May Is for Mary 11

Have a happy and blessed Mother’s Day!

Eleanore Jones is the president of the Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

Church in 2011 as the Our Lady of Guadalupe Free Clinic, it has grown to serve the needs of the community, with a move to 616 11th Street in 2022.

And it all started with asking what people needed.

As it turned out, what they needed was health care, as quite a few were uninsured or underinsured and couldn’t afford to see a primary care physician, so they ended up getting most of their medical care at the emergency department. That meant people often allowed their chronic health issues to slide, skipping medication refills in favor of putting food on the table for their family, paying rent or caring for their children.

Callahan called a friend, Dr. David Plevak, and asked him to come to Worthington to see a few patients. Plevak agreed, saw about 30 people and, because he’d prescribed medication to some of them, said he’d have to return.

“We said ‘Let’s start a medical clinic here for those who are uninsured or underinsured,’” Callahan recalled.

It was easier said than done, but it did get done, as Plevak and Callahan began recruiting people to help and volunteer on behalf of the clinic, not just medical personnel but also people who could provide food and housing for those medical professionals, plus translators and people to help guide others through the health care system.

The clinic started with 30 patients on one weekend, and now there are more than 2,000 who use the clinic, which is open Monday through Friday and, in emergencies, on weekends as well, Callahan

Mascot, cont'd from pg. 7

Mississippi, hiking in the bluffs or visits to the apple orchard are supplemented with in-house fun like movie nights, ping pong tournaments and holiday celebrations. Students are able to do all of this while living in a safe environment and attending a top notch Catholic high school. Religion class is a pillar of the standard curriculum, community service is built into graduation requirements, prayer is part of daily life and opportunities for Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass, as a community, abound. Students who would not otherwise have a chance to experience and attend a Catholic high school can do so on Cotter’s campus.

The need for such an opportunity is not surprising. “The National Catholic Education Association recently reported a 4% increase in Catholic school enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year, the first jump in 20 years, and the largest ever record- ed” (bizjournals.com). The local or regional numbers support those national figures. In fact, “private schools across the state now enroll just under 70,000 students – that's the most since the 20122013 school year, when private school enrollment was about 71,000, according to state figures” (bizjournals.com). Clearly there is a deep desire among this diocese’s residents to make Catholic education available to students, and when location or proximity becomes a barrier, Cotter’s Domestic Residential Boarding program can be an answer. said. It was a true community effort, with people from many diverse communities in Worthington joining together to make the clinic happen. In the process, those involved broke down their preconceptions about those other groups, building a community together.

What started as a rambling priest in Winona became a Rambler mascot at Cotter and now that spirit continues to further the mission of the Catholic church in the form of a brand new residence hall with open doors.

Families who wish to learn more about Cotter’s boarding program can read more at www.cotterschools.org/live-and-learn or contact Tammy Hoeger at thoeger@cotterschools.org.

In the Diocese

“I’ve seen a change to people in their attitudes and their dealings with people in other cultures,” Callahan said. “One of the greatest assets is its diversity.”

Sanford Health Cooperative contributes nurses, and the clinic’s building on 11th Street is owned by Sanford, too. Funding comes from donations and grants, and people don’t need to be church members in order to get help at OLGFC.

“I never did a clinic before. Never. That was the power of God,” Callahan said. “It’s really a mandate Christ gives. He says you have to basically stand up for the poor, those who are oppressed, those who are marginalized.”

The clinic is always seeking volunteers and donations. For more information on volunteering, donating, or scheduling an appointment, visit olgfc. org.

OLGFC is hosting an open house for the public to celebrate the opening of its new location from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 616 11th St., Worthington. Light refreshments from Whip and Mix will be available, as well as clinic tours, and OLGFC board members will be present as well.

Kari Lucin is a community editor with the Globe of Worthington.