By Cathy Tilzey

Adoptions of nine children became final at the state Capitol in Helena on Nov. 24 and three children joined families in Missoula.

During other ceremonies in Great Falls and Billings, 18 children became members of happy families, for a total of 33 statewide.

At the Capitol, Gov. Brian Schweitzer spoke about astronaut Randy Bresnik, whose daughter Abigail Mae was born in November while he was in space on the shuttle Atlantis. Schweitzer said Bresnik and his wife adopted a child last year.

Msgr. Kevin O'Neill of the Cathedral of St. Helena gave the opening and closing prayers at the ceremony, which included a videotaped message from Bishop George Leo Thomas. Choristers from St. Andrew School in Helena sang about adoption, and three fathers of adopted children spoke. Recognition of dads was a theme at the Helena ceremony.

A coalition of adoption agencies presented the Stork Award in recognition of outstanding support for Montana children needing permanent homes.

The award went to Rosemary Miller, executive director of Catholic Social Services of Montana; administrator Shirley Brown of the state Child and Family Services Division; Sen. Christine Kaufmann, D-Helena; Rep. Chuck Hunter, D-Helena; and Greg Brown of Wendy's restaurants in Montana. The late Dave Thomas, who founded the national chain of restaurants, was a leading adoption advocate and his work continues through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock of Helena presided over the adoption proceedings at the Capitol. Speakers included John Joyce of Helena, a Montana National Guard chief warrant officer. Several years ago he adopted a youth who is now a Marine serving in Afghanistan. On Nov. 24, Joyce adopted another child, Ian.

Four adoptions involving children born outside of the United States were "refinalized" in Helena. Shirley Cole of Catholic Social Services of Montana said these adoptions had cleared official steps in the countries from which the children came and were considered final in those countries. Further action, or "refinalizing," is necessary in the United States and results in a certificate bearing the name of the child as he or she is known following the adoption.

Sponsors of the Helena adoption celebration were Catholic Social Services of Montana; the state Child and Family Services Division; Intermountain Adoption and Family Support Program; LDS Family Services; Youth Dynamics Inc.; and Youth Homes.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 25, No. 12, December 18, 2009.