Nominations sought

The Carroll High School Alumni Association is seeking nominations for its Distinguished Alumni Award. Individuals are encouraged to submit nominations of school alumni who through their service and achievements in the community personify the Carroll High School tradition of excellence. A nominee’s impact and activity in their community, their faith life and professional life can be documented.

For additional information contact Cathy Jackson or Julie Weitz at 937-253-8188 or by visiting the school website at www.carrollhs.org.

DAYTON DEANERY

Blue Star Mothers of America events in Washington DC

Memorial Day weekend included special events for Holy Angels Church, Dayton, parishioner, Anita Wagner, as she traveled to Washington, D.C. Representing the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc., she attended a number of events in the nation’s capital when she was invited to a breakfast reception at the White House.

Wagner’s daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Reuben Fleischman are both currently on active duty with the United States Air Force. Jennifer is stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany and her husband is deployed in Iraq.

While at the White House, Wagner, who is also the parish secretary at Holy Family and St. Mary Churches in Dayton, met and had her photo taken with President Bush.

ST. LAWRENCE DEANERY

Alumnae receives volunteer award

Centerville resident Bernadette Coutain Plair was honored with the 2007 Alumni Volunteer Leadership Award from the College of Mount St. Joseph at the reunion convocation in June. This award is given to one who has shown commitment and demonstrated service to the college, its alumni and students.

A 1967 graduate of the Mount’s biology program, Plair is dedicated to the mission of wildlife conservation. She is a researcher for the Cincinnati Zoo’s CREW program, which is dedicated to the research and conservation of endangered wildlife. In 1993, she helped to establish CRESTT, the Centre for Rescue of Endangered Species of Trinidad and Tabago. Plair has been instrumental in conducting a successful parrot reintroduction program in her native land of Trinidad.

Plair is currently serving her second term on the Alumni Board at the Mount and represents alumni at college functions and in the community. She worked to open cooperative education job opportunities with the CREW programs for Mount students.

In 2005, Plair was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the Mount for her extraordinary contributions to the field of science.

ARCHDIOCESE

Brinkman reintroduces Ohio abortion ban

Ohio Representative Tom Brinkman (R, District 34) has reintroduced the Ohio Abortion Bill, HB 284. Brinkman, a member of Our Lord Christ the King Parish in Mount Lookout, noted that the wording of the measure would "prohibit abortions in this state, to increase the penalties for the offenses of unlawful abortion, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, and abortion trafficking, and to make conforming changes in related provisions."

"The God-given "unalienable right to life" specified in the U.S. Declaration of Independence should be indisputable. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision undermined this right, without the vote of the people, Brinkman said.

A state-level abortion ban bill could force the court to re-examine Roe v. Wade, prove its illegitimacy, and subsequently move the responsibility to uphold the unalienable right to life to the voters in each state.

ARCHDIOCESE

Glenmary Sisters elect new leadership

Sister Sharon Miller was elected president of Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America, Inc., more commonly known as Glenmary Sisters, during a gathering of all Glenmary Sisters recently in Owensboro, Ky. Sister Sharon has spent 10 years as vocation director of the community and the past year as second councilor.

Also elected to council: Sister Rosemary Esterkamp, a Cincinnati native, as first councilor and Sister Kathleen Mulchrone as second councilor and Sister Mary Ellen Barrette as third councilor.

Before elections, the Sisters, with the aid of an outside facilitator, identified several key priorities they wish to address over the next six years. Sister Sharon rated vocations among her top priorities.

The Sisters currently have three women in formation — one a native of Puerto Rico and two from America while maintaining Home Missions in Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky.

To learn about vocation opportunities or how to support the Glenmary Sisters visit us at www.glenmarysisters.org or (270) 686-8401/1-800-301-2689.

ST. MARTIN DEANERY

Local K of C council earns state honors

COURTESY PHOTO

From left: Dave Helmstetter, State Advocate; Joe Noland, Council 3369 grand knight; Gary Eckstein, state deputy.

The Father O’Donoghue Council placed seventh out of 329 Ohio councils in overall membership and activity programs. The state council also named the council the best council in Ohio’s Division 2, which covers councils with less than 150 members, and the best council in southwest Ohio’s District 15.

The council also received awards for excellence in participating in the state’s general program, exceeding membership quotas and filing administrative reports.

With more than 100 members from Clinton County and surrounding area, the Knights raise money for numerous local charities through events such as Oktoberfest and the Measure Up Campaign to benefit the mentally handicapped.