A Legacy of Devotion
Bob and Trudy recently invited us to visit with them in their home town of Grand Rapids, MI. After meeting with them, I must say that they are the opposite of what some experts suspect happens to people when they grow up in an abusive situation. They tend to live what they know.
They describe their growing up years as dysfunction, coming from alcohol and physical abuse and immigrants who were extremely poor.
Through this adversity, they were blessed that even though their parents rarely attended church, both families insisted on a Catholic education for each of them.
Growing up with and being educated by nuns, they grew by the exposure to the Catholic faith. In one of those days, Trudy recalls, "My 2nd grade teacher took me into church and when she pointed to a statue of the Sacred Heart, she told me of all the blessings He would bestow on me if I had a strong devotion to Him."
"This is how I became a follower of the Sacred Heart and He has carried me through numerous sorrows, tribulations, all of my life! And He led me to how I learned about the Priests of the Sacred Heart from a visiting missionary priest at our parish."
You would never know that this husband and wife of 5 children along with 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren did not follow in their parents' footsteps of poverty and abuse but did follow in the tradition of educating each of their children in the Catholic faith.
Bob and Trudy's lived by "PPP" of raising their family
- Preparation
- Prayer
- Participation
Bob and Trudy are so proud to say that all of their children are practicing Catholics today! They especially enjoy having their entire family over for the holidays which is a must per Bob that they are all together in their home.
Trudy was a R.N. and worked at hospitals and became the Director of Nursing at the Blood Bank where she worked until the age of 75! Bob had been a salesman all his life with most of his work in landscaping.
I took great pleasure in nursing and helping others because of my love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All that I am and ever will be, both Bob and myself attribute the Sacred Heart of Jesus." In our younger years, Bob served as a lector and Trudy was a Eucharistic Minister and both sang in the choir.
The prayerful and financial support Bob and Trudy have made to ensure men for the Priesthood has been a blessing. In addition to establishing Sacred Heart Charitable Gift Annuities where they receive income in return, they have recently made a donation for the purchase of the Sacred Heart Statue utilizing the IRA Qualified Charitable contribution that Congress made permeant. This statue will grace the entrance to the new Novitiate House for young men discerning their vocation.
It is because of the generosity of our friends like Bob and Trudy that the Priests of the Sacred Heart are able to fulfill so many of our Founder, Venerable Fr. Leo Dehon hopes and wishes.
"When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would have not a single bit
of talent left and could say, 'I used everything
You gave me.'"
- Erma Bombeck
If Bob and Trudy's story has inspired you to make a difference or create a legacy, contact Pam at 1-866-268-0157 or email her at [email protected]