Students Recognized For Their Projects On Vocations Awareness

As she was standing in the middle of a swirl of students, parents, principals and pastors, Mary-Jo Jackson bragged about her daughter, Mercy. “She’s a very good artist.”

Mercy Jackson was one of a select group of eighth graders honored Jan. 31 by the Evansville Serra Club during a luncheon at the Catholic Center in Evansville.

Every year the club invites students in parishes and schools in the Evansville area to create projects about vocations. This year they were encouraged to focus on how a personal relationship with Christ is essential to living one’s vocation.

Two students are selected annually from each school or parish, and invited – along with their parents, principals and pastors – to attend the luncheon.

Because of her interest in art, Mercy chose to draw a picture as her entry for the competition. She chose St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder of the American Daughters of Charity, as her subject. “I know they [the Daughters] do a lot of different things — only for God,” Mercy said.

She was familiar with the saint because she had visited the national shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md., with her family. She was also familiar with the St. Vincent Center for Children and Families in Evansville. “I was impressed they started the day care center here,” she said, adding that working in a day care might be part of her future because of her love for children.

During last week’s Vocations Awareness luncheon, guests were greeted by Bishop Charles C. Thompson, who said there are two parts to any vocation: the call and the response. In our responses, he suggested, “we have to cooperate with God’s will.”

He told the eighth graders that “if God calls, God will give you the gifts and graces that you need.”

Here is a listing of the students and their projects provided by the Evansville Serra Club:

• St. Wendel Parish, St. Wendel: Lindsey Koester's project was a color book for young children describing the priesthood and how to become a priest; Kathryn Muensterman's project was an essay about the vocation of marriage.

• Holy Spirit Parish, Evansville: Mercy Jackson made a poster and artwork on Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Daughters of Charity; Mike Mosbey wrote an essay expressing an understanding of vocations with emphasis   on the priesthood.

• St. Philip Parish in Posey County: Audrey Wannemuehler made a movie and wrote several poems and compared the similarities and differences between taking a vow of marriage and taking vows as a nun; Madelyn Maurer presented a drawing of a couple on their wedding day focusing on the qualities of dependability, togetherness, tolerance and hope and wrote an essay describing why these qualities are important.

• St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh: Sullivan Cox wrote a research paper outlining the various vocations and that a vocation is not a choice but rather a calling and the importance of being open to God’s call; Alexis Kelle wrote a research paper outlining the various vocations and that a vocation is not a choice but rather a calling and the importance of being open to God’s call.

• St. Boniface Parish in Evansville: Nevin DeCoster interviewed Father Kenneth Herr, asking why he entered the priesthood and the steps he took to follow his vocation; Jordan Wible created a Jeopardy-like game which informs participants about the vocations of married life, single life and religious life.

• Sacred Heart Parish in Evansville: Billy Bowers interviewed Father David Nunning on his childhood experience and why he chose to become a priest; Betsy Happe made a picture board and Power Point presentation on the vocation of marriage and wrote about modern day marriage tradition.

• St. Agnes Parish in Evansville: Abbey Chapman interviewed Benedictine Sister Theresa Gunter and Father Jay Davidson and made a Power Point presentation and spoke of why they chose the vocations of religious life; Lynzie Drone interviewed Father Nunning on his view of the vocation of marriage and also interviewed two married couples.

• Holy Redeemer Parish in Evansville: Carson Crick wrote an essay detailing his understanding of vocations and expressed how they have influenced his life; Lucas Daunhauser wrote an essay of his understanding of vocations as modeled by his parents.

• Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville: Mckenzie Merimee created a hand painted tea set with each piece representing a different vocation using different symbols for each vocation; Drew Hart created a tri-fold display of three vocations. The theme was “What road will I take.”

• Corpus Christi Parish in Evansville: Austin Ferri wrote original song lyrics “Follow Me” for acoustic guitar and vocals performance; Jacob Gruelich made a video of an interview with Benedictine Father Godfey Mullen.

• St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville: Alexandra Schaefer used on-line research to create a Power Point presentation illustrating important concepts and contributions of the Daughters of Charity; Neil Ackerman used on-line research to create a power point presentation illustrating important concepts and contributions of the Sisters of St. Benedict; Adeline La Mar wrote an essay about a teacher who is a faith filled educator, an articulate communicator, a visionary self-starter and a creative organizer who ministers with enthusiasm, courage, healing faith, hope, love and justice.

• Resurrection Parish in Evansville: Morgan Gries baked a wedding cake, designed and created a wedding invitation, and wrote a short essay about  the vocation of marriage; Kristen Lockyear created and gave a Power Point presentation discussing the three vocation states.

• St. Theresa Parish in Evansville: Andy Mayer's essay was about the vocation of marriage. He offered, “A strong marriage includes loyality, respect, kindness, caring and above all sacrifice and compassion. Ryan Ohlsen’s essay about the vocation of marriage talks about the struggles of parenthood, and the importance of good communication between husbands and wives.

• St. James Parish in Haubstadt: Nathan Seiler made a poster and wrote an essay about matrimony; Mason Stoll wrote an essay and made a poster about marriage.

• Holy Rosary Parish in Evansville: Michael Schiff’s project discussed and vividly outlined the current priests serving the Evansville Diocese; Hannah Girten discussed Father Bernie’s call to the priesthood.

• St. Joseph Parish, Vanderburgh County: Drew Pfaffman created two stock puppets and a video skit to describe the daily life of a priest; Scott Kirk also created two puppets and a video skit to describe the daily life of a priest; Maria Trimborn created a coloring book about the vocation of religious life including detailed pictures and a story about a young girl and a nun talking about the religious life.

• Christ the King Parish in Evansville: Mary Kate Wesley created a story book about the vocation of marriage; Sam Gries created a series of videos about Holy Orders.

• Holy Cross Parish in Fort Branch: Alexis Lamey wrote an essay comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences of priests and deacons; Dylan Stefanich spoke of the sacrifices and respect needed to keep a marriage relationship healthy and strong, and that God works through this union to carry out His works.

• Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Haubstadt: Elizabeth Spindler wrote an essay about the importance of prayer and how it can lead us to the right vocation and the peace that comes when one is doing God’s will; Brock Wilzbacher wrote an essay about all the vocations in detail and how he would live each one out. He described how important it is to spread God’s word and the important it is to spread God’s word and the importance of family and community.