Die Kirche Auktion Is April 14 In Haubstadt

Ten years ago, Mary May and her pastor had a difference of opinion. It was nothing serious, really.
She was a founding member of the Die Kirche Auktion Fest at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Haubstadt, and Father Francis Schroering was the pastor there.
As they headed into that first auction, he told May, "If we make $10,000, I'll consider it a success." She answered, "Father, if we make $10,000, I'll consider it a failure."
It was a success, earning $75,000 for on-going parish expenses.
The idea for the auction came out of conversations with Father Schroering who told his parishioners they needed to come up with an idea for a fundraiser, and that it needed to be something for families.
May's daughter lived in New Albany at the time, and her parish had an auction that did quite well.
The committee brainstormed, and soon plans were underway for the first annual Die Kirche Auktion. In nine years, the auctions have raised a total of $925,000, and this year May hopes "we will hit the million dollar mark."
The auction, which will be held Sunday, April 14, in the Old Haubstadt Gym, features both live and silent auctions. There are about 600 items this year, including tickets to a Colts game, quilts and travel packages.
There are also some one-of-a-kind items, such as "couch potato" seating for the 2014 auction, reserved parking spots for one year during weekend Masses, and a pie of the month for one year prepared by some of the "renowned" pie makers of the parish, according to the program.
Also available through the auction is a fish dinner for eight, cooked and served by the "Padres" [Father Tony Ernst and Father Brian Emmick] and Dave Ernst, Father Tony's dad. "Father Tony and his dad like to fish," May explains, and when someone wins this dinner, "Father Tony's mom and dad bring their equipment, and they fry up fish."
She said the auction just keeps getting "bigger and more elaborate. There are weekend get-aways and service projects such as washing windows and mowing yards. The religious ed kids really got into it, and offered to shovel snow and rake leaves."
She estimates that about 70 percent of the parish is involved in the auction, either donating items or volunteering their time. "They do this for Father Tony. He talks about how important this is to the parish. It's a high participation rate, and it gets better each year. The enthusiasm grows each year."
There will be a dinner on Saturday, April 13, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Old Haubstadt Gym, with an opportunity to preview all of the auction items.
The doors to the gym open at 8 a.m. on April 14,  and the live auction begins at 1 p.m.
The event closes with an "Edelweiss sing-along."