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seven people honored for taking faith into the marketplace

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

People compartmentalize so much during their daily lives, separating home from work, school from home, faith from almost any exterior activity. As Catholics, people often hold their faith tightly to themselves, praying at weekend or special liturgies and practicing their faith in ways that is not always visible to others.

However, for some people, taking their faith to work with them is the only way to live and to work.
About 225 people gathered Sept. 18 at St. Nicholas Parish Center in O’Fallon as The Messenger honored seven people for their faith, visible at work to all.

They came from parishes across the diocese, from St. Clement’s in McLeansboro, from St. Mary’s in Mt. Vernon, from Holy Childhood in Mascoutah, from St. Michael’s in Paderborn, from St. Dominic’s in Breese and from St. Nicholas in O’Fallon.

Lucille and Richard Auten, Dorcas Cecil, Bruce Jung, Paul Lynch, Cletus Mueth and Dr. Renato Rivera were nominated by people with whom they work or their employees and were selected by a committee to be honored this year.

Lucille and Richard Auten own a pizza restaurant in McLeansboro. A young employee, Stephanie Smith, nominated the couple because, she said, they are wonderful people to work for, and they care for their employees.
That care includes trying to work with the schedules of young employees who are also involved in school and church activities.

The Autens also donate pizzas to St. Clement’s and other churches for fund raisers. If they know of someone having a difficult time, that person or family might receive a pizza from the Autens.

The couple didn’t plan to go into the restaurant business in 1978, but the business, right next to their home, went on the market. It just seemed like a good idea at the time, they said.

However, both had full time jobs, and for many years, Lucille would come home from her job as a special education teacher in the school system and begin making pizzas in the afternoon.

Now in their 70s, both Autens have retired, but they continue the daily operation of the restaurant. It’s a fixture in McLeansboro, and many people, just driving through the area have heard about it and want to try it. The couple said they are proud to mentor young people and continue to hire them at the restaurant.

For continuing to inspire people in their parish and their community, for their commitment to youth and teaching them about the work ethic, the Autens were recognized with the Faith in the Marketplace award.

Dorcas Cecil owns and operates a property management company in O’Fallon that she started in 1977.
She treats her staff of 20 with dignity and respect, according to Lynda Fahrner who nominated her.

Members of her RENEW group, who attended the dinner as well, spoke highly of her. “Dorcas stands out as a true Christian, not only in her kind words but in how she regards people, free from anymeanness or pettiness,” Margie Jones said.

A fellow St. Nicholas parishioner, Barb Furdek, said: “Dorcas is a quiet and diligent disciple of Jesus Christ in her friendships and in her profession.”

For her care for others, her ethical business practices and her encouragement of staff and friends, Dorcas Cecil was recognized with the Faith in the Marketplace award.

Bruce Jung likes trucks. In 2000, he and his brother, Jon, bought the Mascoutah-based business — Jung Truck Service, Inc., — from their parents, Don and Phyllis Jung and have been running and expanding it since then.
Now the company handles warehousing and other related businesses.

Jung said he has been blessed, and his wife Cathy, agrees. “I pray for the ability to see an opportunity when it presents itself,” he said.

Accounting manager, Mary Kellerman, said she nominated Jung for the award because of his business practices, the way the company treats its employees and its customers.

Banker Todd Juehne said: “Bruce motivates his employees with challenge and the opportunity for personal growth.”

Another business associate, John Norrenberns said: “Bruce does not manage the business with a sense of entitlement; he operates with a feeling of gratitude and tries to instill the ‘Golden Rule’ of treating his employees and customers the way he would like to be treated.”

Jung said his work ethic comes from his family. As a young boy he remembers helping his father pour sidewalks at Holy Childhood.

He has continued his commitment to the parish as a trustee, a member of the parish finance committee and in other organizations.

For his generosity to his neighbors, his community and his church Bruce Jung received the Faith in the Marketplace award.

As he presented the award, Msgr. Hartlein said he wished he had 20 more people like Bruce Jung in the parish.

Paul Lynch, an attorney and member of St. Mary Parish in Mt. Vernon, impressed his pastor, Father John Iffert, when Lynch and his wife, Roberta (also an attorney), stood in support of a young man in trouble.

The Lynchs, along with other parishioners, attended the hearing when the young man was sentenced after his trial.
Lynch managed to support the family without denigrating the judge or the sentence that was given, Father Iffert said.

That ability to respect people on both sides of an issue is a trait that Lynch said he tries to cultivate. His standards include: treating others with respect and courtesy; representing the interest of clients and conducting himself with humility.

“It doesn’t make sense to be arrogant, drawing attention to yourself,” he said. “You’re just using what is given to you as a gift” from God.

Friend and sometime adversary, Jerome McDonald, said Lynch doesn’t try to take advantage of his opponents. He is admired by others in his profession because of his honesty and integrity.

A colleague and partner, Julie Webb, said Lynch’s “leadership is guided by his Christian faith.” A “role model to many attorneys as they enter the practice of law, he has taught associates in the firm that they can vigorously represent the interests of their clients while adhering to the principles of their faith.”

For his ethics, his honesty and integrity, for his willingness to be a mentor and example to others, Paul Lynch was recognized with the Faith in the Marketplace award.

Cletus Mueth lived his faith throughout his life, beginning with the principles he learned as a boy on the family farm.
The number of lives he touched locally, in the diocese and literally around the world through his giving is incalculable.
Because he died in March, Mr. Mueth’s wife, Joan, accepted the award on her husband’s behalf.

Paul Mueth worked in the business with his father and nominated him for this award.
He “was a wonderful role model to all,” Paul Mueth said. “He showed his faith daily in life; he cared very much about his employees and valued their input and ideas.”

His long-time business partner, Tom Grandcolas described him as a man of his word and a “fair person.”
Employee Gary Witkus, said Mr. Mueth taught his sons the value of hard work, education and a life centered around God “and the church he loved so much.”

His love of the church was evident not only in the way he lived his personal life and ran his business but also in his generosity.

Sister Carol Lehmkuhl, director of the Family Center in East St. Louis, has been a recipient of building products as she helps build homes through East Side Heart and Home. Others have received building products as well.

At St. Michael’s in Paderborn, he has been a trustee, an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, a member of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus.

While he had a natural talent for business, Mr. Mueth always believed in sharing his good fortune with others.
For all of his wonderful gifts, for his tireless commitment to his faith and to making life better for others, Cletus Mueth was given the Faith in the Marketplace award posthumously.

Dr. Renato Rivera has called St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese home since 1972 when he became a general surgeon on staff there.

Since then, he has operated on countless numbers of people in and around Clinton County. Many of his patients and former patients attended the dinner to honor him.

The doctor has a quiet manner that encourages confidence, and if that isn’t enough, he often prays with his patients before surgery.

Jeanette Reynolds who has worked with the doctor for 38 years described him as the kindest, most caring doctor whose patients always come first.

Humble, Dr. Rivera always credits God with his success in the operating room. He said “God gave me one talent: surgery,” and he uses that talent to make life better for his patients.

Carol Hummert, his medical assistant, nominated the doctor for the award. Not only does Dr. Rivera accept any patient, never turning anyone away, he takes his skills back to his native Philippines to perform surgeries for the poor.

Just as he always does at the hospital, at the dinner Dr. Rivera recognized the work of the operating room nurses who assist him, and his staff who help with patient follow-up.

For his humble and faith-filled service, for using his talents not only to heal but to inspire others and for his kindness and concern for everyone, Dr. Rivera received the Faith in the Marketplace award.