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!

2022 Nominee List:

Agnes Bullock of St. Angela Merici Parish, Michelle Enriquez of Assumption Parish, O’Fallon, Susan Gloss of Sts. Joachim & Ann Parish, Lori Grillion of St. Gianna Parish, Betty Hartman of St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Kathy Hughes of Incarnate Word Parish, Joan Kane of St. Clement of Rome Parish, Barbara Kendrick of Incarnate Word Parish, sponsored by ACTS St. Louis, JoAnn Kleekamp of St. Joseph Parish, Cottleville, Georganna Krumlinde of St. Gianna Parish, Dr. Ann Martin of The Oratory of Ss. Gregory & Augustine, sponsored by Legatus-St. Louis, Karen Nolkemper of St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Linda Palmer of All Saints Parish, St. Peters, Shirley Robinson of St. Augustine Parish, Kathy Rodamaker of Sts. Joachim & Ann Parish, Pam Roeber of St. Peter Parish, St. Charles, Andrea Romaker of Holy Rosary Parish, Mary Schiffman of Immaculate Conception Parish, Dardenne, Brenda Vanderford of St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish, Nancy VandeVen of St. Barnabas the Apostle Parish, & Vicki Wilding of Ascension Parish, Chesterfield.

Congratulations and thank you all!!

The Winner:

Andrea Romaker

Holy Rosary Parish

A 10-year volunteer teacher of P.E., Respect Life coordinator, and more, Andrea is turning an unforgettable tragedy into a blessing for many. After her son, in the military, was killed in a traffic accident, Andrea and her husband started several scholarship programs in his name. One of them funds an entire class of students to attend the March for Life in Washington, and another funded two ultrasound machines to two pro-life facilities, among others. Andrea, helps with the RCIA program, raised funds for new gym equipment and designs and coordinates decorations for each Liturgical Season at Church. She also serves as coordinator for the National Wreaths across America, placing a fresh Balsam Wreath at the gravesite of every veteran in two cemeteries. To the thousands of people who came to her son’s funeral, Andrea says: “His light still shines in so many ways for so many different people”.

Thank you, Andrea, for your gifts of service, as a Heart of the Church!

2021 Nominee List:

Annette Bligh of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Mary Chrismer of St. Joseph Parish (Cottleville), Mary Ann Daub of Sacred Heart Parish (Florissant), Susan Dunn of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, B.J. Ellison of All Saints Parish (St. Peters), Pamela Fichter of Our Lady of Victories Chapel, Crystel Teresa Hansell of St. Anselm Parish, Carol Henderson-Powell of St. Alphonsus Liguori (Rock Church), Vicki Houska of St. Cletus Parish, Elaine T Jurkowski, Ph.D. of Incarnate Word Parish, Mary Maschmeier of St. Barnabas Parish, Carol Anne Murphy of Ascension Parish (Chesterfield), Theresa Prosser of St. Angela Merici Parish, Donna Marie Owen of St. Peters Parish (St. Charles), Theresa E. Ruzicka of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Holly Scheibel of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, & Marsha R. Stocker of St. Peter Parish (St. Charles), Annual Catholic Appeal Nominee.

Congratulations and thank you all!!

The Winner:

Crystal Teresa Hansell

St. Anselm Parish

Crystal grew up in an extremely sexually-abusive household that included extended family and grandparents. This abuse began before she was eight months old, and continued until she was dropped off on an inner-city street corner by her biological mother at the age of 12. With no family or friends she could trust, no support system, and no other way to survive, she became a
victim of sex trafficking, but later escaped her traffickers, and worked undercover with the FBI at the age of 17 to get her traffickers arrested.

She fell into prostitution and drug use for a number of years. Her physical and mental health grew progressively worse along with her addiction and victimization by others, but she continued to do what she could to help her siblings, who also had been severely abused. Thanks to a Christian security guard who visited her daily during an extended hospital stay, Crystal learned that God wasn’t the being her hyper-religious and cruel family were obsessed
with, but forgiving and loving. This started her several-year journey toward sobriety, with an ever-increasing focus on God and His will for her.

As a homeless individual, “Sister Crystal” chose to begin her ministry while still on the streets. She was widely known in the community for faithfully rising before dawn each morning to pray, no matter the weather or her health, often inviting others to join her for prayer or to attend local
church services. She moved under a bridge and ministered to the addicts there, eventually encouraging them to go to rehab. She took them to Chicago herself, and when they were released, she rented a house for them to move into. That was the start of Jesus in Disguise’s “Solomon’s Porch” sober living home.

After having served those around her 24/7 to the point of being unable to leave her bed, Crystal continued to answer each call for help that came to Jesus in Disguise, coordinating groceries and trips to rehab, and personally encouraged each person who was willing to take the steps needed to improve their own lives. Even when bedridden, she has spent hours on the phone
with victims of abuse and clients in crisis, giving them what no one on the streets has: Hope and someone to trust.

She begins every day with prayer and devotional reading, no matter how much pain she’s in. Young abused members of her extended biological family have since reached out to her for help, and she gives unreservedly from her time, energy, and resources to help them improve their situation, despite the post-traumatic stress and emotional toll it costs her to be involved with her biological family again.

Despite all these accomplishments, she continues to work to improve herself, spending hours in trauma counseling each week, and attending college courses toward a theology degree as her health permits. After experiencing so much loss, horror, and all the ugliness of the world, Crystal, like Our Lady, trusted that God was there for her and chose to serve Him always, giving her “yes” to God unreservedly.

Thank you, Crystal, for your gifts of service, as a Heart of the Church!