Fraternal Focus, Winter 2014 - Catholic Holy Family Society

The Fraternal Focus
Official Publica on of Catholic Holy Family Society Winter 2014 21st CHFS Build in Partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Peoria Area
On the morning of Thursday, October 9th, about 50 CHFS assemble the exterior walls and then transported them members and staff drove through 3 hours of pouring rain up the morning of the build so that we could get a jump to get to the site of our 21st habitat build in Peoria, IL. It start. By 1:00 on Thursday, the trusses were being did not look very promising at 8:00 A.M. But by 9:30, moved by some of the Peoria Rivermen Hockey Club the rain had subsided, straw was put down to minimize Players. And despite the rain, by the end of the day, all the mud, the standing water was swept off of the trusses, windows and doors were in place. Day two was founda on and volunteers were assembling their tool spent finishing the roof, pu ng on siding and finish belts. We had a house to build for a family of four and work. The house, which includes 3 bedrooms, a full we were going to do what we came to do, rain or shine! basement and single car garage should be ready within Luckily the rain stopped and never started up again. the next couple of months. (Con nued on page 12) Earlier in the week, a handful of our volunteers met to Christmas Prayer Let Your goodness Lord appear to us, that we made in your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate Your majesty, power, and wonder nor is it fi ng for us to try. But Your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gi s, the gi of eternal love Caress us with Your ny hands, embrace us with Your ny arms and pierce our hearts with Your so , sweet cries. ‐ St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 ‐1153) IN THIS ISSUE 2014 Fraternalist of the Year P. 3 Thoughts From the CEO P. 3 CHFS High School Scholarships P. 4 Scholarship Recipients P. 5 Volunteer Rewards P. 6 Fr. Mark’s Corner P. 6 Helping Hands Church Grants P. 7 Councils In Ac on P. 8 ‐ 11 21st CHFS/Habitat Build P. 12 ‐13 Fraternal Leaders Mee ng P. 14 Fraternal Benefits P. 15 Founder’s Day P. 16 ‐ 17 2 Thoughts From The CEO Family Society on May 16, 2014. This event allowed me to Happy New Year! We can look back at 2014 and think about meet some re red employees who once worked in the Joliet the challenges and good office, Thomas C. Giarrante the mayor of Joliet IL, and re ring events that took place. Board Member Deacon Claire Sanders. Another fraternal I would like to highlight some ac vity was the Annual Fraternal Leaders mee ng at the of the good events that I Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville IL held in September, where I was able to update the a ending mem‐
experienced in this past year. bers about some of the exci ng changes at the Society. I also was introduced to Mr. Charles Berkel our 2014 Fraternalist of 2014 started with my becom‐
the Year. It was remarkable to hear about the wonderful ing CEO of Catholic Holy ac
vi
es that earned Charles the award. Family. I knew of the Society and had met a number of the organiza on’s officers through In October, I also experienced my first Build with Habitat for Daniel J. Wenzler, Sr. American Fraternal Alliance Humanity. This was the 21st me that CHFS members business mee ngs over the past few years. Now I am par cipated in this type of community service. As you can see fortunate enough to work with them. I find it amazing that from the pictures in the Fraternal Focus many of our members of the Society par cipated. Some of these although I’ve worked for insurance companies almost my members have been involved in many, if not all, of the 21 en re professional career, I con nue to learn more about the business. I have learned about how the Preneed life business building projects. For me this was a great experience and one works and the rela onship CFL/CHFS has with the funeral that I plan to do again next year and I want to personally homes we call our preneed partners. thank all our par cipa ng members. Although 2014 held many challenges, it held many wonderful On the fraternal side I have par cipated in a number of ac vi es. I am grateful to be working with a good Board of events where I have met many of our members that live near both our Belleville and Joliet offices. Some of those mee ngs Directors, officers and staff here at Catholic Holy Family were social informal “open house” events. The Society Society. We are effec vely working together through our hosted other more structured events like the Founders Day challenges. I look forward to a successful 2015. event celebra ng the 100th anniversary of Catholic Holy Helping Hands Church Grant Recipients Catholic Holy Family Society is pleased to announce that St. Mary’s Church, Carlyle, IL, Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Philadelphia, PA, St. Teresa Parish, Belleville, IL and St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Albers, IL have each been selected to receive a Helping Hands Church Grant in the amount of $3000. 00. Parishioner Cornelius Kampwerth, who is a member of CHFS, nominated St. Mary’s Church for the grant to be used for the Food Pantry. Parishioner Kathleen Flanagan, who is a member of CHFS, nominated Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church for the grant to be used for the St. Vincent de Paul Society to buy food. Parishioner Bernard Lengerman, who is a member of CHFS, nominated St. Teresa Parish for the grant to be used for the St. Vincent de Paul Society for help with serving the needy in the parish with financial aid to help cover their rent, u li es, medical bills and emergency aid. The number of people helped varies from 45‐70 monthly. See the photo on page 9. Parishioner Marcie Hacker, who is a member of CHFS, nomi‐
nated St. Bernard’s Catholic Church for the grant to be used for the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help with the food 3 pantry and Christmas Shoe Box Project (boxes mailed to needy kids around the world at Christmas). CHFS Members are encouraged to submit their parish for one of our $3000.00 Church Grants. Eight church grants are awarded each calendar year. Criteria for the grant is as follows: CHFS will award programs that strive to improve quality of life issues. Therefore, we are looking to fund programs such as parish food banks, shelter programs, senior programs and youth programs. We will NOT fund church repairs, building maintenance or capital campaigns. CHFS wants to make a difference in the lives of individuals living in our members’ communi es. So put on your fraternal think‐
ing cap and send those requests in. Your parish could be the next one chosen to receive $3000.00 for one of your missions. All requests must be submi ed in wri ng and sent to CHFS, P.O. Box 327, Belleville, IL 62222. Please do not forget to include a descrip on of your project, your name, address, day me phone number, policy number, your parish address and phone number and the name of your pastor. Deadlines for requests are March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2015. For addi onal informa on, please contact Fraternal Director, Mary Barbara Kurtz at 800‐240‐
2554. Catholic Holy Family Society High School Scholarships CHFS currently awards (20) $2000.00 Catholic High School Scholarships each year. Although we plan to con nue this benefit, the applica on process for the scholarship has changed in 2014. Applicants must either be a member in good standing or a child or a grandchild of a member in good standing. The scholarship is nonrenewable. Ten students will be chosen in June and ten will be chosen in December. Students may apply for this scholarship any me between the summer prior to Fresh‐
man Fall Semester and Senior Fall Semester. There is an applica on process that must be completed by the student and those forms may be downloaded from the organiza ons web site at www.chfsociety.org. The deadline to submit the completed applica on is June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Please mail completed applica ons to CHFS, P.O. Box 327, Belleville, IL 62222. If you have any ques ons regarding the scholarship program, please call Fraternal Director, Mary Barbara Kurtz at 800‐240‐2554. Catholic Holy Family Society High School Scholarships were created to emphasize the importance of Catholic High School educa on. The Society congratulates our winners who were chosen on June 30, 2014. STUDENT STUDENT CITY & STATE NOMINATED BY RELATIONSHIP Alyssa Winkeler Germantown, IL Alyssa Winkeler Self Anna Goestenkors Aviston, IL Richard Goestenkors Grandfather Cole Strotheide Carlyle, IL Mildred Peppenhorst Grandmother Nolan Seelhoefer Bartelso, IL Dolores Seelhoefer Grandmother Lauren Schmidt Columbia, IL Mary Jane Fuhler Grandmother Ma hew Bircher Smithton, IL Margaret Bircher Mother Kaitlynn Borik Belleville, IL Melissa Borik Mother Nicholas Barnes Ke ering, OH James Mikula Grandfather Patrick Flanagan Philadelphia, PA Kathleen Flanagan Mother Halena Sepulveda Girard, OH Lawrence Kobus Grandfather 4 Catholic Holy Family Society High School Scholarship Recipients Alyssa Winkeler Kaitlynn Borik Anna Goestenkors Cole Strotheide Lauren Schmidt Ma hew Bircher Nicholas Barnes Patrick Flanagan 5 Nolan Seelhoefer Halena Sepulveda Volunteer Rewards Volunteering is the heart of fraternalism. Volunteers make a difference by contribu ng their me, energy and talents to the causes they hold dear. Because our members play such an integral part in who we are as a Society, we want to know what you are doing to make a difference in your church and community. We are looking for the volunteer ac vi es you par cipated in and the hours you spent doing them. By filling out our form and sending it to the address listed, you will be en‐
tered in our Volunteer Rewards drawing. Out of the entries received, the Society will randomly choose three winners to receive a cash prize of $150.00 each. Each ac vity requires a separate form and each ac vity is an addi onal entry for the drawing. This form may be copied for addi onal ac vi es. Winners will be drawn on December 31, 2014 , June 30 and December 31, 2015. MAIL TO: CHFS, Volunteer Rewards PO Box 2909, Joliet, IL 60434 VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES VOLUNTEERISM VOLUNTEERISM Gives us the opportunity to change lives, including our own. If you’d like to support a cause, but can’t afford to donate money, donate your me instead! ________________________________ _________________________________ The winners chosen on June 30, 2014: YOUR NAME ADDRESS ________________________________ _________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIPCODE POLICY NUMBER ______________________________________________________________________ VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY ______________________________________________________________________ DATE OF PARTICIPATION AND HOURS SPENT Helen Timmermann, Breese, IL Diane Long, Melbourne, FL Gail Ohren, Alhambra, IL These members spent their volunteer me working at food and blood banks, hospice homes, nursing homes and hospital infor‐
ma on desks. Fr. Mark’s Corner By Fr. Mark Fracaro Christmas is coming! That means Jesus is coming! The whole season of Advent is about preparing for His coming. We celebrate His coming to us at His birth in Bethlehem. We receive Him as He comes to us in spirit, liturgy and prayer. We look forward to His coming in glory. We have to prepare and be ready for each of these comings. What do we focus on the Most? Jesus came to get the world ready for His Father. He was born like us. He lived like us in all things but sin. He died like us. But neither could death nor the world hold Him. He con nues to be born in us through our loving acts. He con nues to live in the world through our loving acts. He con nues to die in us through our unloving acts. But he rises again in us through our loving acts. Holy Mother Church concentrates on all three. As we live in the present, the past has formed us and the future enlivens us. It’s a sort of dilemma, if you will, that we live in three tenses in one person. How do we do that? Well, as with so many things, only by the grace of God. Ain’t it the truth?! 6 The mystery of God’s Grace! Glory be to God in the highest, And on earth Peace to people of good will! Merry Christmas! Charles Berkel Named 2014 Fraternalist of the Year Charles Berkel Our annual Fraternal Leaders mee ng was held on Saturday, September 27th at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belle‐
ville, IL. Approximately 70 people were in a endance including CHFS staff, trustees and council officers. Our day began with an invoca on by Trustee, Rosemary Wesolik, followed with a welcome by Fraternal Di‐
rector, Mary Barbara Kurtz. Our new CEO, Dan Wenzler, thanked all council officers for their con nued support and commitment to CHFS and talked about some new and ex‐
ci ng changes in the works for the Society. Bernard Lengerman, Past President and Past Chairman of the Board, gave an in‐
forma ve talk about the importance of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Since we are a fraternal, then, why not add a community service component to our mee ng? So we encouraged all councils to bring paper products to be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and as usual they came through with flying colors! We filled three cars and we also donated more than $500 in checks to help with the rising costs of maintaining this much needed organiza on. And the last item on the agenda was the announcement of the 2014 Fraternalist of the Year, Charles Berkel of Edwardsville, IL from Belleville, IL Council #21. Charles has been a member of the Society for over 50 years. He has served as Council President, Secretary and Treasurer several mes. He has also served as chairman of the Christmas food baskets, helps with the annual Christmas Party and he has been a conven on delegate over the years. In addi on to his council involvement, Charles is ac ve in the Knights of Columbus Adopt‐
A‐Highway program and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Edwardsville, IL where he serves as a Eucharis c Minister, collec on counter, usher and works the fish fry! And if he is not already busy, Charles is an usher for the St. Louis Cardinals and works every single home game! Charles and his wife Sandy have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. Congratula ons Charles! The True Spirit of Fraternalism in Ac on 7 Councils in Ac on BELLEVILLE, IL COUNCIL #71 LIBORY, IL COUNCIL #37 The Council hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Council members making “Linus Blankets” for their addi onal Hands On project. The blankets were delivered to Shriner’s Hospital. The Council used their Hearts and Hands funds to purchase supplies for St. John Bosco Children’s Center. Pictured are (L‐
R) Trudy Schauster, Phyllis Berkel, Terrence Allen, Children’s Center Program Services Manager and JoAnn Rathke. Fraternal Secretary JoAnn Rathke (R), presents the Council’s Matching Fund check to Milissa Faust, Principal of St. Clare Catholic School, O’Fallon, IL. ST. ROSE, IL COUNCIL #28 The Council and St. Rose Volunteer firemen held a work day to build walls for the Firehouse addi on. Council Treasurer Ralph Bruggemann presented their Hearts and Hands check to fireman Ryan Rehkemper. Workers included Ed Schrage, Luke Wilke, Craig Benhoff and Dan Benhoff. Carson Hempen (L), presented the Hempen Grant to Council Secretary Judy Wilke and President Wayne Winkeler. 8 Councils in Ac on EVANSVILLE, IL COUNCIL #113 FREEBUR
HELPING HANDS CHURCH GRANT G , IL COUN
CIL #10 The Council presented their Matching Funds check to St. Pius V Parish to purchase a commercial stove for the Parish Hall. Pictured are (L‐R) Laura Coop, Dorothy Braun, President, St. Pius V Altar Sodality, and Council Fraternal Secretary Alice Ohms. Bernard Lengerman presented the Society’s Church Grant to St. Teresa Parish’s Msgr. David and Kathleen Wilson. NEW BADEN, IL COUNCIL #83 Council President Barb Brandmeyer and Eric Nordike, owner of Hempen‐Nordike Funeral Home presented a dona on to the New Baden Volunteer Fire Chief Ma Flanagan. The Funds were used to improve the department’s com‐
puter system. Council Trustees (L‐R) Denny and Tom Brandmeyer manned the Quarter Toss Stand for the Council’s Matching Fund Project at the St. George Picnic. The proceeds went to benefit the Parish. Council Trustee (R) Tom Brandmeyer presented a 50 Year Membership pin to Don Norrenberns. BEAVER PRAIRIE, IL COUNCIL #97 BENEFICIARY CHANGES Is your beneficiary informaƟon up to date?
The Society is in the process of upda ng our files. Please review your policy for your current named beneficiary. If you need to update your beneficiary informa on, contact our Life Department so that we may send you a change of beneficiary form. Our toll‐free number is 1‐800‐435‐0089. You may also visit our website at www.chfscociety.org and click on the Beneficiary Change tab to download the form. Council President Eugene Heldorfer presented the Council’s Matching Fund check to Margie McQuade for the St.Felicita’s Ladies Sodality. 9 Councils in Ac on BECKEMEYER, IL COUNCIL #85 LIBORY, IL COUNCIL #37 The Council hosted a social gathering. Pictured are (L‐R) the Council’s Fraternal Sec/Treasurer Gerri Stock, Vice Pres. Judy Korte , Rose Pulver, Betsy Kampwerth and Audrey Davis (Seated). The Council presented Matching Funds checks to the Boy Scout Camp and Food Bank. Pictured, back row: Ma & Elise Kohnen, Todd Alexander and Carl Wessling. Front Row: Jana Weishaupt, Elaine Rossy, Betsy Kampwerth, Todd Peppenhorst, Rose Pulver, Gerri Stock, Chuck Sims (Camp Joy Boy Scout Camp), Judy Korte, Dayton Kohnen, Rhonda & Max Pulver. The Council partnered with the Parrot Head Club of Clinton County to host a 5‐K Run at Eldon State Park, Carlyle, IL. Pictured are the winners of all age groups. (L‐R) Rhonda Pulver, Council Fraternal Sec/Treas. Gerri Stock, Vice Pres. Judy Korte, Betsy Kampwerth and Max Pulver (Seated), at the 5‐K Run at Eldon State Park, Carlyle, IL. BELLEVILLE, IL COUNCIL #21 Council Members Bill Gain, Terry Schulte, Charlie Berkel, Fraternal Sec. and Art Gantner delivered food to the Community Interfaith Food Pantry for the Council’s Hearts and Hands Project. Pictured (L‐R) Ray Miller aned Rickey Fellner delivering food to East St. Lous for the Council’s Hearts and Hands Project. 10 Ray Miller, Fred Schmi ling and Ray Berkel’s grandson, Andrew Bass, delivering food to East St. Louis for the Council’s Hearts and Hands Project. Councils in Ac on ST. LIBORY, IL COUNCIL #37 The Council made a dona on to the St. Libory Cow Pa y Youth Project. The Council sold quilt raffle ckets at their The Council hosted a Pancake and Sausage Pancake and Sausage Breakfast as part of Breakfast for their Hearts and Hands Project. their Matching Fund Project. Members cooking breakfast were Tim and Julie Lange, Paul O en and Helen Musenbrock. ALBERS, IL COUNCIL #89 Brian Zurliene of the Albers Council presented checks to Brenda Morris, Shelly Schuetz and Father Jack Joyce to be used for Cosgroves Casseroles/St. Vincent de Paul to feed the homeless and also to support Opera on Shoe‐
box Christmas Program for children in need. The Council u lized their Hearts and Hands Funds to do concrete work at Lehrter Park, Albers, IL. Hempen‐Nordike Funeral Homes, Carson Hempen and Eric Nordike and their family members presented checks to Brian Zurliene of the Albers Council and St. Bernard’s Ladies Sodality Treasurer Linda Majchrzak for Matching Funds. Submit Ar cles and Photos for Publica on Provide us with photos, ar cles and/or descrip ons of your Council’s community events. Be sure to include who, what, when, where and why. Submit your digital photos to Anne Menard, Editor, at [email protected]. 11 21st CHFS Habitat for Humanity Partnership Con nued from page 1 ‐ Throughout the two day build, volunteers worked closely with the Habitat family. The couple has two children, an 8 year old daugh‐
ter and a 1 year old son. On Sunday, October 12th, they were ge ng married and having a huge wedding. Our volunteers were just as excited as the family! Some of the comments I heard that weekend from our volunteers were things like “that was the hardest working couple we have ever worked alongside”. “They were without a doubt, the most grateful and apprecia ve family we have ever worked with”. and “they were the friendliest and 12 sweetest family we have ever had the pleas‐
ure of building a home for”. In addi on to our construc on crew, we had about a dozen ladies in charge of keeping our volunteers fed. No one ever leaves our build hungry. All in all, it was a fantas c build and one we will never forget. Everyone signed two by fours on the interior of the house wish‐
ing the newlyweds much happiness in their new home. The Peoria Habitat Chapter was great to work with and we want to thank them for a great team effort and also for all of the wonderful publicity. Everyone is already look‐
ing forward to Build #22. 13 Annual Fraternal Leaders Mee ng Silver Star Councils: (L‐R) Joe Timmermann ‐ Carlyle 19, Judy Gruner ‐Gran ork 60, Aggie Kampwerth ‐ Breese 7, Betsy Kampwerth ‐ Beckemeyer 85, Pat Becker ‐ Bartelso 22, Charlie Merker ‐ Freeburg 10, JoAnn Rathke ‐Belleville 71, Dennis Brandmeyer ‐ New Baden 83, Charlie Berkel ‐ Belleville 21, Bob Jansen ‐ Breese 82 and Dolores Bergkoe er ‐ St. Libory 37. Breese, IL Council 82 held a quilt raffle at the mee ng. Bert Kluemke and Helen Timmermann sold the ckets. Honor Level 1 Councils: (L‐R) Brian Zurliene ‐ Albers 89, Mary Ann Schulte ‐ Aviston 6, Rosann Horstmann ‐ Damiansville 45, Dana Weh ‐Trenton 8 and Wayne Winkeler ‐ St. Rose 28. CHFS Chief Execu ve Officer, Daniel J. Wenzler, talked about exci ng changes at the Society. Carson Hempen announced plans to con nue the Hempen Grant. 14 Past CFL President and Chair of the Board, Bernard Lengerman addressed the importance of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 2015 Fraternal Benefits The Society welcomes all of our members to par cipate in our Fraternal Programs. We realize that not every benefit applies to every member. However, the Fraternal Commi ee will con nue to assess our programs on an ongoing basis to make sure we are offering benefits that reach the broad range of demographics that make up our membership. As we move into our 2nd century of serving our customers, our mission statement remains the same….. Catholic Holy Family Society is dedicated to: *Promo ng belief and trust in God *Giving members courteous, caring and prompt service *Serving the Catholic Community through a variety of fraternal programs that encourage member par cipa on *Providing security for members and their families with financially sound insurance products Council Programs Upon membership in Catholic Holy Family Catholic Holy Family Society High School Scholarship CHFS currently Society, each member is placed in a local unit called a Council. These awards (20) $2000.00 Catholic High School Scholarships each year. Councils offer members a chance to become involved in various Although we plan to con nue this benefit, the applica on process social, benevolent and religious ac vi es. Each council elects officers for the scholarship has changed, effec ve January 1, 2014. who are responsible for organizing and administering the many Helping Hands Church Grant CHFS Members are encouraged to projects and programs made available to the Councils by CHFS. submit their parish for one of our $3000.00 Church Grants. Eight Councils are also responsible for elec ng delegates to a end the Church Grants are awarded each calendar year. Society’s Quadrennial Conven on, at which me Society Directors are elected and reports on the state of the Society are discussed. Emergency Medical Benefit Members of CHFS are eligible to receive The Council programs include: an emergency medical alert bracelet at no cost. The medical emergency emblem is on one side and the health problem is en‐
Matching Funds Program Councils are encouraged to perform fund‐
graved on the other side of this valuable life saving bracelet. raising events each year to assist a local religious or civic project. CHFS assists the Councils with their fraternal work by matching all or Social Gatherings Councils are invited by CHFS to hold family a por on of the funds raised for the charity. The recipient of the picnics, corporate communion breakfasts and dinners. These social funds and the type of event are the decisions of the Council. events help to build council interest and assist members in becoming acquainted. Matching Gi s In order to provide smaller Councils with an oppor‐
tunity to contribute to a local fundraising project, the Matching Gi s ScriptSave Prescrip on Benefit CHFS recognizes the fact that there program was established. A Council may donate up to $150.00 to a are a number of individuals who have no prescrip on discount card. worthwhile organiza on, parish or individual in need. The Na onal Therefore, ScriptSave is available at no cost to all CHFS members to Council will match that amount. defray the cost of prescrip on and over‐the‐counter drugs. In addi on, ScriptSave has a Wellness Center which provides medical Hearts and Hands Each year a Council may receive a grant of up to informa on and screenings at no cost. $600 to do a small work or service project in their community. The grant is designed to give members an opportunity to assist a needy Orphan Benefit This benefit provides a monthly financial allowance family or parish project by purchasing materials and supplies. The for orphaned children of Catholic Holy Family Society members. The members provide the volunteer labor to complete the work. allowance, as determined by the Catholic Holy Family Society Board of Directors, is payable to the eligible orphaned child through age Habitat for Humanity Projects Every year CHFS helps sponsor a 18. (Either the child or the deceased parent(s) must be a member of project involving Habitat for Humanity Interna onal, including the Society). raising funds and/or recrui ng volunteers for a weekend home build. Working with the local HFH affiliates, CHFS is in partnership with this Newborn Benefit This benefit provides a $2,000.00 death benefit to non‐profit Chris an organiza on whose ul mate goal is to eliminate the insured parent(s) if their newborn child dies within 60 days of poverty housing. their birth. Council Honors Award Program Honoring Councils who meet the stringent requirements for fraternal ac vity and service, the Na onal Council increases both Matching Funds and Hearts and Hands grants to Silver Star, Level I and Level II Councils. 20 and 50 Year Pins Members who a ain 20 and/or 50 years of membership in CHFS receive membership pins. These are presented in recogni on of the loyalty and faithfulness of the member. The Fraternal Focus The Fraternal Focus is the official publica on of Catholic Holy Family Society. Published twice each year, The Fraternal Focus features our Council Ac vi es, member contests and per nent informa on regarding our products and our fraternal mission. Volunteer Rewards Program This program features our volunteers and their par cipa on in their own communi es. Look for the Volun‐
teer Rewards Program form in The Fraternal Focus and mail it in. You may win a cash prize! 15 CHFS Founder’s Day Open House Catholic Holy Family Society celebrated their 100th anniversary with a Founder’s Day Open House in Joliet, IL, on May 16, 2014. The Society’s Spiritual Advisor Fr. Mark Fracaro gave the opening prayer. Speakers during the a ernoon included James A. Rial, President, Daniel J. Wenzler, Sr., Chief Execu ve Officer, Jean Konrad, Treasurer, and Thomas C. Giarrante, Mayor of the City of Joliet. Mayor Giarrante, on behalf of the Joliet City Council, presented the Society with a Proclama‐
on recognizing Catholic Holy Family Society’s 100 years of service to its members and the communi‐
es it supports. Guests included the Board of Directors, past and present employees, local members, business associates and elected officials. They enjoyed cake, punch and fellowship while recalling the history of the Society though old photographs and memorabilia. Vice President and Corporate Secretary, Sandra H. Bouchard recognized Re ring District 3 Director, Deacon Claire Sanders with a Board Resolu on thanking him for his dedica on to the Society and Board of Directors for nearly 10 years. She presented Deacon Sanders with a Waterford Crystal cross and plaque as a re rement gi . (L‐R) CHFS President James A. Rial accepts the Joliet City Council’s Proclama on from Mayor Thomas C. Giarrante. (L‐R) CHFS President James A. Rial and Mayor Giarrante watch as Vice President and Corporate Secretary Sandra Bouchard presents the Board Resolu on to re ring District 3 Director Deacon Claire Sanders. (C) Re ring District 3 Director Claire Sanders was joined by his daughter Janet Sanders and her husband Wayne Barta. (L‐R) Sr. Elizabeth Marie Klepec and her sister, Lorrie Klepec are the daughters of a founding member of the Society. 16 17 1 Fairlane Drive Joliet, IL 60435 800.435.0089 ph 815.725.0105 fax www.chfsociety.org Anne Menard, Editor [email protected] 18