Advanced Silicon assists food bank

The Butte Emergency Food Bank recently received a substantial donation from REC Advanced Silicon Materials, a manufacturing company in Butte.

The gift of money came as the food bank looked ahead to the winter holiday season, a time when requests for food assistance often rise.

Advanced Silicon supports a number of charitable organizations in Butte and the gift to the food bank is “recognition of the work we do here,” said Elissa Mitchell, president of the food bank’s board. “We are honored and will spend these monies wisely and responsibly.”

Sources of support for the food bank include an Aid to the Needy grant provided by the Diocese of Helena.

People in the Butte area who need food assistance may contact the food bank by calling 406-782-6230 or going to its facility at 1019 E. Second St. during the morning, Monday through Friday.

Father Haffey joins Carroll board

Father Thomas Haffey has been appointed to the Carroll College Board of Trustees.

Father Haffey, who graduated from Carroll in 1965, is pastor at St. Ann Parish, administrator at St. John the Evanglist Parish and sacramental minister at Holy Spirit Parish, all in Butte. He also serves the Diocese of Helena as dean for the Butte Deanery and as the diocesan delegate for ministry to priests. In that capacity, he assists the bishop and the vicar for clergy in providing pastoral care to priests who may be experiencing difficulty in their ministries. The Anaconda Chamber of Commerce named Father Haffey its 1980 Citizen of the Year.

He is one of four new Carroll trustees.

Also appointed were Ben Niedermeyer, an investment professional who lives in Waltham, Mass.; Raymond Kuntz, chairman and chief executive of Watkins & Shepard Trucking Co.; and John Walda, president and chief executive of the National Association of College and University Business Officers in Washington, D.C. Niedermeyer and Kuntz are Carroll graduates.

Book features story by former diocesan editor

A former editor of The Montana Catholic, Alex Lobdell, is among authors with work in an anthology released this month.

The volume is Karina and Rob Fabian’s second under the title “Infinite Space, Infinite God.”

Twelve science fiction stories are in “Infinite Space, Infinite God II,” published By TwilightTimes Books. Each story features a Catholic hero or theme.

The Catholic Writers Guild awarded the book its Seal of Approval. Karina Fabian said that signifies the book adheres to Catholic traditions and beliefs.

Jogathon at St. Joseph School in Missoula

St. Joseph School in Missoula held its annual Jogathon this fall, for the 25th year, and raised $71,000.

The theme was “There’s no place like St. Joe’s,” and Oz costumes were part of the revelry. Weekly assemblies preceded the Jogathan, which was on Sept. 24 and drew many joggers. On the day before the event, the St. Joseph gymnasium was filled with those planning to jog. They were joined by the University of Montana basketball team, cheerleaders and UM mascot Monte.

Michelle McCue chaired the event, which was at Rollins Field.

Hazy Day support tops $50,000

Boosted by some four-figure gifts, the annual Hazy Day benefit raised $50,171 for the diocesan mission in Guatemala.

The sum surpasses Hazy Day fundraising in any of the past 11 years and probably longer, said staff in the mission office at the Chancery.

Hazy Day took place Sept. 12 at the Cathedral of St. Helena’s Brondel Center. The $50,171 reflects money raised that day and given in a follow-up period. Gifts included $6,000 from a Helena man and $3,000 from a resident of New York City. The follow-up giving also included fulfillment of some pledges, and payment for items purchased in Hazy Day’s silent auction but not picked up immediately. In addition to the auction, Hazy Day included a marketplace, door prizes, games and food.

The day is named for Father Jim Hazelton, who has served at the mission for 45 years. Dollars from Hazy Day help support the mission’s work in education and evangelization. Mission outreach includes a school with enrollment of about 600, a health clinic and faith formation with small-group catechesis.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 11, November 19, 2010.