May 25, 2017

Springfield parish holds annual Celebration of Extraordinary Service

REGIONAL
Staff report

Pictured are, back row, left to right, Msgr. Daniel Liston, pastor of St. Patrick Parish; Bob Goodrow and Ellie Kane; and front, seated, Mary Czupryna. (IObserve photos/courtesy of St. Patrick Parish)

SPRINGFIELD – On Sunday, May 7, St. Patrick Parish, here, hosted its second annual Celebration of Extraordinary Service. The Mass was created to honor elders of the parish who have gone above and beyond in their service to the church and its community.

This year’s honorees included Mary Czupryna, Bob Goodrow, and James “Jim” Kane. Ellie Kane, Jim’s wife, accepted the award as he was posthumously honored.

Czupryna, a founding member of St. Patrick’s (1961), not only donated bags full of groceries to the Open Pantry on a weekly basis, but also made decorated themed desserts for the monthly Loaves & Fishes dinners. Upon learning that some people had nut allergies, she baked with and without nuts and labeled the treats so all could enjoy them.

When recently asked how long she’d been baking, Czupryna replied, “longer than I can remember.” She added, “I like to bake, it’s never been work, but always a joy.” She also volunteered at the Ring Nursing Home by assisting residents during Masses.

Goodrow became a member of the parish in 2007 and was quickly recruited to become the new sacristan. For the last 10 years, he has been faithfully unlocking the church well before the 7 a.m. Mass, showing up in all types of weather. He’s been known to be at the church before the snow-removal crew, shoveling a path until they arrive.

During the Lenten season of 2014, Goodrow noticed that the kneelers in the church were worn and in need of repair and went to work repairing the deteriorated ones. He is known as a “fix-it guy” and is quick to notice when a job needs to be done and expects no accolades but simply does whatever he can to help.

The late Jim Kane began singing at the church in 1978 when his son, Dan Kane, who at the time was a student at Cathedral High School, was asked to play the organ. The organist position was to fill a vacancy on a temporary basis until a suitable musician could be found. Decades later, the father and son duo was still at St. Patrick’s, with Jim singing at three Masses every week. He sang at St. Patrick’s up until the week he passed away.

Jim’s 38 years of musical dedication and commitment to St. Patrick’s is unprecedented in the parish’s history. He also recorded several CDs in the church over the years. Many titles and arrangements were uniquely his own and some of his most beloved songs were “The Lord’s Prayer,” “O Holy Night” and “When it’s Mother’s Day in Heaven.” According to parish staff members, Jim was most proud when he told people that he was the soloist at St. Patrick’s Church in Springfield.

Each honoree was given a boutonnière/corsage and an inscribed and framed plaque with a picture of the church. Following the award presentations, the parish Women’s Club hosted a reception in the church’s meeting room.