One of the great traditions here at St. Catherine of Siena
has been the Pastor’s Annual Stewardship Award. The
first Stewardship Award was awarded 20 years to Andrew
Young, and since then many parishioners who have
donated time and effort have been so honoured.
Unfortunately the Award fell into abeyance in 2004. The
upside of that is that it leaves me a number of years to fill
(albeit after the fact). One of the most difficult things about
the Award (from my perspective), is who to choose, as
there are so many parishioners deserving to be recognized.
At any rate I have settled on the recipients for the years
2004 through 2006; Deeda Calderazzo for 2004; Fran and
Bob Chrownowski for 2005; and Richard Kane for 2006.
Deeda has long been a driving force for Ecumenism at
St. Catherine’s, representing the parish at the Great Falls
Ecumenical Council, but has also been very active in many
other ways, for example, getting volunteer families to take
in members of the Ukrainian and English youth Choirs that
visited several years ago. Deeda also raised $10,000 for
the Catholic Church to sponsor a room at the Ecumenical
Mary’s House, a home for young mothers in crisis, as well
as planning days of recollection, both for the parish and
the Great Falls Ecumenical Council.
Bob and Fran Chronowski were equally active in the
parish until they moved out west almost two years ago.
Fran functioned for years as Sacristan for St. Catherine’s
making sure that we had all the liturgical supplies that we
needed. Bob was always on hand if something went wrong
with the Church lights or heating and air conditioning. In
addition they donated the beautiful Divine Mercy Tapestry
which hangs in the Church vestibule. They also provided a
great deal of personal support for the priests of St.
Catherine’s. They are sorely missed.
In the Winter of 2005-2006, longtime parishioner Richard
Kane came in at my request to straighten out parish
finances, which had been sadly neglected. Richard’s work
paved the way for our current financial director, Richard
Webb. Additionally, Richard was very supportive of me
personally, and a tremendous help during the staff
upheavals that occurred that winter. As a member of the
Parish Finance Council, Richard Kane continues to lend
the parish his valuable expertise in our financial planning.
My heartfelt thanks go out to the new recipients of the
Pastor’s Stewardship Award, as well as to the many, many
other parishioners who are deserving of recognition for
their fine service to St. Catherine’s.
(The Award for 2007 will be announced at Easter).