CLINTON — When the need arose for a new heating and air conditioning system in the 41-year-old St. Stephen Church in Clinton, Fr. Bill Connell, pastor, enlisted his large family to help raise the money.
Four generations will be present at a Labor Day weekend fundraiser, but not all will be working since the youngest is only six months old.
On Saturday, Aug. 31, about 40 of Father Connell’s siblings, nieces, and nephews are going to prepare and serve a public chicken and ham dinner. This will be preceded by a “polka Mass” with Beloit big band leader Jack Farina providing the music.
The dinner will be followed with a program and dance played by Mike Schneider, a parishioner and nationally traveled musician and expert on the polka.Tradition of Church service
Father Connell’s sister, Mary Joan Rebout, is well known at St. William Parish in Janesville for her funeral luncheons and other dinners. She has developed a local reputation for her homemade rolls and desserts. She will be bringing three more generations of Connells to the fundraiser.
Church service is not foreign to the Connell family and in particular to the Rebout family. Mary Joan’s children are active in Church leadership and ministries, including her daughter-in-law, Diane Rebout, who is principal of St. William School, Janesville.
Other family members of Father Connell will come from as far away as Minneapolis and Fitchburg, while most of those working at the event live in the Janesville area.
Special fundraiser
The fundraiser, being called a “FUNd pRAISER,” hopes to take St. Stephen Parish over the top of its goal of $25,000 in parishioner pledges and other donations.
Father Connell’s family has also donated items from their employers or from themselves for the silent auction/raffle.
There is even a basket coming from his nephew in Alaska who cannot attend that will include smoked salmon and other Alaskan items. Another nephew has Beloit wood artisans “Grommes Millworks” creating and donating a handmade cross unique for the occasion.
Father Connell said, “Our family has always been close and St. Stephen’s parishioners have met many of them individually over the years. I think they will be impressed when they meet them as a group.”
Family members will be identified by T-shirts imprinted with the message “Connell Family — Worker Bees.”
Cost for the dinner and entertainment: Adults — $15; five to 15 years — $10; under five — free. The Mass will be at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a polka program and dance until 10 p.m. It will be fun for all ages.
Donations for the project are gladly accepted.