Judy Russell shares her favorite Mother's Day poem and more in latest faith column
One of the favorite Mother’s Day poems through the years has been “What I Learned From My Mother,” by Julia Kasdor. It goes like this:
“I learned from my mother how to love the living, to have plenty of vases on hand in case you have to rush to the hospital with peonies cut from the lawn, black ants still stuck to the buds.
“I learned to save jars large enough to hold fruit salad for a whole grieving household, to cube home-canned pears and peaches, to slice through maroon grape skins and fleck out the sexual seeds with a knife point.
“I learned to attend viewings even if I didn’t know the deceased, to press the moist hands of the living, to look in their eyes and offer sympathy, as though I understood loss even then.
“I learned that whatever we say means nothing, what anyone will remember is that we came.
“I learned to believe I had the power to ease awful pains materially like an angel.
“Like a doctor, I learned to create from another’s suffering my own usefulness, and once you know how to do this, you can never refuse.
“To every house you enter, you must offer healing: a chocolate cake you baked yourself, the blessing of your voice, your chaste touch.”
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The Men of Praise of Waupun will present an evening of Music May 18, starting at 6 p.m., at the Peniel Welsh Chapel. The concert is free, but a freewill offering will be accepted. Refreshments will be served after the program. The historic Peniel Welsh Chapel is at W9644 Zoar Road, Oshkosh. For more information, visit wggaw.org, or contact Tom White at 920-722-9424 or at tjwhite65@charter.net.
Most Blessed Sacrament Parish of Oshkosh will hold a Pentecost Vigil Mass and Party May 18 at its St. Mary site, 605 Merritt Ave. The Vigil Mass, which begins at 6:30 p.m., is similar to the Easter Vigil, with five readings, plus the Gospel, and will include a prayer of laying of hands. After the Mass, there will be an outdoor party on the lawn. Take your lawn chair. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
It’s a first-of-its-kind event May 19 when Peace Lutheran Church of Oshkosh holds a Pig & Pie Party, starting at 10 a.m. after morning worship. All sorts of pies and a pie auction are included. Youths also will serve hot dogs, chips and soda as a meal before the main event. Proceeds will help youths of the church attend the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer in New Orleans.
Six men, including two from St. Raphael Parish in Oshkosh, are scheduled to be ordained Deacons in the Diocese of Green Bay at 10 a.m. May 18 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. The two from St. Raphael’s are David G. Westenberg and Thomas P. Younger. The others are Gregory J. Mohr, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Neenah; Henry C. Wildenberg, St. John Nepomucene, Little Chute; and from St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Manitowoc, Peter F. Schlegel and Robert P. Wetzel. A light reception will follow in the Cathedral Center, 140 S. Monroe Ave.
The next Men’s Spirituality Morning of Esto Vir Oshkosh will be May 18, starting with registration at 7 a.m. in the chapel at Father Carr’s Place 2B, 1062 N. Koeller St. The speaker will be Fr. Chris Manahan, SJ, who will speak on “Go, Set the World on Fire.” Manahan is Provincial Assistant for Senior Jesuits and Pre-Tertians, USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus. Mass is at 7:45 a.m., breakfast at 8:15 a.m., and the program at 8:45 a.m. A freewill offering will be accepted.
Volunteers of all ages, individuals and families, are needed to help at the annual CARRnival for Kids June 1 at Father Carr’s Place 2B, 1062 N. Koeller St., Oshkosh. This free community and open house event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the alcohol- and smoke-free campus. Carnival rides, children’s games and challenges, raffle prizes, food and drink, and more are all included. Tours of the complex will be available. Sign up on their Facebook page to volunteer, or call the Place 2B at 920-231-2378. For more information, email info@fathercarrs.org.
Bratwurst lovers, mark your calendars. Peace Lutheran Church of Oshkosh will have Brat Fry fundraisers at the Festival Food stand on Westowne Avenue May 26 and June 2. The youth team of the church will volunteer at the brat stand to help raise money to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer. Hours listed for the May 26 operation of the brat stand are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
St. Mary churches of Omro and Winneconne are sponsoring Fatima Rosary in the Park, starting at 10 a.m. May 13 in Marble Park and Scott Park. Take a lawn chair and your rosary. A rosary guide and apparition write-up will be provided. Shelters are in both parks in case of light rain. The rest of the dates for this event are June 13, July 12, Aug. 13, Sept. 13, and Oct. 12.
Thought for the day: When Mother Teresa received her Nobel Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?” She replied, “Go home and love your family.” Happy Mother’s Day.
Judy Russell of Oshkosh writes about happenings at area centers of worship. To submit news for her consideration, email oshkoshsubmit@thenorthwestern.com with the subject “Church news.” Deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Mother's Day poem by Julia Kasdor in Judy Russell's faith column
