By Fr. Christopher Kubat
A number of years ago, we fielded a call from someone we knew in the western part of the Diocese of Lincoln regarding a lady who was threatened with a gun in her face while being attacked by her husband. Law enforcement became involved and while he was in jail, we re-located the woman and her children temporarily in the greater Hastings area to get her out of harm’s way. We could only do this because of the generosity of our supporters.
Because of the increasing need to support women who are escaping, along with their children, the pressures to abort their unborn babies and domestic violence, we have and are planning on expanding our services to women in need in the central and western part of the diocese, under the patronage of St. Gianna.
I am happy to announce that our Bountiful Harvest Banquet is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Hastings City Auditorium. The social hour starts at 4:30 p.m. and the dinner begins at 6 p.m. For those who have attended in the past, you know that the evening’s program will be finished around 8. After all, it’s a school night!
Last year, because of the generosity of our supporters, we were able to provide more than $741,000 in services to over 4,100 individuals in the greater Hastings area and westward. This represents close to 50,000 points of contact.
This year we will be giving the Caritas Christi award to Richard and Melissa Clark and their family. Their children attend Hastings Catholic Schools. They have been involved in multiple endeavors and for years, as a family, have picked up donated baked goods from Russ’s Market and delivered them to CSS, arranging them on shelves for distribution to poor and needy individuals and families.
Not only would we like to thank the Clark family, I would also like to thank our corporate and individual donors for their prayers, and financial support. In addition, I would like to thank our many volunteers who donate their time and talent to further our mission of loving Jesus Who lives in the poor and needy. Because of your generosity, we will be able to continue helping the many individuals and families who come to us on a daily basis like the woman and her children mentioned above. Please know that we at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska will keep you, your families and intentions in our prayers!
