MEET Mike Rucker and Janet Lovering: 2022 Gartland Award Winners from Our Parish

Mike Rucker has a small saying or mantra that surfaces and resurfaces in his mind. He thinks, “Make it LAST,” with LAST standing for “love and service together.” It reminds him that we are all called as Christians to love and to serve.

“Christ commanded that we love one another, and by serving, one provides love and puts others ahead of oneself,” Mike says. “Being involved in parish life and the giving of your time, talent, and treasure is not only a way of expressing love and praising God, but it’s also a way to give thanks and show gratitude for all that our Church family, ordained ministers, and staff do for us.”

This year, two parishioners from St. Mary on the Hill are among the winners of the 2022 Gartland Service Award. Named for the first Bishop of Savannah, the Gartland Award honors parishioners from across our diocese who quietly exemplify stewardship.

Each year the bishop confers the awards on recipients at a special Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah.

“This has been such a great honor,” says Janet Lovering. “People have been overwhelmingly supportive and so nice to come and congratulate me. Thank you for your notes and your texts. This has been very emotional for me.”

Janet first joined St. Mary on the Hill with her parents when they moved to Augusta in 1952. She attended Mount St. Joseph and then Aquinas High School. As an adult, she began giving back to the faith community in ways that also worked for her and her young family of three children.

“I first got involved in parish life as a co-chair for the parish school nursery, and then I helped at the school cafeteria for a couple of years,” Janet says. “It was important to me to volunteer where my children were.”

Janet has three ministries that are very significant to her — the Chavis House Ministry, which provides meals on a quarterly basis to the families of burn survivors staying at the Chavis House; the Apron Ministry, which assists with funeral luncheons; and the Seniors Mass and Luncheon, which provides an opportunity for food and fellowship for our seniors.

“Sadly, during COVID we didn’t have the Seniors Mass and Luncheon, but now we’re able to do it again,” Janet says. “We had a wonderful turnout at the event this year.”

Today Janet has six grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren and continues to give back to the faith community in a variety of ways.

“Stewardship is a gift that draws me closer to God,” she says. “I just enjoy serving people. You meet so many new church members by volunteering, and I’m thankful that I can do it. This parish is my home.”

Similarly, the parish has been a lifelong home for Mike Rucker, who has attended St. Mary’s his entire life and attended St. Mary on the Hill School for eight years. He was an altar server beginning in the early 1960s, so stewardship was engrained in him at a young age at both school and church.

“Later in life, friends asked me to get involved, and I simply said ‘yes,’” Mike says. “Cherie Wright asked me to be a lector, Patty Maleck asked me to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Donald Thorstad asked me to help in the St. Joseph’s Guild, and Fr. Mark Ross asked me to be involved with the altar servers.”

Mike credits many faith community members with reaching out to ask and encourage himself and others to become involved. Deacon Ken Maleck “planted the seed” for Mike to join the Consolation Ministry, so after he retired, Mike called Barbara Kareis, the ministry coordinator.

“The Consolation Ministry has been particularly meaningful to me,” Mike says. “It adds so much value to a parishioner or a parishioner’s family member when they need support the most. The Christian support this ministry provides is love, care, and compassion. It is quite a blessing to be a part of it.”

Take a moment to congratulate Janet and Mike on receiving the 2022 Gartland Award for their ongoing service to the faith community.

“The St. Mary on the Hill faith community is my family,” Mike says. “It has nourished me for many years. St. Mary’s has always been a big part of my life and has served me well. I thank St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church and School for all they do.”

St. Mary’s parishioner and winner of the diocese’s Gartland Award Janet Lovering and her husband, Earle Lovering

St. Mary›s parishioner and winner of the diocese’s Gartland Award Mike Rucker