6602, Mary Siefker at 419-532-3474 or Deb Wehri at 419-876-3481 or visit www.chastity.com.

The names of 78 Sisters of the Precious Blood who served the German immigrants of the area are listed on the new marker along with a brief history of the Maria Camp Convent and the Glandorf Convent.

Glandorf St. John the Baptist Cemetery (Chronicle file photo)

The text of the marker reads:

"GLANDORF CONVENT — The Sisters of the Precious Blood, established in Switzerland in 1834, began ministry in Glandorf, Ohio, in 1848 under the leadership of Swiss-born Father Francis de Sales Brunner. The Sisters, who were invited to Glandorf by the local people, lived in a small log hut donated to them by the village blacksmith until the Brothers of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood built a large convent. In July 1848, the Sisters began night hours of adoration in the chapel titled “Mary at the Holy Sepulcher.” As many as 50 Sisters lived in the convent at the same time and were involved in prayer, teaching, caring of orphans, farming, gardening, sewing, weaving, making shoes, hats, altar linens and altar breads, keeping bees and giving music lessons. The Sisters taught in the school from 1848 to 1996. After the large convent was sold in 1915, the Sisters lived in a smaller convent near the church from 1916 to 1986.

MARIA CAMP CONVENT — In 1850 the Sisters lived in a log building on 120 acres of land along the Blanchard River 3 miles outside of Glandorf. From 1850 to 1874 the Sisters prayed night hours of adoration in the chapel titled “Our Lady of Good Counsel.” After the Brothers built the large brick convent in 1852, they helped the 25 Sisters, as they did at the Glandorf Convent, to cultivate the farmland. When the Glandorf Sisters became self-supporting, Maria Camp closed and the convent and land were sold in 1874.

This monument honors the 78 Sisters of the Precious Blood who dedicated their lives in service to the needs of the German immigrants. One orphan child who died in the convent orphanage is buried with the Sisters. In 1947 the Sisters’ remains were reinterred from their original convent burial sites of Maria Camp and Glandorf to this cemetery."

Members of the Putnam County Challenge Girls, along with leaders and moms, attended the annual Summer Fun Day in which they heard about different treasures in life. The day offered a variety of activities including swimming and ziplining. (Photo courtesy of Putnam County Challenge Girls)

The day started with the girls making stepping stones and decorating their own treasure boxes. Throughout the day, three speakers spoke on subjects such as ‘treasuring’ your faith, staying true to your beliefs throughout high school and into college and treasuring the challenges God gives us. The presenters shared their personal stories of how they overcame illness and physical handicaps and became stronger through their faith in God.

The girls also had a chance to enjoy swimming, paddle boating and ziplining.

Precious Blood Father Mark Hoying and Precious Blood Father Tony Fortman joined the girls and talked about the ‘treasure’ of their vocation. The priests also offered confession, swam and helped grill hamburgers.

Scott and Sheryl Kahle, in memory of their daughter, Emily (a past Challenge team leader), donated to all the girls tumblers and pens with Emily’s “Live to Love” motto. After dinner, the girls went on a treasure hunt, enjoyed a spa treatment as they learned to “treasure” their bodies and ran an obstacle course to learn that being physically healthy is a treasure, too.

The evening ended with a campfire and reading what they “treasure in a friend.”