Pictured are: Anna Kuhn, Lydia Kuhn, Dee Ottensmeier, Ms. Kuhn of the House of Manna and Aggie Kampwerth

Catholic Holy Family Society Council 7, Breese, Illinois, recently used their Matching Gift Fund to donate food to the House of Manna Food Pantry in Breese. The House of Manna is currently helping over thirty needy families in the area.

Tina Winkeler presents Matching Funds to Jonathon Huegen

 Catholic Holy Family Society (CHFS) Council 22 of Bartelso held their yearly Social gathering on November 15,2008. The meeting portion of the social started with a Prayer from Fr. Henry Fischer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Charlene Huegen.  Brenda Becker read the minutes from the last meeting and Tina Winkeler gave the Treasures report for Megan Winkeler.  A report from the Breakfast held in November was given and the proceeds were given to The Village of Bartelso for 3 new Welcome signs.  A 50/50 raffle was also held with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.  Election of Officers will be held at the December meeting.  An update on the Welcome signs was given and the Council is waiting for a response from one more organization before proceeding.  The new Mass sign will be a project for next year.  Everyone was asked to start thinking of projects for next year.  Dates were set for 2009, with the breakfast set for Oct. 4 and the Social for Nov 21.  50-year pin recipients were named, but none were present.  Checks were presented to the Village for new Welcome signs from the breakfast proceeds along with the Hempen Grant and Matching Funds; Jonathan Huegen received the Matching Funds; and the Bartelso/Germantown football program received the Silver Star.  The meeting was closed and Father said a Pray before dinner was served. 

Beaver Prairie Council # 97 presents a check for new carpeting in the parish house. 

Pictured are: (L) Fraternal Secretary Eleanor Voss, Sr. Diane and Mildred Peppenhorst.

Pictured are: (L) Gene Kinkelaar, Scott Kinkelaar, Harry Ruetter and Ken Sandheinrich.

Pictured are members of CHFS Breese Council 7, Breese, Illinois, making a $200.00 donation to Fr. Patrick Peter of St. Dominic Parish.  The money was issued through the Silver Star Award and will be used to purchase new window treatments for the rectory.

2008 Fraternalist of the Year

President Jim Rial with Fraternalist of the Year Jean Schaefer

Our 2008 Fraternalist of the Year has been a member of Catholic Holy Family Society for over 19 years.  I couldn’t be happier to announce that Jean Schaefer, Freeburg Council #10, is the 2008 Fraternalist of the Year.

This year’s recipient never misses a council function and has held every elected position several times.  Even when she is not an officer, she is usually still running the event or project.  She is the driving force behind her council and council members. Selling for the council fundraisers, working Hearts and Hands projects, Matching Funds, Council Socials, Conventions and, fraternal meetings are all a huge part of this person’s life. She even organized a few Join Hands Day projects and even received National attention for the council one year.  She is the one who makes sure the Sweetheart brunch is organized, advertised and carried off without a hitch (even last year when the parish hall burned, she had it moved to the High School with no problem) However, she likes to work quietly and very much behind the scenes with no recognition or a lot of attention.  She was chosen over a year ago as a NFCA MVP.  She has often recruited her own husband and children to work council projects or to take on an officer position.

She has been a fixture at St. Joe’s in Freeburg for many years, where she has been an RCIA teacher and leader for St. Joe’s parish in Freeburg.  She works the fish fry’s.  She is a leader for the Busy Bees 4-H Club and she has even been a basketball and track coach for St. Joe’s.

She developed the web site for St Joe’s Parish in Freeburg and also for the Village of Freeburg.  In her spare time, she is also self employed full time as a computer software writer.  Every year, she transports individuals from SAVE so they can attend Christmas mass every year.  She and her husband have 3 children and 1 grandchild.  As spoken by a fellow CHFS Council member, "She is a leader who is a selfless servant of God and her church and family.  She is what keeps our council going.  She is the personification of the word Fraternalist."