Local Briefing

SCHOOLS

Sacred Heart begins preschool program

Sacred Heart School in Omaha began a preschool program this fall for 3- and 4-year-olds, answering a neighborhood need for early childhood education to help young children make the transition to kindergarten. With the addition of the Sacred Heart program, all three CUES School System schools, including Holy Name and All Saints, also in Omaha, now offer preschool through eighth grade classes. “We will utilize our program experience to make a positive impact for all families in our school system and make the transition into kindergarten seamless,” said Jennifer Sturgeon, CUES chief academic officer. Preschool classes are held Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include play and story time, singing, large- and small-group learning, recess, snacks and other activities. “Our curriculum helps children grow and learn what they need to know to become ready for school,” said Sacred Heart Principal Mike Jensen. “This is in addition to learning positive values that create character and teach children how to become a good friend to others.”

PARISHES

Genocide survivor to lead retreat

Immaculee Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor and New York Times best selling author of “Left to Tell,” will share her message of forgiveness, healing, hope and the power of prayer during a retreat Oct. 15-16 at St. Peter Church in Fullerton. She not only survived the genocide by hiding in a cramped bathroom with seven other women for 91 days, but was able to forgive her tormenters and her family’s murderers. The retreat includes Immaculee’s witness of the power of prayer, miracles of the Rosary, and inspirational music. Ticket cost is $57 per person or $76 for two. To register or for more information, visit www. immaculee.com, or contact Shelly Babb at 402-910-6771 or shellybabb84@gmail.com, or Kathy Cruise at 402-649-2174 or heymom07@yahoo.com.

ORGANIZATIONS

Art exhibit opens CAP’s 2021-22 season

Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) is hosting the first art exhibit of its new season, which is now on display in the Sunderland Gallery in the Monsignor Earnest Graham Building, adjacent to St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha. The exhibit of oil paintings by Omaha artist Paula Wallace is titled “Things to Watch While You Drive,” and highlights vistas one might see while traversing Midwestern roads and highways. “Away from the clamor and clutter of the city, the vast dome of heaven and the crisp length of horizon give a sense of scale,” Wallace said in describing her works. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, is on display through Sept. 26. For information or to purchase prints of Wallace’s artwork, call 402-551-4888 or 402-680-7350.

Catholic Answers Conference slated

Spirit Catholic Radio will host its Catholic Answers Conference Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Wenceslaus Church in Omaha. Entitled “What is Truth,” the program will feature program hosts and frequent guests from the nationally-syndicated Catholic apologetics program “Catholic Answers Live,” broadcast Monday through Friday on Spirit

HOLY CROSS PARISH

A sad thing

The Ten Commandments monument outside Holy Cross School in Omaha was destroyed in an act of vandalism during the nighttime hours of Sept. 6-7. Unfortunately none of the church’s or school’s security cameras captured the act, said Father Carl Salanitro, parish pastor. “My reactions are mixed,” he said. “Was it someone who was angry at the church, was it a random act, or some sort of protest? I’m perplexed. It’s a sad thing.” The monument was installed by the parish’s Knights of Columbus Council 11364 more than 10 years ago.

Catholic Radio. Speakers and topics include: Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers on “Meeting Jesus in the Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Faith”; Cy Kellett on “What Ever Happened to the Modern World”; Stacy Trasancos on “Evangelizing Through Science in a Culture Longing for Truth”; and Karlo Broussard on “Your Truth, My Truth: How to Understand and Refute Relativistic Thinking.” Cost is $22 per person and includes a continental breakfast. Tickets are available at https:// www.tickettailor.com/events/ spiritcatholicradio/555065. For more information, contact the radio network at kvss@kvss.com or 855-571-0200.

Surprise gift for expectant mothers

More than 20 expectant mothers got a big surprise as they completed their New Moms class Aug. 30 at Bethlehem House in Omaha. Christ Child Society gave each mother a brand new car seat to celebrate the organization’s 115th anniversary year. At first they were told that one of them would go home with the demonstration model. They were then told at the end of class to look for a “winner” sign under their chairs to see who the lucky mother was, and each of them had a sign. State law requires that infants leaving the hospital be placed in a properly installed car seat. The car seats that were given out, which retail for about $200 each, are premium seats that can be adapted as the child grows, from four pounds to 120 pounds. The Christ Child Society provides support services to newborns in need and their parents in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, and Bethlehem House provides housing and hope to pregnant and parenting women in crisis.

Sistine Chapel exhibit coming to Omaha

“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” opens Oct. 7 in Omaha’s Capitol District at 1100 Capitol Ave. This unique exhibition allows viewers to experience the greatest masterpieces of Michelangelo from a new perspective, displayed on floor to ceiling panels to facilitate up-close viewing. The ceiling paintings from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have been reproduced using licensed, high-definition photos and a special printing technique that emulates the look and feel of the original paintings so viewers can see every detail, brushstroke and color of the artist’s 34 frescoes. The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 1, will be open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with time slots available every 30 minutes. Viewing will take from 60 to 90 minutes. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to sistinechapelexhibit.com/omaha/.

Leroy (Red) and Mary

(Koch) Lampe celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Aug. 28. They were married on that date in 1956 at St. Mary Church in Panama, Iowa. Longtime members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Omaha, the couple have nine children, 22 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. A family celebration was held on Aug. 28th.

ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating the sacrament of marriage

were married at St. Adalbert Church in Omaha Aug. 14, 1971. Now members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Omaha, the couple have a son, a daughter and three grandchildren.

Bill and Jane (Hohnstein) Hutfles

marked 50 years of marriage Sept. 9. They were married on that date in 1971 at St. Cecilia Church in Hastings, Nebraska. The couple, who are members of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha, have three children and four grandchildren. They are being honored with a card shower. Cards may be sent to: 16612 Dorcas Circle, Omaha, NE 68130.

Joseph and Patricia (Pi-

sci) Daniels celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 11. They were married on that date in 1971 at the former St. Patrick Church in Omaha. The couple, currently members of St. Columbkille Parish in Papillion, have two children and six grandchildren. They planned to celebrate with a family vacation to Florida.

Larry D. and Mary Lou (Czuba) Cook

will mark 50 years of marriage in October. They were married on Oct. 2, 1971, at St. Stanislaus Church in Duncan, Nebraska. The couple, who are members of St. Patrick Parish in Fremont, have two children and three grandchildren.

Merle and Leola Riessel-

man will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversa ry Sept. 25. They were married on that date in 1971 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Butte, where they are still parishioners. The couple have three children and 10 grandchildren. They will celebrate with a family dinner Sept. 25 and a Mass at their church Sept. 26.

JACK GUEZ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES AND CNA

Big win for Skutt alum

USA’s Thomas Gilman poses on the podium with his bronze medal after his victory in the men’s freestyle 57kg wrestling competition in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe in Tokyo Aug. 5, 2021. He defeated Iran’s Reza Atrinagharchi in the bronze medal match. Gilman is a 2012 graduate of Omaha’s V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, which displayed a large banner outside its building after the win to congratulate its alumnus on his accomplishment.

COURTESY PHOTO

New fieldhouse at College of Saint Mary

Student athletes practice volleyball drills at College of Saint Mary’s new Lied Fitness Center Fieldhouse. The Omaha, all-women’s college built the 75,000-square-foot addition and renovated its existing 15,000-square-foot facility at a total cost of $18 million. The new combined facility, which opened last month, includes a competition-quality track, three basketball/volleyball courts, golf simulator, expanded weight room and strength training space, refurbished tennis courts, dance and fitness studio, and modern locker rooms.