By Joe Winter
Catholic Herald correspondent

Lang Award winner has many ministries

HAMMOND -- Marcia Rhodes is no longer worshiping and serving at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Hammond, but still is active enough in many ways to be honored with this year's Diocese of Superior Gloria Lang Award.

Rhodes said she is "taking a break" after almost a year ago moving to a new parish (St. Bridget) and residence in Wilson, in northeast St. Croix County, but she still spends plenty of time at church.

Both parishes are in the same cluster, providing Rhodes with service opportunities, and people in Hammond who nominated her say she still is in their hearts and deserving of the award because of service there. The award, for outstanding support in ministry, was presented at the annual fall institute for teachers and catechists Oct. 6.

During 28 years of ministry, Rhodes has catechized at one time or another at every grade level, been a lector and for two years at Hammond worked with both the preschoolers and confirmation candidates.

She also has participated in Bible study and choir, served on the liturgical committee and currently is a eucharistic minister and is on the Koinonia team.

Rhodes also worked with the preschool in Todd County in the St. Cloud, Minn., diocese, when her oldest son was young. While living in the La Crosse diocese, she taught music for children and said she was especially fond of the fourth graders.

In all these differing ministries, in different places, there has always been the same goal, but varying styles. One example she gave was the type of music that might be favored. Another was the preschool written materials; Rhodes has at times needed to create her own.

When she has done so, Rhodes has found a basis in the virtues of Old Testament stories.

"These are things I remember from growing up," she said, adding that use of some of the stories may have gone partially by the wayside, although they still have value.

When Rhodes started writing such materials, she recalled, the local Protestant church already had them in place, and that fact determined where some people attended. Rhodes found it a challenge to fill the gap, borrowing from what the others had to offer, but tweaking it to make it more Catholic and including the not-yet-to-be-found crafts and music. Two of the people who nominated her for the diocese award, Director of Religious Education Ruth Linneman and parent Barb Lyons, cited Rhodes' mentoring and the fact that a children's library also was part of the curriculum.

They also noted that in 1999 she redesigned the confirmation program and added a student Passion play and day of reflection. "Marcia put in many hours of preparation to present meaningful prayer services for each confirmation session," they wrote. "The program still is being used and is successful."

As a current Women's Guild member, "she helps decorate and take care of all those behind-the-scenes and unappreciated jobs for many events," they wrote.

The fact that Rhodes commutes to work in the Twin Cities means that she is able to attend many catechist training sessions there.

Many of the tasks she has taken on were meant as a learning experience for her daughter. "Music and teaching were a way for her to meld her family with church involvement," Lyons and Linneman wrote. "She is also a humble, loving and forgiving person. The work she has done for our religious education program is immeasurable. She took on these challenges even while a single mom working full time "She continuously evaluated programs and lessons, looking for improvements."

Rhodes said that she always makes sure to answer questions from children, even if she needs to get some information afterwards and convey it the next week. "I went to the parish priest a lot," she said, laughing.

One question that was particularly complicated to deal with involved to story of Noah's Ark and God's flooding of the earth, Rhodes said.

In these ways, the children challenge her and she picks up things from them, Rhodes said, adding that they have been a highlight of her best years in ministry. "It has been a continuous learning experience."

Other things Rhodes cites are being in a Christian mother's group and the value of the Teens Encounter Christ retreats, which are especially vital when it comes to confirmation classes and their requirement to do retreats. Rhodes said that despite the difference in ages, because there are many similarities between the groups.

Rhodes said she got involved in the TEC board of directors because her daughter asked her to check it out.

On another nomination form, classroom helper Debbie Mahoney says she is pleased and impressed with Rhodes' enthusiasm for teaching. "Marcia was always prepared for class with stories, lessons, activities and music. Marcia showed great compassion for the children and was attentive to their needs," Mahoney wrote.

"I enjoyed volunteering so much that year that I continued to help Marcia for the next two years. I am now teaching the pre-k/kindergarten class myself and I thank Marcia for this blessing."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004