Spirit of St. Columbkille Award 1

Chuck and Jean Caskey were delighted when they met with Fr. Steinhausen and he assured them he would get all o ftheir children into the school. With ten children, that had been a concern. So Chuck and Jean bought their home in Papillion, joined the parish and our community has been better for it ever since.

In the first years, having to sometimes stand on the front steps for Mass, it seemed apparent that a new church wasneeded. Chuck first became involved with St. Columbkille Church by visiting parishioners to raise funds to build the current church.

When St. Columbkille Church began the Eucharistic Adoration ministry, Chuck Caskey was surprised that they were struggling to fill the hours. So for over 25 years, you will find the Caskeys in the chapel on Saturday mornings. Chuck describes Eucharistic Adoration as “very centering. It’s a good way to get your life on path – to get first things first. You miss it if you don’t go.”

Impressed by how much her grandchildren were learning about geography, Jean was instrumental in bringing the Passport Club to St. Columbkille School. The first through sixth grade classes receive weekly visits from people teaching them about various countries. Jean visits with students in the third grade.

Their roles have changed since 1978, when they arrived in Papillion. Initially, Jean was most active with the baking committee. Today, Chuck is a sacristan and a member of the RCIA team. He and Jean serve as hosts for RCIA meetings throughout the year at their beautiful farm home.
Today the ministry they most enthusiasticly endorse and recomend are the Conversational Dinners. “It’s a great way to get to really know people you see at Mass.”

Tomorrow Chuck & Jean will be given the Spirit of St. Columbkille award for quietly demonstrating to the rest of us what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Congratulations Chuck & Jean!