Seguin Magazine - February 2021 by Seguin Gazette

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

February 2021

GRMC

citizen of the year Battling the pandemic on the front line

VIVA

BBQ NOW OPEN THURSDAY - SUNDAY 108 S. AUSTIN STREET, SEGUIN

HUGE SELECTION OF GENUINE RECLINERS

399

F RO M TO

1199

In Stock & Ready for FAST - FREE DELIVERY

Gift and Gourmet 212 S. Austin St. Seguin, Tx 830-379-1242

-Kendra Scott-Kendra -Jon Hart ScottDesign-Jon Hart Design -Costa Del Mar- -Tyler Candle Co.-Pura Vida Jewelry-

-Tyler Candle Shop OurCo.-Ronaldo Jewelrynew website! www.giftandgourmetseguin.com ...and so much more!

www.starckefurniture.com

300 S. Austin St. â&#x20AC;¢ 379-4622 La-Z-Boy Recliners | Broyhill Furniture

Valentines Sale

Save 20-55% throughout the store, now til Valentines Day!

Where Seguin and New Braunfels get engaged!

830-625-3203 | www.ernestos.com | New Braunfels Marketplace | 717 N. Business IH 35 Suite 150

in this issue February 2021

Mary Lee Roberts

Citizen and Visio n Awards AWARD HONOREES 10 GRMC FRONTLINE WORKERS

Demonstrating the essential, tireless, innovative and too-often undervalued role of health workers 18 FATHER GREG NEVLUD Caring for the community through the organization of multiple charity drives 24 BERNY CROAN Leading the women of tomorrow through exemplary examples or hard work and determination

31 FATHER DENNIS DARILIK

Continuing 47 years of priesthood by mentoring the ministers of the future

36 SONDRA & YOMI AJASIN

Constructing a village to build a strong foundation for children in need

AROUND TOWN 42 FACES OF SEGUIN

Submitted photos from our readers

SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Customize your electronic access with

BUSINESS ONLINE BANKING from No matter the size of your business, we've got online options to fit your needs:

It's our business to be about your business. FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AT WWW.1CB.COM SEGUIN I NEW BRAUNFELS I SAN ANTONIO JOURDANTON I PEARSALL

FROM THE

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

publisher

ach year, the Seguin Gazette receives many nominations from within our great community of people doing extraordinary things. We are honored to continue this tradition. After all we have been through this past year, I can’t think of a better time to recognize some of our very own local heroes. We have all seen and heard stories of people going above and beyond the call of duty, even those that do it on their own time and usually with no recognition. It is because of people like this we are blessed with some of the most incredible resources around. The 2021 honorees are a diverse group of individuals who come from all different backgrounds, but serve causes bigger than themselves. You may not have heard of them before, but once you read their stories in the pages ahead, I’m sure that you will quickly realize how they have impacted you or someone in our community. Normally, we host an in-person event to present the winners with their awards and honor them with a reception among their peers. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing global pandemic we had to change things up this year and presented the winners their awards individually, socially distanced last month as you will see in their features ahead. I encourage each of you to take time to read about the amazing accomplishments of these individuals. We are so fortunate to have them doing such great things right here in Seguin and Guadalupe County. They are true inspirations and testaments to their individual callings and I am proud to introduce you to our 2021 Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year and VISION Award winners!

Vol. 7, No. 9 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette. Publisher

Elizabeth Engelhardt Editor

Desiree Gerland

Graphic Designer

Bethy Male Writers

Dalondo Moultrie Felicia Frazar Katy O’Bryan Lizz Daniels

ADVERTISING

Delilah Reyes Gay Lynn Olsovsky

TO ADVERTISE IN SEGUIN Magazine call 830-379-5402 have Story Ideas? let us know

seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com

SEARCH SEGUIN GAZETTE

Elizabeth Engelhardt Elizabeth Engelhardt - Publisher, Seguin Gazette

hot tip

ADOPTING A HIGHWAY IS GREAT EXERCISE AND HELPS THE COMMUNITY 6

SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

FACEBOOK LIVE . . . . Don’t forget to join us for our facebook live!! We showcase apparel, fashion, accessories, gifts, and kids.

TUNE IN FOR THE LATEST TRENDS FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME. Sunday/Monday & Wednesday at 7:30 pm every week. Sunday/Monday & Wednesdays

@ 7:30 PM

Shop at SistersRocks.com

Everything for today’s trendy woman, kids & home

918 10th Street, Floresville, TX 78114 830-393-7993 Monday-Saturday 9-6 • Sunday 12-6

THERE IS NO BANKING SEASON

If you’re in the market for quality financial service you’d be nuts to choose anything but Prosperity Bank. Seguin only has room for

HOME LOANS LOT LOANS

one giant nut and let’s keep it that way.

CREDIT CARDS

Stop by today and let us exceed your

CHECKING

financial expectations. Here, your money

AUTO LOANS

always goes where you go. That’s the kind of service that never goes out of season. prosperitybankusa.com |

1414 East Court St. | Seguin, TX 78155 | 830-379-2222

SAVINGS

PREPARE YOUR TASTE BUDS

FOR BATTLE!

SATURDAY, April 17th 10am-9pm mAX STARCKE PARK EAST

Professional Quality Service You Can Trust

wki

WESTERHOLM K O E H L E R INSURANCE

HOME. AUTO. LIFE. COMMERCIAL.

Texas Ladies State 50th Chili Championship

830-379-7352

533 E. Court St. • Seguin www.wkitexas.com

106 North Austin Seguin, TX 78155 (830)-463-5170 Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm Sat - 10am - 5pm Sun - 12pm - 4pm

THE OF B T ES

BES

Women’s & Children’s Apparel Home Decor Accessories & So much more!

2020

CHILI, CRAFT AND FOOD VENDORS, SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLES, GAMES, MUSIC AND MORE!

VisitSeguin.com | 830-401-5000

Mary Lee Roberts

citizen of the year

GRMC Frontline Workers more than 800 individuals at grmc are the backbone of the community, ensuring a strong, resilient health system for everyone.

S tory by Dal ondo Moultrie

eroes don’t always wear capes, but many are known to don masks. Masks became ubiquitous accessories for much of the world at the start of 2020. But, for many of this year’s Seguin Gazette Citizens of the Year award winners, they were already a staple. COVID-19 turned the world upside down and made for a very different year, indeed. So, with a non-traditional year came a non-traditional nomination and choice for the 2021 Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year. This year, the winners are frontline workers at the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center. “We’ve all had to adapt to learn in the beginning what this disease even was,” said Amy Anderson, director of the public health emergency unit and the hospital’s Southwest Texas Regional Advisor Council representative. In that transition came a lot of questions that needed answering, Anderson said. “How do we keep people safe?” she said. “Who are taking care of these patients? How do we keep other people safe who are coming into the hospital for procedures? Even looking at

SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF those contributing in an exceptional way

Robert Haynes, Chief Executive Officer, FACHE

Kelly Cole, Executive Director of the Clear Springs Urgent Care Center

Amy Anderson, RN, BSN, Director of the Public Health Emergency and Intermediate Care Units 12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

have a group of people “ We that really enjoy taking care of these patients, and they’re very passionate about it,

housekeeping, how do we clean these rooms? Everything takes more time now with what they do.” Then came education and training. “Everybody had to learn to don PPE (personal protective equipment) and what PPE we needed to wear,” she said. “You had a whole organization of people that have stepped up and been willing to tackle this head-on day in and day out.” From the beginning of the pandemic, health officials shared information to get everyone in the country to buy in and help “flatten the curve.” That meant helping to stem the tide of patients flooding into our hospitals. Hospitals, everyone knew early on, would be crucial in the nation’s response to the disease and would need help to perform at their peaks. Still, surges occurred, numbers of patients increased, and hospital personnel began to feel the effects, Anderson said. But they stood strong and stayed the course, which staff members continue to do. “We have a group of people that really enjoy taking care of these patients, and they’re very passionate about it,” Anderson said. “You have these patients who are dying; they have no family; the nurses are trying to take care of these patients, staying with them. It does take a toll on them mentally and emotionally dealing with them day in and day out.” While momentary thoughts of doubt creep into some staff members’ minds, they shake off the reservations and strive to get the job done, said Kelly Cole, executive director of clinical operations with the Guadalupe Regional Medical Group, which manages the hospital’s physician group. She is not a licensed clinician but pitches in, as does most everyone else, wherever she can to help hospital and clinic operations run smoothly, said Cole, who contracted COVID-19 in July. Throughout the pandemic, GRMC’s team has improved at caring for the community, Cole said. And, the GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13

“

presence of vaccines to fight the disease are adding additional hope, she said. “I went with one of our doctors to get our vaccine; we went together,” Cole said. “He cried because it is the right at the end of the tunnel for us. It is the hope that we need to know that this is not going to continue and we’re going to stop losing people, we’re going to stop losing patients, our friends and our families.” It’s not just the vaccines, but new therapies, more information and advancing technology that help improve the COVID-19 outlook in this community, Anderson said. It all keeps GRMC personnel moving forward, fighting for their neighbors here in Guadalupe County. Just to name a few, Anderson rattled off a few departments, staff members and disciplines taking the fight to the novel coronavirus at GRMC. Physicians, intensivists, physician’s assistants and nurses have been exceptional. Housekeepers, nutritionists, employees in the imaging department and lab departments have worked tirelessly to keep things running smoothly. Respiratory therapists, certified nursing aides and administrators are among the heroes, Anderson said. There are many more, too many to name. But all of these healthcare workers support the common goal of treating patients, and everyone is a hero in her mind, Anderson said. “Speaking for the people that are really in the trenches every day, taking care of these people, absolutely [they are heroes],” she said. “I don’t really fully think if you haven’ been affected by COVID or know someone in the medical field taking care of these patients, I don’t think people really understand how terrible it is and how taxing it is on healthcare workers.” Members of this community try to understand. For that continued dedication and hard work, this community and the Seguin Gazette recognize all of frontline workers at Guadalupe Regional Medical Center as the Mary Lee Roberts Citizen of the Year. 14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“The agency with a heart”

Our Services Include: - Nursing - Physical Therapy - Home Health Aides - Speech Therapy - Occupational Therapy -

Serving Guadalupe, Comal, Caldwell, Hays, Gonzales, Wilson and surrounding counties since 1995. Voted Best Home Healthcare by Readers Choice 2020

1064 E. Ireland | Seguin, Texas 830.379.6171 | 800.288.3921

This winter season isn’t like any other we’ve seen. With low inventory and high demand, you need a Team who will sell your home for the best price and find a new space you’ll love.

109 E Court St - Seguin 830-372-9466 Locally Owned and Operated

WWW.ANDERSPIERCE.COM

480 S Seguin ave - New braunfels 830-214-6002

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 15

HOW HEALTHY ARE YOUR EYES? Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans, but new treatments have dramatically changed the course of this disease over the last 10 years, making AMD more manageable than ever before.

Schedule an exam today. 908 E. Court St. Seguin TX 78155 830-379-EYES (3937) www.EyesTx.com Most Health Insurance and Vision Plans Accepted. Other Locations in New Braunfels, San Antonio, La Vernia, Gonzales, Luling, Lockhart, Hondo, and Castroville.

Trent Twitero, MD Proudly serving Seguin since 2010

Orthopedic Surgeon

• General orthopedic care for all ages • Joint replacement; hip, knee & shoulder • Arthroscopy; shoulder, knee & ankle • Injections and other targeted procedures • Fracture care

Phone: 830-625-0009 1340 E Walnut, Suite 1344 Accepting most major medical insurance including Medicare and Tricare

WWW.SEGUINGAZET TE.COM

OVER 500,000 MONTHLY VISITORS!

Transformations are easy with DESIGN ASSOCIATES on your team

Complete Interior Design Services 110 West Nolte Street 830-303-1522 • designassociatestx.com

GET YOUR LOCAL NEWS CHECK THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR before

VIEW SPECIAL SECTIONS

after

LOOK AT CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS READ LOCAL OPINIONS & VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE OF SEGUIN MAGAZINE

@designassociatesseguin @theshopSeguin

Residential • Commercial • Cylinder Fill We’ve taken the hassle out of managing your propane tank with our Tanktech electronic propane monitoring system. We give you all the tools you need to monitor your tank and order gas as needed, right from the Guadalupe Gas app.

Guadalupe Gas and its team is committed to serving you and your family like one of their own! 830-606-1877 | GuadalupeGas.com 3720 Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78132

vision award

Father Greg Nevlud Charitable, devoted, and dedicated to compassion, Father Greg continues to impact his community.

S tory by L izz danie l s

ny real Texan knows summers in the Lone Star State are brutally hot. With temperatures typically breaching the triple digits for weeks on end, air conditions work overtime and still don’t always do enough to ward off the heat. For people living without ample modern amenities, living in these conditions can become life-threatening. In Guadalupe County, the Seguin Fire Department has hosted two “Keep Seguin Cool” campaigns, which were assisted by Father Greg Nevlund of St. James Catholic Church. “I collected 20-inch box fans working with the Seguin Fire Department, and we’ve donated over 1200 fans,” he said. “I then asked the police department if I could do something. The plan was to do a teddy bear drive, but they already have one, so I went back with the idea of doing a smoke alarm drive.” With the confidence boost of his previous success and a goal of helping those in need, Nevlud collected and donated more than 500 smoke alarms to the community. He has worked with the Salvation Army and local women’s shelter. He also organized a baby bottle campaign within his parish that yielded more than $7000 for mothers in need. Nevlud’s work makes him stand out, but his vivacious personality and ability to connect with others make him a true visionary.

The youngest of five boys, Nevlud, spent 12 years in a private Catholic school before deciding to become a priest. He was a year and a half into seminary studies when he realized a shocking self-truth –– he was too young to be making such an important decision. So, at 21 years old, he left the priesthood behind. “I needed more life experience and wanted to complete my personal journey a bit more,” he said. “I went to Texas A&M the next few years, and when I was about to finish, I realized that priesthood really was what I wanted to pursue. I was ordained in 1982 and got to help plan the papal ceremony when Pope John Paul visited in September of 1987. So I’ve got that on my resume even though it doesn’t do much.” Nevlud downplays the significance of his role in a papal visit because modesty is an ingrained trait that springs from his affinity for St. Francis of Assisi, who lived a life dedicated to compassion. “I guess the first thing is I live by is the motto of St. Francis of Assisi who said ‘preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words;’ that has been such a powerful rallying cry for me,” Nevlud said. “Sometimes we get too caught up in words, and not enough in action. Even before coming to Seguin, I was doing volunteer work, but when I got here, I made the decision to be able to share my gifts with the community.” While priests are as diverse as their parishes, all have their individual approaches to their role. Some take a traditional stiff upper lip approach, while others may be more approachable and modern. Nevlud’s strategy is to stay true to himself. “My mother always asked why I wasn’t like other priests because I’d be at home in a Hawaiian shirt,” he said, laughing. “She’d always want me to put my collar on because I’m FATHER Greg.” Despite his mother’s complaints, an affinity for floral button-downs hasn’t stopped the man from developing a practice that focuses on ministering through presence and 20 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“

I guess the first thing is I live by is the motto of St. Francis of Assisi who said ‘preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words;’ that has been such a powerful rallying cry for me,

We’re Back! Our team of Eye Doctors and Staff are trained professionals ready to help with your eye care and eyewear needs.

Meet our Eye Care Team

Dr. Jeslyn Sabol Therapeutic Optometrist

Dr. Suzanne Turner Wallace Therapeutic Optometrist

Seguin TSO: 515 E. Court St Ste 200 New Braunfels TSO: 101 Interstate 35 South 830-372-1650 • www.tsoseguin.com www.newbraunfelstso.com • 830-629-1248 Now Accepting Most Vision Insurances! Call to Schedule a Visit

relationship building. “I want to be where the people are, in a place where we can develop relationships,” he said. “There are dark times I’ve walked with people, and I don’t always have the right words, but even just sitting with them letting them know they aren’t alone and they have support, helps people.” Nevlud is insistent he could not have achieved his many goals without the support of his life-long friend and fellow St. James priest, father Dennis Darlek. The two have known each other for more than 50 years, with a family history that goes back over a century. Their mothers even when to elementary school together. “Dennis and I had a dream that someday we might be able to work together, and nine and half years ago, the opportunity presented itself at St. James,” Nevlud said. “He’s a dear, dear friend. When I first moved to Seguin, we sat on the back porch deck at his house and toasted a bottle of wine to the best and worst of times. We built St. James into the community that it became.” In November 2020, the members of St. James bid farewell to Nevlud after eight years of dedicated leadership, which uplifted his Parish as well as the entire local community. He now spends his time visiting friends and enjoying some much-deserved relaxation but will keep his eyes open for a chance to be of service. “I will continue looking for opportunities to assist wherever I might be able to,” he said. “I’ve learned so much from my relationships over the years. People have challenged and affirmed me and encouraged me, helping me have clarity about what God is calling me to do, and He just keeps opening doors for me.” As Nevlud enjoys his downtime, his positive impact continues to be present in the Guadalupe County area and will be much appreciated when summer arrives, and temperatures climb. It is his contributions to the community that earned him a Seguin Gazette VISION award. 22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

LCR Custom Fence & Construction Let us build your custom fence for farm, ranch, business or home.

We have the latest equipment and best crews to get in and out leaving you with a quality custom fence.

Pipe • Barbed Wire • Net Wire • Custom Gates No money upfront, you pay when your custom fence is complete! Contact Leighton Robbins | 210-289-0264 | leighton@lcrcfc.com

vision award

Berny Croan A youth leader offering wisdom, guidance, and opportunity to her Girl Scout troops. S tory by l izz danie l s

eing a girl is tough. Being a tough girl can be almost impossible, but that’s why the Girl Scouts exist. While famous for their cookie sales, Girl Scouts offer young women much more than just the opportunity to learn the intricacies of supply and demand; they provide a chance to learn leadership skills while getting into the great outdoors and learning new skills. Local Guadalupe County resident Bernice (Berny) Croan made sure troops under her leadership get to try things they might never have had the opportunity to otherwise for more than 20 years. A vision for learning is why fellow troop leader Karen McMillan nominated Croan for a Seguin Gazette VISION Award this year. “Berny and I have been good friends for a long time,” McMillan said. “She taught at Seguin High School for many years and was an absolute fighter for those kids and the school. She’s retired now, but has three Girl Scout troops in Navarro now, where her grandkids live.” As a young girl Croan started as many scouts do –– in the Daisies. Decked out in vibrant blue from kindergarten to first-grade, Daisies learn the Girl Scout Promise and Law

26 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

“

She creates terrific opportunities, and the little things she does make the kids love her so much.

“

while making new friends and earning badges. Growing up, Croan’s family didn’t get outdoors much and certainly didn’t go camping in the woods. This lack of opportunity initiated a curiosity about nature, which developed into a desire to explore the wilds. When Croan joined Girl Scouts as a Daisy, she dreamed of hiking rocky trails before roasting marshmallows over a fire while a canopy of stars sprawled across the night sky overhead. Since Croan is so well-known for her connection to the organization today, it might come as a shock that she quit Girl Scouts not long after joining. “The main reason I dropped out was all we ever did was arts and crafts,” Croan said. “I love crafting, but I knew I wanted to do more than that. I became a troop leader when my daughter was growing up, and my goal was to do more. I wanted to get outside and do stuff.” Lacking a foundational knowledge in outdoor skills, Croan educated herself and is now a veteran camper who has redefined what it means to lead a troop. She is always on the go, taking her troops all over the place to provide experiences that help them grow as people in an environment where girls are empowered to develop their potential. “Berny is so creative –– I’ve seen her recycle a pizza box and turn it into a sun-baked oven with the girls,” McMillan said. “She even took her troop on a backyard campout when it was cold and the girls enjoyed every single moment of it. She creates terrific opportunities, and the little things she does make the kids love her so much.” Croan’s troop even dedicated a drop-off box outside of Navarro Elementary where community members can donate food for Panthers Feeding Panthers any time. “My older troop thought it would be more convenient for working parents to have a drop-box at the school to make donations,” Croan said. “When the girls came up with the idea,

Congratulations to Berny Croan and all the award recipients of this years Citizen of the Year.

PROPERTIES

karenmcmillan.com (830) 305-3600

It’s the SOLD sign that counts! Let me help you sell YOURS!

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL Providing Comfort To Our Customers Since 1994

Your comfort is our Business

VOTED BEST HEATING/AC COMPANY IN SEGUIN

Change your life with

(830) 303-8624

TACLA010612C

WIFI T-STAT

510 N. Austin • Seguin www.TriCountyAC.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 27

they felt so proud of themselves, and I wanted them to have that feeling to carry forward with them.” The impact they made in doing their drop-box project became a foundation to stand on in a year that made the world feel like a foreign place. Quarantine procedures and lockdowns meant troops couldn’t meet in person and have hands-on experiences. Coronavirus changed everything. “I was going to take my second graders to overnight at the zoo this year, but that was canceled,” Croan said. “My fifth graders were going to go camping at the lake, but that was also canceled. Everything we usually do like Panthers Feeding Panthers and Pack the Bus were impacted, so we’ve done a lot of Zoom.” The virus even prevented her sixth-graders from bridging from Junior to Cadette level. Bridging is a Girl Scout tradition that honors a scout’s achievements by symbolically “crossing the bridge” to the next stage of their Girl Scout journey. This year’s ceremony was set to take place back in December but was postponed due to statewide COVID cases. Fortunately, Croan is just as resourceful now as when she first became a troop leader. She says the key is to get the girls up and active. Scavenger hunts have worked great while also maintaining social distancing. While a former teacher, Croan still lets her passion for education drive her forward and relied on that resourcefulness to navigate the challenges of 2020. “You’ve just got to think outside the box. It just takes a little time. I loved teaching and worked probably eighty or more hours a week. When you retire, you’ve got to have something to do or you’ll go crazy.” And if staying busy is any way to keep sane, cookie season is when Croan at her best. According to fellow McMillan, Croan is pretty much a ghost when cookies are on sale. “We don’t even see her that much during cookie season because she’s so busy with the kids,” McMillan said with 28 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

Congratulations, Berny!

a laugh. “It’s just insane how much time she puts in for her troops. I saw a story in a San Antonio publication about an incredible scout leader. She was great, but Berny is something else. She’s just on another level, and I genuinely feel she deserves the recognition –– even if she doesn’t.” Croan certainly doesn’t think she deserves to be recognized. In her mind, she’s just doing what she’s always done –– teaching –– but that’s precisely what makes her special. Many individuals teach, but very few can be called “great” educators –– the kind of person a former student thinks about years later because of the impact they made. In Girl Scouts, girls get to take on the unknown and experience adventure. Whether it’s exploring the hill country via horseback at Camp La Jita or taking a day trip to a local swimming spot, Croan inspires a generation of women through innovation and strength of character. Something that started as a way for Croan to keep busy while having fun with her grandkids has become so much more than she could have imagined. Girl Scouts has become a way to show young ladies they can be a force for positivity in their community while discovering that even though it can be tough being a girl –– it feels really good to do good for others.

From your Sterling Silver dancing friends

"Look To Seguin Assisted Living For A Carefree Future.”

Family Owned And Operated • Large Apartments / 3 Floorplans to Choose From • Selective Menu at All Meals • Daily Activities Call us today for information or to arrange your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

226 Preston Drive, Seguin, Tx 830.379.8882 www.SeguinAssistedLiving.com

Lic# 050604

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 29

vision award

Father Dennis Darilek With a history contributing to community and church, his future holds mentorship and a helping hand. S tory by katy o’bryan

here is a rule that Catholic ministers can only serve 12 years at any one church before the archbishop relocates them. Father Dennis Darilek spent 16 years at St. James Catholic Church. “I was lucky to stay on the extra years,” Darilek said. “I just love Seguin because there is such relationships you can form with all the community members, whether it’s the police, fire department, or the Ministerial Alliance I was part of.” The archbishop placed Darilek at St. James to fill a vacant role left by the late Father Gerry Hubertus. During his tenure, Darilek was named Best Pastor in Seguin for three years and St. James as the Best Place to Worship by the Seguin Gazette readers three times. Looking back over the years, Darilek spearheaded countless efforts in engaging his parish, community and school through numerous initiatives. Darilek volunteered to ring bells for the Salvation Army, spent three years on the Guadalupe County Ministerial Alliance board, and hosted a parish event that saw nearly 800 attendees, to name a few. “I know most of the ministers in Seguin as well, and we

did a lot of things back then before COVID came,” he said. “I just liked that working together. The Lutheran church and us did Thanksgiving services together; that was a great thing we did community-wise.” Longtime friend and Father Greg Nevlud said nine years as co-pastors to compliment a lifelong friendship made Darilek most special to him. “Our mothers went to elementary school together, and we’re talking 95 years ago, so our families have known each other for a long time,” Nevlud said. “The story he tells me and tells other people is that he’s been waiting to minister with me since he was first ordained. He just knew that we were compatible. He’s been incredibly generous with his time, with his affirmation, with his support. He had done a lot for St. James, but when the two of us were together, we really created a wonderful community.” As the pastor for St. James, Darilek held a responsibility to St. James Catholic school as well and led new programs to have students interacting with members of the parish. “It’s important that the pastor and the principal are seen working together, supporting together,” Darilek said. “I had different organizations of the parish be buddy groups to different classes, and that seemed to work pretty good after a period of time. It wasn’t the church and school dichotomy; it was like we all worked together for the good of our kids because we saw the school as a ministry for our community.” Darilek turned to retirement in July of 2020, and he said it was both a difficult decision but a muchneeded one. “I’m my own worst enemy sometimes,” he said. “I get ideas about this and ideas about that, and then to make it happen takes work to do it. I can’t keep up with my own self anymore.” But before he was gone from the church for too long, former mayor Don Keil made sure to give formal recognition to Darilek by proclaim32 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

THE OF B

T ES

BES

M.E. Plumbing has served clients in Seguin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Luling, La Vernia, Gonzales and surrounding areas of Texas since 2005.

2020

24 Hour Commercial and Residential Plumbing Services

RMP-37076

830-303-5534 Seguin 925 S. Austin St., Seguin, TX 78155

830-372-5200 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 830-372-5200

“

He’s been Seguin’sPremiere Premiere Medispa Medispa incredibly generous Seguin’s Seguin’s Premiere Medispa • Family Medicine Premiere Medispa Seguin’s Premiere Medispa with his time, with Seguin’s Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Family Medicine • Weight Loss • Family Medicine Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Family Medicine • Weight Loss • Family Medicine • Family Medicine his affirmation, Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Weight Loss •• Hormone Therapy Hormone Therapy Seguin’s Premiere Medispa • Aesthetics • Hormone Therapy Family Medicine • Weight Loss Family Medicine • Weight Loss Seguin’s Premiere Medispa Loss • Hormone Therapy with his support. • Family Medicine Seguin’sWeight Premiere Medispa • Botox & Fillers • Aesthetics • Hormone Therapy • Hormone Therapy Aesthetics ••Hormone Women’s Health Weight Loss • Therapy Weight Loss Hormone Therapy Family Medicine • Weight Loss • Family Medicine • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers • Aesthetics • Aesthetics Aesthetics• Weight Loss • Family Women’s Health He had done a lot Medicine • Hormone Therapy • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers • Botox & Fillers Aesthetics • Women’s Health Aesthetics • Women’s Health Weight Loss •• Hormone Therapy Hormone Therapy for St. James, but www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com • Aesthetics • Micro-needling • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Ultherapy Weight Loss •• Aesthetics Hormone www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com • Botox & Fillers •• Micro-needling • Eyelash Extensions Aesthetics •Microblading Women’sTherapy Health • Eyelash Extensions when the two of • Ultherapy • Botox & Fillers www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com • Medi Facials www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com • Microblading • Micro-needling •• Micro-needling Women’s Health 515 King St., Ste. 103 •Aesthetics Seguin, TX 78155 us wereN.together, • Eyelash Extensions • Ultherapy • Women’s Health • Medi Facials • Microblading • Microblading 515 N.created King St., Ste.www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com 103 TX 78155 Call us for• Seguin, Laser Hair Removal • Micro-needling • Eyelash Extensions • Women’s Health • Medi Facials • Medi Facials we really Back to School Specials 515 103 Seguin, TX 515N.N.King KingSt., St.,Ste. Ste. 103 Seguin, TX78155 78155 Call us for•• 830-372-5200 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com IPL Photofacials • Microblading • Micro-needling • Women’s Health • Women’s Health Back to School Specials 30% off any 830-372-5200 CallCall us for us for a wonderful •• Medi Facials Microblading 515 N. King St., Ste. 103 • Seguin, TX 78155 515 N.Aesthetic King St., Ste.103 • Seguin, TX 78155 Back to School Specials Back toTreatment School Specials 830-372-5200 830-372-5200 • Women’s Health • Medi Facials community. 515 N. King St.,515Ste. 103 • Seguin, TX 78155 Call us for N. King St., Ste.103 •• Women’s Health Seguin, TX 78155

Back to School Specials Call usSt., forSt., 830-372-5200 515 N.www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com King Ste.103 • Seguin, 515 N. King Ste.103 • Seguin,TX TX78155 78155 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com Back to School Specials 830-372-5200 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com 515 N.www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com King St., Ste.103 • Seguin, TX 78155 515 N. King St., Ste.103 • Seguin, TX 78155 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 33 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com

ing Nov. 20, 2020, as Father Dennis Darilek Day. “Father Dennis, you got deprived of the great farewell you really do deserve,” Keil said at the November meeting. “This is the least we can do.” What comes next for Darilek in retirement is open to the imagination, he said, but he intends to follow his passions. “I’ll be working with younger priests, visiting them,” he said. “I’ll be doing spiritual direction at the seminary, so I’ll have stuff that I like doing — mentoring younger priests as well. My 47 years of priesthood, I’m not just going to sit on the back porch and walk away. I want to put that to good use.” But the community should not miss his presence for long, and Darilek plans to stick around the area, helping out where he can. “God usually always has a plan somehow,” he said. “I help out where I can doing masses. I was in New Braunfels (recently), I was in Schertz, and I’ll be helping St. Dominic’s. So I’ll be helping out when I’m asked to and helping out where I can.” His 16 years of service to the community earned him one of the Seguin Gazette’s VISION awards. When learning about his VISION award, he stated he was “very humbled.”

34 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

nEW

ia n r e V a L Orthopedics Office Orthopedics Office in

nEW in Lain LVearnViearnia nEW

280 S. King St. Seguin, TX musculos High quality care for • • • disorders injuries. Walnut Springs Familyand Health

•SportsSt. injuries •Trauma 309 Silverado LaVernia, TX •Fractures LaVernia Patients Seen Every Thursday Morning •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot P

High quality care for musculoskeletal Walnut Springs Health High Family quality care for musculoskeletal G. Steven MD trent J. twit 309 Silverado St.,disorders La Vernia disorders andWhite, injuries. and injuries.

injuries •Trauma •Fractures •Sports injuries•Sports •Trauma •Fractures Call for an appt. •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot Problems •Joint Replacements •Arthritis •Hand/Foot830-379-9492 Problems Walnut Springs Family Health Walnut Springs Family Health G. Steven trent MD J. twitero, Promp MD Steven White, MD White, trent MD J. twitero, 309 Silverado309 St.,Silverado La VerniaSt., LaG.Vernia t Ap

Call for830-379-9492 an appt. 830-379-9492 Call for an appt.

ances Most insur accepted, ing lud inc mp Worker’s Co & Medicaid

pointm e Availab nts le!

The health and safety of our patients and staff are our highest priority as we strive to minimize the spread of COVID infection.

CALL FOR AN APPT. 830-379-9492 G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

SHARE YOUR LOCAL STORY IDEAS WITH US

email seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 35

vision award

Sondra & Yomi

Ajasin

The extensive efforts of this couple have reached many children statewide, and they continue to provide a positive path for many more moving forward. S tory by F e l icia f razar

s the saying goes, “It takes a village,” and Sondra and Yomi Ajasin have created their own filled with caring volunteers and supportive community members. In the past five years, the Ajasins have opened their hearts and doors to help about 1,000 kids and hundreds of families through TruLight 127 Ministries. Through their mission, the couple has helped give children who were taken from their family a place to call home, whether in the TruLight Village, with a foster family, with other family members or adoptions. “God is not a God of circumstance,” Sondra said. “He called TruLight to be. We started in our garage and just thought we were going to hand out a few items to people — diapers, wipes, school supplies. Now here we sit, over five years later, and we’ve helped nearly 1,000 kids finding placement.” The path that Sondra and Yomi began had them helping people long before TruLight began. Yomi, a registered nurse, is originally from Lagos, Nigeria. He came to the United States on an athletic scholarship with a plan to graduate, make it as a professional basketball player, return home and build a hospital in Nigeria.

“I always wanted to go back to Nigeria for medical missions,” he said. “I was telling Sondra, and she was telling me you want to go to Nigeria and help children, which is great, but there are kids right here that need your help.” Sondra began her career path as helping the elderly. But through persuasion from a mentor, she shifted her focus from adults to children. “In 2006, my career path before was with the elderly. My course changed when I started back to college, and I realized that one of my teachers, professors, kept pushing me to go to CPS,” Sondra said. “She kept pushing me. So when I started that, I knew that’s where I was going to be. It was the fit that I never knew I needed, but I needed it. I am blessed by them just as much as they are blessed by me.” Sondra worked in Child Protective Services, and with CASA, she began to see a much bigger issue. During a conference Sondra attended, a pastor talked about his start at fostering children and how he got his 200 congregants to take charge and make a difference. The pastor lit up a Texas map showing where churches supplied resources for children in the foster system, and Sondra was shocked at the lack of resources in the South Texas area. “I really felt the prick of the Spirit saying you really have to start shining truth and light,” she said. “I just kept thinking, I’m already doing something, but there was this constant pull. That map never left my vision; this should not be so. This should be lit up everywhere for people to come together and help these kids.” It wasn’t long after the couple began collecting donations from family and friends to help foster families. “Gone were the days when Yomi could park in the garage,” she said. “We had shelves everywhere, people were giving us stuff, and they started before we became a full nonprofit. They were just bringing us stuff to give to people. That was really neat because all I felt like I did was say ‘Yes’ to God.” 38 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

You’re the highlight of my life. Wow him on Valentine’s Day.

Professional Hair Salon 830-372-0881 117 Peach Street

830.303.6612

510 E. Court St. Seguin, TX 78155

www.SilverCenterSeguin.com

Wedding Venue, Banquet Hall, Meeting Rooms Available Perfect for Weddings, Birthdays, Service Club Meetings and Fundraising

The Ajasins reached out to churches and saw them open their doors and their hearts, especially in a year when so much was closing. “I think this is a reflection of the community we have around us,” Yomi said. “Even in this very difficult time for them to say yes.” TruLight licensed its first foster family in 2016 and, by the end of the year, had helped 40 children find placement, Sondra said. The Ajasins’ work grew from assisting families with resources to helping them get licensed to foster or adopt and eventually blossomed into a place for children to live in a home that supported them and helped them thrive in the TruLight 127 Ministries Village. “Our beginnings was just one blessing after another,” Sondra said. “It was simply a yes to God and a yes to helping these kids. I felt like I was doing something, but it felt like we should be doing more.” From the first time Heather McMinn met Sondra, she felt the woman’s passion for helping children and saw her motivation for making a difference. The more she has gotten

Full service delicious in-house catering available Open to the Public

Al Pena

alpena@koeppchevy.com

830-557-3343

Stop By LaVernia and See Al Pena at Koepp Chevrolet

13221 US-87 La Vernia, TX koeppchevy.com

Not just oil, Pennzoil

SEGUIN

NEW BRAUNFELS

SCHERTZ

128 Hwy. 46 S

988 Mission Dr.

482 Hwy. 46 S

1190 Borgfeld Rd.

(830) 379-6659

(830) 625-0401

(830) 626-3280

(830) 566-1077

at Court St.

123 S. King St. (830) 379-6654

at Landa St.

Next to Kohl’s

992 Business IH35 S 830-214-0622

at FM 3009

SAN MARCOS

1044 Hwy. 123 (512) 396-3493

OPEN: Mon - Fri 8AM-6PM • Sat 8AM-5PM GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 39

to know Sondra and Yomi, the more McMinn has seen God’s work become a reality through the couple. “She has a very strong belief in Christ, and I believe that Yomi truly has the servant’s heart,” McMinn said. “It’s not that they just tell you that. They show you that by their actions.” The Village started with a single house large enough for 10 children and a building where the social work happened. In the years since, the organization has expanded its licensing and can house 35 children. It’s rare when it has less than capacity. But for the Ajasins, it is not about filling beds; it is about giving the children a place they can call home. Most of them call Sondra and Yomi “mom and dad.” The couple and the staff do what families do; they celebrate the accomplishments, cheer at events and embrace the hard days, Sondra said. “We try to give them some sort of normalcy,” she said. “We go to their sports if we can, we try to get our staff to go, so they have someone to cheer them on. They’ve come home with student of the month and honor roll, and we make a big to-do about it here. Everything you would get if you were at home.” Yomi and Sondra agree it’s all about letting the kids know they matter. “There are a lot of hurt kids out there, and they do not feel worthy of being fought for,” she said. “The truth is these kids are worth fighting for and letting them know they are still worth it is the heart of what TruLight is.” TruLight helps the children with therapies and families understand traumas — both physical and emotional — and tries to help keep families together. “That’s not just helping them for a one-day fix,” Sondra said. ‘That is finding them and serving them for however long they needed use — whether that be two weeks or two years. It’s not just a quick fix for these kids. We try to stick with them for the long term, through their tragedy, through their crisis.” It’s that passion and those philosophies of why McMinn said her family and 40 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

The truth is these kids are worth fighting for and letting them know they are still worth it is the heart of what TruLight is. her family’s law firm has invested time and financial support to the nonprofit. “I think the idea and the dream of being able to have a facility where these children can stay together while people are trying to figure out what is going on is a tremendous asset,” McMinn said. “Sondra’s vision for that is based on trying to heal these kids too, not to just place them in places. Her dream of developing a place where all of the kids’ needs are met, without having to be shuffled from place to place to place is just amazing.” TruLight 127 Ministries was born out of the Bible verse James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” “That was part of our mission statement when I saw those lights; I knew we were supposed to shine truth and light,” Sondra said. “Those were the two words that rang true to me. That’s our mission, shine some truth and light into these kids by putting James 1:27 into action. Sondra and Yomi’s work in creating TruLight 127 Ministries earned them one of the Seguin Gazette’s VISION Awards (Volunteers In Service In Our Neighborhoods.)

Keepers Interiors & Furniture Find something you love for your home

Furniture • Art • Lamps • Beatriz Ball • Home Accessories • Lampe Berger • Gifts Chalk Paint ® by Annie Sloan • Paint & Workshops Custom Upholstery • Furniture Repair • Interior Design Consultation • Custom Window Treatments

830-379-9995 keepersinteriors.com 615 N Austin S t, S eguin, T X 78155

Tier One D E N T A L Healthy smiles enhancing lives

Brett McCown, DDS

New Patients Accepted

Jacob Johnson, DDS

Comfortable, Compassionate, Care with Sedation available

General and Cosmetic Dentistry 279 State Highway 46 South • Seguin, Tx 78155 830-372-2852 • tieronedental.com

Flowers ✓ Candy ✓ Dinner Reservation ✓

Enough Cash?

Toledo Finance Corp. (830) 433-9362

550 N Hwy 123 Bypass Suite 142 • Seguin, TX

LEGEND

PLUMBING & SEPTIC

• Plumbing Repairs • Drain Cleaning • Septic Services

Free Estimates *

830-303-3335

*Call for details

24/7* www.asklegend.com

BRET BROWN RMP 16126

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 41

Faces of seguin email YOUR PHOTOS to SEGUINMAGAZINE@SEGUINGAZETTE.COM

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR We couldn’t be more proud. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our entire staff has been tireless about keeping our community as safe as possible. What an honor it is to see the hard work and dedication of all our Frontline Workers recognized by receiving Seguin’s 2021 “Citizen of the Year.” Thank you, Seguin!

1215 E. Court St.

Seguin, TX 78155

830.379.2411

g r m e d c e n t e r. c o m