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Bloomington students help families in transition |
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By Joe Towalski
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Wednesday, 04 February 2009 |
Catholic schools around the archdiocese were observing this year’s Catholic Schools Week theme, “Celebrate Service,” with a variety of projects and initiatives. Students at Nativity of Mary School in Bloomington, for example, spent the week of Jan. 26-30 collecting a truckload of pots, pans, lamps, linens and other household items to help stock the shelves of Bridging Inc.
Joe's Jots
Joe Towalski
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Students’ parents also delivered appliances, mattresses and other items directly to the Bridging warehouse, according to a press release from the school.
Bridging provides furniture and household items to families in
transition. The organization anticipates serving 20,000 people this
year — outfitting an average of 120 households every week at its
Bloomington and Roseville facilities.
“We’re so glad to have Nativity take this on as a service project right
now,” said Diana Dalsin, Bridging volunteer manager and a former
Nativity student. “It’s the perfect time because our donations drop off
in the winter when people aren’t cleaning out their garages. Plus, with
the changes in the economy, people aren’t replacing their housewares as
often.”
Nativity of Mary School students collected household items to restock
the shelves at Bridging Inc. in what was one of the most successful
drives the organization has undertaken with a school. Gathered with
students and donations are, from left, Diana Dalsin, Bridging volunteer
manager; Barb Castagna, principal; Jane Wagemaker, teacher; and Fran
Heitzman, Bridging founder. - Photo by Walter Haupt
You can learn more about Bridging by calling (952) 888-1105, or going online to www.bridging.org.
Serra Clubs elect Duluth man
William Ohnsted of Duluth recently was elected governor-elect of Minnesota’s District 7 Serra Clubs.
Ohnsted, currently president of the Duluth Serra Club, was elected to
his new position during a recent district meeting at St. Paul Seminary.
He will serve a one-year term as governor-elect before succeeding the
current district governor, John Litchy of the North-Minneapolis Serra
Club, in 2010.
There are 11 Serra Clubs in District 7, which includes the Archdiocese
of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the dioceses of Duluth, St. Cloud and
Crookston.
Serra International consists of Catholic lay people in clubs who work
to promote vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life through
information, affirmation, invitation and prayer under the guidance of
their local bishops. For more information, go online to www.serraus.org.
Foundation names vice chair
The Catholic Community Foundation has named a new vice chair — Gerald
Brennan, first vice president-investments at UBS Financial Services,
Inc., in St. Paul. Brennan is a member of Nativity of Our Lord in St.
Paul.
The foundation, which supports financially the spiritual, educational
and social needs of the Catholic community in the archdiocese, also
elected three new members to its board of directors for three-year
terms:
• Father Lee Piché, ex officio, is vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese.
• Sean Regan, a member of Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul, is vice chair and president of Premier Bank’s Roseville office.
• Harold Slawik is co-founder and partner of New Counsel, PLC, a
Minneapolis law firm specializing in representing entrepreneurs and
technology companies.
You can learn more about the foundation at www.catholiccommunityfoundation.org.
Joe Towalski is editor of The Catholic Spirit.
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