Catholic Chronicle

Dramatization of Last Supper to be presented in Lima

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

LIMA—Sixty to 80 men, women and children from Lima St. John and Lima St. Rose are staging a dramatic presentation of the Last Supper at 3 p.m. March 21 at St. John.

This is the fifth time Mary Blanche Hengstler is directing the program in Lima. She says the program lasts about two to two-and-a-half hours and includes music, Scripture readings and drama.

About 20 elementary-age children are playing junior apostles and angels while 13 men depict Jesus and the apostles. The program is rounded out with live music and a choir.

A free will donation is accepted. But, Ms. Hengstler says, “To us, it’s about the message, not the money.”

Lima groups raise money for Komen Foundation

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

LIMA—St. Rita’s Women’s Wellness Center and DeHaven Home and Garden Showplace recently presented a joint ceremonial check for $8,730.03 to Mary Westphal, executive director of the northwest Ohio affiliate of the Komen Foundation.

DeHaven’s actual check included proceeds from its Girl’s Nite Out fundraiser and St. Rita’s check included profits from a Boggle tournament and other fundraisers. This was the third year DeHaven’s Girl’s Nite Out fundraiser was offered in both Lima and Findlay.

“We had a sell-out crowd with lots of cancer survivors and their friends. We even had a few brave men join us this year,” said JoAnn DeHaven, vice president of DeHaven Home and Garden Showplace. “It is such a great night and our community support is wonderful. As a cancer survivor myself I am especially happy to make this contribution to the Komen Foundation.”

This was the first time St. Rita’s Women’s Wellness Center hosted a Boggle tournament, but the feedback was so positive that it will very likely be offered again, said Mary Kay Verhoff, Women’s Wellness Center director.

Among other programs, the Komen Foundation provides grants for women without insurance to get mammograms.

Bluffton St. Mary hosts ‘mom to mom sale’ Feb. 20

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Editor’s note: This story was originally published Feb. 10, 2010, by the Bluffton Icon. Reprinted with permission from blufftonicon.com.

BLUFFTON—As a young mom with two young children, Jami Crawfis has found mom to mom sales to be a wonderful resource for children’s clothing and toys. So when the Lima YWCA closed its doors, eliminating its mom to mom sale, Mrs. Crawfis begin to think about organizing a local sale.

“I could always find good deals for a good price and when the YW closed, I was disappointed and thought to myself, ‘why couldn’t we have one in Bluffton?’ So here we are,” said Mrs. Crawfis.

A member of Bluffton St. Mary, she sought permission from Tiffin Franciscan Sister Carol Inkrott to hold the sale at St. Mary.

Mrs. Crawfis and her husband, Jason, have done most of the planning for the event, which is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at St. Mary, 160 N. Spring St.

Fourteen mothers are to stock booths with baby, children’s and maternity clothing, toys, books and equipment. The booths will consist of two or three tables, for which they’ve paid $10-15. Their booth fees will benefit one of three charities, including the Padua Outreach Center in Toledo, a rescue mission in Haiti and the Bluffton Food Pantry.

In addition, lunch is to be available at the church, with a menu of shredded chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, cookies, chips and beverages. The Crawfises have donated the lunch ingredients, and will give all of the lunch profit to St. Mary.  

Several volunteers have been recruited for the concession area, and each vendor will care for her own booth.

Admission to the event is $2 per adult. As she pays her fee, each shopper may choose the charity to which she wishes to donate the fee. Mrs. Crawfis said they’ll also accept non-perishable food items for the three charity organizations.

“The way we chose the three charities was not really planned, but I think it worked out well … a couple of weeks ago, Sr. Carol had mentioned that she wanted to help raise money for the Padua Outreach Center in Toledo because they have been spending so much money in utility bills and are in desperate need of new windows,” said Mrs. Crawfis. “That was my first idea and then my husband suggested that not everyone attending the event will be Catholic and that maybe we should have a couple of different options. So immediately Haiti popped into my head. Then I was talking to a friend who … mentioned that the Bluffton Food Pantry needed some help right now.”

Mrs. Crawfis hopes to see shoppers of all ages, but admits that she has a soft spot for young mothers.

“I actually hope we do have a lot of young moms show up because, having been a young mom myself, I know that those are the ones that really do benefit from this type of event. I hope to have shoppers of all ages, but teen moms really hold a place in my heart,” said Mrs. Crawfis.

Lima Central Catholic grads honored

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +0000

LIMA—Maria Hoffman was valedictorian and Elizabeth Ryan, salutatorian, at Lima Central Catholic High School 2009 Graduation May 24. During the ceremony, Elizabeth DePalma and Alex Dieringer received the Bishop’s Cross award, which is given to one male and one female graduate with a high grade point average in religion, who manifests excellence in character, service and leadership.

Clockwise from top left, Maria Hoffman is the valedictorian, Elizabeth Ryan is the salutatorian, and Alex Dieringer and Elizabeth DePalma received the Bishop's Cross award at Lima Central Catholic High School. (Photo courtesy of Lima Central Catholic High School)

Maria, daughter of Todd and Melissa Hoffman, is to attend Centre College in Kentucky where she won a four-year, renewable Centre Faculty Scholarship. She also received a Procter and Gamble Scholarship. Ms. Hoffman plans to major in pre-medicine.

Elizabeth Ryan, daughter of Dr. Ann Baker and Dr. Fred Ryan, is to attend The Ohio State University where she plans to pursue a medical career. Ms. Ryan received The Ohio State University Trustees Scholarship.

Elizabeth DePalma is the daughter of Tony and Patti DePalma. She is to attend Ohio Northern University where she earned the Ohio Northern University Recognition Scholarship. She also received the CIAO Scholarship, the Msgr. Herr Scholarship, the State Board of Education Award of Merit and the President's Education Award for Merit.

Alex is the son of Mark and Kaille Dieringer. He is to attend The Ohio State University and plans to major in accounting and finance.

Newman Catholic Association sponsors alternative spring break

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +0000

LIMA—Members of the Newman Catholic Association from The Ohio State University at Lima and James A. Rhodes State College traveled to Kentucky to spend their spring break serving others.

From left, members of the Newman Catholic Association from Lima who participated in the alternative spring break trip are Felicia Boham, Jenna Dancer, Cory Coleman, Desiray Goedde, Adam Steinbrunner, Isabel Ortiz, Jenny Honigford, Jessica Beutler, Nikki Baldauf, campus minister Sandy Connell and Katie Baker. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Connell)

During the week, eleven men and women from the Catholic campus ministry group in Lima built and remodeled houses to help the poverty-stricken people in the mountains of Appalachia.

They worked with The Christian Appalachian Project, an organization that provides a “work fest” as an alternative spring break trip. Students from six universities participated.

The students found when they gave to those in need they also received something spiritual themselves. At the end of the trip when approximately 100 volunteers gathered to recollect the week and discuss their efforts, there was not a dry eye in the building.

The mission trip was made possible by donations from the Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships, All Service Glass, Catholic Healthcare Partners through St. Rita’s Medical Center and several individuals.