2023 Nominee List:

Donna Bambao of St. Francis DeSales Oratory, Julie A. Bradford of Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish, Christine Eilerman of Ascension Parish, Chesterfield, Kathleen M. Gantz of St. Chare of Assisi Parish, Chesterfield, Mary Therese Hayworth of St. Francis DeSales Oratory, E. Therese Jurkowski Uhland of Incarnate Word Parish, sponsored by Holy Spirit Ladies Auxiliary, Molly Corocan Kertz of Mary Queen of Peace Parish, Webster Groves, Daisy Kevorkian of Incarnate Word Parish, sponsored by Disabilities Ministry, Rebeca McKelvey of St. Peter Parish, St. Charles, Karen Mesler of All Saints Parish, St. Peters, Pam Miller of Ascension Parish, Chesterfield, Mary Clare Murphy of Immaculate Conception and St. David Parish, Cheryl Nelson of Incarnate Word Parish, sponsored by Jonah Prayer Ministry, Marie Piorkowski of Immaculate Conception Parish, Dardenne, Joyce Wheeler of Holy Rosary Parish, Carolyn White of Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish, sponsored by Dynamic Catholic Welcome Group, Deborah Young of St. Cletus Parish, sponsored by Respect Life Ministry, Dee Yust of Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish, and Vickie Zerr of St. Gianna Parish. Congratulations and thank you all!!

The Winner:

Karen Mesler

All Saints Parish (St. Peters)

What Karen offers in terms of service cannot be described adequately in a few words.  In addition to the activities mentioned earlier, Karen accomplishes so much even in the midst of personal cost, such as caring for family who are sick, and dying, caring for individuals in her home who have nowhere else to go, and finally, in a leap of faith with the support of her husband, leaving her work to pursue the non-profit Easter Basket ministry. 

When she was a PSR coordinator Karen referred to her training as a “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” catechist in terms of a “privilege”.  This was not an automatic project either, as a building had to be purchased and atriums for different age levels developed with sewing, carpentry, donations and supplies, which involved 400 hours of training besides hundreds of hours completing the atria.  After a year of putting everything together Karen describes the passion and joy all experience with this service for the children, parish, catechists, and assistants.

At this time Karen worked with the parish administrator to create “Christkindl Abend”, a program for families to see, hear, smell, touch, and love the birth of Christ.  It included a live Nativity scene with animals to feed and touch, and a gentle story read by the Pastor. There is also a meal to be shared, a place to light a candle and offer up prayers, with a backdrop of Jerusalem, period apparel, and a choir singing.  This involves all ages of parishioners and the community, and it continues each year.

Finally, the significance of Karen’s “Alleluia” ministry is totally amazing, given the number of people, parishes and organizations involved.  First, to encourage a better understanding of the importance of Easter, Karen proposed the idea to her 12 students who were so excited to participate that they arranged for 25 baskets to be filled with a tag on each one saying: “God loves you!”.  After giving them to the St. Vincent DePaul society, more people and groups became interested expressing gratitude through notes, phone calls and text messages, and wanting to join the project, since it made people feel God’s love.  As the ministry has grown, a separate building had to be acquired providing a simple example of joyful faith to 55,000 children and senior adults in the St. Louis area and beyond.  Karen points out that in addition, this project is building community with the number of volunteers young and old who find a new passion to bringing this bundle of caring, peace and joy to those in need.

Congratulations Karen! as a wonderful example of a Catholic Woman of the Year, and Heart of our Church, we thank you for your faithfulness and service to our Church and community!