Giving Tuesday Event at Conception Abbey

Giving Tuesday 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jenny Huard, Communications Director

Conception Abbey

660.944.2823 or jhuard@conception.edu

Conception Abbey Joins National #GivingTuesday Movement

Conception, Mo.  – Conception Abbey and Tri-C Partners 4 Progress join #GivingTuesday to transform how people think about and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday and the kickoff of the shopping season, #Giving Tuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give encouraging people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities by giving back to the charities and causes they support. Taking place December 2, 2014 – the Tuesday after Thanksgiving - #Giving Tuesday will connect the power of social media to create a national moment around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days that are now synonymous with holiday shopping.

“#Giving Tuesday shows that if we come together as a community we can accomplish so much more,” said Fr. Daniel Petsche, O.S.B., Conception Abbey Prior/Alumni Director and Tri-C Partners 4 Progress co-convener.  “As we prepare for the Advent season and the birth of Christ, what better way to show the love for one another during this time of year by helping improve our local communities.”

#Giving Tuesday happens all day nationwide, but Conception Abbey is hosting an event Tuesday, December 2 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

#GivingTuesday

Tuesday, December 2

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Conception Abbey, Conception, MO – St. Raphael Hall

• Bring an item to donate to a family in need (adult & children’s clothing, non-perishable food item, cash).
• Help decorate a Christmas tree that will be given to our adopted families.
• Help us gift wrap donated items.
• Come send a Christmas card to those alone or without family during the holiday season.

The Bennet Book, Card and Gift Shop will be open. Cookies and cocoa will be provided. We’ll also have music to get you in the spirit of the season. If you can’t join us for the event you can still support us and our partners throughout the year.

Conception Abbey - www.conceptionabbey.org

Tri-C Partners for Progress - www.tri-c-area.com/

Jefferson C-123 High School  - http://www.jeffersonc123.org/ 

KAAN Radio - www.northwestmoinfo.com/

Community Service, Inc.  - www.communityservicesinc.org/

Conception Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Conception, Missouri and home to Conception Seminary College, Abbey Guest Center and The Printery House.

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Tri-C Community Celebration of 1914 photo

September 28, 2014 has come and gone.  Fall was wonderful.  Providing days of Indian summer weather for putting the garden and herb beds to rest for the winter.  October was filled with harvest and getting ready for winter.  As the time flew past I check to see if local photo place could print the digital copy of the 2014 Tri-C Community Celebration.  They could not print a copy at WalMart or WalGreen or HyVee which are the local options.  I finally got a lead on a small printing shop that could print an 11 X 17 photo for those who wanted a printed copy.

Following are some of the comments heard by community members:  Well organized event.  All the organizations worked to make the event happen. Pleasant enjoyable afternoon.  Not long enough.  Registration went well.  Signage was well developed to help people find their way around.  Map and program available made people feel welcome and helped coordinate those involved in getting their part of the event staged and ready.  Golf cart transportation between events and parking were much appreciated. Next year have it on grass too.  The Abbey facilities were excellent.  Games were all in a grassy area with picnic tables for eating within sight of the games so that children race and played in sight of watchful parents and grandparents.

Fr. Abbot Gregory of the Conception Abbey and Sr. Rita Clare of the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration served as Grand Marshals of the Lollipop Parade sponsored by the Tri-C Community Betterment group.  Tri-C American Legion Post #464 provided the honor guard, Tri-C volunteer fire department provided the escort for the Grand Marshals and the Jefferson C-123 Choir lead the pledge and sang the National Anthem.  Judy Henggeler sang “Farmwife from Conception” accompanied by Dutch Luke and Bob Fannon.

Fr. Paul was raised towards the heavens by Darrell Schieber in his boom truck to take the photo.  Shane Walker Auctioneer loaned Fr. Paul his hands free microphone so that Fr. Paul could direct the arrangement of the persons in the photo.  Shane was also the volunteer MC announcing the parade participants.  Some estimate there are over 500 people in this photo.

Br. Cyprian gave a tour of the Abbey Basilica and its art. 

The Tri-C Partners 4 Progress participated in the parade and provided a booth with old class photos from the Clyde school.  They also had a 1906 parish census and a 1910 census that might help indicate if certain people were possibly in the 1914 photo.  I found my grandfather.  A large print of the 1914 photo was available and several people identified people they knew. Sr. Wilmarie has identified the four Sisters from the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration at Clyde who are in the 1914 photo.

Tri-C Community Coalition, St. Columba Parish groups and Jefferson C-123 organizations provided games of bingo, baseball, bounce house, dunk tank etc.  Knight of Columbus cooked up their now famous pork loin and hamburger picnic.

Fun was had by all.

Now the question becomes:  How do we record this event and how do we top this event in 2015?  Any suggestions please leave a comment on this blog.