Irish Italian Fest set for March 17 - St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic ...

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THE NEWS ACCORDING TO ST. THOMAS
He will be missed by many
By Kathy Schimel
Ken Hrdlica, husband, father, grandfather
(“Pops”), and friend, died after a
brief battle with lung cancer on Friday,
February 24, and the Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, February
28.
Ken was prominent in the community
as a Chief Financial Officer at
Blendco, formerly was president of
Wards, sang in the choir, and was involved
with Hattiesburg Civic Light
Opera as a past president. He currently
was treasurer of HCLO, and was seen on stage in a number of shows.
His spot in the choir will be hard to fill, as Ken always had a smile or
a joke and made everyone feel welcome as soon as you met him.
The Irish Italian Festival will miss his large green hat on his full
head of gray hair at the ticket booth. He convinced everyone that if
they wanted to have fun they had to buy more than $20 worth of tickets
- he was a good salesman.
Ken touched many lives, and will be greatly missed by family and
friends alike. He was one of the “good guys” that always had a kind
word for everyone. He was one of a kind.
Diaper drive grand success
By Juliane Flanery
For the 2nd annual Diaper Drive this year, our Catholic Social
Services collected 117 boxes of diapers, which Sr. Carmelita -
along with members of CSS - personally delivered to families in
need in our community.
The Diaper Drive began in December when my husband, John,
and I were discussing what to give his mother for Christmas. A
strong woman in her faith, and always involved in her church, my
mother-in-law herself was the inspiration for this project... what became
our “gift” to her. We decided to find a way to help those in
need beyond our circle.
Having three children of our own at the time, two of whom were
in diapers, we were aware first-hand of just how expensive a necessity
such as diapers can become. We felt called to reach out to
those who struggle with this expense and the Diaper Drive was
born. The month of January was chosen to begin the project as a
way to commemorate the anniversary of Roe-vs-Wade and to celebrate
“Right to Life” month.
We are so very grateful to
Fr. Tommy, Sr. Carmelita,
and Social Services for their
encouragement, and to all
of the St. Thomas parish
family for making the Diaper
Drive the success it’s
been. We hope to continue
to collect for years to
come. Thank you to all
who participated. Keep up
the great work!
New Youth Minister comes
with fresh perspective
By Carolyn Nation
During college at USM Stephen
Ryan attended St. Thomas where he
was actively involved in CYO as president
and volunteered on the diocesan
SEARCH team. That and his family
values laid the foundation for his spirituality.
Originally from Bay St. Louis,
Stephen’s family moved to Oak Grove
when he was in the 7th grade. He
earned a double major in Political Science
and History, then received his
law degree from Mississippi College.
He also met his wife, Rachel, while at USM.
After practicing law in Hattiesburg for three years, he and Rachel
were asked to be on a panel to help select a new Youth Director. After
months of interviewing others and through his own prayers and soul
searching he asked, “Why not us”
Forty-eight hours later, Fr. Tommy told him to pick up the reins and
run with it. “I’m coming from a fresh perspective,” Stephen said, “because
I wasn’t aware of what activities went on before.”
That fresh perspective comes with a lot of energy and his background
as an attorney. Using the Conference of Bishops document on
Youth as the framework, he initiated discussions with St. Thomas leaders,
Ryan Myers from Sacred Heart’s youth group, and Bragg Moore,
the diocesan Director ofYouth Ministry. Then he polled the youth and
their parents about what they wanted and what was working.
“The youth were keeping it alive,” he noted. “The program is evolving.”
His recipe for success is to create a fun, safe atmosphere where
young adults can interact with one another and the adults on his team,
particularly in areas of spirituality. “We eat, have a good time, an activity,
and tie it in with a talk or lesson from scripture or a general
learning experience about their faith journey.”
Since January the Senior and Junior Youth groups combined numbered
40. “We want to have an increasing presence in service at St.
Thomas and to the community.
An ongoing goal is to become self-sufficient within the parish
through fundraisers. “We’re on our way to achieving our goals.”
The Richness of the Moment
The richness of the moment
cannot be realized
until it has grown to maturity
in a fertile mine field
where its memory can be cultivated
to its fullest treasure.
don hegwood ‘11