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A Review of the Year 2010 in the Church in Southern Illinois

Story by RAFE MIDDEKE
Photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger staff

Parishes, institutions and individuals marked milestones in 2010. St. Boniface Parish in Evansville celebrated its 150th anniversary. Bishop Braxton joined parishioners at St. Paul Parish in Vienna to bless their new parish church. Journeys ended as the diocesan Meredith Home closed its doors after almost half a century and Holy Family School in Cahokia graduated its last class after 141 years of operation.

Bishop Edward K. Braxton celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, the 15th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop and his fifth anniversary as the bishop of Belleville.

Included in recognitions of individual commitments of faith and ministry were: Catholic Social Services Christian Service awards; The Messenger’s Faith in the Marketplace Awards; youth at the annual Catholic Youth Conference and school and service projects.

A number of parishioners were featured in The Messenger’s “Lights of Faith” series and diocesan clergy reflected on their ministry during the Year of the Priest.

January
Ministry and faith — reaching across the divides of time and ocean — across the threshold of life and death in posthumously remembered memories of gratitude — and in present inspirations, were the living realities behind the printed words of The Messenger’s January issues.

Adorer Sister Raphael Ann Drone returned to the African country of Liberia to reconnect with the people with whom she had ministered from 1971 to 1988 and to continue an ASC mission interrupted 15 years earlier when five ASC martyrs of charity were killed during Liberia’s bloody civil war. Sister Raphael Ann was featured in The Messenger’s annual Vocations supplement.

In the Jan. 21 issue parishioners of Holy Cross in Wendelin and St. Joseph’s in Stringtown recorded their treasured memories of gratitude for Father David Braun’s ministry as their pastor. His funeral liturgy was celebrated Jan. 5. Bishop Edward Braxton offered a reflection on his life and ministry in the Jan. 7 issue.

Featured as the first “Lights of Faith,” a new occasional Messenger series, were Virginia Spier of Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia and John Fridley of St. George Parish in New Baden.

Bishop Braxton published an instruction on “Kneeling Before the Incarnation and the Real Presence in the Eucharist,” in the Jan. 7 issue.

Also reported in January:
• More than 500 young people and adults participated in the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City, Mo., in November of 2009.
• The diocese announced the closing of the Meredith Memorial Home, the Belleville diocesan home for senior citizens. The home was opened in 1962.
Bishop Braxton visited St. Augustine of Hippo Parish in East St. Louis on the weekend of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration.
January obituary: Father David Braun.

February
With “Dividends For Life” as the 2010 theme of the traditional Catholic Schools Week celebrations in diocesan Catholic schools, The Messenger’s annual CSW February supplement included the dividend of Holy Childhood, Mascoutah teacher, Kelli Hawkins. Hawkins was a recipient of the diocese’s minority scholarship program awarded on the condition of returning to teach in a Catholic school after graduation.

The supplement also recognized award recipients: Dennis Grimmer as the “World’s Finest Principal,” awarded by the World’s Finest Chocolate in conjunction with “Today’s Catholic Teacher” magazine; Althoff Catholic High School as one of only four Illinois recipients of the Red Quill Award by ACT’s Midwest Regional Office. ACT is the national test qualifying seniors for college entrance and scholarships.

Georgia de la Garza was featured as a volunteer at St. John’s in West Frankfort designing lessons in culture and tolerance through art.

Also reported in February:
•Diocesan teens through seniors returned from Washington, D.C., after participating in the annual March for Life Jan. 22.
• Featured as “Lights of Faith” were St. Polycarp, Carmi parishioners Charles Nolan and Jan Blanken-
berger and St. Luke, Belleville parishioner Betty Prost.
• The Hispanic Committee of Holy Rosary Parish in Fairmont City raised money to assist victims of the Haiti earthquake by making 156 dozen tamales.
• Bishop Braxton named Elizabeth Nussbaumer as his new administrative assistant.
• “The Future Church” was the Jan. 23 topic of well-known Catholic journalist John Allen’s presentation at Our Lady of the Snow’s shrine.
• The February issues included Lenten recipes sent by subscribers.
• Sister Thea Bowman School in East St. Louis jump-started the 100th birthday celebration for East St. Louis legend and Thea Bowman supporter Inez Wilson.
• February obituaries: Sister Daneel Davinroy, SSND; Anna Volk, mother of Msgr. Marvin Volk.

March
“Journeys,” with varying destinations were a central theme of The Messenger’s March issues.

Diocesan parishioners continued on their annual Lenten journeys. Welcomed by Bishop Braxton at the annual first Sunday of Lent Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the cathedral were RCIA participants in the home stretch of their journey to baptism or full communion in the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil liturgies across the diocese.

For former Meredith residents, future journeys were “profoundly sad” and anxious. A final Feb. 23 prayer service marked the closing of the diocesan retirement home.

As advocates of immigration reform, ASC and staff members of the diocesan Office of Hispanic ministry, joined by Sister Jan Renz, ASC regional leader, journeyed to the office of U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello D-Belleville, seeking his support for national immigration reform legislation.

A 600-mile bike journey was planned by St. Joseph, Freeburg parishioner Mike Schaefer and Jimmy Becker to support the Pregnancy Resource Center and Students for Life of Illinois. They hoped to raise $25,000.

In the March 4 issue Father Dennis Voss reflected on his 46-year priesthood journey.

March issues included Lenten recipes as sustenance on Lenten journeys.

Also reported in March:
• The Jan. 18 homily delivered by Bishop Braxton at the Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration at the Basilica of St. Mary in Phoenix, Ariz., was printed in March 4 issue.
• Belleville diocesan Catholics joined Catholics from throughout Illinois in Springfield to address Catholic concerns with state legislators.
• The annual El Mansajero en espanol supplement with news of the Hispanic presence in the diocese was • Continuing a 30-year tradition, people from a dozen parishes joined St. Anthony, Lively Grove parishioners to participate in a quilting bee.
• March obituaries: Father William Hagen, OMI; Father Vincent Meskenas.

April
Easter is the oasis of the spiritual journey. The Messenger’s April 1 issue recognized by name new Catholics who would be welcomed into the church at April 3 Easter Vigils throughout the diocese.
Bishop Braxton offered a meditation on the Easter Mystery.
Crystal Gedris from St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon talked about beginning the process of becoming a Catholic before her marriage to Zach.
Easter reflections and greetings were included in the April 1 Easter Greetings supplement.
With the theme “Based in Faith” more than 500 diocesan young people and adults gathered for their annual youth conference March 13-14 at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, Ill. Youth Ministry director Colette Kennett received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.
Featured as “Lights of Faith,” were St. John the Baptist, Red Bud, teacher Kelly Barbeau and Joyce and Ralph Schulein from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Sparta.
Also reported in April:
• St. Mary, Mt. Vernon parishioners called attention to national child abuse awareness month by placing a banner at the church and passing out 140 cards with first names of children placed in foster care because of abuse or neglect.
• Bishop Braxton announced commemoration plans of the 40th anniversary of his ordination (May 13), 15th anniversary of his ordination as a Bishop (May 17) and 5th anniversary as Bishop of Belleville. He planned to mark the anniversaries in Rome, participating in the close of the “Year of the Priest.”
• Father David Darin and Father Brian Barker reflected on their priesthood ministries.
• The Agency Allocation and Accountability Committee for the Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal turned in their report and made recommendations. The April 29 issue included features of diocesan agencies receiving CSMA distributions.
• The annual Spring Blessing of the Farm was held April 22 at the Dehlinger Farms in Olney.
• The annual Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois’ regional breakfast was held April 10 in Murphysboro. Angelo Fiorino received a community service award for his assistance to the homeless in the area, adoptive couple Darlene Lutchka and Aaron Workman and foster parents Margie and Darren Fink talked about their experiences.
• At his 25th annual seminar Dr. John Yopp brought seeds and plants to East St. Louis and talked about gardening practices.
• Earth Day programs at St. Mary-St. Augustine School in Belleville and Immaculate Conception School in Columbia were featured in the April 29 issue.
•Holy Childhood, Mascoutah students Sarah Surmeier, 14, and Abigail Schlueter, 13, compared past and present experiences at the school with assisted living resident Edna Heimann, 104.
• The April 15 issue included the Spring Senior Living supplement.
• April obituaries: Deacon John Coates; Father David Kraus, OMI; Sister Mary Dolores Greifer, PHJC.

May
On the Vigil of Pentecost, May 22, Bishop Braxton ordained four men to the priesthood for the Diocese of Belleville. The four ordained were: Father Abraham Adejoh; Father Dale Maxfield; Father Joseph Oganda; and Father Sean Palas. He also ordained Anthony Onyango to the transitional diaconate.
The May 27 issue included a special supplement congratulating Bishop Braxton on his anniversaries as a priest and bishop. In the supplement Bishop Braxton reflected on his journey to and vision of the priesthood.
Bishop Braxton also published a commentary on “Msgr. Harry Jerome: A True Man of the Church,” who died April 30.
The bishop introduced James Mroczkowski as the Chief Financial Officer of the diocese. Bill Knapp, CFO for 12 years, announced his retirement beginning July 1.
Also reported in May:
• Catholic Charities reorganization model puts agencies into coalitions while maintaining each’s autonomy, becoming a networking entity for the agencies.
• Catholic Social Services (Metro East Region) recognized Christian Service awardees April 30 at the 20th annual Christian Service Awards and Benefit Dinner. Awardees were: Helen Fiedler, member of St. Teresa Parish, Belleville; Pastor Kendall Granger, pastor at New Life Community Church in East St. Louis; Father Osang Idagbo, CM, administrator at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Waterloo; and Pastor Camilla Weatherall, pastor at Deliverance Mission Church in Belleville.
• A Health and Fitness section in the May 13 issue featured Our Lady of the Snows shrine’s “Living Well at the Shrine” walking program, and the Personal Athletic Training Challenge Camps for young athletes at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.
• Msgr. Bill Hitpas reflected on his 43-year priesthood in the May 27 issue.
• A Memorial Day feature in the May 27 issue interviewed Army Staff Sergeant Keith Gimmy from St. Joseph Parish in Marion and deployed to Iraq on three occasions. Wedding plans were processed electronically while he and his wife, Andrea were both serving in Iraq. They met at a Teens Encounter Christ retreat.
• Parishes participated in the annual Mother’s Day sale of roses to support the diocesan Respect Life office.
• May obituaries: Msgr. Harry Jerome; Sister Agnes Carmel Dziak, OP.

June
With graduates looking forward to new challenges, The Messenger’s June 10 issue included its annual graduation supplement, congratulating graduates from the diocese’s three Catholic high schools and Catholic graduates from public high schools throughout southern Illinois.

Saluted were 37 valedictorians, salutatorians and summa cum laude graduates.

For the Cook family, members of St. Andrew Parish in Murphysboro, graduation bridged two generations. Brendon Cook graduated from Murphysboro High School. His mother, Sheri, graduated in December 2009 with a master’s degree in applied linguistics. She is a professor at John A. Logan College, teaching the Deaf Studies/American Sign Language Program and Interpreter Preparation Program.

Looking forward to change also, but not necessarily enthusiastically, were students of Holy Family School in Cahokia. The parish school closed its doors for the last time May 26 after 141 years. Clara Watts, 85, and her sister, Elsie Anderson talked about their student days at the school. Watts can trace her family ancestry to 1607. Holy Family Parish was founded in 1699.

Clergy appointments included the retirement of Father Dennis Voss after 46 years of ministry in the diocese as an associate pastor, pastor and hospital chaplain. He moved to the Hincke-Sense Residence for retired priests.

Also reported in June:
• Seven St. Elizabeth’s Hospital employees volunteered at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach in Springfield, Ill., to sort donated medical supplies to be distributed worldwide.
• A June 24 feature captured the spirit of Camp Ondessonk on the last day of a weekly camp experience at the 51-year-old diocesan camp.
• The Family Center and East Side Heart and Home collaborated on a house build in East St. Louis, expanding the neighborhood around the Family Center.
• Nine diocesan youth participated in Our Lady of the Snows shrine’s June 26 Youth Sing Praise production of “Moses and the Burning Within.”

July
July Messenger issues evidenced traditional summer activities, including diocesan parishes’ famous quilt bingos and supper picnics. The parish picnic at St. Boniface in Evansville included the opening of the parish’s sesquicentennial celebration with a galleria of scores of photos and memorabilia from the parish. Hot weather dampened the annual picnic for nursing home residents hosted by the Ministry to Sick and Aged, but not the spirit of participants.

Girls’ sports teams were in the spotlight at two Catholic high schools. Althoff Catholic High School’s soccer team brought home the 2A state title, finishing the season with a 27-0 record. The Mater Dei’s 3A softball team captured a fourth-place finish.

Summer days didn’t overlook preparation for a new school year. New principals for four parish elementary schools were introduced in the July 27 issue. Featured were Sandy Baechle at St. Mary-St. Augustine in Belleville, Claire McKay at St. John the Baptist in Smithton, Mary Neville interim principal at St. Clare in O’Fallon and Keith Senior at St. Michael in Radom. All of them had existing ties to the schools and communities as they looked forward to their new roles.
Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo scheduled a number of events during the summer to prepare incoming freshmen and parents for the transition to high school.
For Corpus Christi Parish in Shiloh the future was one step closer to reality as Bishop Braxton joined parishioners to bless and break ground for the construction of a new church.
Also reported in July:
• Bishop Braxton celebrated the annual liturgy June 27 at St. Peter Cathedral recognizing couples celebrating wedding anniversaries.
• Bridging a budget gap at Holy Angels Shelter in East St. Louis in a down economy was the focus of a July 8 feature.
• Ideas as the blueprints of co-op dreams for Julie Orlet-Schoen in Honduras and the local area, was the theme of a July 8 article.
• The fifth annual convocation on immigration and “Immigrants Among Us,” hosted by the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, was held July 15 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. The ninth annual Hispanic Youth Day was held there June 12.
• Participants in a two-day workshop on leading a prayer service at a funeral home and meeting the needs of families and friends met June 25-26 at St. Mary’s in Mt. Vernon. The workshop was the second in a three-part series sponsored by the diocesan Office of Worship.
• July obituary: Sister Florence Santel, ASC.

August
There were more than 70 names, photos and capsule descriptions of women and men religious celebrating anniversaries of professions and ministries in The Messenger’s annual Religious Jubilees supplement. Beneath the capsules were the histories of lives which profoundly influenced the faith of many in the Belleville diocese and elsewhere.
Featured in the supplement were Sister Barbara Lux, cssm and Sister Diane Turner, SSND. Sister Barbara, celebrating her silver anniversary after joining her community at the age of 37, has been a hospital chaplain and has brought the Awakenings program to southern Illinois. The program gives offenders on parole or probation a chance to change their lives for the better. Sister Diane Turner, celebrating her golden jubilee, has been a teacher, pastoral associate and for the past 10 years has been the parish life coordinator of St. Felicitas Parish in Beaver Prairie.
Also reported in August:
• The St. Vincent de Paul Mobile Kitchen (soup bus) continued its regular food program but also offered respite for the homeless from the summer heat crisis.
• Bishop Braxton welcomed Father Jean Marie Mondji to the diocese and appointed him to pastoral ministry at St. Michael’s in Radom and St. Barbara’s in Scheller.
• Charlotte Vielweber, St. Joseph Parish in Freeburg parishioner and a graduate of the parish’s school, was named the school’s new principal.
• The “Meals for Moms” ministry at St. Joseph’s in Olney — a home meals program for new moms — was featured in the Aug. 5 issue.
• The Catholic Extension Society awarded $50,000 to support the Daystar Community Center in Cairo and Holy Angels Shelter in East St. Louis.
• Catholic Urban Programs annual picnic for seniors was held Aug. 10.
• Bishop Braxton reported on Parish Pastoral Visitations to Immaculate Conception in Columbia and St. Augustine of Hippo in East St. Louis.
• August obituaries: Deacon Joseph Stock; Sister David Huelskamp, PHJC; Sister M. Rita Dolores Carr, CSC.

September
Three supplements in The Messenger’s September issues documented the experience of faith in circumstances as diverse as in the marketplace, the classroom and on seniors’ well-traveled journeys.
The Sept. 2 Senior Living supplement saluted 11 diocesan centenarians ranging in age from 100 to 108.
Parish religious education programs were the focus of the Sept. 16 supplement, with a spotlight on the program’s new director and catechists at Corpus Christi Parish in Shiloh.
Seven people were honored at The Messenger’s annual recognition of Catholics taking their faith into the marketplace. They were: Lucille and Richard Auten from St. Clement’s in McLeansboro; Dorcas Cecil from St. Nicholas in O’Fallon; Bruce Jung from Holy Childhood in Mascoutah; Paul Lynch from St. Mary’s in Mt. Vernon; Cletus Mueth, posthumously, from St. Michael’s in Paderborn; and Dr. Renato Rivera from St. Dominic’s in Breese.
An era ended with Colette Kennett retiring after more than 30 years as the diocesan youth director. She will begin work as the part-time director of One Bread, One Cup, a youth leadership program at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.
Also reported in September:
• Brother Juan Rommel Peres professed his vows as a Franciscan at St. Augustine’s in East St. Louis.
• JustFaith, an intensive 30-week program that explores the essential connection between faith and social justice was scheduled to begin in at least three diocesan locations.
• Bishop Braxton celebrated a Sept. 12 liturgy at St. Peter Cathedral with freshmen and their families from the three diocesan Catholic high schools.
• Colorado’s first lady, Jeanne Ritter, an activist in the mental health field, was a keynote speaker at the “Erase the Stigma” conference at Our Lady of the Snows shrine.
• Musical artist, Terry Barber, brought his “Sacred Journey Tour” to the area and specifically to Corpus Christi Parish in Shiloh because of his grandmother, Ellen Barber, a parishioner there.
• More than 150 people put their soles on the line for the poor Sept. 25 at the second “Friends of the Poor” walk at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville. The walk was sponsored by the Belleville Council of St. Vincent de Paul.
• Bishop Braxton welcomed Gary Landoll to the diocese as the new director of youth ministry.
• More than 150 people attended the Ministry to the Sick and Aged’s Rauchenfest, its 25th annual fundraiser.
• High school students gathered Sept. 25-26 at Our Lady of the Snows shrine World Youth Day weekend.
• September obituary: Sister Loretta Berra, ASC.

October
A witness to human dignity was displayed in the annual life chains visible in 15 southern Illinois locations, among 97 in the state and 1,700 nationwide.
A Respect Life feature focused on Project Rachel, a healing network assisting women after an abortion.
More than 100 people participated in the 25th annual memorial service for children who have died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese. Lisa Gebke, whose son, Jeffrey died July 14, 2005, two hours after he was born, talked about her memories and continues to participate in the service.
Father John Iffert, pastor of St. Mary’s in Mt. Vernon, and Sister Catherine Wellinghoff, ASC, parish life coordinator at St. Paul’s in Johnston City, were the speakers at the Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s annual convention Oct. 13 at St. Michael’s in Radom, with more than 175 women participating.
More than 480 Catholic school teachers gathered Oct. 1 at Holy Trinity Parish in Fairview Heights for the annual diocesan education conference.
Words of gratitude for their priesthood ministry filled the pages of the annual Priest Appreciation supplement in the Oct. 14 issue.
Also reported in October:
• Bishop Braxton presided at the annual Sept. 29 Harvest Blessing at Maple Hill Farm near Ashley, owned by the Chwasczinski family since 1890.
• Catholic high school open houses were the focus of an Oct. 14 Catholic education section.
• More than 100 people participated in the annual Red Mass liturgy, celebrated by Bishop Braxton. The liturgy marks the opening of “the judicial year.”
• St. Joseph’s, Freeburg, Helping Hands parishioners capped the Oct. 14 and 15 repair and reroofing of Paulyn Synder’s house in Washington Park. Snyder is the social worker at Holy Angels Shelter in East St. Louis and ministers to the homeless there.
• Students from Thea Bowman School in East St. Louis participated in a “Living Rosary” led by Maddie Dowell, the Grand Lady of the Ladies of St. Peter Claver.
• The Messenger announced polling readers on a variety of selected topics and the addition of a monthly parent column by Dr. Tom Kadela, a Marion psychotherapist and youth minister at St. Joseph Parish in Marion.
• October obituary: Sister Rosemary Henrichs, ASC.

November
The Belleville diocese’s 21 St. Vincent de Paul conferences and council celebrated the 350th anniversary of their patrons, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, foundress of the Daughters of Charity, by continuing to anchor their faith in service to the poor. A Nov. 11 insert outlined some of the Vincentians’ works and mission. The Society and over 700 friends also paid tribute to Joe Hubbard, a 50-year Vincentian, at an Oct. 30 dinner and program.

Elementary school students counted their blessings from family, a dad’s health and life, faith, church, school and a job again, to food, a warm home, friends, pets including a goldfish (“the only pet I have”).

Bishop Braxton joined parishioners at St. Paul’s in Vienna Nov. 7 for the blessing of their new church building.

The Nov. 25 issue featured the involvement of Msgr. Vince Haselhorst with the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. CFCA is a sponsorship program for children and aged in developing countries, with 2,683 sponsorships in the Belleville diocese. Developing sponsorships at weekend liturgies across the country has been Msgr. Haselhorst’s retirement ministry. CFCA cofounder Bob Henzen is currently on a 12-country, 8,000 mile pilgrimage from Guatemala through South America connecting with CFCA projects.

Also reported in November:
• Holy Childhood Parish in Mascoutah hosted Justin Fatica’s “Hard as Nails Ministries,” with the mission of awakening youth to the power of God’s love. St. Teresa parish in Belleville hosted Frank Runyeon’s performance of “The Sermon on the Mount.”
• Bishop Braxton was elected to the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, representing Region VII, the dioceses of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
• When Abby Schuhardt, 8, was diagnosed with a serious health condition, her former third grade classmates at St. Clare in O’Fallon organized a prayer service and anointing led by Abby’s pastor, Msgr. James Margason of Corpus Christi in Shiloh.
• Queen of Peace in Belleville bested St. James in Millstadt to win the Althoff Catholic High School basketball feeder tournament for the diocese’s Catholic elementary schools.
• Vigils for Life were held in a number of diocesan parishes Nov. 27 and 28.
• The youth of St. Barbara Parish in Okawville held a Baby Bottle project to support the Pregnancy Care Center in Belleville raising $830 and a total of $3,800 over the past four years.
• November obituary: Sister Mary Anthony Grawe, SSND.

December
December issues of The Messenger were a reminder of the annual journey toward the celebration of Christ’s birthday and his continuing rebirth in the faith lives of diocesan parishioners.

St. Boniface Parish in Evansville closed its 150th anniversary celebrations with Bishop Braxton as the celebrant of a Dec. 5 afternoon liturgy, followed by a dinner.

More than 1,000 youth responded to The Messenger’s Spirit of Christmas essay contest. The winners, whose essays were published in the Dec. 23 issue were: James Ramette, grade 2, Immaculate Conception School, Columbia; Lucas Brooks, grade 4, Sparta Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Sparta; Hannah Albers, grade 9, Mater Dei Catholic High School, Breese, St. Boniface Parish, Germantown; Mallory Winkeler, grade 10, Mater Dei Catholic High School, Breese, St. Bernard Parish, Albers.

The Dec. 23 issue also included the winners of the Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest.
Christmas reflections and greetings, including Bishop Braxton’s annual reflection, filled the pages of the Dec. 23 Christmas supplement.

A Dec. 9 Messenger feature introduced readers to subscribers’ gift suggestions from works of art to publications. The issue also continued an Advent tradition of publishing readers’ favorite recipes.

Also reported in December:
• The girls’ volleyball team at Mater Dei in Breese captured the state’s 3A volleyball championship. It was the sixth state championship for coach Fred Rakers, who announced his retirement after 35 years as the only coach of the volleyball program.
• Maryann L. Reese was named the president and chief executive officer of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, effective Jan. 17, 2011.
• The diocesan financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 were published in the Dec. 9 issue.
•A memorial created for the parish’s former pastor, Msgr. Bernard Voss, was dedicated at St. Henry’s in Belleville.
• December obituaries: Father Steve Gira, CR; Sister Loretta Volk, PHJC; Sister Lois Boschert, SSND.