SPRING/SUMMER 2010

Dear Friends and Benefactors,
Today is one of those lovely Spring days in the country with the sun shining and little humidity. It is very easy to experience God's blessings on a day like today. But blessings don't always come surrounded by beauty. Sometimes they come through pain and sorrow. We hear many stories of pain and sorrow from individuals who come to our door daily or to the Food and Clothing Distribution Day monthly at St. Michael House.

Our June 2008 Newsletter related many of the events that took place from January to June of that year. Those same activities and events were part of this year's last six months. So what is different? What's new?

What's new? We are passing on to volunteers the leadership of many of our activities. With the help of volunteers, Kathy, our secretary, conducts the Food and Clothing Distribution and the rummage/furniture sales. We participate, counsel and pray with families and include their intentions in our daily prayer. Staff from our Self-Help program and volunteers pick up food and furniture in St. Louis periodically. Volunteers organize and manage the St. Michael Day monthly. A young woman in the parish will be leading our annual Vacation Bible School with teen and adult volunteers this July.

This allows us to spend time with families who come to the door like a young mother with two small children who needed a listening ear. She had fallen behind on her payments and was in

danger of losing her home. She came b y after work one evening and explained that her husband had left her three months ago, her hours at work had been cut back and she didn't know what to do. Her family couldn't help. We prayed with her, encouraged her to persevere and offered some help while Neva and Miss LaDonna provided entertainment for the children. Blowing bubbles and searching for the goldfish in our yard pond kept them fascinated.

We are receiving more and more memorial gifts for the benefit of our work. Previously we have not mentioned names. However, we ask you to remember them in your prayers. Anyone desiring memorial cards can call or email us.

We trust that some of you will join us for the annual “Friends” Fashion Show October 8 at the Ritz Carlton. This continues to be a great success and presently our only fundraiser in St. Louis. Julie Dubray and Diane Garea agreed to co-chair the event again this year.

Three of us spoke at parishes in April for the Annual Catholic Appeal. We are grateful for the grant we receive each year. It helps us finance our Self-Help Program which enables us to employ men and women for work around our Center and send them out to do home repairs for the elderly.

Thank you for your prayers for LaDonna. It's been a year since she had her breaks and is back to where she was before her illnesses in 2009. We are grateful that we could celebrate her 92 nd birthday in February with family and friends.

The enclosed “tickets” will help us keep activities going at St. Michael House. Last year's winners were: Sarah Govero from Festus, Conrad Hudson from St. Louis and Mary Norbut from Old Mines.

A very generous bequest has allowed us to establish a “Retirement Fund” for the Workers. Although we never “retire” (Miss LaDonna is still painting her note cards and visiting with those who come to the door) there are added expenses as one gets older and we see no one following in our footsteps. If you wish to donate to the “Fund” please indicate that on your check or a note in your return envelope.

Your generosity over the years has been the fuel which fires the good works we are able to do. God has blessed us with many wonderful friends like yourselves. We continue to pray for your needs and ask prayers for us and all we serve.
In Christ, Natalie Villmer for all the

Rural Parish Workers of Christ the King

IN MEMORIUM
Deacon Robert J. Karsznia, long time friend and King's Man

Millie Koch Committee Member of the “Friends of the RPWs”

Walter Miller, benefactor and friend

Rev. Msgr. Edward Eichor, personal friend and benefactor

Eleanor Ragni, benefactor through the “Friends of the RPWs”

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 26 68 th Anniversary of Rural Parish Workers of Christ the King

You are invited to the Book Signing at RPW Center in Fertile of LaDonna's Memoirs “To Restore All Things in Christ” . Snacks and drinks provided.

July 7-9 Vacation Bible School Training Session

July 12-16 Vacation Bible School

July 16 Closing ceremonies for VBS and Raffle drawing

October 3 Old Mines Area Historical Society's Fete de L'Automne

October 8 Friends Fashion Show Luncheon at the Ritz Carlton

Contact Julie Dubray, jddubray@charter.net , 314-569-4086