Allegany News - Winter 2009

Calabash Associates
by Kathy Doyle, Associate

Getting back into the swing of things came early for the Calabash associates as Pat Bueter, Kathy Doyle and Betty Parbst made the trek up to Garner, N.C., to attend the Diocesan Respect Life workshop in late August. In honor of the 800 years of Franciscan charism, the Office of Peace and Justice invited a Franciscan friar as the keynote speaker. He elaborated on the broader concept of Respect Life that, in addition to the abortion issue, also addresses abolishment of the death penalty, a health care policy that includes everyone, an end to armed conflict and other life issues.

Trafficking was addressed for the first time in our county with a forum that included the district attorney, the sheriff and other county department directors. South Carolina also hosted their second trafficking workshop. Judy Harrington attended both programs and continues to tackle this Franciscan initiative for our group.

After our August hiatus, we gathered for a buffet dinner with spouses and guests. It was a great chance to catch up with each. Teddy Altreuter, Pat Bueter, Kathy Doyle and Rita Phillips reported glowingly on the 150th Anniversary Associate Retreat and closing celebrations in Allegany. Teddy and Kathy also spoke briefly about the Joint Associate Advisory Committee and local area coordinators' meeting in Tampa. Everyone is excited about the possibility of an associate gathering to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the associate program in 1213!

In late September, Geri Conroy, Ann Smith, Cathy Milstead, Winnie Rubio, Betty Parbst, Rita Phillips, Ann Witzel and Libby Horan joined other members of St. Brendan parish choir and performed for the Interchurch Council Fall Concert. Alice Fuller let her nimble fingers work their magic by embroidering golf shirts and golf caps with St. Brendan's logo for a parish council fundraiser.

We donated 96 dozen chocolate chip cookies for the Deanery Kairos retreat in September. Many of us repeated the gesture a few weeks later so that Roseann Bradner would meet her target goal of 75 dozen cookies for the Kairos retreat at the VA women's facility where she ministers.

We were all thrilled by the week-long visit of associate Jo Reed (right) in late September. Jo's deep, practical and genuine spirituality has been a blessing to our group since its inception and we miss it now that she lives in N.Y. We made sure that she got to Mass, then treated Jo to lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Intercoastal waterway.

October is a busy month along the North Carolina coast. It's the time when full-time residents reclaim their towns after the busy summer tourist season and it usually starts with a clean-up of towns and beaches. This year Gayle Hughes, Carol Carlson and Betty Parbst helped with the Ocean Isle Beach event. Because of ongoing construction at our parish Cathy Milstead, Janet Shirdon, Kathy Doyle, and Betty Parbst, along with other parishioners could not participate in the Shallotte "Battle of the Churches" Litter Sweep with actual clean up duties. Instead, they were recruited to help provide the hot dog lunch and hospitality for the over 100 hungry volunteers.

On Monday, Oct. 5, we gathered for our annual St. Francis Feast Day Mass in memory of our deceased associates, Jane Carpinello, Mary Dunlevy, Betty Shea and Rosemary Manney. Sadly, it became a Mass of the Celebration of the Life of Ron Graziano, husband of Jeanne, one of our group's sojourners.

Libby Horan and husband Tom helped with the Inter-church Council's booth at the Sunset to Sunset fair to raise awareness for the work of the council and to promote the Calabash Run for Food the food pantry's most lucrative money-maker. Libby and Tom coordinate registration for that event. Pat Bueter is once again coordinating our parish teams for the annual CROP WALK.

As expected, we heard about the congregational assembly held in Tampa from Carol Carlson at our October meeting/retreat with Sr. Kathy Maire. Surgery had prevented her from attending the 150th celebration and she was thrilled to finally meet the sisters and other associates; now some names have faces! We are happy to report that Charlie Giordano is also recovering from his surgery.

The retreat with Sr. Kathy was an "Open House” for special invited guests who may become associate inquirers down the road. It was a wonderful time of sharing, witness and fellowship. At the business meeting after the retreat the group agreed to participate in the Countdown to Copenhagen postcard campaign and to encourage others to support this endeavor.

After attending a program by Sr. Margaret Mary Kimmins about Bread for the World's "Offering of Letters” this past spring, our parish decided to participate in this national event for the first time. Teddy Altreuter, Kathy Doyle, Libby Horan and Betty Manz will staff some tables at Mass and invite the other parishioners to participate as well.

With great pleasure and pride Kathy Doyle and Teddy Altreuter announced to the whole assembly that Rita Joan Phillips’ nomination by the Calabash associates for the NACAR Partners in Mission Award was accepted by the associate advisory committee, local area coordinators and the congregation. Sr. Kathy, for the congregation, presented Rita Joan with a copy of the nomination. Rita joins Marie Cameron as a nominee for this very special award.