PRAY FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: “Religious Freedom Week 2024: Called to the Fullness of Dignity,” sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), will be held Saturday, June 22, to Saturday, June 29. The week begins with the feast of SS. John Fisher and Thomas More, includes the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and concludes with the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul.
Organized by the Committee for Religious Liberty of the USCCB, the committee’s work “seeks to strengthen and sustain religious freedom by assisting the U.S. bishops, individually and collectively, to teach about religious freedom to the faithful and the broader public, and to promote and defend religious freedom in law and policy.” Its chairperson is Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Ft. Wayne-South Bend, Ind. The Pray-Reflect-Act series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted abroad and find strength to carry out the mission of the church in the United States. For the daily prayer intentions, visit www.usccb.org/resources/religious-freedom-week-2024-graphics. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek.
CLASS TRIP: Eighth-grade students from Sacred Heart School in Shawano traveled to Chicago in late May for a three-day experience of visiting landmarks and tourist spots, such as the Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Shedd Aquarium and the Chicago History Museum. The students also experienced using the public transportation system and Chicago-style pizza. Members of the class, who are moving on to high school, are: Lily Gee, Kevin Kroenke, Keegan Kroenke, Libby Wojnowiak, Anessa Bantle, Cora Pieper, Aly Frechette, Braylon Rusch, Jhian Tadeo and Megan Reyes. (Sacred Heart School Photo | For On Mission)
NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS: Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals in Eastern Wisconsin announced the 2023 Nurse of the Year award winners in Green Bay, Sheboygan and Oconto Falls.
Nurse of the Year award recipients are honored for demonstrating passion, quality and excellence in nursing and carrying out the core values of HSHS: Respect, Care, Competence and Joy. They are nominated by nursing colleagues and chosen by nursing leadership and the hospitals’ Professional Nurse Practice Council.
Nurse of the Year award recipients are:
Linda Casanova-Pearson, RN, BSN, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay – Critical Care: “I feel nursing is a way of life. Helping my patients and their families at critical times in their lives brings me such joy and satisfaction. I am fortunate to have the coworkers that I do because they truly feel like my family.”
Michelle Virtues, RN, BSN, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, Green Bay – Medical Short Stay Unit: “Every patient and family I encounter becomes a new relationship for me. I am passionate about learning about each of them personally. I care for all my patients as I would want to be treated.”
Tara Gruenloh, RN, BSN, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital, Sheboygan – Women and Infants Center: “I am passionate about treating every mother and baby with dignity and respect, regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs or circumstances. I take pride in maintaining a calm and compassionate demeanor, even in challenging and high-stress situations.”
Ana (Diana) Woodke, RN, BSN, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, Oconto Falls – Emergency Department: “I am proud to help patients and their families remain comfortable and to serve as an advocate for their health. I am always prepared to provide emotional support, a listening ear, comforting hand or just a warm blanket to each of my patients.”
RETREATS: Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago offers two types of silent retreats: weekend preached retreats from September through May and five- and eight-day summer directed retreats during the months of June, July and August. Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago is located at 4800 Fahrnwald Road in Oshkosh. For a complete retreat schedule and more information, visit Jesuit Retreat House Home – Jesuit Retreat House.
FIRST CLASS RELIC: On Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23, a first class relic of St. Therese, patron saint of St. Therese, Stangelville, will be on display after Mass at each parish site for veneration. A first class relic is a body part of a saint, such as bone, blood or flesh. The veneration of relics has long been a Catholic tradition. Mass times are 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at St. Hedwig Church, E3306 Krok Road, Kewaunee; 8 a.m. on Sunday at St. Lawrence Church, N2085 County Road AB, Denmark; and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at St. Joseph/St. John Church, E860 State Hwy. 29, Luxemburg. The first class relic of St. Therese has been loaned to the parish for veneration through the generosity of the Discalced Carmelite Community of Nuns residing in the Monastery of the Holy Name of Jesus in Denmark.
MARINETTE SUMMER EVENING MASS: Holy Family Parish, Marinette, has added a summer Sunday evening Mass at 6 p.m. through Sept. 1. The Mass is held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 2737 Taylor St.
ST. NORBERT GRADUATE NAMED SUPREME COURT CLERK: Elizabeth Totzke, a 2019 graduate of St. Norbert College, has been named clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett during the 2024-25 term. Each Supreme Court justice has four clerks who generally serve one-year terms. Clerks are primarily responsible for reviewing the record, researching the applicable law, and drafting legal memoranda and court opinions. Clerks also attend oral arguments before the court.
Totzke, an Appleton native and a 2022 graduate of Notre Dame Law School, will begin her clerkship this summer.
At Notre Dame, she received the Dean Joseph O’Meara Award, one of the law school’s three highest academic awards, presented annually to a member of the graduating class for outstanding academic achievement.
After graduating from Notre Dame, Totzke clerked for Chief Judge Diane Sykes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit during the 2022-23 term. Totzke completed her second clerkship with Judge David Stras of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Totzke’s husband, Hunter Van Asten, is also a 2019 St. Norbert College graduate and a 2022 graduate of Notre Dame Law School. He is currently a litigation attorney for Godfrey & Kahn in Milwaukee.