WITH DEACON GREG fitnessLifelong
A Seminarian shares the journey to renew his faith
FAITH INVIGORATED THROUGH PILGRIMAGE DISCOVERING THE PEACEFULNESS OF SHRINES
FINDING FAITH THROUGH ART Recipes from Home
A Priest Shares Delicious Memories
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1933 SPIELBUSCH AVE.
TOLEDO, OH 43604
(419) 244-6711
PUBLISHER
MOST REVEREND
DANIEL E. THOMAS
Bishop, Diocese of Toledo
KELLY DONAGHY
Senior Director, Communications
KEITH TARJANYI
Manager, Creative Services
NANCY E. COOKE
Marketing Specialist
ANNIE LUST
Social Media Specialist
Graceful Living is a special interest magazine of the Diocese of Toledo, especially created for our senior parishioners. Stories of the lives of seniors contributing their talents to our parish communities are highlighted. This publication was made possible through grants from the National Catholic Society of Foresters (NCSF), Medical Mutual of Ohio and matching donations from a host of dedicated local and regional businesses including: Bliss Charters, Buckeye Broadband, Catholic Faith Journeys, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), Commercial Sound Resource, Ltd., Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Ryan Pharmacy and Orthopedic Supply and Reger’s Church Supplies and Religious Gifts.
Our diocese is blessed in so many ways, especially by the faithfulness and example of the dedicated lives of thousands of our senior parishioners. It is nearly impossible to visit a diocesan parish community without noticing the valuable contributions of time and talent of our older faithful. After thought and prayer on how to enhance our outreach, we thought it would be both appropriate and encouraging to produce a publication dedicated to exploring, enriching and celebrating the lives of our seniors. Recent surveys of many diocesan parishes confirmed an interest in just such a publication.
The Diocese of Toledo was chosen as a recipient of a communication grant from The National Catholic Society of Foresters to help, in part to launch our magazine, entitled “Graceful Living.” Additional funding came from Medical Mutual of Ohio with matching donations from advertisers and sponsors who share in our belief that each person has value, dignity and purpose at every stage of life. We are extremely grateful to each of them for their generous support.
I am excited to present to you our first edition of “Graceful Living ” magazine. It is my hope that you will truly enjoy this publication as you read about the daily lives and works of each featured member of our diocesan family.
As we honor our older brothers and sisters through this publication, we thank the Lord for the gifts of His grace and for the blessing our seniors are to our diocese and to the Church!
BISHOP
DANIEL E. THOMAS
Rev. Msgr. William J. Kubacki, VG
Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia
Sr. Mary Nika Schaumber, RSM Interim Chancellor
Rev. Msgr. Marvin G. Borger, JCL
Senior Director, Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations
Mr. Matthew J. Daniels
Senior Director, Catholic Education
Deacon Joseph N. Malenfant
Senior Director, Discipleship and Family Life
Mr. Philip Renda
CFO, Diocese of Toledo Management Corporation
Mr. Rodney O. Schuster
Senior Director, Catholic Social Services
Ms. Kelly Donaghy
Senior Director, Communications
Aging, “in particular, is a time of grace in which the Lord will renew His call: He calls us to preserve and transmit the faith, calls us to pray, especially to intercede; calls us to be close to those who may be in need.” (Pope Francis, St. Peters Square, Sept.
Hope you enjoy “Graceful Living” and once you have read it, pass it along to a friend!
With every good wish and prayer, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,
Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas Bishop of ToledoAny community project destined for success requires the work of many hands. The Diocese of Toledo is blessed with an abundance of loyal business owners who have generously provided financial support for the creation of our senior magazine – Graceful Living.
The sponsors listed below are key to our ability to manifest, expand and sustain projects like Graceful Living magazine. We are truly grateful to them as our partners:
• Bliss Charters
• Buckeye Broadband
• Catholic Faith Journeys
• CHI Living Communities
• Commercial Sound Resource
• Hospice of Northwest Ohio
• Medical Mutual of Ohio
Catholic Faith Journeys, LLC is dedicated to the belief that a vibrant spiritual life requires participation as a community of believers. To this end, we are dedicated to providing spiritual growth through pilgrimage group travel to destinations that enhance, teach, and proclaim the Gospel.
We specialize in custom pilgrimages to t the travel desires and spiritual needs of your pilgrims. Please, contact us today for more information.
independent living options through skilled nursing care. Our goal is to provide the best quality care and services while promoting an individual’s independence and preserving their dignity.
Maggie McDaniel and Teresa Grodi12 8 19 34 28
DEACON MAKES HIS MARK: Deacon Greg Kirk shares his philosophy on maintaining a healthy outlook. .............. 8
THE POWER OF PILGRIMAGES: Why Maggie McDaniels’ Passion is Guiding the Faithful Through the Holy Land. 12
ON A CULINARY CRUSADE: Reverend Monte Hoyles shares how he learned to love cooking for a crowd. ....................... 28
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK: Life a century ago looked very different from today’s world. . 33
LABOR OF LOVE: Sylvania Franciscan Sister Jane Sorosiak finds joy creating religious ceramic mural. ................... 34
WEEKEND
TO MILAN, OHIO:
CAN YOU HEAR THE HOMILY?: How the art of perfecting sound became a ministry for Michael Tylinski 37
PASSING ALONG THE 'GOODNESS': Dick and Ardis Dardenne spend time each week, like so many others, giving back. .........
42
MEET SR. MARY PRUDENCE: The Sisters of Mercy recently established a convent here. We introduce one of their members.
43
ON THE COVER: Galion St. Joseph's Deacon Greg Kirk is a very busy man, but despite his schedule he always finds time for physical fitness at the local YMCA.
A roundup of the events, parishioners, priests, consecrated and lay faithful who shape the Diocese of Toledo
Diocese of Toledo's 21st Annual Open Arms Awards
On most days, you’ll find Deacon Greg Kirk at the YMCA. Fitness is an important part of his life, and for more than twenty years he’s kept a routine that includes regular weight lifting and swimming.
On Sundays, you’ll find Deacon Kirk at St. Joseph Catholic Church. He has been a deacon of the Diocese of Toledo for more than 25 years.
At 61, Greg Kirk is a busy man. He works full time as a loan officer for a local bank. He has a wife, Shelly, five children, and one grandchild. As a deacon, he is assigned to his home parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galion, Ohio and Holy Trinity in nearby Bucyrus. Despite those commitments, he’s at the YMCA nearly every day. In fact, he credits the workouts with helping him get through his busy days. “I think physical exercise helps us work through stress and worry and the demands of daily life,” Greg said.
Greg’s routine is to exercise six days a week. Half of the time he heads to the pool on his lunch break to swim a half mile. “It’s not a chore for me. I love being in the pool,” he says with a smile. The other days, he heads to the weight room. Sunday, naturally, is a day of rest.
Greg’s love of physical fitness started as a child. He jokes that it might be in his DNA. His dad was drafted to a
professional baseball team, the New York Giants (later to relocate and become the San Francisco Giants). During his youth, Greg enjoyed baseball, basketball, running and swimming. Years later, he encouraged his children to try some of the same sports. The Kirk house was a hub for baseball, volleyball, running, and skateboarding. By the time Greg turned 40, he had not lifted weights regularly for years. He decided to change that. “I wanted to lose weight and have more energy,” Greg said. Twenty years later, he is still committed to those goals.
While Greg enjoys his time in the weight room, swimming is special to him. In addition to the physical benefits, Greg finds tremendous spiritual benefits. In the pool, he finds a sense of peace. In fact, it’s one of his favorite places to pray. “When I finish a half mile or three-quarter mile swim, I feel like my body, mind, and spirit are one.” He continues, “The physical work gets me to a point where I’m ready to listen to God.” He’s found that the same is true for other types of exercise, but he particularly loves the quiet of the pool.
“In my years of swimming, I’ve only been interrupted once,” he laughs. The connection between faith and physical fitness is obvious to Greg. “We’re made in the image and likeness of God. He created us. Why wouldn’t we take care of that gift?” he ponders.
Greg Kirk in the weight room at the YMCA in Galion, Ohio.
Photo by Scott W. Grau/ Special to the Diocese of Toledo
If you ask people what a pilgrimage is, you may hear it defined as a vacation abroad to visit major basilicas, ancient shrines and museums. But not if that person is Maggie McDaniel of Catholic Faith Journeys. She will tell you that a pilgrimage is not a vacation, but a journey in search of spiritual growth. “A pilgrimage deepens the bonds of faith and makes it very personal. It can create a new relationship between a person and their faith,” she says.
I watch Maggie point to the Sea of Galilee on a map of the Holy Land, mounted on the wall behind her. She is talking about the religious significance of this area. The map dwarfs her petite frame and for a moment, I marvel at the fact that she has personally guided thousands of people to places where the divine intersects with daily life. She describes herself as an introvert – but the passion she projects when discussing pilgrimages makes that impossible for me to believe. “My greatest desire is to get as many Catholics as possible to the Holy Land, with a Catholic guide, and then, to Italy,”
she says. Maggie’s first pilgrimage took place in 1999 when she was asked to coordinate a 10-day trip to Italy, for a priest. She remembers being very nervous about going, to the point of asking her husband, Deacon Charlie McDaniel, to take her back home while en route to the airport. “Being Catholic, I had always romanticized the concept of going to Rome, Florence, and Lourdes,” she says. “It was such a positive experience for me – I made lifelong friends on that pilgrimage and knew I wanted to do it again.”
Although pilgrimages have a spiritual purpose, they are also fun. Maggie describes the joy of experiencing a different country and its cultures. “I prefer being with groups because you can share
your insights at the end of the day and experience new foods, people and architecture - with faith intertwined.” When teens are onboard, it is important to remind them that things will not be the same as they are at home. “Be willing to go with an open heart and mind, with no preconceived notions about how things will be. Make plans, but be willing to go wherever God leads,” Maggie says. “If there are minor inconveniences along the way, use them as opportunities for grace and growth.”
There are two main goals of every pilgrimage Maggie plans – first, to provide pilgrims with a better understanding of their Catholic faith, and then to make sure that everyone is safe and there are no
Pilgrimages provide time for each person to experience both secular and sacred places while reflecting
(The Coliseum – Rome)
major issues. She also suggests packing comfortable shoes and attire. While she guides approximately nine pilgrimages annually, Maggie points out that each person on each pilgrimage is significant to her.
“That is why this is a ministry – and not a vacation,” she says.
I ask Maggie whether she ever tires of going on pilgrimages to the same places. “No, because I
TOP: A fishing boat on Israel’s Sea of Galilee, at daybreak. Many of Jesus’ miracles took place on its shores.
BELOW: Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, stands the Greek Chapel of the Crucifixion, also known as the 12th Station of the Cross.
'A pilgrimage deepens the bonds of faith and makes it very personal. It can create a new relationship between a person and their faith.'
MAGGIE MCDANIEL
always see something in a new way each time I go. I see things through the eyes of those I take with me,” she says. She has witnessed parishioners becoming much more involved in their parishes after gaining new insights into their faith through pilgrimage. “When you realize that saints died for our faith so we could have it, it becomes even more precious to you,” she adds.
Maggie goes on to describe a moment she will never forget. Standing inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, she looked at the
statue of the Blessed Mother gazing upon the crucified Jesus. Her thoughts turned to how Jesus suffered and died for the sins of all mankind and she realized that her face was wet with tears.
Pilgrimages provide an atmosphere in which personal faith encounters like this can occur.
Talking with Maggie has opened my eyes to the beauty and spiritual significance of going on a pilgrimage. I look forward to the day when I will see the Holy Land for the first time, with her as my guide.
“When you realize that saints died for our faith so we could have it, it becomes even more precious to you.”
Our goal at Bliss Charters is to provide quality service and reasonable prices that bring our customers back again and again. We look forward to hearing from you when you are ready to book your next trip. Please contact any of our o ce sta : Joella, Paul, Linda, or Ann for your charter arrangements. We want to bring a little “bliss” when you use our services.
pilgrimage does not always require a flight to an exotic place. Within the Diocese of Toledo, we have three awe-inspiring destinations that welcome countless pilgrims each year. Each of these wondrous, holy places is a short drive for the faithful of the Diocese of Toledo. Plan your pilgrimage today.
“The Sorrowful Mother Shrine in Bellevue, Ohio is truly holy ground,” said Father Scott Kramer, Rector. “The natural beauty of our 120+ acres of woodlands, the abundance of religious imagery and the traditional atmosphere of our historic chapel all serve to bring us closer to the Lord through the intercession of Mary and the Saints.”
Father also shared, “In a world that is increasingly loud and hectic, a visit to the quiet and serene grounds of the Sorrowful Mother Shrine can bring peace and comfort to the hearts of God’s people. The Missionaries of the Precious Blood welcome people of all faiths and backgrounds to come and spend some time on our holy ground. For 168 years, pilgrims have walked these grounds, prayed in our chapels, celebrated the Sacraments and quietly reflected on what is most important in life.”
“Blessings large and small have been received here. This truly is holy ground,” said Father Scott Kramer.
Located: S.R. 269, Bellevue, Ohio
Website: www.sorrowfulmothershrine.org
Description: The Sorrowful Mother Shrine is an inspiring place of prayer where God and nature come together. The natural beauty of the 120-acre woods and landscaping offer an environment of peace and tranquility and can be easily navigated on paved walkways. The central point of the Shrine is the Sorrowful Mother Chapel. The Missionaries of the Precious Blood have operated the Shrine since its founding in 1850. On Sundays and Holy
Days, priests and religious lead devotional services and processions. They visit with people sharing their joys and sorrows or walk with them praying at one of the many grottoes, gardens or Stations of the Cross in the woods. Mass is celebrated daily, with the Sacrament or Reconciliation (confession) celebrated an hour before Mass. Weekend Masses are celebrated in the open air outdoor chapel during the summer months. The grounds also include a gift shop and cafeteria. The Shrine hosts celebrations of many different ethnic backgrounds throughout the year, including Italian, African American, Hispanic, Chaldean, Polish and Slovenian. If you feel the need to get in tune with yourself and with all the beauty God has created and so generously given to us, you’ll find that a day, or even a few hours, spent on these holy grounds at the Sorrowful Mother Shrine, will bring an experience that will be rich in personal and spiritual rewards.
“St. Alphonsus Liguori Church in Peru, Ohio, is proud to be the only parish in the state of Ohio blessed to have a future saint in residence. St. John Neumann called St. Alphonsus Church home from July 1841 until November 1841. Come walk, pray and reflect in the footsteps of a saint. Our parish grounds can help you in your journey as a saint in the making!” - Father Ron Schock, Pastor, St. Alphonsus Liguori, Peru
Located: Peru, Ohio
Website: www.historicstalphonsus.org
Description: The St. John Neumann Prayer Center is a log cabin built in the 1830’s. In 1841 redemptorist Father John Nepomucene Neumann (St. John Neumann) served here. He cared for the spiritual needs of the Huron County immigrants for five months before returning to New York. He eventually became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia in 1851. He was canonized St. John Neumann on June 19, 1977. In the prayer center we find relics and information of this frontier priest. It also features many historical artifacts, displays, and inspirational books to enjoy. The center includes outdoor places for prayer and reflection, including a prayer garden, grotto, and rosary walk.
“Whatever thanks, blessings, troubles or difficulty that you bring to Our Lady of Consolation Shrine, you will leave here with a tremendous sense of peace, knowing that you, like our Blessed Mother, are indeed full of the grace and peace of God.” - Father Thomas Merrill, OFM Conv.
Located: Carey, Ohio
Website: www.olcshrine.com
Description: The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation is a place of great peace where pilgrims can pray and pay homage to the Blessed Mother. Since 1875, countless pilgrims have journeyed to the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio, to offer prayers and thanks and to confide their needs to the Mother of God as Mary, Consoler of the Afflicted. Devotion to Mary under this title dates back to the second century and is among her earliest titles of honor. The devotion spread to the United States, and the first shrine to Our Lady of Consolation was built in Carey, Ohio. The grounds include the Basilica, Retreat House, Cafeteria, Gift Shop and Shrine Park, including an outdoor altar. Through the intercession of Mary, the sick and afflicted have found health, comfort and consolation. Our Lady of Consolation offers a number of special events throughout the year which draw many thousands of pilgrims. All are welcome at any time on their journey to faith, hope and healing.
Submitted photos
BY ANNIE LUST
Milan, Ohio is less than 15 miles south of Lake Erie, but it is easy to mistake the destination for New England. The village is home to less than 2,000 people, many who live in Colonial-style homes. The charm of the town is the feeling that you are not only in a different place but also in a different time. Perhaps that has something to do with being the birthplace of Thomas Edison or the multiple antique stores. Whatever your interests, Milan makes the perfect weekend getaway destination. We’ll share the things you don’t want to miss so you can book your trip.
Milan hosts several events throughout the year that visitors enjoy. The MidSummer Antiques Fest is an antique lover’s paradise. It takes place in early July. Over Labor Day Weekend, tens of thousands crowd Milan for the Annual Melon Festival. Parades, entertainment, rides, a 5k run and a classic car show are all part of the event. Not to mention the specialty ice cream that Toft’s makes just for the event: muskmelon ice cream or watermelon sherbet. For a trip back to the 1800’s, you only need to visit the third weekend of October for Settlers’ Weekend. Ride a horse drawn buggy and see reenactors (including President Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant) make the pioneer days come alive!
You won’t find any big box stores in Milan! There are several unique shopping options to choose. D’Vine Design is a ladies specialty gift shop. You will find jewelry, home decor, clothing, and more unique items. If you enjoy shopping for antiques, you have found the right place! Sights & Sounds of Edison sells general antiques but specializes in anything related to Thomas Edison. Milan Inn-tiques and Crosby’s Antiques also warrant a visit.
This small Colonial town is the perfect destination for your next mini-vacation
The first food stop should be Coffee Station. Come for breakfast, lunch, or just a sweet treat. At Milan Wine Post, you can have a glass of wine or craft beer while enjoying entertainment or you can browse the wide wine selection to buy a bottle to take with you. Other dining options include Jim’s Pizza Box, Invention Family Restaurant, and The Wonder Bar.
The Angel Welcome Bed & Breakfast is as charming as the name implies. Judy Pleunik purchased the large house in 2001 to open a B&B. “You are one of the family, if only for a few days” is the promise for visitors. You will not be disappointed. Judy’s warm smile makes visitors feel at ease immediately. The cozy decor helps, too. The three suites (aptly named Faith, Hope, and Love) overlook a lovely yard. This is a spot you don’t want to miss - even if you’ve never tried a Bed and Breakfast. Another perk? It is just around the corner from the town square. You can truly relax by leaving the car parked and walking the very short distance to the food, shopping, and entertainment.
No trip to Milan would be complete without a tour of Thomas Edison’s birthplace. A guided tour takes you through the preserved Edison home, which is filled with items the Edison family used. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is the local parish in Milan, and you won’t want to miss it on your visit!
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Father Hoyles tells me. From the manna in the desert to the multiplication of fish and loaves to The Last Supper, there are countless dinner parties in scripture. Dinner parties are the topic of conversation. We speak with Father Hoyles about why he likes to cook and entertain, how he learned to cook and where his recipes come from.
BY ANNIE LUSTeverend Monte Hoyles opens the door with a smile and ushers his dinner guests inside. It’s a warm, sunny day, and the large kitchen window streams in plenty of light. I sit at the kitchen table as Father Hoyles takes his position at the counter. I’ve asked him to multi-task - to answer questions while he prepares a meal. He is preparing pork and sauerkraut, roasted root vegetables and “Mom Hoyles’ ” apple cake. Father Hoyles chats as he chops and stirs. He seems to be in his element, in fact. Not simply cooking but entertaining comes naturally to Father Monte Hoyles.
Mary Hoyles cooked for a crowd. In 1976, she and her husband, Louis, bought a variety store in Attica, Ohio. Among other things, the store included a lunch counter. Mary baked pies and cooked meals for the people who visited. Of course she cooked for her family, too. “Comfort
Reverend Monte Hoyles prepares a meal and shares the story of how he learned to love cooking for a crowd
“Food plays an incredibly important role in scripture,”Photo by Scott W. Grau/Special to the Diocese of Toledo
Father Monte Hoyles with the meal he prepared in the dining room at St. Mary’s rectory in Sandusky, Ohio.
Photo by Scott W. Grau/ Special to the Diocese of Toledo
food” is how Father Hoyles describes the meals his mom cooked. Pork and sauerkraut (recipe, next page), beef and noodles, and ham loaf were some of Mary’s signature recipes. Her desserts were spectacular as well. It’s not a surprise because Mary had her baker’s license when her four sons were growing up. Cherry pie, rhubarb pie, apple dumplings, and apple cake (recipe, next page) were just a few in her dessert repertoire. Holiday meals were memorable, too. “My mom always made Hot Cross Buns at Easter and kuchen at Christmas,” he said.
It was not until many years later when Father Hoyles was in seminary that he would begin his own cooking journey. It started for a very practical reason, “I missed the cooking from home,” Fr Hoyles explained. During his seven years in seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum, he began hosting dinners for a group of seminarians. “I would remember things
from my childhood, and I would call my mom.” Gesturing to a book on the counter, he explained that he began writing down the recipes she shared with him. Today, the recipe book is one of his prized possessions.
After seminary, Father Hoyles was assigned to St. Joseph in Maumee followed by two years in Washington, D.C., studying Canon Law. He was assigned Chancellor of the Diocese of Toledo in 2011 and began living at the Episcopal Residence (Residence of the Bishop). Father Hoyles credits
Amy Morford, the chef for the Episcopal Residence, for the majority of his cooking knowledge. “One day I said ‘I want to learn sometime how to use a knife properly.’ She gets her chef’s knife, a potato, and a cutting board and replies ‘Okay, let’s learn.’”
On Saturdays, when Morford was off-duty, Father Hoyles became the unofficial chef for Bishop Thomas and the other priests living there. Father Hoyles embraced the opportunity to try recipes and hone his cooking skills. “I enjoyed cooking for a small crowd,” he said.
Father Hoyles began his assignment at the Sandusky parishes on July 1, 2018. That is where he hosted our small dinner party. As we take our seats to share the meal, Father Hoyles tells us that pork and sauerkraut is one of his favorite meals; his mom often made it when he was young. The aroma rising from the plate in front of me hints that it might be a favorite of mine once I am finished, too.
“They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.” (Acts 2:4647)
5-6 Bone-In Pork Chops (preferably thick-cut)
2 yellow onions
1 lb. bacon
2 lbs. sauerkraut
Brown sugar
2 medium size apples (Gala; peeled)
Garlic powder
Flour Salt Pepper
White Wine (chef’s preference) Fry bacon; save the liquid fat. Dust pork chops with flour, salt and pepper and then brown using bacon fat. In a roasting pan, Dutch oven, or similar covered container begin by placing a layer of sauerkraut, some chopped onions, and a few apple slices (thin); sprinkle pepper, brown sugar, and garlic over the layer. Add a layer of browned pork chops and then repeat the layering. Cover last layer with sauerkraut, etc. Pour white wine over all contents until pan has about 1-1 1/2” of wine at the bottom. Bake at 350-degrees for 45 minutes; reduce to 300-degrees for at least 1 1/2 hours (preferably longer, up to 3 hours).
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
4 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
2 eggs
1/2 - 3/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp. vanilla
Combine sugar, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and mix together. In a separate bowl, combine eggs (well beaten), olive oil, and vanilla. Combine dry and wet ingredients, along with the apples. Grease a 9” x 13” pan and pour in contents. Bake at 350-degrees for 50 minutes or until fork comes out clean when the cake is poked; and when cake springs back when lightly pressed.
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
3 tsp. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup hot water (from tap)
Boil all items together in sauce pan, using a whisk to stir constantly, until sauce is thick. Pour over cake.
AT LEFT: Seasoning the pork chops for the meal. Photo by Scott W. Grau/ Special to the Diocese of Toledo Photo by Scott W. Grau//Special to the Diocese of Toledo The recipe book that Father Hoyles has used to write down his mother’s recipes. Photos by Scott W. Grau/Special to the Diocese of Toledo
Life a century ago looked very different from today’s world. Woodrow Wilson was president, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world, The Great War had only just ended, and Charlie Chaplin was the world’s biggest star. Take a look back at life 100 years ago in the Diocese of Toledo and beyond.
.10
The average cost for a loaf of bread in 1918 was ten cents
1 Father Max Walz was the only priest ordained in 1919.
6
The Toledo-Bowling Green Football Rivalry began with the inaugural game in 1919. Toledo came home with the 6-0 victory.
19 Congress proposed the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, on June 4, 1919. It passed the following year.
28
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving in the office from 19131921. In October of 1919, he suffered a massive stroke that left him partially paralyzed.
51 There were 51 seminarians studying to become priests in the Diocese of Toledo.
68
Charlie Chaplin filmed and directed “The Kid.” At 68 minutes, it was the first fulllength movie he directed. Upon the movie’s release two years later, it became an instant hit and one of Chaplin’s most well-known movies.
108
The number of women from the Diocese of Toledo who entered religious formation.
175
The total number of priests in the Diocese of Toledo, including 46 Religious Order priests.
1,125
The average annual income for a family.
17,439
Across the Diocese of Toledo, there were 83 schools with a combined 17, 439 students.
125,000
Following the 1919 season, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for a reported amount of $125,000 cash. It was the largest sum ever paid for a player at the time.
Sr. Jane Mary Sorosiak is an 89-year-old Sister of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, who has spent her life creating works of art. Her specialty is ceramic murals that decorate churches, schools, and libraries around northwest Ohio and beyond.
Long before she was creating commissioned murals, Sr. Jane Mary Sorosiak was honing her skills. She created her first mural in second grade at St. Hedwig School in Toledo. “I did all the drawing and the other students colored it in,” Sr. Sorosiak explained, laughing at the fond memory. The nuns at St. Hedwig recognized her talent and encouraged it. In junior high, Sorosiak created a six-foot tall figure of Jesus for a school play.
Years later, a religious community was encouraging Sr. Sorosiak to create artwork. She had joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania. The community had always had a passion for the arts. “Mother Adelaide, the founder of our community, was always interested in art and she encouraged us to do artwork,” Sr. Sorosiak said. When the Franciscan Center in Sylvania was being built, there was a long blank wall - 83 feet to be precise - that needed decoration. “Sr. Patrice, the superior at the time, said ‘Sr. Jane Mary will put a mural there’,” Sorosiak recalled. It was settled. Sr. Sorosiak worked with two other sisters in her community, one of whom has a degree in ceramics. Together, they created a ceramic mural to span the 83-foot expanse. It was
the first of many.
Over the years, Sr. Jane Mary Sorosiak has stayed busy with commissions despite never having advertised her skills. “One commission has led to another,” she explains with a wave of her hand. In total, there are nearly one hundred commissions, some of which consist of multiple individual pieces, such as the Stations of the Cross. Many of the pieces are in Northwest Ohio. Lourdes campus has several and other pieces have been commissioned in Toledo, Perrysburg, Findlay and Sandusky (to name a few). More commissioned pieces are in California and Texas. Her process is fine-tuned by now. After meeting with the client initially, she creates a full color, very detailed model. “Sometimes that takes longer than anything else,” she emphasizes. “Most people think of ceramic murals as bathroom tiles,” she laughs. Her model aims to show that this is not the case. Unlike most murals, Sr. Sorosiak does not use square tiles.
“I like curves,” she says, decisively. She tries to convey movement. Once the design is approved, Sr. Sorosiak has to enlarge it and correct any little mistakes. Once she is satisfied, the design goes on to tracing paper. From there, the tracing paper is laid out in sections on sheets of wet clay. With a ceramic knife, each piece is cut out and numbered on the back. After drying thoroughly, the piece is fired in the kiln, glazed 3-4 times with Sr. Sorosiak’s glazes, then refired. The finished pieces are shipped to the location and Sorosiak oversees the installation. Each piece is special and personal to Sr. Sorosiak. “Every piece is my favorite,” she says, “I want the person who commissioned it to be happy, but I have to be happy with it,” she said. While she has had commercial offers throughout her career, she has turned them down. “I wanted to do religious art,” she explained simply. Perhaps it is because of the lasting effect she wants her art to have. “I want my art to be an inspiration, to be uplifting, to give people joy, to give them peace...something that will inspire people to prayer.”
o many things about Michael Tylinski are unexpected and surprising, including the bright Mickey Mouse sweatshirt he’s wearing as he greets me at the door of his historic west Toledo home, once owned by the Oblates of St. Francis. Today, I’ve come to find out how he mastered the fine art of creating custom sound and audiovisual systems for dozens of parishes in the Diocese of Toledo. His work enables many to hear music and homilies with clarity.
“I’ve always been into electronics,” he explains. “I
remember many days spent at my maternal grandfather’s side as he built short-wave radios. I learned how they worked and discovered new musical instruments as well. My grandfather always included me when he worked on projects.”
At the young age of eight, Michael learned to play the accordion, just like his father. “Dad always enjoyed playing musical instruments,” he says with a chuckle.
This early exposure to electronics, sound and music foreshadowed an eclectic and fascinating future for Michael. By the time he turned fourteen, his father regularly drove him to various parishes to play music for a myriad of weddings and festivals. Growing up Catholic in Toledo’s St. Hedwig parish community provided many
How the art of perfecting sound became a ministry for Michael Tylinski
opportunities for him to display his talent and love for music.
While working at their family-owned Polish market (Tylinski’s Market, aka Michael’s Polish Foods) Michael made time to continue writing songs, playing music and finally performing in a band known as Toledo Polka Motion (TPM). In the 1980’s, the band went on the road.
Just as Michael starts talking about the band, I spy a shiny, framed Grammy nomination hanging on the living room wall. “Is that what I think it is?” I ask. Michael gives an affirmative nod as he gently takes the award from the wall to hand to me. “We received multiple awards – this one is for being the 1990 ‘Favorite Ethnic Recording of the Year.’ ” Only then do I realize the scope of the fame and popularity of this band. “Toledo Polka Motion traveled all over the country performing in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida and Las Vegas,” he says. “I could never have done it without the love and support of my wife, Laura.” After 30 years of marriage, he still gets a glint of emotion in his eyes as he talks about her. “She worked hard to take care of our two children while I was touring with the band. We help each other with everything – we learned to support each other in our careers.”
Perhaps it was the need to make the band’s music sound great in many different locations that truly prepared Michael for designing and building sound systems. He also worked in a music store, with an electrician – his high-school friend, who taught him advanced acoustical installation techniques. Additional skills were acquired through three years of training at American Audio in Columbus, Ohio, and through helping develop Peeler Commercial Sound Division with Robert and Dolores Peeler, until their retirement. That’s how the idea for his business, Commercial Sound Resource, Ltd., was born nearly thirty years later. His focus has always been on improving the quality of sound in churches and school auditoriums. Having to sit through countless homilies he couldn’t hear convinced him to focus on these specific venues.
I ask Michael how he knows what to do in each parish, since they are all so different. “That’s where experience comes in – knowing
many different product lines and how they work in particular environments,” he says. “We design specifically for the acoustics and architectural structure of each parish using custom, not pre-packaged, systems.” There is also a visual aspect to each project. The best work is “hidden” from the eye and fits into the architecture of the parish, so it does not become a distraction.
It is clear to me that Michael has found his calling in life. “This is my ministry,” he says. He attends services or Mass in every church where he has installed a system – just to make sure it’s perfect. I ask him how it feels when he knows he has everything right. “The hairs stand up on my arms,” he says with a big grin, “I love it.” Michael has a special interest in serving the hearing-impaired, as he has experienced hearing loss over the years. He knows that if he can hear something clearly in a parish, others can, too. Once, an 85-year-old man sitting in the pew in front of Michael thanked him and said, “I haven’t been able to hear the homily for years, and now I can.”
Everything I am learning about Commercial Sound Resource, Ltd. comes to life when I visit St. Aloysius Church in Bowling Green, Ohio. Michael is there with a team member completing a sound and audio-visual project. Perched atop a ladder, he adjusts an electronic component mounted near the door – moments later, he sifts through a jungle of cabling on a nearby control panel. Multiple trips through each area impacted by the installation are made until everything
“ I don’t have customers, I have friends. I treat them like friends and family, because they are.”
MICHAEL TYLINSKIPhoto by Keith Tarjanyi / Diocese of Toledo Mike Tylinski and audio-visual expert, Jim Serafin, test components at St. Aloysius Church in Bowling Green, Ohio. Photo by Keith Tarjanyi / Diocese of Toledo
is perfect. I stop to admire just how cleverly he disguised the acoustical components within the architectural framework of the parish – exactly the way he described earlier.
“We take the architecture of the parish into consideration first,” he says, “then I find out what their needs are for present and future growth.” A site survey follows with the teaman electrician, sound engineer, carpenter and a Wi-Fi /audio-visual expert. Each parish has a different budget, which is also considered. “We are proud of our ability to save money for parishes using proper equipment from the outset of the project.”
When asked which parish installation was the most challenging, Michael quickly responds, “Historic St. Patrick, here in Toledo - but I am the most proud of it, too. We were able to achieve their goal through programming their equipment properly.” Fortunately, Michael needs very little traditional advertising, as praise for his work travels by word of mouth. Parishes recommend his services frequently.
Michael’s work is a combination of so many talents that I become curious about the future of his business. I ask him about succession planning. “Well, I don’t really know of anyone who does what we do,” he says. “There really isn’t any specific university program I’m aware of that prepares someone for a career like this – but a person with an electrical engineering or music recording background could learn how to do this.” He adds that taking customer service seriously and having a true passion for the work are also essential. “I don’t have customers, I have friends. I treat them like friends and family,
because they are.”
Outside of his sound ministry, Michael and his family lead an adventurous life, often traveling together. During family trips to Europe, Michael researches sound system installations in challenging acoustical and architectural environments, such as St. Peter’s Basilica and other churches. He also enjoys cooking special meals with his wife. “I’m a sausage-maker and a great cook - she’s Italian and a great cook, too. We have a fantastic family recipe for sausages,” he adds. If Michael Tylinski’s many talents extend to the kitchen, perhaps I can figure out a way to interview him about those sausages next time – I am more than willing to take a taste test!
Tom Hunyor was a young firefighter when a near-death experience changed the trajectory of his life. Not only did he return to his Catholic faith but he became a seminarian in the Diocese of Toledo. Find out how he changed his life, returned to the faith and discerned his vocation.
BY ANNIE LUST
didn’t think we would make it out alive,” Tom Hunyor Jr. said. Years before the fire that came close to taking his life, Hunyor was raised by devout Catholic parents in Maumee. His parents had raised him and his five younger siblings to attend Mass weekly and pray. They were homeschooled until 8th grade at which point he attended a public high school. “During high school, I started to distance myself from my faith,” Hunyor explained. He was actively involved in sports and his friends were not Catholic. “I began embracing what society told me would make me happy,” he said. Hunyor went to college and then became a firefighter, the same profession as his father. Faith was still not a priority in his life. That is, until a particular house fire. Hunyor was in the basement when he realized that he and a fellow firefighter were trapped. “Eventually,
thanks be to God, we made it out,” Hunyor recalled. It was a turning point in his life. He reflected on the fire that night and was frightened by his realization. “My Catholic faith was still ingrained in me. I knew it even though I hadn’t been practicing it,” Hunyor explained, “I knew without question that the way I was living my life - very selfishly and very sinfully - I would have gone to hell.”
Coming frighteningly close to death, Hunyor decided to make a change in his life. It was not all at once. “There were a lot of habits to break,” Hunyor said. “It took some time, but once I put forth a little effort, the Lord overwhelmed me with love, grace and the desire to know him.” On his search to know God, Hunyor began attending daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration and doing spiritual reading and prayer. Eventually, Hunyor’s thoughts turned to seminary. “There was
this tug at my heart,” Hunyor recalled. One word came to him: priesthood.
Currently, Hunyor is in Theology II at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati. Hunyor has three more years of school and one pastoral year. God willing, he looks forward to his ordination to the priesthood in 2022.
Photo courtesy of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Tom Hunyor with fellow seminarians during a break from a seminary work project.
Tom Hunyor being installed as an acolyte at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
There are countless volunteers throughout the Diocese of Toledo who generously give their time and talent to their parishes and communities. Meet Dick and Ardis Dardenne, a couple who spend time each week, like so many others, giving back.
Dick and Adris Dardenne are members of St. Joseph Parish in Maumee. They have been married 34 years. Before retiring, Dick owned and operated the local funeral home like his father and uncle before him. Ardis was a director of a healthcare facility. They volunteer close to home – for their parish, for the Maumee Senior Center, for Helping Hands St. Louis in nearby Toledo, and for LaPosada Family Shelter in Toledo. They’ve also volunteered far from home on two mission trips to Guatemala.
Dick and Ardis firmly believe that they have been blessed and that compels them to help others. Even with 13 grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren, Dick and Ardis volunteer every week. Dick and Ardis insist that everything they do actually takes a team of people, not just themselves. Still, their pastor at St. Joseph Church in Maumee, Father Keith Stripe, and the Catholic Charities team agree that Dick and Ardis are noteworthy for their giving back.
When pressed to answer which work is closest to their hearts, they paused before answering. After all, they have a passion for each cause that they volunteer for. However, one cause is a common thread that runs throughout their own lives and their volunteer work: the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Team. After a trip to Rome with Ardis (who was raised Catholic), Dick went
through RCIA and joined the Church in 2006. The very next year they joined the RCIA team. Before they could even explain this in their interview, it was evident. Dick and Ardis spotted a former catechumen and excused themselves, briefly halting the interview, to give him a hug and ask about his family. “They (the catechumens) become like family,” Ardis explained. RCIA is unique. Ardis explained that it’s particularly gratifying when catechumens get involved in the parish and, in turn, volunteer. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” she said. In fact, they recently helped with a volunteer project for Catholic Charities’ Helping Hands of St. Louis that would never have happened if not for a recent catechumen. One recent convert owned a tile business. “He loved RCIA so much, and he wanted to give back,” Ardis said. His offer to put in a new floor for the kitchen at Helping Hands of St. Louis evolved into an entire kitchen renovation with many volunteers and donors. And it all began with one man who was moved to give back because of RCIA. Dick and Ardis are determined to continue volunteering, even as they age. “As long as we’re able, we’ll keep paying it forward.”
“If you examine the good parts of your life — the gifts that God has given you — there’s a need to pass that goodness on.”
DICK DARDENNE
BY ANNIE LUST
In February 2018, Bishop Thomas announced with great joy that the Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan had agreed to establish a convent in the Diocese of Toledo. One of the sisters who moved to Toledo was Sr. Mary Prudence Allen, RSM. We asked Sr. Mary Prudence about her background, education and vocation.
I was born the eldest of five children in a Protestant family in Oneida, a small town in upstate New York. In Claremont Graduate School (California), while working for my PhD in Philosophy, I was received into the Roman Catholic Church at the Benedictine Priory of St. Andrews.
My particular area of research has been the history of the philosophical concept of woman in relation to man across the four areas of opposites, generation, wisdom, and virtue.
While I was teaching full time at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, I regularly went to three Benedictine Monasteries (Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes, St. Benedict du Lac, and the Abbey Regina Laudis) for retreats at the end of the semesters. During that time, I began to feel called to religious life, but I thought it was to Benedictine monastic life. In each case, the vocation directors at the monasteries said that they thought I had a vocation but not to them. I kept praying to the Lord to guide me in this process while I kept teaching full-time and caring for other personal responsibilities.
One of my younger sisters, who was a psychologist, also converted to Catholicism. While exploring religious life, she discovered the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. Each sister is educated to the top of a specific field in health care or education, and then gives herself with this education as a gift to the Church. Our foundress Venerable Catherine McAuley had entered religious life at the age of 52. When my sister (Now Sr. Lydia Marie, RSM) was received into Postulancy, she told the Superior General about my search. I was
invited to ‘come and see.’ To my surprise (as I was still holding out for my own preference for a Benedictine vocation), I was drawn to the charism of Mercy. By then I was a ‘late’ vocation, and I discovered I had a strong attraction to the Mercy charism, i.e., to works of mercy at a professional level in the areas of health care and education.
During the week, Monday through Friday we typically begin our day at 4:30 am; then pray our Divine Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, and Meditation from 5:30-6:30; and attend Mass at 7:00-7:30. Then we go forth to serve through our Apostolic work. We return to the convent for a Holy Hour in the late afternoon. This is followed by a common meal, recreation together, concluded by Night Prayer or Compline.
On Saturday, we begin our prayers a little later, do manual labor or work together on community projects. Then Sunday is a day of Adoration and community time together, refraining from our apostolic work unless called for by charity.
The most unique and interesting opportunity that I have had is to grow in participation within a common life. We have close to 100 sisters in our Institute. We are invited to grow in charity for one another in several different ways: living in a common convent, attending retreats in common, participating in a common apostolate, working in common through manual labor wherever possible through cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, singing our Divine Office, shoveling snow, each year draw the name of a specific sister to pray and to make sacrifices for, and wherever possible caring for the sick and dying sisters. These spiritual acts help us to deepen the bonds of sacred friendship through the years with several persons in the friendship of Jesus Christ, His Blessed Mother, in the Holy Spirit anticipating in hope the life in Heaven together with the Eternal Father and the communion of saints.
common myths about getting hospice care. You can experience more comfort, and have better quality of life, if you choose to receive hospice care earlier. Unfortunately, there are many misperceptions about when and how to access hospice services. Here are the most common myths … and the facts you need to know to make the decision that’s best for you:
Myth:Hospice is for people who only have a few days to live.
Truth:Hospice care can be provided when it is believed a patient has six months or less to live and is no longer seeking curative treatment. Unfortunately, many people enter the program too late to fully benefit from the many services available to them and their families. In fact, many say their only regret about hospice care is that they did not access it sooner!
Myth:Hospice is a place.
Truth:Hospice is a philosophy of care – not a place –with a goal of providing holistic care in a non-hospital setting where patients can be surrounded by the people and things they love most. Patients can receive hospice care in their own homes, as well as in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or – when symptoms are severe –in home-like, inpatient hospice centers.
Myth:You need a physician referral before you can talk to Hospice.
Truth:Hospice recognizes that end-of-life issues are complex. We will take the time necessary to discuss them with you and provide guidance. If you do choose hospice care, we will obtain your records from the physicians who have been treating you; an actual physician referral is not required. Call us any time!
Myth:Once you are on hospice, you can never go off of it.
Truth:If you choose hospice care and then another treatment option becomes available … or you show unexpected signs of improvement … or you simply change your mind, you may leave the program at any time!
Myth:All Hospices are alike.
Truth:The level of specialized expertise, the ratio of staff to patients, the depth of services provided and the availability of inpatient care differ from hospice to hospice. Hospice of Northwest Ohio provides all levels of hospice care and turns no one away due to inability to pay or the complexity of their care. That’s why 90 percent of families we’ve cared for would recommend us to others.
To learn how you can experience more during life’s final months, call us or visit straight-answers.org
Hospice of Northwest Ohio served its first patients in 1981 and is the Toledo area’s largest provider of hospice care. A non-profit, community-based organization, we are the only local agency solely dedicated to caring for the terminally ill. In 2017, we served more than 2,400 patients and their families in their own homes, in nursing homes and at our freestanding Hospice Centers. We are Joint Commission accredited and Medicare/ Medicaid certified. No one is ever turned away due to inability to pay.
Patients are usually referred to hospice by their physicians when it is believed they have six months or less to live and are no longer pursuing curative treatment. However, patients and families are encouraged to call Hospice of Northwest Ohio directly –whether or not they have a physician referral – to seek advice and information at any time during their illness.
Care focuses on controlling pain and symptoms so patients can spend each day in comfort, able to enjoy quality time with friends and loved ones. An interdisciplinary team addresses the unique needs of each patient and family.
Hospice of Northwest Ohio addresses not only the physical symptoms of illness, but also spiritual and emotional symptoms. Counseling services include:
Individual and family counseling
Assist the patient and caregiver with stress management skills
Help patients and families understand the feelings they may be having
Provide information and link the family to community resources they may need
Provide support and education regarding end-of-life issues
Facilitate meaningful conversation with patients and families
Help family members anticipate grief and bereavement issues
Provide special counseling for children who are close to the patient
Troubleshoot issues that may be affecting the patient’s quality of life
Provide bereavement counseling to family members following the death
In addition, Hospice Chaplains can:
Offer prayer with patients and family members
Answer questions and discuss concerns about spiritual matters
Offer help in coping with common feelings such as loneliness, anger and fear
Contact the patient’s own clergy, if desired
Facilitate receiving sacraments of the church
To meet the needs of the community, Hospice of Northwest Ohio created a community-based palliative care program in 2008. The Sincera™ palliative care program integrates years of expertise in addressing pain and symptoms to assist patients with a serious diagnosis who are still pursuing curative treatment. The Sincera™ team works with a patient’s own physician to improve quality of life by addressing symptoms of the disease, or side effects of treatment.
The goal of both of these programs is for patients and families to find peace and comfort in life to allow for the time and physical capacity to get their affairs in order, have meaningful conversations with friends and loved ones and resolve any unfinished “business” in their lives.
(see details of each program in box)
What’s the Difference?
Sincera™ Supportive Care and Symptom Relief is a palliative care consultation service that enables seriously ill patients who are not on hospice to experience relief from debilitating pain and symptoms or the side effects of treatment. While overall patient care continues to be managed by the referring physician, Sincera’s highly skilled nurse practitioners visit patients in their homes to manage symptoms and also conduct in-depth discussions about disease process, treatment options and goals of care. Expert nurse navigators provide additional phone support.
Whether patients fully recover or continue to decline, they will have an improved quality of life because of the additional layer of support they receive from the Sincera team. The costs of care are covered by Medicare Part B, Medicaid and other insurances. For more information, visit www.sinceracare.org or call 419-931-3440.
Hospice provides a much more comprehensive range of care and services, and is designed for people who have a life expectancy of six months or less who are no longer pursuing curative treatment. Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team—wherever patients live—and includes physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and various therapists; support is available 24/7. Medical equipment and all medicines related to the terminal illness are also included as part of the program. Emotional and spiritual support is available to the family as well as the patient; bereavement services are provided, long after the patient dies.
The costs of care are covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most other insurances. Hospice of Northwest Ohio turns no one away due to inability to pay.
For more information, visit www.hospicenwo.org or call 419-661-4001.
