2023 Iverson Frecking Awards

The following appears in today’s edition of the La Crosse Tribune. Copyright 2023 La Crosse Tribune. Story by Caden Perry, Photo by Saskia Hatvany.

Faithful Efforts Honored

Three people were honored with the Iverson Freking Ecumenical Recognition Award for their work in community service that crosses the bounds of faith and spirituality.

On Thursday, the Bethany St. Joseph Corp. awarded Mary Ann Gschwind, alongside Barbara and Joseph Kruse for their ecumenical work in the La Crosse area community. Barbara and Joseph Kruse are founding members of the Place of Grace Catholic Worker House focused on supporting children, community health care and social justice. They have lived in La Crosse for more than 40 years.

“When you volunteer and you do something that you believe in, it’s really life-giving. Good things came from it, and I know we helped other people along the way, but we were probably the biggest recipients of goodness and grace from all of that involvement,” Joseph Kruse said.

Joseph Kruse also has been on the board for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse and the St. Clare Health Mission. Barbara has served on the Bethany Lutheran Homes board as well as the Downtown Rotary Club. Both are also affiliates of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

“It’s really an honor to be here with Sister Mary Ann. Pretty much the whole 40 years we’ve been here, we’ve known her,” Joseph Kruse said. “We consider her a close family friend, so it’s really an honor for us to do this together.”

Among Gschwind’s contributions are positions on the Viterbo University board of directors, La Crosse City Symphony board and La Crosse City Vision Foundation board. Gschwind has also been the vice president of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for the past eight years and makes a priority to help the incarcerated, the hungry and people with disabilities.

“My time here has usually been on that side of the room because I’ve helped nominate several people, some of whom have been graciously accepted, so it’s so good to be sitting on this side.” Gschwind said as she pointed to the audience. “I wanted to mention the same feeling that Joseph mentioned in that what we do is small in terms of what we receive.”

Gshwind said that people who want to begin volunteering or serving their community should start small and build motivation from the ground up. She said service groups in the city are always looking for day-of volunteers that only need to contribute a small amount of time here and there.

The Iverson Freking Ecumenical Recognition Award was established in 1987 to honor the service of CarlIverson, from the Luthern faith, and Bishop Frederick Freking, from the Catholic faith, and their work across lines of spirituality. Iverson and Freking established the Bethany St. Joseph Corporation and care center in 1976 with sponsorship from the Christian Communities of the Greater La Crosse Area.

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I was hungry and you gave me food

MMOC continues to reach out into our community with food and loving service. There are probably more efforts than recorded here; please let me know. One of the things I’ve come to appreciate about our parish is that so many people serve faithfully in roles that are unseen.

Delivering Mobile Meals

Mobile Meals is a program that delivers meals to our brothers and sisters who, because of age or infirmity, need healthy, nutritious meals brought to their homes. We deliver meals along a prescribed route, seven days per week, about 7 or 8 weeks per year. Volunteers pick up the food at St. Francis hospital; our route covers the south side of La Crosse.

There’s been a recent change in leadership in MMOC’s participation in Mobile Meals. We thank Sue Moyle for coordinating this effort for over 20 years. In addition to training and scheduling volunteer teams of drivers, Sue and her husband Bill have delivered on days when there was no other volunteer. Their commitment has been astounding. Deepest thanks to Sue and Bill for their long faithfulness to this ministry.

Now we welcome Stefana Pretasky as coordinator of MMOC’s participation in Mobile Meals. Stefana has been a volunteer driver and now steps into the role of coordinating for MMOC.

We’re going to need more volunteer drivers to meet the MMOC commitment to Mobile Meals. Delivery works best when two volunteers team up. Watch for dates on the parish calendar, and contact Stefana or the parish office to sign up.

Tuesdays at the Catholic Charities Warming Center

MMOC has long been committed to providing food, supplies, and staff at the Catholic Charities Warming Center. Our involvement there was pioneered by our beloved friend and Deacon Richard Sage, who was also one of the founders of the Catholic Worker House in La Crosse, Place of Grace. We honor his legacy and spirit by this ministry.

We are deeply grateful that Mary Olson has accepted responsibility for carrying on our commitment to the Warming Center. Contact Mary, the parish office, or look for sign-up sheets in the entryway of our church. The responsibility is light when we share it among a few of us. Volunteers prepare food at home, then deliver it to the Warming Center, downtown on 3rd Street and Cass.

Matthew 25 in the kitchen on Thursdays

Barb Stetzer saw a need, and responded to meet it. She coordinates our Matthew 25 team that prepares meals in the MMOC kitchen at 2:00 on Thursday afternoons, then delivers them to the Warming Center. There is a warm sense of of friendship and community in our kitchen on these afternoons, chatting while we work together. (Our kitchen is a wonderful resource for serving our parish members, and also reaching out to our community.) Our Matthew 25 group is a light commitment; show up on Thursdays when you can, there will usually be plenty of people on hand. Contact Barb to get on her mailing list.

“Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.”
Hebrews 13:2

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