The United States Province honored lay staff for service to the Congregation of Holy Cross at a recognition Mass and luncheon at Moreau Seminary, in Notre Dame, Ind., on Aug. 23, 2013. Provincial Superior Rev. Thomas J. O’Hara, C.S.C., presided at the Mass. Fr. O’Hara’s homily was based on First Readingfrom the book of Ruth and the biblical quote “For wherever you go, I will go…” (Ruth 1:16). It tells the Old Testament story of Ruth’s steadfast dedication and love for her mother-in-lawNaomi.Fr. O’Hara drew the same correlation between Holy Cross and its lay collaborators praising and thanking them. He noted that Holy Cross religious would not be able to carry out their mission in countries around the world, like Tanzania,Peru, Mexico, or be educators in the faith at their parishes or schools without the support of all the lay collaborators from all apostolates, to the Seminary, to the Provincial Administration departments. “For wherever Holy Cross goes, you go with us,” said Fr. O’Hara.
Fr. O’Hara and Br. Donald Stabrowski, C.S.C., third asst. provincial and secretary, handed out the service awards. Among those honored with service awards at this year’s luncheon were:
- Carol Gromski, association coordinator, Office of Development (Notre Dame, Ind.) – 40 years;
- Bruce Haney, maintenance supervisor, Moreau Seminary – 35 years;
- Jacqueline Pina, cook, North Dartmouth (Mass.) Community – 20 years;
- Holly Carter, housekeeper, North Easton (Mass.) Community – 15 years;
- Eric Howard, cook, Casa Santa Cruz (Phoenix) – 15 years;
- Vicki Haney, library assistant, Moreau Seminary – 10 years;
- Nicole Smothermon, nursing assistant, Holy Cross House (Notre Dame, Ind.) – 10 years;
- Benjamin Banik, IT manager, Moreau Seminary – 10 years.
Receiving recognition for five years of employment were: William Lawton, maintenance supervisor, North Dartmouth; Tami Grimslid, administrative assistant, Moreau Seminary; Diane Stassel, facilities assistant, LaPorte; Patricia Piechocki, activities coordinator, Holy Cross House; and Anne Wietstock, RN, Holy Cross House.
Receiving one-year awards were: Melanie Roberson, staff accountant, Provincial Business Office (Notre Dame, Ind.); Stephanie Gerschoffer, human resources manager, Provincial Business Office; Lisa Wong, cook, North Dartmouth; Julie Brown, housekeeper, La Porte, Ind.; Laura Supkowski, accountant, King’s Community; Kristina Weigle, RN, Holy Cross House; Robert Weaver, RN; Holy Cross House; Christopher Luczynski, RN; Holy Cross House; Roger Gower, RN, Holy Cross House; Andrea Buda, RN, Holy Cross House; Rosetta Washington, nursing assistant, Holy Cross House; Kathy Niespodziany, nursing assistant, Holy Cross House; Ruth Miller, nursing assistant, Holy Cross House; Leonarda Peppers, housekeeper, Fatima House (Notre Dame, Ind.); Stephanie Sibal, communications specialist, Communications Office (Notre Dame, Ind.); and Michael Pearson, maintenance technician, Casa Santa Cruz.
Those employees not working at facilities in Notre Dame, Ind., were or will be recognized by the Holy Cross religious community at the location at which they work.
The United States Province employees 114 lay staff members in five states: Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona.
The Province is made up of approximately 500 priests, brothers, and seminarians and is headquartered in Notre Dame, Ind. The United States Province fulfills Blessed Moreau’s vision in its education, parish and mission settings around the world.
Education
The priests and brothers are educators in the faith at the Province’s four colleges and universities: the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Ind., 1842), University of Portland (Portland, Ore., 1901), King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa, 1946.), and Stonehill College (Easton, Mass., 1948).
Parish
There are 13 parishes in the United States, from Vermont to Texas to Oregon to Florida, as well as two in Mexico.
Mission
The Province’s ministries/apostolates include Andre House, in Phoenix; Saint Andre Bessette Catholic Church, in Portland, Ore.; Ave Maria Press in Notre Dame, Ind.; Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Mass., which encompasses Family Theater Productions, Family Rosary, and Father Peyton Family Institute.
The Province’s international mission work reaches into Districts of Chile, East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania), and Peru, as well as the region of Mexico. Globally, the U.S. Province’s Holy Cross Mission Center supports the international mission work of the worldwide efforts of the Congregation of Holy Cross, spanning 16 countries on five continents. But it also directly supports those international locations for which the U.S. Province has direct jurisdiction, and those countries with which the U.S. Province has a special relationship.
