Story by Randy Porter
LINCOLN (SNR) - There’s nothing special about Lynn Reuter, who devotes so much of her time and resources to help Blessed Sacrament Parish in Lincoln.
That’s the way she feels about herself, Reuter said. She is just one of many parishioners who contribute with all their hearts to the Church and school.
“Lynn is always doing things for the parish,” said fellow parishioner Heather Fusco of Lincoln. “She likes to stay busy and devotes so much of her time and resources. For example, Lynn and her friend made more than 170 blankets, and plenty of hats and scarves, for Blessed Sacrament students.”
Ann Mortensen is such a good friend “we consider each other sisters,” Reuter said. They started work in October on the project to give each student at the parish school a blanket. The friends worked at each other’s homes. Reuter’s husband, Ken, contributed generously and helped cut fabric for blankets.
“We were busy constantly,” Reuter said.
Friends and other parishioners contributed funds to help pay for the fleece needed to make the blankets. The Light of the World group – an evangelization organization – also helped.
Reuter and Fusco are both members of the Light of the World group. The international organization began in the 1970s, and the Blessed Sacrament group formed in 2013 after a retreat. A dozen members continue to meet for social and purposeful interactions.
“Within our parish she sets a great example for giving to others,” Fusco said about Reuter. “That’s her priority. I’d describe Lynn as a very caring and busy person who enjoys doing for others.”
In addition to making blankets, hats and scarves for students, Reuter has been involved in various endeavors. She has made sheets for homeless shelters, hats for those in need at other parishes, and 3,000 face masks. She made up to 3,000 cookies with helpers, friends and their children and gave them to parishioners, friends and family. Over the years she donated resources and facilitated Easter activities for children with help from the Altar Society and Godteens groups. She and Ken put religious items in 100 eggs, and candy in others. One year she and other parishioners hid 3,000 eggs.
Down the road, Reuter may consider making baby blankets.
Originally from Columbus, she moved to Lincoln in 1987 and joined the parish with her son Ryan Sidwell, a teacher in Genoa. He attended Blessed Sacrament. Reuter’s daughter Tiffany, lives in Long Beach, Calif. The Reuters have five grandchildren.
“If there’s a child that needs something, I want to make sure he or she has it,” Reuter said. “I encourage others to contribute to anyone in need, for special projects or other activities in the Church or school.”
Reuter said she is favorably impressed with Jennifer Tran, the school’s newly-announced principal.
“She is unbelievable,” the parishioner said about the principal who earned a master’s degree in P-12 Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “She came and thanked me for the blankets, not only as a principal, but also a mother. That made me feel so good. She is very loving.”
Tran benefited from the Catholic school system herself in her primary and secondary education, and has dedicated her career to it for the past six years.
She was hired last year after a national search. She learned a great deal working with Sister Mary Michael Keaschall, principal at St. Peter School in Lincoln. Keaschall is one of the premier educators of our diocese, according to Father Michael Morin of Blessed Sacrament School.
“I hope this news story inspires others in the parish to contribute funds or other resources for Lynn’s projects,” Fusco said. “Or, maybe they will be inspired to be more involved themselves.”
