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archive ISSUE

an idea can turn into a work of art, a special gift, a treasure

LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Artists, artisans, musicians, writers and some just tinkerers share their creations in the diocese and beyond.

In this issue, The Messenger takes a look at a few folks and parishes that have “created” a work of art, perhaps a cookbook, or in the case of Tom Vernier, a book detailing the history of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis who came to this country from Germany and opened St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville among other ministries in the United States.

Vernier draws from many sources for “Poor Ladies … Rich Gift.” The title refers to the Franciscan sisters as the “Poor ladies,” and the “rich gift” refers to the ministry the sisters have given to the people of the area through the years.

Information for the book came from many places: the hospital in Belleville, the motherhouse in Springfield, Ill., and the international house in Muenster, Germany.

To begin the story of the sisters’ move to America, Vernier consulted the diary of Sister Crispina Topp, 25, one of the 20 sisters chosen to go to the United States in the fall of 1875.

Her diary entries bring the voyage into sharp focus with her description of their days at sea with the “terrible storms” and sea sickness they endured during their journey from Muenster, Germany to this country.

Later, Vernier uses letters the sisters sent to Germany to bring to life the sisters’ hopes, dreams and the reality they found in their adopted country.

Vernier said this history is the first written since 1975, the 100th anniversary of the sisters’ coming to the United States in 1875.

His writing, as well as the interviews he conducted for the book, are documented. Retiring from his position as administrative director of marketing and community relations in 2007, he immediately returned to the hospital to begin work on the book.

“I naively thought I could just sit down and write,” Vernier said. That didn’t happen, in part because one story led to another and the research had to be documented, and then Sister Gabrielle Rowe, ASC agreed to assist with editing the book.

“I wanted it to be not only correct but also interesting to readers,” Vernier said. “She was very, very good.”
Several of the diocese’s priests have musical talents that they have used to create CDs to raise money for charitable causes.

Father Brian Barker, pastor at St. Bruno Parish in Pinckneyville, produced a Christmas CD with Father Benedykt Pazdan, associate pastor of St. John Evangelist, Streamwood, Ill.; and Alex Fisher of Pinckneyville.
Some of the music is sung in Polish. For information about purchasing one of these CDs, see the advertisement on this page.

Father Barker uses the proceeds from the sale of these and other CDs for charity, in the past giving some of the money to Catholic Urban Programs in the Belleville diocese, St. Bruno’s sister parish in Guatemala and food pantries, he said.

Since 2003, more than $50,000 has been given away. “I do this because God gave me this gift or talent, and I should use it to help God’s people,” Father Barker said. A new CD? “Maybe in a couple of years,” Father Barker said because “it’s lots of work.”

On a larger scale, Connie Weisenfeld makes banners for churches. She began, she said, in 1990 making banners for her parish, St. Augustine’s in Breese.

She continues not only to make banners for the parish but she also houses the banners when they are not in use.
She donates her time, her talent and her resources to the parish.“It’s my peace,” she said when asked why she made the banners.

Connie’s husband, Dave, takes a book with photos of the banners and sizes that have been made to show to leaders at various churches in the area, both Catholic and other denominations.

Sometimes Dave takes samples of the banners, and people buy them on the spot. That works well unless the banners have actually been made for another church. If Dave sells those, Connie redesigns them and makes new banners for the original purchaser.

That’s part of the gift Connie gives her customers: Each banner design is unique; no two are identical.
She also researches Catholic symbols to use on the banners to make sure the symbols are correctly represented on the banners.

While she began making the banners from felt, now she uses only fabric for them. In 2007, she began making banners for other churches and businesses, like Carlyle Healthcare Center.

While her husband is in charge of “marketing and transportation,” most of the marketing is done by word of mouth. Someone finds out about the banners, sees her. Connie has seen catalogues of bannersfrom companies in other states, but the amounts they charge for their banners are staggering compared to hers.

Banners for Catholic churches follow the liturgical seasons, and she has made them for Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. She has also made them for celebrations at parishes.

Other churches also purchase banners as well. “I like ecumenical cooperation,” she said.

While she never intended to go into business, that seems to be what has happened.
Dave is justifiably proud of his wife. “It’s unbelievable what she does,” he said.

For information about the banners, including pole banners, please call 526-1104. The business is called dcBanners, and they do not have a web site.

Sister Diane Turner, SSND and parish life coordinator at St. Felicitas in Beaver Prairie designs and makes jewelry
She became interested in it about six months ago, she said, when a cousin began making bracelets from her mother’s (Sister Diane’s aunt) old jewelry.

Sister Diane’s mother liked the idea, and Sister Diane took her to a class where she “got hooked” on it herself.
She has shown it to some area ladies’ groups and a senior citizen group too. It is available in some local shops.
Sister Diane said she is willing to bring the jewelry to show it to organizations who may be interested in buying it. Please call 618-594-4701 or email dmtssnd@wisperhome.com.

Other books for sale include “My Journal,” by the late Father David Braun, pastor at Holy Cross in Wendelin and St. Joseph’s in Stringtown.

“He became known for his wonderful stories that would often accompany the weekly bulletin,” parishioners said. “These stories were sometimes insightful, humorous, embarrassing or emotionally moving.”

The parish has also published a cookbook “Welcome to Our Table” by the Holy Cross ladies’ organization.
Cost for the Journal is $25.00, plus $5.00 postage; for the cookbook $12.00 plus $3.00 postage. For more information, please call 752-5671.

St. Michael’s in Radom has reprinted a popular cookbook, originally published in the 1980s. This commemorative edition, “Family Favorite Recipes,” can be purchased for $15.00 through the parish school. Please call 485-6461 for details.

These are just a few of the many talented people in the diocese we discovered. If you know of someone, please email cathnews@bellevillemessenger.org.