By Randy Porter
WAHOO (SNR) – A small number of Diocese of Lincoln parishioners pray as they sit in trees in the dark waiting for the sun to rise.
Those in the trees are diocesan archery deer hunters. Hundreds of other diocesan hunters pray various times throughout the day, some even invoking the intercession of Saint Hubert.
They are rifle and black powder deer hunters. Deer hunters can be found in every county in the diocese. Still hundreds more in the diocese pray any time they turn to their avocation or hobby.
They are the gardeners, anglers, woodworkers, quilters, and too many others to name, as they pray while finding reward and satisfaction in their spare time.
Consider four parishioners from St. Wenceslaus Church in Wahoo.
Poskochil
Ron Poskochil is one of them. He recalls well climbing a tree in the pitch black to sit, pray and wait for daylight.
A lifetime member of Knights of Columbus 1833, many times Poskochil said a Hail Mary or an Our Father to ask for a successful hunt. While sitting in his tree stand, he hoped and prayed to see a deer within shooting distance – not for the kill, but that God would give him the opportunity. The deer hunter, who grew up in Ceresco, graduated from John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo and later became a Saunders County Sheriff, has been a St. Wenceslaus member since early 1970s.
As in archery season, Poskochil practiced shooting a great deal before rifle or black powder seasons. He wanted to be prepared for an accurate shot. To rely on prayer alone for that, would not be ethical.
Poskochil and his wife, Genevieve, have four sons and a daughter. At one time or another, all four sons hunted deer.
Another big hobby of Poskochil’s is fishing.
“When I catch one, I give thanks for it,” he said. “Sometimes, that may be the only one I catch, while other times I may catch my limit.”
Poskochil also gives thanks he has time for other hobbies. They include making his own fishing weights and jigheads, and growing his own hops for the beer he brews.
Egler 
Another member of St. Wenceslaus, Mary Egler, uses prayer in two or more hobbies.
Raising, riding and showing horses is her main hobby. In particular, she finds time for prayer when she takes a trail ride by herself.
A member of the parish council and lector/reader, Egler also is prayerful about the safety of her grandchildren who ride and show the horses, the animals’ care and thankful to God for the hobby.
She also prays when she swims laps in the Wahoo Civic Center pool. Egler, who also counts parish funds, generally uses the pool five days each week, exercising with friends when not swimming alone. She and her husband, Joe, an Extraordinary Minister of Communion (EMC) who volunteers in various other capacities, took on another hobby this season.
They grew, harvested and cleaned nearly 300 pumpkins donated for sale at the parish’s Fall Mum Fundraiser with proceeds toward a building fund for an addition to St. Wenceslaus Elementary School.
“Don’t make me out to be anything great,” Mary said. “I’m just an ordinary person who finds time for prayer during a few things I do.”
Bartek
Adrian Bartek of St. Wenceslaus not only uses prayer in deer hunting, but all the hobbies he and his wife, Mary Alice, enjoy.
During rifle or muzzleloader deer season, Bartek prays for a safe hunt. Even though he practices diligently, he prays his shot be humanely accurate, should the Lord give him an opportunity. Should he harvest a deer, he thanks God for blessing him with the fruits of his bounty.
The deer hunter, also an EMC, acolyte and a choir director for 38 years, and his wife, also garden, camp, fish and kayak. He and Mary Alice, who volunteers for various church duties, find time for prayer in each hobby. They pray The Holy Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and other devotions.
The couple has four children and 15 grandchildren, and spending time with them is another hobby they enjoy.
“The solitude and quiet of hunting and some other hobbies is conducive to prayer,” Adrian said. “Another good time to pray is when you are driving for an hour or more such as when you are on vacation. Anytime you have an uninterrupted hour or so is a great time to say the entire Rosary, which some consider to be one of the most powerful prayers.”
Wyllie
Hunting is a huge passion for Darrick Wyllie, director of Development & Advancement at Bishop Neumann Catholic High School in Wahoo.
Wyllie has various taxidermy mounts in his home. Born and raised in Oregon, he started rifle hunting mule deer and elk when was 18.
The parishioner said a previous career in the hunting industry allowed him to pursue his hunting passion. He worked as a sales manager for a major rifle and ammunition company 10 years. It enabled him to hunt throughout the U.S., Africa and Argentina.
“I primarily hunt with bolt-action rifles, but have taken a few deer with black powder since we moved to Nebraska three years ago,” Wyllie said. “I have actually purchased two black powder guided hunts from the annual Bishop Neumann High School GALA fundraiser event.”
He and his wife, Rosy, have six children ranging from 23 to 12. Two sons have hunted with him, and another son will experience his first hunt this season. The couple’s daughters also have expressed interest in hunting.
“All of our kids have helped my wife and I process the deer and elk I’ve harvested over the years,” Wyllie said. “It’s important for them to understand the animal is not just a trophy to hang on the wall.”
They are part of the process, he said. That includes skinning, breaking down the animal, cutting the muscles into steaks and grinding the meat into burger.
Then comes the enjoyment of the organic meat in their meals. This understanding of why he and others hunt, and where the meat comes from, has instilled an appreciation and respect for animals and hunting.
“Having six kids at the barbecue just five minutes after we cut the back straps into steaks is an atmosphere of joy and excitement that brings our family together,” Wyllie said.
Rosy prefers not to hunt, but is the first one he calls when blessed to harvest an animal, and the first to start the processing.
Hunting can provide time for him to be truly at peace, Wyllie said. With no cell phone nor work emails, there is time to reflect on life.
“It’s amazing how much noise fills our heads in daily life, the avid hunter said. “So many worries, crazy schedules and other distractions make it hard to listen to God over the noise. But when you concentrate on being quiet on a hunt, it allows your mind to be silent and listen to Christ.
“I find myself not hunting at all, but enjoying being with Him and enjoying the beauty all around me that I otherwise would have missed.”
He prays spontaneous prayer in his own words, Wyllie said. Sure, he prays for a successful hunt. But the former sales manager primarily offers prayers of gratitude for a quick, humane kill, and the time he will spend with his family.
“Sitting under a tree with my son 40 minutes before the sun comes up asking God to be with us and to bless us with a deer can make a dad tear up for sure,” the Neumann employee said. “I’m just glad it was too dark for him to see his sappy old man.”
As a family, the Wyllies enjoy trips on the Oregon coast and Oregon State Beaver football.
“Believe me, being a OSU football fan takes a lot of prayers,” Wyllie quipped.
