Know Your Fellow Parishioner (Page 2)

Everyone in the parish has noticed the new and improved look of the church bulletin and website over the last several months. Now it is time to meet the dynamic man behind the changes: 19-year-old Max Buondonno. One day last spring, Max came home from Mass wondering if his social media skills might be of use to the parish. “Facebook. Instagram,” he was thinking. “Something to attract the younger crowd.” So he called Father Michael Rush and found a receptive…

When Adalberta Zurita and her husband Patrocinio Vega were growing up in rural Mexico, they would be called to church by the sound of the bells.  Perhaps there was a wedding or a baptism or a feast day, or maybe the traveling priest was present to celebrate Mass. “Everyone would walk or run toward the church,” Ada recalled. “When the third bell rang, it was time to start.” Little did Ada and Patrocinio know as children where life was going…

Barb O’Brien has gotten used to being nudged by the Hand of God.  “God is very good at getting you to do things even if you don’t think you are prepared for them,” she said. Barb was nudged to help with communion calls to the homebound. She was nudged to travel to the Holy Love Ministries in Ohio, and, most recently, she was nudged to organize weekday Adoration in St. Damien Parish.  As one thing has led to another, Barb’s…

“The most intimate talk between friends is talk of God,” observed Janet Burk. “Not only are you disclosing your faith, which is intimate,” she continued, “but you are sharing your intimacy with God with another person.” Janet has sought opportunities throughout her life to grow her faith in the company of others, whether in small gatherings of friends or in formal courses, seminars and retreats offered by the Catholic Church. “Knowing more enhances my relationship with God,” she said. A…

As a baritone, Wayne Netherby sings harmony in the St. Damien Parish Choir. “Harmony always makes the melody sound better,” he explained. “And what better way to witness to the Lord than to sing in the choir?” God and music have been creating harmony in Wayne’s life since his youth. As a teenager, Wayne knew he loved playing the horn. “It was the one thing I was really good at,” he explained. Also as a teenager he experienced the joy…

As an usher at St. Augustine Church, Pat Henry is used to being recognized by people he doesn’t necessarily know.  In a takeout shop recently, a customer in front of him was putting money in the tip jar.  “The next thing I know she turns around and says, I’m practicing for Sunday!” Actually, there is much to know about Francis Patrick Henry. At 82 years old, he has been an Ocean City resident since 1938 and is one of the…

As Thanksgiving approaches, with its focus on food, family, and fellowship, it seems fitting to get to know Charlie Kelso.  For the past ten years, Charlie has been preparing meals for the St. Damien Parish priests.  He also prepares the buffet dinners that accompany the Faith, Food, and Film events held during Advent and Lent. “I like making food,” Charlie said as he described his weekly routine of shopping on Saturdays and preparing homemade meals in the rectory every Thursday,…