MADISON — The Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities-Diocese of Madison held its second annual Day at the Duck Pond at the Madison Mallards stadium on June 20.
It was once again a beautifully hot day with lots of great food, company, and gratitude.
Megan Wedwick, director of the Apostolate, shared her excitement for the day and the new volunteers at the event.
“The Mallards have been very accommodating, and we’ve been talking with them about last year and how to make this year’s event better,” she said.
Helping out
The Watertown high school session of Love Begins Here (LBH) came with 25 teens to help with the event.
Among them were Justin and Leo from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Monona, both of whom are longtime LBH attendees and were excited to be helping with the event.
The high schoolers helped hand out worship aids, get food and drinks, and move people in wheelchairs or using walkers.
Shawn Willox, who is a youth minister at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison, brought high schoolers who were attending the parish’s annual Disciple Camp, a weeklong camp in which high school and middle schoolers work on different projects each day to volunteer for the day.
Lydia, Max, and Andrew were among the group of teens, all of whom were excited to help out with the day and for the baseball game.
The groups of volunteers were welcomed and greatly appreciated by the Apostolate and all those attending the Day at the Duck Pond.
A fun and blessed day
Among those attending the event were Helen Kelly, with her friend Diane, sister Agnes, and her aunt, all of whom attended the game last year.
Helen was excited about the prayer service with Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison and the food that consisted of brats, burgers, hot dogs, and more.
“It’s really just a wonderful program, and it’s nice for people who aren’t able to get out to come here and know they’ll have people to help take care of them. It’s nice too, because last year the food wasn’t in the same area, and this year all the seating and food are together so people can get to it more easily.”
Many attendees were excited and happy to get together once again and catch up with those they had seen the year before.
Deacon Jim Hoegemeier, former Apostolate associate director now serving in the Diocese of Green Bay, returned this year with a group from the deaf community there.
He was excited to be back and talk, via American Sign Language, with Fr. Chris Klusman, director of the Deaf Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, who returned to the event with Shiloh Buchman, an interpreter for the Deaf Apostolate, and a group from the deaf community in Milwaukee.
Father Chris was excited because they brought a larger group with them this year than last year.
Father Chris has also been working with deaf apostolates around the country to help create catechetical programs for the deaf.
He helped with a video series about the Blessed Virgin Mary. He hopes to help build resources for the deaf and have current resources such as the YOUCAT translated into American Sign Language.
Father Chris and the rest of the Deaf Apostolate were grateful to the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities for inviting them. “It is only once a year that the Apostolates from Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison get together, and it’s always very nice,” he said.
A time to pray
Msgr. Larry Bakke, outgoing director and chaplain of the Apostolate, welcomed everyone at the start of a prayer service held in a tent just outside of the stands.
“Welcome to you all in the goodness of gathering in this very special place,” he said.
Following a series of readings that were translated into ASL for the hearing impaired, Bishop Hying gave a brief homily.
“We praise God this morning for the gift of this day and the beauty of gathering together once again,” Bishop Hying said.
He thanked Monsignor Bakke, Wedwick, and Kayla Schiesser, administrative coordinator for the Apostolate, for all of their efforts in putting together the event.
The bishop’s homily had to be paused briefly for passing airplanes overhead, making it difficult to hear him.
“It’s always good to have a reflective pause in a homily,” he joked.
Everyone attending the Day at the Duck Pond was grateful to the Lord for the beautiful weather, the chance to catch up with friends from a year ago, the food, and of course, the game, even though it ended in a Mallards loss.