I have so much to share and really feel badly that I have ignored this blog for so long. I started posting on Facebook and have a FB site called Serving Special Orphans. Check it out for daily updates and postings.
After my last trip to Ukraine, I knew my ministry was not over, however, my personal life was overwhelming. Unfortunately, in May 2013 I lost my son Lee at age 26 to drug withdrawal while incarcerated. I then went into a down hill spiral and subsequently took early retirement from my Early Intervention teaching position, ended a long term relationship and concentrated on survival. My daughter was finally, at age 20, diagnosed with a syndrome, Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, and I became very involved in helping to start the Mowat-Wilson SyndromeFoundation . The marriage of my son Kris to a wonderful girl, Miki, and suddenly becoming a Grandmother to a little 6 year old, Syun, kept me busy. However, I never forgot the orphans...............
In late spring of 2015, after much prayer, I approached my Pastor, Fr. M. Quinnen of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Gilbert, Pa., the Pastoral Council and Social Justice Ministry and asked to bring my ministry to the Church. Fr. Mike agreed to allow me to form the Orphan Outreach Ministry and to raise the awareness of the orphans with disabilities in Ukraine to our parish.
After the Ministry was formed a fund raiser was planned in November , around Orphan Sunday. The intent was to send all donations to an orphanage in need. We choose the orphans of Zulancchia/Synatyn whom I had visited 3 years previously. With the support of a small group of woman from the Altar and Rosary Society, we went about making over 100 assorted theme related baskets and received over 40 gift certificated for a Tricky Tray. The students of the CCD classes became involved, donating items for a class basket, and various parishioners, not only donated items, but also money!
I presented at all the Masses on Orphan Sunday, sharing the plight of the orphans throughout the world and the situation in the Ukrainian Orphanages, focusing on the orphans in the Level 4 orphanages for those with disabilities.
The following Saturday , the doors opened at 12:00 in McCawley Hall were over 140 baskets and gifts certificates were available for the auction!! There were a few snags but it was quite a success with the crowd cheering, ringing bells and waving wands as their tickets were called and basket awarded! I think I was in semi shock when the doors opened, and I saw the line of people in the hallway waiting to buy their tickets and get in the door! For once I WAS SPEECHLESS! And if you know me, that doesn't happen EVER!
The day was a success! The Orphan Outreach Ministry became a reality and between Church and individual donations received, over $8,00 was raised for the orphans! I'll add the pictures later, just want to get this posted!
After my last trip to Ukraine, I knew my ministry was not over, however, my personal life was overwhelming. Unfortunately, in May 2013 I lost my son Lee at age 26 to drug withdrawal while incarcerated. I then went into a down hill spiral and subsequently took early retirement from my Early Intervention teaching position, ended a long term relationship and concentrated on survival. My daughter was finally, at age 20, diagnosed with a syndrome, Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, and I became very involved in helping to start the Mowat-Wilson SyndromeFoundation . The marriage of my son Kris to a wonderful girl, Miki, and suddenly becoming a Grandmother to a little 6 year old, Syun, kept me busy. However, I never forgot the orphans...............
In late spring of 2015, after much prayer, I approached my Pastor, Fr. M. Quinnen of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Gilbert, Pa., the Pastoral Council and Social Justice Ministry and asked to bring my ministry to the Church. Fr. Mike agreed to allow me to form the Orphan Outreach Ministry and to raise the awareness of the orphans with disabilities in Ukraine to our parish.
After the Ministry was formed a fund raiser was planned in November , around Orphan Sunday. The intent was to send all donations to an orphanage in need. We choose the orphans of Zulancchia/Synatyn whom I had visited 3 years previously. With the support of a small group of woman from the Altar and Rosary Society, we went about making over 100 assorted theme related baskets and received over 40 gift certificated for a Tricky Tray. The students of the CCD classes became involved, donating items for a class basket, and various parishioners, not only donated items, but also money!
I presented at all the Masses on Orphan Sunday, sharing the plight of the orphans throughout the world and the situation in the Ukrainian Orphanages, focusing on the orphans in the Level 4 orphanages for those with disabilities.
The following Saturday , the doors opened at 12:00 in McCawley Hall were over 140 baskets and gifts certificates were available for the auction!! There were a few snags but it was quite a success with the crowd cheering, ringing bells and waving wands as their tickets were called and basket awarded! I think I was in semi shock when the doors opened, and I saw the line of people in the hallway waiting to buy their tickets and get in the door! For once I WAS SPEECHLESS! And if you know me, that doesn't happen EVER!
The day was a success! The Orphan Outreach Ministry became a reality and between Church and individual donations received, over $8,00 was raised for the orphans! I'll add the pictures later, just want to get this posted!
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