LIVING THE FAITH

Alice Sturgeon

Parish: Ascension Church,
Georgia, VT

My Catholic faith began somewhat different than most. Although my parents were not practicing Catholics they insisted their children were. My older sisters saw to it that my brothers and I attended Mass on Sunday, and they walked us to St. Mary’s Catholic School in St. Albans, each day. I received my First Holy Communion, was Confirmed, and was married at St. Mary’s.

After marriage, my husband Mitchell and I moved to Georgia and were blessed with a large family. Our faith in God and our Church gave us love and support through many difficult times, including the death of our oldest son, Michael. This showed us what God’s love looks like and brought our family closer together.

As my  faith continues to grow, I thank God for His invitation to believe, my sisters for their patience, my loving husband, Mitchell (now deceased) and our devoted children. I also thank my faithful friends for sharing their love of God with me, and encouraging me to share the faith with others.

LIVING THE FAITH

CHANGES LIVES

My husband and I joined Ascension parish in the late 60’s, when Masses were first offered in the gym of the Georgia Elementary School.

As our membership grew, efforts got underway to build a Catholic Church.  Blessed  with  several  priests  and parishioners who provided invaluable guidance, and with assistance from the Diocesan Building Commission,  Ascension Church was completed in 1988.

Working with these great priests and families, Ascension established an active Religious Education program. The program has flourished over the years with the help of dedicated Catholic lay teachers who have received training from the Diocesan Office of Catholic Formation. A “Family Life Program” for 6th, 7th and 8th graders was implemented with guidance and materials provided through the Office of Respect Life.

I am grateful for the many inspiring priests who have been assigned here, and to those who continue to provide pastoral care and the sacraments.

Raising a family within this community’s atmosphere of faith has given my life purpose, and has revealed how God provides us with living examples of His love. Ascension continues to thrive through the generosity of our members, and the support of the Diocese.  A donation to the Annual Bishop Fund Appeal assists parishes like mine to be able to share this love with our young students and to all who desire to belong to God’s family.

Join me in supporting the 2012
BISHOP’S FUND APPEAL

LIVING THE FAITH

WILLIAM AND MARGARET RENSCH

Parish: Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Williston, VT

Our faith and our family are what we hold most dear.  The fact that we are beloved children of God has resonated throughout our marriage and the lives of all our children.  We wanted to instill in our family the same love we have received.

The Bishop and his priests have been a family to us,  fostering our faith, answering our questions, praying  for us and with us. Our children continue to see this love of Christ and follow His call to discipleship. 
   
Each of our children has unique gifts, and they share those gifts in their faith journeys, in high school, in    college, in their work, and has led one of our children to enter formation for the priesthood for the Diocese of Burlington.

LIVING THE FAITH

CHANGES LIVES

Like many other families, things changed when we were blessed with our six children.  The desire to pass on this love of God and His Church led us to home school our six children.  This enabled us to integrate the faith and sacraments into every aspect of daily life.  As part of the  Roman Catholic Home School community we were encouraged and nurtured by faith-filled families which modeled a sacrificial giving of oneself.

Our joy and appreciation of our marriage covenant grew more profound when we were embraced by other Catholic families. They were God’s children schooling us on how to love.  This was a beautiful gift to our marriage and family, which we now have the privilege to share with other engaged couples, as part of the diocesan One in Christ  Marriage Preparation Program.
   
A pivotal moment in our faith was learning Natural Family Planning through the Diocese.   As our understanding of God’s all embracing care and love for us deepened so did our trust and faith.  We are thrilled to be able to now share this gift with other couples. 

The Church has always been there for our family. Through resources, conferences, and reading we discovered the treasury of wisdom from the lives of the saints and the catechism, our love with Christ and His Church grew.  The Church has cared for our family through births, deaths, joys, and sorrows life.   
   
For this, we are extremely indebted and are blessed to be able to call the Catholic Church our home.

Join us in supporting the 2012
BISHOP’S FUND APPEAL

LIVING THE FAITH

The Buckley Family
Parish: Sacred Heart / St.Francis
Bennington, VT

Like many Catholic families, my wife Tammy and I face challenges raising our children in the faith stemming, at least in part, from our secular culture.

When our oldest daughter Lauren left for college, my wife and I worried.  We prayed she would find the courage to steer clear of forces that truly wreak havoc in so many young college lives. 

    How could she learn more about her Catholic faith?

    Would she continue to live a sacramental life? 

    Would she seek opportunities to evangelize her peers?

LIVING THE FAITH

CHANGES LIVES

At the highest point on the University of Vermont campus stands the Catholic Center – supported by the Bishop’s Fund.  The Catholic Center is a home away from home – a place to study and make new friends, but above all, it is a place where students encounter the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

The Bishop’s Fund also supports FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, creating another facet of this gem on the hilltop at UVM.  FOCUS understands that the beauty of a Christian community is that its joy is infectious, and that the young adults at UVM are searching for truth and answers. FOCUS missionaries invite students into one-on-one discipleship opportunities offering  themselves with radical availability, allowing the Holy Spirit to do with them what He wills to bring each college student to the heart of Jesus Christ and His Church.
 
The Bishop’s Fund helped our daughter claim   ownership of the Catholic faith. The Catholic     Center at UVM and FOCUS are indispensible to the life of the Church in Vermont, and are but two examples of how this important Appeal affects the lives of those we are called to serve.

Join us in supporting the 2012
BISHOP’S FUND APPEAL

LIVING THE FAITH

Maryjane Fradette

Parish: Mary Queen of All Saints Parish,
Hardwick, VT

Since my marriage to Mario, nearly thirty-eight years ago, the center of my life has been my faith.  I am an active member of Mary Queen of All Saints parish.  Raising our three daughters I guided them in their spiritual formation and demonstrated how I could help our Church by serving as a trained catechist, as I did for over twenty years.  The best way to demonstrate the faith and keep our Catholic faith growing is living it well and sharing it with others.

Through my years of faith formation, the Diocese has continuously sponsored many programs and trainings that have been greatly beneficial. I have shared this knowledge with the students in my religion class, and incorporated the lessons learned into my family life, as well.

LIVING THE FAITH

CHANGES LIVES

When the Safe Environment program VIRTUS was instituted through the Diocesan Office of Safe Environment Programs, I participated in a three-day training session.  Having learned about the program I whole-heartedly support the diocese-wide adoption, implementation and continuation of the program and serve as a facilitator to train others in Safe Environment protocols and practices.

I am involved in my parish serving as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, am a member of the Finance Council, and am an active member of the Catholic  Daughters of the Americas. 

Through the various trainings, workshops and readily available Diocesan staff and resources, I am informed of  current diocesan policies and procedures, as well as the practices of sharing our Catholic faith with others. 

Being Catholic is not simply fulfilling a Sunday obligation.  “Living Catholic” is my life.  Faith strengthens my marriage and supports me through the ups and downs of life. It is faith that inspires me to provide support and help to those around me.  

The ministries supported through the Bishop’s Fund Appeal strengthens each of us, and can help us to live as Catholics.

Join me in supporting the 2012
BISHOP’S FUND APPEAL