2021 Parish Stewardship Award Recipient

Congratulations to our 2021 Parish Stewardship Award Recipient . . .

Christine Wille!

Christine Wille 2021 Stewardship Award Recipient



Each year a stewardship award is presented to a parishioner that has gone above and beyond. There are many exceptional volunteers at Good Shepherd, so when one is chosen, they are a true blessing to this parish family.

Chris has been teaching religious education classes since about 1987. She began as a substitute at Chelsea when the first grade teacher was unable to continue teaching, and she has been teaching ever since. 

For a time, Chris taught second grade and prepared her students for Reconciliation and their First Holy Communion. Teaching, as all catechists know, involves not just showing up for class, but also preparing lessons in advance.  Teaching younger students includes working with the Christmas play each year. It also includes making crafts, teaching through storytelling and more.  She has even made prayer pillows for students over the years!  When Good Shepherd parish came into existence in 2005, Chris stepped up to the plate and served as Coordinator of Religious Education.   

But this person’s gifts go beyond Catechetics.  Through the use of her financial background, Chris served a number of years on the parish Finance Committee and continues to serve as parish Finance Trustee at Good Shepherd.  This individual also audits our parish finances on a regular basis. She also serves as a Eucharistic Minister at the parish.  

She is one of the main organizers and assistants for all our parish fundraising raffles. From set up to finish, she is there.  Everything she does, is done well!

This person’s heart is always with her family. We hear she is an exceptional cake decorator. Whether it be family birthdays, weddings or anniversaries, she is the one being called on for a special cake.  (Now that the parish knows about this, she better beware!)

This person is also involved in community work. She is the treasurer of the Chelsea SWAT Snowmobile Club and has been for many years. She has also helped with many other community fundraisers.

She is friend to many, and foe to none. She is a prayerful and humble friend and neighbor among us. If you don’t see her in our pews on a weekend, you can bet she will be in the pews somewhere else.  Her witness indicates that God comes first in her life.

Our many thanks and congratulations to our 2021 Stewardship Award recipient, Christine Wille!

Congratulations to our 2020 Parish Stewardship Award Winner . . .

Mary B. Thums!

Good Shepherd Stewardship award winner Mary Thums with husband Ken
Mary with husband Ken working in the kitchen during Fall Festival

This year’s parish stewardship award winner has been active in the Church since a youth. But we will focus on this person’s current ministries in the parish at this time.  Much of her involvement includes the assistance of her spouse, which is the case with so many couples in this parish.

This person has been a Eucharistic Minister at the parish for many, many years, sometimes taking Holy Communion to the homebound, as needed.  Other involvement at Mass includes being a Mass counter and sacristan.  There are times this lady has been called upon to make baptismal stoles for adults or older children, and do special sewing projects, such as making new cloths for our offertory table—even so far as making the Corpus Christi canopy that was used in the past. We expected to use it again this year, but COVID-19 has pushed it off until next June.

Her sewing abilities have been put to many good uses, including quilt making. Every year’s Fall Festival included a homemade quilt for our large item raffle. Quilts are continually made by her and donated to many causes,  including the Abiding Care Pregnancy Resource Center’s Receptions for Life. This person was also a former board member for that organization, and continues to support their efforts. She is also involved with POPS and their annual garage sale, and supportive of the efforts of many other community events.

This individual has a special heart for our young people, and her husband has also been involved with this as well. While she serves every year on our Vacation Bible School committee helping our youth with crafts, her husband makes sure their grandchildren are rounded up for a week of fun during that time. Their love for all their children and grandchildren is demonstrated by their involvement in each of their lives.

This person has been involved in the ministry of our parish food pantry for many years. She and her husband shop for the pantry whenever it needs to be restocked.  They also supplied the pantry with many personal food items as well.  She is a frugal and smart shopper, which has also benefited her position to serve on our parish Finance Committee.  When special needs arise in the parish, she and her husband are often there to make those needs a reality.

This individual also works at most funeral dinners and is often seen working in the kitchen at our Fall Festivals along with her husband.

Through the difficulties and challenges in her life, her faith has remained rock solid. She helped her mother as she struggled with cancer. She took her father and deacon into her home before his battle with cancer ended. She and her husband supported their son through his debilitating and tragic accident and personal struggles, and now encourages him in his accomplishments in the World Wheelchair Curling Championships. She is cheerleader for her children and grandchildren in all of life’s encounters. She is friend to many, a person with a big heart, a big smile, a positive attitude, and a kind word. 

Our many thanks and congratulations to our 2020 Stewardship Award winner, Mary B. Thums!

2019 Stewardship Award

Andy Dums!

This year’s parish stewardship award goes to a man who has been a lifelong member of this parish community.  Like a number of our parishioners, this parishioner will drop what is being worked on at home to come and help whenever help is needed at the parish or for a friend or a neighbor.

This parishioner has served on the parish council in years past, and currently serves on the Buildings & Grounds Committee—having been there since its inception. He is also an usher/greeter.

Although this individual isn’t afraid to tackle any job, most of his work includes special help with fixing our outdoor church bell and lighting and electrical issues. He is familiar with our PA system and was instrumental in seeing to its installation. Whenever help is needed with microphones or clip-on mics—whether it be for our Christmas plays, assistance with visiting priests, or parishioners needing to learn to use the ear buds to hear better during Mass, this person is right there. He was there for our larger projects as well—like work involving our old church windows, our new stained glass windows and the church ceiling. We’ve seen him cutting debris from our ditches, and helping cut down dead trees. And let’s not forget about the snow shoveling on our roofs in the winter and how he used his equipment for snow removal from the lot and removal of brush and other debris during grounds clean ups—at no charge! We have seen him build anything we need out of metal and he also does welding repairs at the church. He has been working on hall doors and entry doors and you can see him on ladders changing out lights both indoors and outside. When the timers for our outdoor lights need to be adjusted, we call upon Andy. He is there to help with fall and spring clean ups. He is our eyes for the needs of our church and grounds. He is a friend to many and he is always willing to help.

Our thanks and congratulations to Andy Dums, our 2019 Stewardship Award recipient.  He truly is a “Handy Andy” that we are blessed to have among us.  God bless you, Andy!

2018 Stewardship Award

 

We are pleased to announce our 2018 Parish Stewardship Award Winner:

Cheryl Eisner!

Stewardship Award 2018

2018 stewardship award winner cheryl eisnerThis person has displayed the true meaning of stewardship for many years. Of all the gifts this person has, they are used to bring glory to God. She and her husband attend Mass each weekend and often attend weekday Masses too. You will often see her at adult formation classes, because of her eagerness to learn more about her faith. She and her husband also share in a number of parish ministries.

So what makes this person so special? Well, she is humble, compassionate and sincere about all she does. You will find her serving as a reader, usher, Eucharistic Minister and sacristan. You will find her serving on the Decorating Committee, working especially during the Advent and Christmas, and the Lent and Easter seasons. You will find her watering plants at the church.

This person helps set up and assist at funeral luncheons. She is one of our money counters for the weekend collections. She serves on the Parish Council. Not everyone knows that she also mails out our parish bulletins each week to the homebound, at her own expense. She cleans the rectory and mends our pastor’s clothes when it is needed.

This lady was a Confirmation catechist a number of years ago, and this year is taking on a new catechetical role at the parish. She will be assisting students that have fallen behind in preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion. She has taken Holy Communion to the homebound when there was a need.

Family is also very important to this lady. Since retiring, she has had more time to enjoy and care for her grandchildren. She takes her mother to appointments and is there to support her in many other ways.

This lady taught elementary school for many years before retiring a few years ago. She and her husband passionately support the Abiding Care Pregnancy Resource Center by attending their annual reception, and at one time she even helped at their office. You will see her working at the Senior Citizen Center. She is an officer at the local American Legion Auxiliary and serves at all their fundraisers and other special events for both the Legion and Auxiliary.

We would imagine there are other things she does that we are not even aware of. We ask that you join us in congratulating and thanking CHERYL EISNER for her demonstration of love for family, parish and community.

2016 Stewardship Award

velma-and-lester-mann
Velma and her husband, Lester

We are pleased to announce our 2016 Stewardship Award winner—
Velma Mann!

This lady is an exemplary example of sharing her faith, especially with the youth of this parish. She has served as a catechist for 27 years, and currently holds an Advance Level of Certification through our diocesan religious education program. She has helped with Vacation Bible School for the last 25 years, and served as coordinator for that program for most of those years. Velma has completed the Lay Ministry program offered through our diocese. She also is a reader and Eucharistic Minister at the parish. Currently she serves on the Pastoral Council and, has done so over the course of the years.

Outside the parish, she has served as a teacher until her recent retirement, but still substitute teaches in the area. She has also coached youth for a number of sports activities. Most days now, she is occupied with her grandchildren and it is easy to tell the amount of joy they bring to her life.

This lady has mentored a number of youth over the years, always encouraging them and working to build up their self-esteem. Youth often turn to her for guidance where they know they will receive a pat on the back or a high five for their accomplishments. She allows and encourages youth to express their minds and guides them in discussions that will help keep them morally on the right track. She is caring and considerate, and full of energy. One of her goals is to succeed in giving Father Otto a “gator ride,” as she asks him to go most times when she comes to the parish office! She is a convert to the Catholic faith and has certainly witnessed service to God, parish, family and community.

God bless you, Velma, for accepting the Lord’s call in all you do!

 

 

 

2015 Stewardship Award

Congratulations to Good Shepherd’s 2015 Stewardship Award Winner!

This year’s stewardship award is presented to Judy Cihasky. Judy is one of those behind-the-scenes persons who helps in so many ways.

Judy has been one of the collection counters from way back to at least the 1970’s, and continues doing it today, along with processing our CSA collections. Judy was also in charge of decorations and plant care for a number of years.  She now continues to work diligently on the decorating committee.

Judy is the chairperson of the Shepherd Knitters and besides making prayer shawls, has made prayer beads and book marks for the sick and those who need cheering up.  She has also made other special blankets and gifts for people.

Judy also helps with funeral luncheons at times, and often jumps in to help with clean up of socials.  You will also see her on Sundays as a Mass counter and usher/greeter.

What is so special about Judy is the humble attitude about all she does. She is there to build up and encourage all those she works beside in her ministries, and expects nothing in return for all she does.

Our thanks to you, Judy, for all you do! We are pleased to see you receive this award!

 

 

Judy (right) visiting with a parishioner and friend, Dorothy Scharer at Country Gardens.