Graceful Living Magazine Summer/Fall 2021

LIVING S U M M E R / FA L L 2 0 2 1

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TO LE D O, O H 4 3 6 0 4 (419) 244-6711 PUBLISHER MOST REVEREND DANIEL E. THOMAS B i s h o p , D i o c e s e o f To l e d o KELLY DONAGHY S e n i o r D i r e c t o r, C o m m u n i c a t i o n s KEITH TARJANYI M a n a g e r, C r e a t i v e S e r v i c e s ANNIE LUST Social Media Specialist NATHAN VOLKER Sales & Production Specialist SCOTT W. GRAU CHLOE BATARA Contributing Photographers MAUD WALSH SR. ROSE MARIE TIMMER Proofreaders

Graceful Living is a special interest magazine of the Diocese of Toledo, in particular for our senior parishioners. Stories of the lives of Catholic seniors contributing their talents to our parish communities are highlighted. If you are interested in sponsorship, donations or advertising, please contact the Communications Department of the Diocese of Toledo: 419-244-6711

BISHOP DANIEL E. THOMAS Rev. Msgr. William J. Kubacki Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia Sr. Rose Marie Timmer, RSM Chancellor Rev. Tad R. Oxley Senior Director/Vicar for Clergy Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations Mr. Matthew J. Daniels Senior Director, Catholic Education Ms. Kelly M. Donaghy Senior Director, Communications

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Dear Friends in Christ, All good greetings in the Lord with the prayerful hope that, as you receive this magazine, we might all be breathing a bit easier, seeing the “light at the end of the tunnel” of the COVID-19 pandemic and together supporting one another as we re-engage in the joyful practice of our Catholic faith and reconnect with our family members, friends and fellow parishioners.

In this fourth edition of “Graceful Living,” you’ll find a range of faithfilled stories from throughout the 19 counties that make up our diocese.

Read about our cover story couple Darrell and Norma Jean Jackson who met while in the choir in school and how “saying yes” led to an amazing faith journey. Meet Hayden Eighinger, who shares a unique look at the life of a seminarian at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati. Learn about the inspiring story of Father Michael Dandurand who complements his vocation to the priesthood with a call to serve our men and women in uniform. Share “Coach Carol’s Calling,” featuring a Catholic Youth Organization director who turned her love of sports into a family program that helps kids develop lifelong skills.

Hope you know how much I missed being with the members of the flock throughout the past year, and how excited I am once again to travel the diocese to be with you, pray with you and encourage you in the faith.

Speaking of travel, this edition’s travel feature focuses on someone you might know! At the encouragement of our Communications team, I agreed to offer a few reflections on my years living, serving and working in Rome. It was a joy calling to mind those years, hope you enjoy reliving them with me!

I do trust you will appreciate this issue of “Graceful Living” and will be inspired by the stories in these pages and pass the word on to others. As we continue to fulfill this magazine’s mission of “exploring, enriching and celebrating” lives of faith, we hope you’ll send our way any recommendations for future editions.

With gratitude to you and to all our readers for your interest and support, and with every good wish and prayer, I am Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus,

Most Reverend Daniel E. Thomas Bishop of Toledo

Mr. Bret V. Huntebrinker Senior Director, Discipleship & Family LIfe Mr. Philip R. Renda CFO, Diocese of Toledo COO, Management Corporation Mr. Rodney O. Schuster Executive Director, Catholic Social Services

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IN THIS ISSUE A MUSICAL MATCH: Norma Jean and Darrell Jackson have built a lasting love together through music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

ROMAN HOLIDAY: Bishop Daniel E. Thomas shares some of his favorite places in Italy's "Eternal City". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

SEMINARY BEHIND THE SCENES: Take a look at what one Diocese of Toledo seminarian's week is like. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

ROME AT HOME: You don't have to travel to Italy to experience Rome. Check out these fun ways to bring Italy home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

SOLDIER FOR CHRIST: Rev. Michael Dandurand finds a calling to the priesthood and the Air National Guard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

COACH CAROL'S CALLING: Carol O'Reilly drives discipleship by leading youth through sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

ROAD TRIP: Step back in time at one of these drive-ins for a vintage movie viewing experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

ON THE COVER: Toledo Little Flower parishioners Darrell and Norma Jean Jackson have built a loving marriage around music. Photo by Scott W. Grau/ special to the Diocese of Toledo

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WIT H B I S H O P T H O M A S

St. Alphonsus Peru blessing of new narthex and confessional Bishop Daniel E. Thomas blesses a stained-glass window which is part of the new narthex at St. Alphonsus Parish in Peru. The Bishop joined Rev. Ron Schock and the parishioners of St. Alphonsus Feb. 14 for the celebration.

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l a c mMATCH usi Darrell and Norma Jean Jackson have built a lasting love together through music

BY ANNIE LUST

Meet Darrell and Norma Jean Jackson, a couple who have said yes when God called them to serve different parishes, different cultures and even different parts of the country.

N

orma Jean was born in Lubbock, Texas, the second of ten children.

Her parents were migrant farmers who moved their family to Ohio for the cherry season. Norma Jean did not begin school at a normal age. “That was common for kids who lived on migrant farms at that time,” Norma Jean explained. A movement started

by Cesar Chavez, a Latino American civil rights activist, eventually organized busing to take children who lived on migrant farms to school. Norma Jean had to work very hard as a Spanish speaker, particularly during her first few years of school – “I could not understand what people were saying,” she recalled. She credits the First Communion preparation she received from a religious sister as her greatest tool in learning to read: “She told me to follow along in the missalette, so I sat up front and listened to the lector and cantor and just followed the words along.” Norma Jean's family moved to Toledo, and she went to

Libbey High School.

Darrell was born and raised in Central Toledo with his parents and one brother.

“Being a kid, it was great growing up in Toledo,” Darrell remembered with a smile, “riding bikes, swimming, cutting grass in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter.”

He attended Libbey High School where he met Norma Jean in choir. Norma Jean recalls with a laugh, “We made a commitment to get married and leave Toledo. We bought oneway tickets to Los Angeles.” It was their first leap of faith; many would follow. By the time they moved to LA, they had a daughter. A son would follow a few years later.

Norma Jean’s first priority in the “Golden State’’ was to find a spiritual home. Norma Jean took her daughter on a bus ride to look for Catholic Churches. They found the Church of the Transfiguration in South Los Angeles, a Catholic parish that quickly embraced the Jacksons. On her first visit,

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PHOTO BY SCOTT W. GRAU/SPECIAL TO THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

The couple's music ministry, Rejoicing Voices, exercised at parishes and events around the Diocese of Toledo. They regularly sing at St. Jerome in Walbridge where they are pictured.

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 9

Norma Jean met Miss Thelma: “She was one of the ‘church mothers’ who took me in and told me what I needed to do, what I needed to sign up for…”

Miss Thelma was one of many “church mothers” who took the Jacksons under their wings. In fact, it was one such woman who nudged Darrell to get involved in Catholicism. Although he was baptized Methodist, Darrell explained, “When my son was being baptized, the choir was singing, and they sang a song that I recognized from my grandma’s funeral. I started singing and one of the ‘church mothers’ nudged me and said ‘you should be up there.’ So I joined the choir.” It was the first of many things Darrell joined at the parish, including RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). Before long, the Jacksons were asked to start a youth group, and they did. Next, they were asked to cantor for the Saturday Mass, and they did that, too. They started a youth choir which began with four children and grew to 40 children.

At Transfiguration Parish, Darrell and Norma Jean embraced a philosophy that has since guided every move – they said yes. “We come. We open our ears and hearts to what God wants us to do, and we do it,” Darrell said. Even when it’s difficult. “I did not want to leave Transfiguration,” he said. But God had other plans, and “we always say yes,” Norma Jean replied.

Saying yes when God asked them to get involved, Norma Jean at 17 and Darrell at 19 shortly after they met in choir turned into a passion for at Libbey High School.

Darrell and Norma Jean. “I am very passionate about serving the Black Catholic community,” Darrell explained. He was invited to study at Loyola Marymount University and received certification in both African American studies and Pastoral Music. Meanwhile, Norma Jean transitioned from a career in the aerospace industry to a career in education which led to a Master’s in Theology in Intercultural Studies. It became a great tool for Norma Jean because Sacred Heart outside Los Angeles asked the Jacksons to serve at their parish. As they so often did, Darrell and Norma Jean said yes. This parish was very different – Transfiguration was 95 percent African American and their new parish was 95 percent Hispanic.

For Norma Jean, it was back to her childhood roots. “We learned about the different cultures of

Darrell leads one of the many choirs he and Norma Jean organized.

They are currently looking for members to join an intergenerational Gospel choir.

the Latin community, the Guatemalans, the El Salvadorans, the Mexicans and all of their various traditions,” she explained. They were working with a different group of people, but Norma Jean and Darrell jumped in just as they had at their previous parish. Their first initiative was to get the youth involved through a youth group, retreats, teen choir, as well as encouraging young people to serve as lectors, ushers, etc. for the liturgy. Another major accomplishment was promoting intercultural learning for the parish: “Not multicultural.

Intercultural, meaning we learned about each other’s traditions, language, food,” Darrell shared.

This intercultural learning environment meant that special Masses were trilingual, so “everybody was able to come and celebrate and get a little of their own culture and a little of everyone else’s,” Norma Jean said. “Things were going great,” Darrell laughed. “And then I got another call,” Norma Jean shrugged.

Their next parish was St. Jane Frances de Chantal in North Hollywood. Norma Jean served as the Director of Evangelization/Faith Formation. Two years later, Norma Jean got another call from St. Bernadette in South Los Angeles. Then, they received a call of a different kind.

By this time, their two children were grown; they lived as “empty nesters” for six years. Their

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“When God says move, it’s time to move.”

PHOTOS ON PAGES 10 & 11 COURTESY NORMA JEAN JACKSON

DARRELL JACKSON

granddaughter, Willow, was born, and when she was ten days old, she came to live with Darrell and Norma Jean. Just over a year later, their grandson, Roman, was born. He, too, came to live with them.

A few years later, Norma Jean and Darrell formally adopted Willow and Roman. “They’re our babies,” Darrell added with a smile. They have four other grandchildren as well.

This time Darrell heard a call. It was 2018, and the Jacksons had lived in California for nearly forty years. “Los Angeles had been good for us – our careers, education, the culture,” he said. But he felt a call to come home to Northwest Ohio. So, they prayed about it. Norma Jean called her sisters, who lived near Toledo. She inquired about schools for Willow and Roman. Her sisters indicated that there are great Catholic schools in Toledo. Norma Jean said they’d need a house. Her sisters went househunting until they found a house they unanimously agreed on. Darrell and Norma Jean bought it, not seeing it themselves until they relocated to Toledo.

The house was not the only leap of faith. “I started putting out resumes,” Norma Jean said. She landed at St. Jerome Church in Walbridge as the Director of Ministry and Evangelization. Darrell was asked to serve as Music Director at St. Martin de Porres Church until the pandemic hit.

Having met in choir as teens nearly forty years ago, and remaining true to their roots, Darrell and Norma Jean have never stopped singing together.

As a musical duo, they have the ministry Rejoicing Voices (rejoicingvoices.com). Since returning to Toledo, they have sung at the Diocesan Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration, the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the monthly Ministry to Catholic Charismatic Renewal Night of Healing events, Cardinal Stritch School Masses, and for funerals, weddings, quinceañeras and more. Norma Jean and Darrell are passionate about sharing faith and culture with everyone who hears their music. “It’s kind of like catechesis through music. Everyone receives something,” Norma Jean said. That might mean learning something about the Catholic faith, a different culture or music. Likewise, they have embraced the midwest culture and found the people and parishes to be incredibly warm and welcoming.

Darrell is also a member of the Diocese of Toledo’s Black Catholic Ministry and runs the Diocese of Toledo's Black Catholics Facebook page (@toledoblackcatholics). He’s excited “to strategize

on how to evangelize.” That means reaching out to Black Catholics but also evangelizing white Catholics and sharing African American culture and music, and how it can be beautifully incorporated into the liturgy. “It’s all about celebrating culture,” Darrell said.

Darrell and Norma Jean do all of this while raising a five-year-old and a six-year-old. While many people who are Darrell and Norma Jean’s age are retiring, moving to warmer climates or traveling, they are in Ohio talking about Willow’s dance class and Roman’s karate class. “It’s all about acceptance and finding joy in everything in life,” Darrell said. It’s clear that they do. Willow and Roman share a love of music as well. “At night, we sing to them, read a book, say our prayers and off to sleep they go,” Norma Jean said. “They have been a blessing,” Darrell added. For Norma Jean and Darrell, those two children are a constant reminder that when God asks and you respond yes, incredible things happen. “None of these things would have happened to us if we hadn’t said yes,” Norma Jean concluded. 

The Jackson family outside their Toledo home. They returned to Ohio in 2019 after spending more than three decades in California.

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 11

SEMI e

h t d n i beh ayden Eighinger is a second-year pretheologian at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati. A native of Mansfield, Hayden graduated from St. Peter High School in 2013 and Ashland University in 2017 with a degree in Biotechnology. Prior to attending seminary, he worked in pre-clinical research as well as the family machine shop. He is one of 14 seminarians currently studying for the Diocese of Toledo. Hayden gives us a glimpse into life at seminary through his journal.

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PHOTOS COURTESY: MOUNT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY IN CINCINNATI

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n d wi riva a ll a . t th E shor e ba a c c l h i th t m my of is room. a t e c m s T o h a h e t owe lf s ny e on n r p b l a oo y o v c hom er m ks. e t o S e e w t a t m ack acc assi ork. s of gnm Whe y d h o ur n l e e i s n I k ts, I ’m n s re a s a I u he s o din s t u em i g in ally s worki n m, a nary p th e n e d n l h i d ing som as a brary my g e a n e ther Hd o xp a ymna or ex s is ut d n s i s u i v oo m e s tuck r sp , De g r o u xpos o n i r n t d s s . u filli q O r f u e n a , e of r an so a ng ber t in in f f t er o tha t or h Nig e due hous im a h t P t e jo r t a B ye bI ar Top, seminarians at Mt. St. Mary's engage in an outdoor lecture. Middle, the exterior of Mt. St. Mary's Seminary. Bottom, seminarians in the chapel at prayer.

ab r an room dGet an up-close look at what i s n tro fullyone seminarian's week entails l an thin d a g com I ’m e mod ver i t er a a tur t e do m e ng y on y fr MONDAY ee xerc isin g. weig ht for o ur to er

INARY e scenes B Y H AY D E N E I G H I N G E R

My first alarm

long the homily lasts. I usually sit at “the crossword table,” where we race against time to eat breakfast and complete the USA Today crossword puzzle before classes begin at 8 a.m. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have Ethics followed

PHOTO COUR

TESY HAYDEN EIG

HINGER

goes off at 5:50 a.m. Some seminarians might call that “sleeping in,” but most days I can still make it to the chapel with enough time to pray the Office of Readings before Morning Prayer starts at 6:30 a.m. The seminary’s schedule is structured around communal praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, a set of daily prayers that are often chanted.

We pray four of the hours in common: Morning Prayer, Midday Prayer (noon), Evening Prayer (6 p.m.), and Night Prayer (9 p.m.).

Morning Prayer is followed

by Mass and breakfast. The window for breakfast could be anywhere between 10 to 30 Seminarians in a classroom lectur minutes, depending on how e.

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 13

c m s T o h a h e t owe lf s ny e on n r p b oo o hom ver m ks. ace t ly o S e e w t a t m ack acc assi ork. s of gnm Whe y desk h o ur nI l e i n t ’ s re m s , a I n he s adin usua ot w s I em i orki g in lly s n m, a nary p th e n e d n l h i d m b a ing s r y som a a r y g e a ther nd o exp a ymna or ex s is ut d n s i s u i v oo m e s tuck r sp , De g r o u xpos o n i r n t filli ure, qua s. On ds f e of r an so a ng ber t in in f f t er o tha t or h Nig e due hous im a h t P e jo ray t B bI ar J e t old ona TUESDAY y ou S CO U PHOTO

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Left, Hayden working as a volunteer bartender at the seminary's Bar Jonah.

Below, the seminarian volunteers pictured at Hillcrest Cemetery where they mow the grounds and wash/realign headstones as part of their apostolic outreach.

by Contemporary Philosophy.

After my two morning classes, I’m off to the monthly Student Life Committee meeting. My “house job” is seminary Athletic Director, meaning I’m in charge of organizing house and sports tournaments and recreational games. Typically I work with the Student Life Committee to help schedule communal events. This month I’m hoping to broach the subject of new uniforms for the seminary basketball team, the Minor Prophets. To help promote vocational discernment, the Prophets normally play exhibition games against local middle schools. And yes, we sometimes lose.

Monday afternoons are spent at Hillcrest Cemetery. Part of seminary formation includes an apostolic outreach assignment for the year. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we haven’t been able to do our usual work at hospitals, nursing homes and homeless shelters, so most of the men go to Hillcrest, a paupers cemetery which serves as the final resting place for hundreds of veterans, mostly AfricanAmerican. The graves are in shambles – overgrown, leaning over, or even broken. I’m in charge of a headstone realignment team. After two hours of work and a quick shower, I’m ready for a nap.

My classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays are Philosophical Anthropology and Catechism: Morality. “Shouldn’t you be studying more theology?” you ask. Eventually, yes, but I’m

currently in my second year of pre-theology. Mount St. Mary’s Seminary is a graduate seminary, so the men typically enter with an undergraduate degree.

If that degree came from another seminary, you’re all set to enter theological study. If it came from a university, you’ll need to complete a Master of Arts in Catholic Studies – a two-year pre-theology program that provides foundational knowledge in philosophy, the Catechism, and Latin. Theology is a four-year program typically accompanied by a pastoral internship year at a parish. The final year is spent as a transitional deacon preparing for ordination to the priesthood and completing a Master’s thesis. Should I be called to the priesthood, my discernment will take a minimum of seven years.

On Tuesday, I’m assigned to lead Midday Prayer, so I’m responsible for intoning several of the chants.

Seminarians chant – a lot. We sing at all communal prayer hours as well as daily Mass. Vocal training is inevitably built into the curriculum, but I usually need extra. Thankfully, Midday Prayer is pretty easy.

Lunch follows. It’s Skyline chili day in the refectory – praise God! Holy Hour begins every day at 5 p.m. with

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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Rosary. The men kneel and pray aloud together for the Church, our benefactors and the whole world. I frequently supplement the hour with some form of spiritual reading. St. Bonaventure and St. John of the Cross are personal favorites. I’ll read and pray until it’s time for Evening Prayer and Benediction.

Today is sleep-in day – 30 extra minutes! Morning prayer begins at 7 a.m., and the rest of the Liturgy of the Hours will be prayed in private. Mass will take the place of the evening Holy Hour, followed by a formal dinner and community night activity. Community night is sometimes affectionately referred to as “forced fun.”

Dinner, on the other hand, is highly anticipated. If you remember what cafeteria food is like, you know it’s always a gamble.

It’s no different here, but community night dinner is usually the best meal of the week.

This week’s community night activity?

Trivia night. The winning team will receive a handful of gift cards funded by the Student Life Committee, so brush up on your Catholic knowledge! (Can you name the largest Catholic Church in North America?)

I'm fortunate to live in a brand-new residence hall. Each room is fully furnished with climate control and a private bathroom.

The only thing I’m ever short of is shelf space to accommodate my many books. Stacks of literature tower over me at my desk as I do my homework.

When I’m not working on assignments, I usually spend my free hours reading in the library or exercising. The seminary has a gymnasium, weight room and some expansive grounds for hiking and outdoor sports.

One of our brothers is stuck in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure, so after Night Prayer I’ll be filling in for him at Bar Jonah. Remember that house job I told you about on Monday? I forgot to mention my second job: I’m also a volunteer bartender. Now I don’t know what comes to your mind when I talk about a “seminary bar,” but it’s basically just a giant man cave. We have three keg taps, a pop cooler, an ice cream freezer, and a popcorn machine. Sometimes we even have pizza made from our own pizza oven.

For entertainment, there’s a sound system, two TVs, billiards and ping-pong tables, a dartboard and almost any board game imaginable.

Though everyone is of age, many of the men don’t

drink and simply come to the bar for fraternity. A seminarian from Mexico has been trying to help me improve my pool game. If you want to know how that’s going, last month he nicknamed me Salado (slang for “bad luck”). Every now and then a group of us will go on a late-night Taco Bell run and try to make it there and back before the 11 p.m. curfew. (By the way, the answer was the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.)

FRIDAY

Buenos días!

Mass today will be in either Latin or Spanish; then I have Ethics and Latin classes. On “free weekends,” you’re free

PHOTOS COURTESY: MOUNT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY IN CINCINNATI

n tro is full l an y thin d a g com I ’m e m v e r o WEDNESDAY d i t er a a tur t e do m e ng y on y fr ee xerc isTHURSDAY i weig ng. ht for o ur to er ah.

Top, seminarians working on campus during their monthly "work weekend."

Middle, a seminary dorm room.

Bottom, seminarians in the chapel attending Mass.

to go home after your final class and return on Sunday.

Once a month we also have “work weekends,” which require us to get up early on Saturday and spend the morning doing manual labor around the seminary campus. We build rock walls, hack weeds, and split firewood. Some are better at this than others.

On Sunday night, we all reconvene for Night Prayer and prepare ourselves for another busy week. At the end of the day, all we can ask is that God continue to bless our dioceses, families, studies and discernment.

Thy will be done, Lord. 

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 15

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18 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

oldier sCHRIST Fr. Michael Dandurand finds a calling in the priesthood and Air National Guard

FOR

BY ANNIE LUST

T

his summer, you will find Fr. Michael Dandurand celebrating Mass at his parish, Holy Trinity in Assumption on most weekends. If you visited the parish last summer, however, Fr. Dandurand was nowhere in sight. His parishioners received periodic updates sent from the other side of the world while Fr. Dandurand was serving a different flock. He was on his first combat deployment for the United States Air Force.

If you had told Michael Dandurand when he was a high school student in Tiffin, Ohio, that he would be deployed with the 180th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard, he may not have been surprised. He felt an early call to serve – “I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” Fr. Dandurand said. He was uncertain whether his service would be in the military or in the

priesthood. “I had always had an interest in military service,” Fr. Dandurand explained. He considered enlisting in the Air Force in high school and even applied to military schools. His military plans were waylaid during his senior year when he felt a strong call to enter the seminary. “I thought my military career was not going to happen. I would be a soldier for the Lord.”

After graduating from seminary in 1997, that is precisely what Fr. Dandurand did. His first ten years were a whirlwind, serving in five different places: St. Charles Parish in Lima, Calvert High School in Tiffin, St. Rose Parish in Perrysburg, St. Joseph Parish in Maumee, and finally St. Thomas More University Parish in Bowling Green. In Bowling Green, Fr. Dandurand took on the role of Pastor for the first time. In addition, he served as the Chaplain for the Bowling Green State

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 19

PHOTO ABOVE COURTESY 180TH FIGHTER WING, OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD; CENTER PHOTO COURTESY FR. MICHAEL DANDURAND; RIGHT PHOTO BY SCOTT W. GRAU/SPECIAL TO THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

University Football Team.

Unbeknownst to Fr. Dandurand, the Ohio Air National Guard was reaching out to Catholic Bishops in Ohio. There was a tremendous need for Catholic chaplains to serve our servicemen and women. Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, then Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo, met with the Ohio Air National Guard and agreed to release a priest to serve in the military. In 2013, Fr. Dandurand received an email from Bishop Blair asking if he was open to becoming an Air National Guard Chaplain.

PHOTO BY SCOTT W. GRAU/SPECIAL TO THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

Working together as a team, Ch Dandurand and two Religious Affairs Airmen prepare for the Sunday Mass at the 180th.

That same year, Fr. Dandurand was transferred to his current parish, which is located just twelve miles from the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard. With the pieces falling into place, Fr. Dandurand was commissioned as an Air National Guard Chaplain in 2014.

In addition to his new duties at Holy Trinity Parish, Fr. Dandurand began to spend one weekend each month training at the Ohio National Guard base. That training included military procedures and response protocols that every airmen learns, but there is also training specific to chaplaincy. Another important part of his weekends at the base is “to be a Catholic presence, to be a presence of God on the base,” Fr. Dandurand shares, which included celebrating Mass, counseling and checking in with the airmen and leadership to be sure that their spiritual needs are being met.

After six years serving as a chaplain, in March 2020 Fr. Dandurand was called for his first overseas deployment. The largest US military base in Afghanistan – the Bagram Airfield – needed a Catholic chaplain. Fr. Dandurand was deployed.

Life became immediately different from his normal routine in Assumption, Ohio. Like all airmen, Fr. Dandurand lived on the base, slept in barracks, and ate in the mess hall. “[Bagram was] very dry and arid, surrounded by beautiful mountains,” Fr. Dandurand said. Because Bagram Airfield is in a

20 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

Far left, Ch. Dandurand has the chance to explore the cockpit of the A-10 Fighter Jet while deployed in Afghanistan. Center, Ch. Dandurand celebrates Mass during a deployment overseas. Right, Ch. Dandurand confers with airmen at the 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton.

“I wanted to lay down my life for something noble. The Catholic priesthood is this: you lay down your life out of love for your fellow man. And that’s what servicemen do, they lay down their lives for the good of their country.”

FAT H E R M I C H A E L DA N D U R A N D

combat zone, the are appointed by airmen cannot the Department leave the base. On of Defense to base, “you have serve not only a a singular focus. particular religious Your world gets denomination but pretty small,” to serve all military Fr. Dandurand personnel. And explained. Without that’s what makes family, hobbies, or it such dynamic, other distractions, interesting work.” each airman is In August 2020, focused on his/her there was a need PHOTO COURTESY 180TH FIGHTER WING, OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD own mission. For for a Catholic Ch. Dandurand provides an invocation for the 1,100 airmen Fr. Dandurand, chaplain at the Ali gathered for a Commander’s Call at the 180th. who holds the Al Salem Air Base rank of Major but is referred to as “Chaplain,” in Kuwait and Fr. Dandurand was sent there. Unlike the mission was the spiritual and mental needs of Afghanistan, Kuwait was a desert. The heat – up to the airmen. Mass is, of course, an integral part 120 degrees – was extreme. Beyond the conditions, of the spiritual needs for the Catholic airmen. there was so much to learn in a short time when Fr. Dandurand was responsible for the needs of arriving at a new base. “It was one of the hardest Catholics and non-Catholics alike: “Chaplains things. You have to really learn on your feet,” Fr. GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 21

LOOKING BACK: 180TH FIGHTER WING 1917

The 180th Fighter Wing was formed in October 1995, but its origins stretch back to Aug. 18, 1917, when the 112th Aero Squadron was organized as a supply unit at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas.

The 112th moved to the Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Ohio, where they became known as the 112th Observation Squadron, flying a wide range of aircraft throughout the late 1920s and 1930s including the PT-1, BT-1, the O-2 and the O-11.

2020

1940

In 1940, the unit was regrouped as the 112th Liaison Squadron. During that time, the 112th was activated in support of World War II and Lt. Col. Addison Baker, a B-24 Liberator pilot who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the raids on the oil fields at Ploesti, Romania.

1958

The unit moved to Toledo as a Fighter Interceptor Squadron and converted to the F-84 E/F Thunderjet model aircraft in 1958.

1995

After receiving its first F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1992, the 180th was renamed the 180th Fighter Wing in 1995.

Dandurand said. The reward was rich though. “Just knowing that you fulfilled a real need that helps someone get to a better place and that you were there for them.” One memorable experience was a soldier who was briefly in Kuwait and immediately looked for a priest to offer Reconciliation, because he knew there may not be a Catholic priest at his next location. Another was a helicopter ride to Kabul where Fr. Dandurand celebrated Mass for airmen who had not had access to Mass for months.

Fr. Dandurand arrived back at Holy Trinity Parish in November 2020. Embracing ministerial priesthood in a parish and in the military is an incredible

Throughout 2020 and early 2021, the 180th deployed more than 400 Airmen to seven countries around the world. Throughout 2020, and continuing today, the 180th has had more than 70 of its Airmen deployed around the state of Ohio supporting humanitarian COVID-19 relief efforts in food banks, nursing homes, correctional facilities and assisting with COVID-19 testing. It also had several Airmen deployed throughout the state to support civilian law enforcement during times of civil unrest.

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas after celebrating Mass with Fr. Michael Dandurand and other members of the 180th Fighter Wing.

PHOTO COURTESY BISHOP DANIEL E. THOMAS/ DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

commitment. Fr. Dandurand credits his ability to juggle both to his parish: “You balance it by having an extraordinary, supportive family community,” Fr. Dandurand said. He’s found that support at Holy Trinity Parish. “I come back, hopefully a better chaplain and a better priest than when I left, and that is the result of God’s grace and many prayers.” 

22 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

PHOTO COURTESY 180TH FIGHTER WING, OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD

1927

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BY A N N I E LU S T W ITH B I S H O P DA N I E L E . TH O M AS

/DI NIEL E. THOMAS TESY BISHOP DA PHOTOS COUR

1987, Bishop Daniel Thomas – then Father Thomas – was assigned to Rome for graduate studies with residence at the Pontifical North American College, Casa Santa Maria. Before his studies were completed, he was assigned as an official of the Congregation for Bishops at the Holy See. While working at the Vatican, Bishop Thomas resided at the Pontifical North American College Seminary where he also served as an adjunct spiritual director for seminarians. “It was a profoundly enriching experience to live at the heart of the Church,” Bishop Thomas shared. He remained in Rome until 2005. “During my 18 years in Italy, I grew to know and love the culture, the people, the food,” Bishop Thomas remarked. Based on his experience, Bishop Thomas shares his favorite faith, food, and cultural destinations, as well as some stories from his time in Rome!

OCESE OF TOLED

O

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas shares some of his favorite places in Italy's 'Eternal' city

Top, on an evening stroll through Piazza Navona in 1994, then Fr. Thomas pauses for a photo with his Dad and Mom. Above , after their ordination as deacons in 1996, then Ms gr. Thomas congratulates seminarians for whom he served as spiritual director. Right, streetvie w of the Piazza Navona.

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GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 25

FOOD CANDID PHOTOS ON PAGES 26, 27, 28 & 30 COURTESY BISHOP DANIEL E. THOMAS/DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

I

taly is famous worldwide for its incredible food and drink.

Prior to arriving in Italy, Bishop Thomas was never a coffee drinker, however, he began stopping at a coffee shop for a cappuccino each morning on his walk to work. Bishop Thomas also began curating a book of business cards from restaurants that he liked so he could recommend them to visitors. Included in the book are cards for Rinaldi Al Quirnale, Above, visiting a restaurant for a very special after Mass in 2000 occasion. The restaurant specializes with sisters at the “Domus” graduate in fish and is owned by Antonio, a house for US sisters personal friend of Bishop Thomas. studying in Rome.

Right, interior of St. Another notable eatery for Bishop Peter's Basilica.

Thomas is Ristorante Abruzzi, which serves his favorite pasta rigatoni carbonara and monte bianco dessert. Nearby the North American College Seminary are pizzerias called La Vittoria and Sor Eva which Bishop Thomas highly recommends. His favorite pizza is Margherita con rughetta - essentially salad greens atop a pizza! It would not be a trip to Italy without sampling gelato. Bishop Thomas prefers Fior di Panna, which he describes as “vanilla off the charts,” with Perugina dark chocolate. He shares advice for ordering gelato with a laugh: “when they ask con or senza panna, always con panna,” which means always with whipped cream.

A VISIT TO REMEMBER In 1994, Bishop Thomas’ parents, Francis and Anna, visited Rome. It was the only time his mom ever flew on a plane! Their two weeks in Italy included precious memories that Bishop Thomas fondly recalls today.

Among the memories are each of his parents’ favorite foods. His mother’s favorite pasta was from the Ristorante Abruzzi in SS. XII Apostoli Piazza. Anna ordered paglia e fieno al salmone – a green and yellow spinach and wheat pasta that translates to straw and hay with salmon! While in Rome, his dad Fran enjoyed any type of Italian pizza because he loved thin crust pizza and any kind of gelato.

The visit stands out to Bishop Thomas as one of his favorite memories with his parents.

Enjoying a classic cena with Archbishop John Foley and his parents during their visit in 1994.

PHOTO COURTESY BISHOP DANIEL E. THOMAS/DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

26 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

FAITH A

ny trip or pilgrimage to Rome, Bishop Thomas insists, should include visits to the four major Basilicas: the Basilica of St. Peter, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Arch-Basilica of St. John Lateran. Bishop Thomas recommends booking the Scavi Tour at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican Scavi Tour winds through the excavations (catacombs) below St. Peter’s Basilica, where the tomb of St. Peter is located, which is one of the most exclusive tours in Rome. Only 250 people are permitted to enter it each day. It requires reservations but the experience is magnificent! While in Italy, Bishop Thomas offered morning Mass on occasion in the Vatican Grottoes below St. Peter’s. “As you went downstairs, you could hear Mass being prayed in 4 or 5 languages. The Universal Church was literally present to you,” he explained. A less well-known church that Bishop Thomas would stop in on his way to or from work is the Church of the Holy Spirit.

The 12th-century church is notable not only for its

Above, at the Church of Santa Sabina in 2003 celebrating the wedding of dear friends. Left, standing in front of the tomb of St. Peter in 1999 with his high school classmate after morning Mass in the Clementine Chapel.

beauty but also because St. John Paul II made it a sanctuary for Divine Mercy in 1991. Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill is special to Bishop Thomas because he celebrated the marriage of his dear friends there using four languages!

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 27

A GREAT GRACE Shortly before leaving Rome, Bishop Thomas was present for the death of Pope St. John Paul II, his subsequent funeral, and the election of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He considers those experiences one of the greatest graces during his time in Rome.

Above, gathered in 2005 with the superiors and staff of the Congregation for Bishops at a private papal audience with Pope Benedict XVI. Left, in his first year as an official of the Congregation for Bishops, Fr. Thomas being introduced to Pope John Paul II by the Prefect, Cardinal Bernardin Gantin in 1990.

CULTURE O

ne of the best parts of Rome is simply soaking in the culture. A great way to do that is a walking tour of the various piazzas, which are open gathering spaces.

Bishop Thomas’ favorite piazzas include Piazza Navona, Piazza del Pantheon, Piazza Farnese, and the Piazza Trevi, home of the famous Trevi Fountain. Speaking of fountains, Bishop Thomas has a favorite, and it is not the Trevi Fountain.

The Turtle Fountain, a late Italian Renaissance sculpture located in Piazza Mattei, is Bishop Thomas’ personal favorite. There is no shortage of museums (like the Vatican Museums, of course!).

A great option that Bishop Thomas recommends

is the Borghese Gallery, where you will see the works of Bernini, Caravaggio and Raphael. Bishop Top, David sculptu re at Borghese Ga llery. Above, Thomas tried in St. Peter Square , then Fr. Thomas as a first-year graduate student to avoid the priest in 1989. more “touristy” activities while he lived in Rome, but near the end of his time there, he decided to go on a doubledecker sightseeing tour bus. “I was so glad I did because it was so much fun,” Bishop shared.

28 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

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ONCE-INA-LIFETIME PILGRIMAGE

WHAT HE MISSES MOST Bishop Thomas can easily identify what he misses the most about Rome: the people.

While Rome is a large, bustling city, Bishop Thomas describes establishing friendships with Privileged to share shop owners, for example, a a light moment du ring a visit in 1991 with Mothe couple who ran a coffee shop r Teresa of Calcutta and other Missionaries of Ch arity. or a gentleman who owned a framing shop. “Everything is relational; that’s part of the fabric for Bishops, priests and laity who of Italy,” he explained. The religious also worked at the Vatican, and sisters, Figlie di San Giussepe members of numerous religious (Daughters of St. Joseph), became congregations. Among those were good friends with Bishop Thomas the Missionaries of Charity located during his time in Rome. In addition at the Vatican, for whom he to being the sacristans for St. celebrated Mass every Thursday Peter’s Basilica, the sisters make and served as their confessor. liturgical vesture. Upon returning to Rome, he always tries to make time Here's hoping this reminiscence for a visit to them. In addition to his of “Bishop Thomas’ Rome” might love of the locals, Bishop Thomas inspire your own pilgrimage or had the incredible opportunity travel to Rome – either in person to work with and befriend people or through books, videos and the from all over the world, including internet. Ciao! his coworkers in the Congregation

— S E R V I C E

If you would like to visit Rome with Bishop Daniel Thomas, you have an opportunity next year! Bishop Thomas is leading a small group on a two-week pilgrimage to Italy and Spain in October 2022. Note: October happens to be Bishop Thomas’ favorite month in Rome because of the incredible weather! Visit catholicfaithjourneys. com/Toledo2022 for more information.

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You don’t have to travel to Italy to experience Rome. These five tips will bring European flair and flavor to your next dinner party.

DRINK

AMBIANCE

Dining al fresco, meaning outdoors, is very common in Rome. Replicate that by setting a table outside.

Bring out your nice plates and silverware. Some candles or string lights add to the ambiance.

Don’t overlook drink choices. In Italy, there is an apéritif, a drink served before the meal to stimulate the appetite. With the meal, sparkling water and wine are typical. Don’t forget your espresso with, and a digestivo after, dessert!

MOVIE

Roman Holiday is a fun way to glimpse Rome as Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck zip through the streets on a vespa. A modern rom-com Letters for Juliet is another option. Also check out the two-part miniseries Pope John Paul II starring Jon Voight. Which is available on Formed.

at home

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32 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

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Make your meal a production. In Italy, menus are separated into antipasti (appetizers), primo (carbohydrate main course), secondo (protein main course), cortorni (side dishes), dolci (desserts). Plan to enjoy the meal over the course of a few hours.

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GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 33

“Sports are a vehicle to get (kids) to that next step in life.”

Carol O'Reilly in her element.

Most weekends you can find Carol in the Our Lady of Consolation gymnasium, sporting the OLC spirit wear. She has served as Carey's CYO Director since 1990.

34 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

Carol O'Reilly drives discipleship by leading our youth through sports

COACH CAROL'S

calling

B Y E L I S H A VA L L A DA R E S - C O R M I E R

PHOTOS BY CHLOE BATARA/SPECIAL TO THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

A

ny given weekend, someone walking into the gym at Our Lady of Consolation School (OLC) in Carey is bound to encounter Carol O’Reilly. It’s almost impossible to miss her.

Sporting her blue OLC quarter-zip sweater, Carol dashes around the facility. She greets players and parents, almost always by name, as they march in to prepare for the day’s competition. The next moment, she sidles up to the bleacher crowd to see how everyone’s week has been. By the time you blink your eyes, she’s back at the concession stand, serving up hot dogs and other fare like nobody’s business. As kids yell, spectators cheer, and whistles blow, make no mistake about it...This is CYO Sports at OLC. This is Carol O’Reilly’s world.

Carol O’Reilly is at home at Our Lady of Consolation Basilica and School in Carey, Ohio, or OLC as she affectionately refers to the campus.

It’s the church she was baptized and married in, the grade school she attended and has taught at since 1972. While a 48-year tenure as a school teacher is more than enough to become as beloved as Carol is by the OLC community, she’s most known for her involvement in the school’s CYO program, where she’s held several positions since 1973.

At 70 years old, it’s been decades since her youngest child played CYO sports, but Carol, the school’s CYO director since 1990, hasn’t given a thought to leaving. “My husband tells me, ‘Now, Carol, when you die, we’ll put your real nice OLC shirt on you.’ And that would make me very happy.

Very happy.”

Carol O'Reilly is surrounded by the Our Lady of Consolation girls' basketball team. She has been involved in the CYO program in Carey for 48 years.

Growing up, Carol began what would be a life-long love affair with sports, playing hit-pin dodgeball, tackle football and other sports. Her uncle coached the very first OLC basketball team and her aunts came up with the now-famous “Trojan Biscuit Donuts” synonymous with CYO in Carey.

When she returned to OLC in 1972 as a teacher, it wasn’t long before she became involved with CYO sports, which at the time consisted of a single boys’ basketball team. Beginning as the cheerleading

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 35

advisor, she soon began to do more behindthe-scenes and fundraising work. “(Getting involved with CYO) seemed the right thing to do,” she said. “I just loved working with the students, and I thought maybe I have something to offer.”

Having married her husband Michael in 1977, Carol soon welcomed her children Richard and Kate.

CYO became a full-on family affair.

Michael helped start OLC’s track program and both children went through the program. Kate began scorekeeping as a seventh grader in 1992 and continues that role today, while also joining her mother in the teaching ranks at OLC. “CYO Sports has been a part of my life since the day I was born,” Kate says, with noted enthusiasm and pride. “It’s not just a sport, it’s not just a game. It’s a family.”

It’s a family. For Carol, this rings true for the entire CYO program. As important as competition is, the true fruit is borne through the formation of CYO athletes into joyful Christian disciples.

“I can be a very competitive person, and CYO just gets that competitiveness out there,” she says. “(But) it’s not always about the sport. We’re teaching them life skills: How do you deal with failure? How do you win graciously?”

Every single game begins with the CYO Team Prayer, in which players, coaches, spectators and officials thank God for “the opportunity to put our faith into action today” through athletics. Even more than that, Carol hopes that through CYO, “(athletes) will continue to live their faith in a very strong way, to show other people they’re Christians and not be afraid of it.”

Many things come full-circle in Carey.

One of the boys who played on the first OLC basketball team, which was coached by Carol’s uncle, now has a grandson in Carol’s seventhgrade class. Students she coached some 30 years ago are returning with their own children and Carol welcomes them back by name. All this and more make the 48 years of CYO dedication worth it for Carol.

“The kids are number one,” she says. “We want the sports, but sports are not the end all.

Sports are a vehicle to get them to that next step in life [of joyful disciplehood].” 

PHOTO BY CHLOE BATARA/SPECIAL TO THE DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

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GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 37

Your movie night just got more exciting! Instead of watching at home, hop in your car and catch a movie at one of Northwest Ohio’s historic drive-in theaters. While drive-ins were once plentiful throughout the country, they are now a rarity - some states have none! Ohio ranks third in most remaining drive-ins in the nation. Take advantage of this fun summer throwback.

Springmill Drive-In

Mansfield, Ohio The Springmill Drive-In Theater offers two screens, each showing first-run double features, and occasionally triple features!

Bring your family, friends and neighbors for a starry night of enjoyment and memories.

Tiffin Drive-In Theater Tiffin, Ohio This family-owned drive-in has two screens that offer first-run double features. It underwent upgrades before the 2021 season.

The Tiffin Drive-In Theater offers a fun and affordable outdoor movie venue that is guaranteed to make lasting memories.

Van-del Drive-In Theater

Middle Point, Ohio Van-del has been open since 1948 with the only triple screen in Northwest Ohio.

Bringing the best movie entertainment from Hollywood and the world on three screens.

BY ANNIE LUST

Step back in time at one of these drive-ins for a vintage movie viewing experience

38 SUMMER/FALL 2021 | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE

Liberty Center Field of Dreams

Liberty Center, Ohio By far the newest drive-in on this list, Liberty Center Field of Dreams was built on farmland in 2007. A second screen was added in 2010 and it was upgraded to digital that same year, as well. There is a 250-car capacity.

First-run movies shown outdoors under the stars! Delicious food available on-site, too. Arrive early and hungry!

Star View Drive-In

Norwalk, Ohio The Star View Drive-In opened in 1949. The single-screen venue can accommodate up to 500 cars.

Fun family entertainment: Movies, concerts and food!

Sundance Kid

Oregon, Ohio Sundance Kid has a double screen that has operated since 1949.

A great spot for a '50s-style drive-in experience!

Care

that only comes from experience.

The experts at Sincera and Hospice of Northwest Ohio can explain your options and create a plan of care to meet your goals at any stage of serious illness.

Sincera’s team will come to your home for a very personalized discussion about how you want to live your life and your goals of care. You can count on our expert pain and symptom management – as well as emotional and spiritual support – while you continue to receive curative treatment.

If you’re no longer seeking a cure, Hospice of Northwest Ohio will provide comprehensive care for body, mind and spirit during life’s final months. Our expert staff will come to you, wherever you call home, to help you live in comfort and peace with dignity – while supporting your entire family.

Our care also includes all hospice-related medications and medical equipment, delivered to you.

For 40 years, Hospice of Northwest Ohio has provided patients and families with the physical, emotional and spiritual support they need, regardless of ability to pay or complexity of care. In your home, a nursing home, or in one of our two freestanding hospice centers.

Strength. Dignity. Peace.

To learn more, call or visit our websites. sinceracare.org 419.931.3440 hospicenwo.org 419.661.4001

GRACEFUL LIVING MAGAZINE | DIOCESE OF TOLEDO | SUMMER/FALL 2021 39

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