Hand-me-downs, pick-me-ups

beaded floral design.

It wasn’t until Hoefer’s oldest daughter, Eva, was preparing for her first holy Communion that it occurred to the busy mom: Perhaps, her wedding dress could be made into a first Communion dress. Mindy couldn’t find anyone willing to take on a project of that scope, so instead, she contributed her wedding veil for Eva’s big day.

Life marched on, but Mindy never forgot her vision to give the old dress a new purpose.

Last year at their parish fundraiser, Mindy’s name was drawn in a raffle. She could pick one item from the live auction before it began.

eal challenges. Catholics are called to respond.

It all started with a used coat.

Betty Henson didn’t need her fuzzy green coat anymore, so she offered it to her son, an aspiring puppeteer. Jim stuffed and stitched it, creating a round head, a dense torso and lanky limbs. He folded a deep mouth and split a ping pong ball to make the eyes.

Mindy recalled that a parishioner named Debbie had donated an alterations certificate. And Mindy’s daughter, Cecilia, would be making her first holy Communion the following spring.