Catholic Chronicle

Holy Cross Catholic School breaks ground on chapel

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:01:00 +0000

DEFIANCE—Students at Defiance Holy Cross Catholic School attended their first Mass of this year in the school gym, but it won’t be long before they are celebrating liturgies in their own chapel on campus.

Father Randy Giesige, pastor of Defiance St. Mary, and Father Todd Dominique, pastor of Defiance St. John, presided at a blessing and symbolic groundbreaking for the new chapel of Defiance Holy Cross Catholic School. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)

Construction on the 250-seat chapel is expected to be complete before the end of the school year. (Rendering courtesy of Beilharz Architects Inc. of Defiance)

Students, teachers and school supporters packed the gym Aug. 31 for a Mass followed by a blessing and symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the 250-seat chapel, which is expected to be dedicated before the end of the school year.

Defiance Mayor Bob Armstrong, a member of St. Mary who has grandchildren enrolled at Holy Cross and attended the ceremony, said building the chapel sets the groundwork for many years of quality religious education.

“From the mayor’s side of this, we’re going to have a great new landmark here on the south end of town that’s going to be visible by all,” said Mayor Armstrong. “But from the Catholic side, we’re going to have our future. We have planned; we have set the stones in place for us to be able to have years and years to come of successful Catholic education.”

Holy Cross students moved into the former Anthony Wayne Elementary School in the fall of 2009, four years after the parish schools at Defiance St. Mary and Defiance St. John first consolidated. Since then, weekly school Masses have been celebrated in the gym or occasionally at the two parish churches in Defiance.

Before Holy Cross moved to its new campus, students attended classes at the former St. John and St. Mary schools. The move to a single campus and decision to rename it Holy Cross brought both parishes together, according to Notre Dame Sister Lynda Snyder, principal. “And then we’re really looking at the chapel as the crown jewel of the whole project, because it brings Jesus on the property,” she added.

Holy Cross has 137 students in pre-kindergarten through grade six this year.

Deacon Nick Varano, project manager, said the chapel construction is being financed as part of an ongoing $1.2 million capital campaign that began in 2009 and also included the purchase of the school, renovations and the expansion of the parking lot.

In addition to hosting services for the students, Deacon Varano said the chapel may be used in Generations of Faith programming for the Defiance Catholic community.

Defiance pro-life march is Jan. 22

Andrea Slivka — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Perez, left, and Deacon John Weber, of Defiance St. Mary, are two of the speakers during the Defiance March for Life Jan. 22. The march begins with Mass at Defiance St. John and continues with several speakers and stops throughout the day. (Photo courtesy of Mother Teresa Respect for Life)

DEFIANCE—The Mother Teresa Respect for Life group is sponsoring a pro-life march Jan. 22 in Defiance.

The day’s activities begin with Mass at 9 a.m. at Defiance St. John with Father Steve Stanbery, pastor of Holgate St. Mary and New Bavaria Sacred Heart, as celebrant. Following Mass and throughout the day is the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for mothers, babies, all involved in abortions, post-abortion parents, pro-lifers and those attending marches throughout the nation. Benediction concludes the day’s events at 3 p.m. with Deacon Dominick Varano.

The march itself begins at noon at the Defiance County Courthouse where Father Ed Schleter, pastor of Wauseon St. Caspar, starts with prayer. The Color 4 Tunes, featuring Eileen Kochensparger, Arlene Iler, Lynette Tom and Joan Held, are to sing “God Bless America” and State Rep. Lynn Wachtman is to speak.

A police escort helps the marchers move to the Eagles, where Jennifer Perez from Project Respect is to talk about building character through abstinence. Jeanne Karpanty, chairman of Mary Queen of LIFE (Life Is For Everyone) organization, is to talk about adoption.

The march ends at the Monument for the Unborn, where speakers include Deacon John Weber and Jude Snyder, a junior at Tinora High School, and Jim Zipfel and Olivia Pahalak are to sing songs for life.

The host of the march is Rick Small, director of operations for Clear Channel and host of a morning show on WDFM Mix 98.1.

Following the march, all are welcome to come to the St. John church basement for hot chocolate.

Defiance music director reflects on 25 years of ministry

Angela Kessler — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:06:16 +0000

DEFIANCE—What first seemed like a call to the priesthood has become instrumental in shaping David Moninger’s career as music director at Defiance St. John the Evangelist.

Beginning in seventh grade, Mr. Moninger played organ for daily and weekend Masses at nearby St. Michael’s Ridge St. Michael. But after graduating high school, he felt a strong call to discern a vocation to the priesthood.

He attended St. Meinrad School of Theology run by Benedictine monks in Indiana from 1981 to 1983.

David Moninger

“I fell in love with their liturgical music and sense of worship,” he says.

But after two years in seminary, he “ultimately felt more called to music ministry in the church than to priesthood,” he explains.

He earned a degree in music and liturgy from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., and was hired at Defiance St. John the Evangelist. This year, he celebrates 25 years as the parish’s music director.

Fr. Todd Dominique, pastor of St. John, says Mr. Moninger is an innovative music director who strives for excellence.

“Obviously, longevity brings a whole different level of competency in terms of being a liturgist — with everything he has done an on annual basis, it only gets better and better … After 25 years, you’d think he would come back to the same old stuff, but he’s always finding new and exciting liturgy opportunities for us — and that dynamic makes us fresh and alive, too,” Fr. Dominique explains.

As a graduate of St. Meinard himself, Fr. Dominique can see the influence of the Benedictine style in Mr. Moninger’s music ministry.

Mr. Moninger’s style is to strive to engage parishioners in full and active participation in the liturgy, but at the same time, incorporate contemplative reflection, Fr. Dominique says.

Since he started playing for Mass in the ’70s, Mr. Moninger says the quality of music has improved.

“I think that the text is better now and not as trite,” Mr. Moninger says, quoting a song about a sunflower.

By his estimation, he has played music for about 6,000 Masses, 750 funerals and 750 weddings.

He says he has been blessed to be in a faith community who sings, rejoices and cares for each other.

“It’s been good for me, and I hope it’s been good for the people of God at the parish,” he says.

His approach to music ministry has been affected in recent months by the death of his 17-year-old son, Ted. Mr. Moninger marked his 25th anniversary at the beginning of June, and his son was killed in a car accident at the end of the month.

In his grief, he says the experience has made him more sensitive to the parishioners and their struggles, such as those suffering from the death of a loved one, an illness or divorce.

Because his son was involved in the music ministry, Mr. Moninger’s conviction to be present to the youth and involve them in the church has also increased.

In 2004, he had started a youth choir that sings at one regularly scheduled Sunday Mass each month. As director of liturgies, he also incorporates high school students in the ministries of the Mass each week, such as lecturing and distributing communion.

He believes it is important to include youth in weekend Masses and not to hold a separate Mass for them. He has found the response to be positive with about 70 youth participating in Mass and music ministries. Older members of the parish have told him they appreciate having the youth sing at Mass.

As he grapples with the death of his son, he is realizing, “Dave, you really have a lot of children in your life,” he says. “Not only do I have my three children (including Ted), but in a sense, I have a lot of children and youth that I feel I love and care for deeply and I feel that I am responsible for in some way.”

The children of the parish also minister to him whether they realize it or not, such as when they go up to him after Mass to say “Hi” and give him a hug, he says.

He credits his family has playing a large role in his music ministry and making many sacrifices over the years.

He gives a “special thanks to my wife, Sue, because not only has she allowed this demanding ministry, but has encouraged me and pushed me on.”

The couple met in 1986 when he had been asked to provide music for a Mass in a barn, and she volunteered to go along and help out. Not only did she help carry things in, but sang as well.

“So right away I thought, ‘This could be good,’ ” he says, laughing.

Family celebrations of holidays are on hold until he’s finished with Masses. The kids had to wait to hunt Easter eggs until “Dad’s done at church,” he said.

His children offer him music and song suggestions, and the family sings together at one of the Christmas Masses.

“My three children have not only helped me, but continually inspired me,” he says.

He says he appreciates how well Fr. Dominique and the parish staff work together, saying they work well as a team.

Fr. Dominique credits Mr. Moninger for helping create joyful celebrations of the sacraments and passages of life at the parish.

“We’re really blessed,” he says.

Fr. Ruess inducted into Defiance city hall of fame

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0000

DEFIANCE—Father Charles Ruess, a Defiance native who served the people of God as a priest of the Diocese of Toledo for 67 years, was recently honored for his dedication and service to his hometown.

The late Fr. Ruess was inducted into the City Hall of Fame with five others in May.

On a plaque hanging in the Defiance City Council Chambers, the priest is described as a “servant of God” who was a “patron of the people and son of the community. He returned to his hometown to serve the sick and elderly in their time of need.”

Born in Defiance, Fr. Ruess attended Defiance St. Mary School, Defiance High School and Defiance College. He went on to study at St. Joseph College in Collegeville, Ind., and St. Gregory and Mt. St. Mary seminaries in Cincinnati, and Bishop Karl J. Alter ordained him a priest Aug. 15, 1931, at Rosary Cathedral.

After serving for many years at parishes in Shelby, Toledo, Fostoria, Providence, Swanton, Paulding, New Washington and New Bavaria, Fr. Ruess retired and returned to Defiance in 1977.

There he remained active in a variety of ministries, visiting residents of area nursing homes and celebrating Masses at Defiance St. John and Defiance St. Mary until his death March 16, 1998, at age 95.

Defiance Mayor Bob Armstrong described Fr. Ruess as a person who led his life by example. “He was highly regarded throughout the community,” he said.

Mayor Armstrong, a member of St. Mary, remembered Fr. Ruess for his service to the Defiance parishes and to the local Knights of Columbus council, where Fr. Ruess held the post of chaplain for 28 years.

“All of us got to know him really well, and always appreciated his sense of humor and his willingness to serve in any way that he could,” said Mayor Armstrong. “I think that he was happy himself to be able to come back to Defiance, Ohio, and be a part of our community, and it was really our pleasure to all of us at St. Mary’s and at St. John’s, and everyone at the K of C, to have known Fr. Reuss.”

The mayor said a committee of community leaders chose this year’s hall of fame inductees from a pool of about 20 nominees. This was Fr. Ruess’ first time on the ballot.

Defiance parish hosts program for adolescent girls

Laurie Stevens Bertke — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 +0000

DEFIANCE—Defiance St. Mary is collaborating with Defiance College this fall to help adolescent girls ages 12 to 16 enhance their reading and writing skills.

The Catholic parish is hosting T-RUTH Academy for Young Adolescent Girls, a program operated by the college’s Division of Teacher Education.

The academy is for young girls who are struggling with reading or writing as well as for those who simply enjoy reading and writing. Participants work within a structured program to develop interpersonal and academic skills that enable and empower them to become productive and caring young girls in their community.

The free program began Sept. 17, and participants meet every other Thursday evening through Nov. 12.

Each girl receives a featured book, a diary and other mystery gifts at each session. They also participate in career exploration, mentoring and self-empowerment tea parties. The program’s culminating activity is to be the presentation of each participant’s work in the form of a book.

T-RUTH’s overarching theme is to teach reading and writing to young women while engaging them to reach their highest academic potential, guide them toward self-awareness and understanding of others, lead them on a path of discovering their truth, and empower them to build community with humility to serve others.