Landmark 160 Campaign
Essie and grandma sat in their normal pew in front of church awaiting the start of Sunday Mass. Grandma sat with her head bowed and her eyes closed in prayer as she thumbed through the black beads of her rosary.
Essie quietly turned the front open on the bulletin. She heard a rumor about the Landmark 160 Campaign and repairs on the steeple at St. Mary’s Parish and was eager to know if it was true.
Essie and Hank had joined other volunteers, including Jeff Slais from Wisconsin House Woodworks, to help raise a minimum of $160,000 as a way to fund maintenance on the historic church.
Rev. Nathan Reesman said the community parish was reaching a milestone and rapidly approaching the 160th anniversary of its founding. “We will officially mark our anniversary in September 2017,” said Rev. Reesman. “How wonderful it will be to celebrate our anniversary by both completing, and paying for, needed repair work on our church.”
As Mass was set to begin, Essie found the post in the bulletin she had been looking for. It was true. With a gaze towards the altar Essie mouthed the word “thank you.” She gently closed the bulletin and set it on her lap as the opening hymn got underway.
A note of thanks
Business owners in Barton are breathing a sigh of relief following a successful Barton Day celebration. Winners of the raffle baskets include Steve Taylor, who won a double date with Hank & Essie and John Hopp who sent a nice note after winning a basket filled with gifts from local businesses.
“Thank you Washington County Insider, for promoting Barton Days. John Hopp won the gift basket, filled with products and gift certificates from Barton and West Bend businesses. Thank you, to all who volunteered at Barton Days. John and I had a fantastic time last Saturday at Barton Days.” Signed Vicky Vondrachek Hopp.
A walk in silence
Hank waited for Essie at the bottom of the steps after church. He knew she’d be taking grandma to St. Mary’s Cemetery to tend to her grandfather’s headstone. Hank tagged along and watched as grandma walked with greater speed and anticipation as if she grew closer to her husband’s lot.
Although he had passed more than 10 years ago, Hank was struck by the undying love and commitment grandma had to her husband. It was something Hank was hoping to find in Essie… and he just had to find the words.
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