Wetstein receives honorary doctorate for humanitarian work

Montana State University has conferred an honorary doctorate on Helena engineer Willis Wetstein, recognizing him for work that improved the environment and aided humanity in the United States and abroad.

Wetstein is a trustee of The Foundation for the Diocese of Helena, and a charter member of the Engineering Advisory Board at Carroll College.

He received the honorary doctorate during the MSU commencement May 8 in Bozeman. In 1957 he graduated from the university with a degree in civil engineering, then began a 52-year career with Morrison Maierle Inc.

His work has encompassed an array of water and wastewater projects in the United States and overseas, including the African country of Lesotho, where he worked on a United Nations project to provide potable water for 250 villages.

In 2009, Wetstein was inducted into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame at MSU, in recognition of contributions to the development of Montana and the engineering profession.

He is a member of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish in East Helena.

Postal drive aids Butte food bank

The Butte Emergency Food Bank received 46,000 pounds of food and $11,000 through the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual food drive on May 8.

When delivering mail, carriers collected food that postal customers placed near mailboxes.

The cash donation for the Butte Emergency Food Bank is the largest it has received through the letter carriers’ food drive in the 18-year history of the event, said Jim and Joanne Cortese, food bank directors. Support for the food bank includes a 2009 Aid to the Needy grant from the Diocese of Helena.

Youth and young adult ministry grant applications due by June 1

June 1 is the deadline to apply for grants that the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry awards for projects or programs supporting faith formation.

The office seeks to financially support parish, school or college efforts that are long-term and sustainable. Examples of projects or programs that may receive support include youth or campus ministry internships; comprehensive training in youth ministry; training through the Center for Ministry Development; and faith formation emphasizing the components of youth ministry in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document “Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Comprehensive Catholic Youth Ministry.”

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry discourages applications for grants to support general fundraising drives, and one-time camps or rallies. The office does not provide grants to fund endowments.

Grant applicants should allow 45 days for review of their proposals.

More information is online at www.dohyouth.org. Grant administrator Doug Tooke can be reached by phone at 800-584-8914, ext. 19, or by e-mail to dtooke@diocesehelena.org.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 5, May 21, 2010.