By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald

Award recipient has worked for diocese 13 years

SUPERIOR -- Realizing her children were growing, Elizabeth "Casey" Peterson decided to look for an avenue of work outside the home. After completing a course of study at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in 1990, Peterson found an that opportunity within the offices at the diocesan chancery building.

"They were looking for secretaries and I applied for a job," she said.

"I've enjoyed working here. It's been very challenging and interesting. I've also enjoyed the people that I've worked with."

During her 13-year tenure with the diocese, Peterson has served as secretarial support with the Department of Christian Formation. Of these years, 10 were spent within the Office of Schools and the last three in the Office of the Permanent Diaconate and Lay Ministry.

Because of her effort with the Department of Christian Formation, Peterson received the Bishop George A. Hammes Award for for outstanding service to Catholic schools during the diocesan sponsored fall institute for teachers and catechists.

"I was really surprised and honored to find out that I was receiving the award," Peterson said. "I thought there were a lot of other people there that were more worthy of it. I was hired to work for the Catholic schools, it was my job. I found out that I really liked working with the schools and I enjoyed working with Phyllis (Schlagel, diocesan superintendent of schools). I enjoyed working with the principals whenever I needed to."

Schlagel said Peterson was deserving of the recognition for her contribution to leadership as it relates to the Catholic schools in the diocese.

"As I looked at all Casey did," Schlagel said, "she's a very efficient and knowledgeable secretary. She really served all those schools, besides serving me. God worked through her bright mind and open heart. She was and is faithful toward the Catholic Church and Catholic schools in the diocese."

Sr. Genevieve Schillo, C.S.J., who retired as head of the Department of Christian Formation in December 2002, called Peterson a valuable employee.

"I hired her and I never regretted it," Schillo said. "I always felt very positive about her skills and the personality that she brought to the job. She was always very pleasant to all of our clients. When anyone called in about a particular need or problem, had an interest in a program or was looking for information, she was very informative and gave them positive help. Casey also assisted our clients in making informed decisions about educational programs and would take interest in any particular need they may have had. She also had a knack to be able to find materials to match a person's special interest and needs involving Christian formation.

"She was very helpful in assisting with programs and problems that sometimes may have come up. Casey had a real gift to be able to translate staff planning," Schillo said.

Among her many duties, Peterson was involved in assisting with the preparation and the details that go into planning departmental conferences.

"She developed our schedules and made contacts with the site leadership and publishers," Schillo said. "She was present during the day and made sure that everything was in place."

Peterson, a native of Superior and member of the Cathedral of Christ the King Parish, has been married for 23 years. She and her husband, John, have three grown children; Ann, 24, J.P., 21, and Matt, 19.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003