8A The Mining Journal
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Spotlight
Two women win Catholic Service Awards
By Journal Staff
taught the RCIA (Rite of Chris-
tian Initiation of Adults) classes
when Msgr. Kaz was unable to
do so due to his neck injury. Her
knowledge, wisdom, and com-
passion for the Church and all it
represents is truly inspirational.”
Richtig continues to share her
enthusiasm for the faith with
those within and beyond her own
parish.
leadership roles in many church
and community groups, serving
as president of the following or-
ganizations: St. Sebastian’s Parish
Council for 19 years, St. Sebas-
tian’s School Board for 17 years,
St. Sebastian’s Parish Home and
School Association for 24 years,
the Ladies’ Guild for 20 years
and the Bessemer City Women’s
Club for 27 years. She also taught
high school religious education
classes for more than 15 years.
Karpus is currently the regent of
the local circle of the Daughters
of Isabella, which is a charitable
organization of Catholic wom-
en founded on the principle of
its motto: unity, friendship and
charity.
MARQUETTE — Two women
of faith, Joanie Richtig of Immac-
ulate Conception Parish in Iron
Mountain and Barbara Karpus of
St. Sebastian Parish in Bessemer,
have been chosen as this year’s
recipients of the Catholic Service
Award, the Diocese of Marquette
announced.
Richtig is a retired English
professor at Bay College West.
Her service to her parish includes
serving as coordinator of K-8
religious education, Extraordinary
Minister of the Eucharist, Adult
Folk Choir member, Children’s
Choir director and a member of
the Decorating Committee and
Garden Committee.
Last year, she worked with the
region’s vicar forane, Fr. Janusz
Romanek, and The U.P. Catholic
newspaper to spread the message,
“Holy Spirit, you are welcome
here,” for Pentecost. In addition,
she invited the 36 pastors of
non-Roman churches in Dickin-
son County to participate in the
endeavor.
Perhaps her most well-known
service to St. Sebastian Parish is
Karpus’ 50-some years of playing
the organ for Mass and funerals.
In his CSA letter of endorse-
ment, her pastor, Fr. Dominic
Agyapong, said, “What is so
remarkable and worth saying is
that she does not take any stipend
or reimbursement from the parish
either as an organist or any other
services for all the years she has
been in St. Sebastian’s parish,
over 56 years.”
In her letter of support for
The Catholic Service Award is
a program of the Legacy of Faith
Endowment, a fund of the Upper
Peninsula Catholic Foundation,
Inc. It was created in 2006 in
the spirit and mission of Legacy
of Faith to preserve and foster
the Catholic faith in the Upper
Peninsula.
Awardees receive recognition
in their parish and at the annual
diocesan Bishop Ambassadors’
dinner for their lifetime dedica-
tion and service to the Catholic
Church.
In addition, a $250 grant is
provided, in honor of the recipi-
ents, to a diocesan organization or
ministry of their choice.
CSA nominations are due every
year by May 1. More information
foundation.org/catholic-ser-
vice-awards.
Richtig’s award nomination,
Cathy Carobine wrote, “I am
personally indebted to Joanie be-
cause in 2017 she led our parish
in participating in the anniversary
of Fatima. This inspired me to
pray the rosary daily which I
continue, and therefore it has, of
course, changed my life for the
better.”
Illustrating her devotion to the
Holy Family, Richtig leads the
rosary before each Saturday af-
ternoon Mass, and she organized
a 33-day, at-home Consecration
study of St. Joseph during the
Year dedicated to Jesus’ foster
father.
Joanie Richtig is shown with
Monsignor James Kaczmarek,
pastor of Immaculate Conception
Parish in Iron Mountain, after
receiving the Catholic Service
Award. (Photo courtesy of the
Catholic Diocese of Marquette)
Barbara Karpus poses with
Father Dominic Agyapong, pastor
of St. Sebastian Parish in Besse-
mer, after receiving the Catholic
Service Award. (Photo courtesy of
the Catholic Diocese of Marquette)
“Barbara also cares for the altar
linens and priest’s vestments.”
Another talent she shares with
the clergy is her culinary skills.
“She cooks meals when it is St.
Sebastian’s turn to host a group of
priests. She does this because she
can,” said Karpus’ friend, Mar-
garet Boline. “When an outgoing
pastor tells an incoming pastor, ‘If
you need to know anything about
St. Sebastian or need help, call
Barbara Karpus,’ (you can tell)
she is a real asset to St. Sebas-
tian.”
“Her most selfless gift has been
the gift of compassion and care
when she and her husband, John,
assisted Father Ray Valerio in all
his medical and personal needs
during the last four months of his
illness,” he said.
When Lisa Broman received the
sacrament of Confirmation as an
adult, Richtig was her sponsor.
“She takes her faith and commit-
ment to growing my faith seri-
ously,” Broman explained. “She
was not only my sponsor; she
Parish Council President Peter
Armichardy said she is not afraid
to get involved in all aspects of a
ministry.
“Barbara has coordinated the
pasty sales, which includes taking
orders, making the pasty dough,
and handling the money and
pickup of the pasties,” he said.
Monsignor James Kaczmarek,
pastor of Immaculate Conception
Parish, spoke of the time Richtig
gladly opened her home to a
priest in need.
In addition, Karpus has taken on
Good Advice
Dear Annie
Grieving girlfriend needs time
ear Annie:
have been with
my girlfriend for
I
doesn’t call me on my way she’s grieving, but we are
Dear At a Loss: My heart
Eventually -- with the
to work anymore unless both in our 40s, and at goes out to you, your girl- help of time, therapy, and
she has a question. She some point, I do want to friend and your entire fam- her loving and supportive
doesn’t even respond to start living again. Prefera- ily. Losing a child is an boyfriend -- she will be able
my text when I check in on bly with her. Can you give unimaginable tragedy, and to see some hope in her life
her from work. I just feel me advice on how to han- it makes perfect sense that again. At that time, you two
completely shut out and dle this better and even your girlfriend is far from should enter couples thera-
wonder why I’m even still a time frame on expect- recovered after only one py to make sure you are still
D
2 1/2 years now. She just
lost her middle son to a
drug overdose exactly
one month ago tomorrow.
She is really struggling
with this. He was her best
friend and, out of all her
kids, the one most similar
to her.
Since his passing, she has
become isolated and more
depressed. She barely eats
and can’t sleep, and her
health wasn’t the great-
here.
Will she ever get past somewhat normal? I know lot of time and a lot of effort priority.
this? She stated she will completely normal is never for her to get through this.
never be happy again. possible. I am in a family Right now, your girl-
ing anything to return to month. It is going to take a making your relationship a
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If that’s true, why am I therapy group that meets friend’s priority is not you
here? I know it’s recent, twice a week for grief and or your relationship; it is
but her whole focus day loss of loved ones. I’m just her lost son, her living son
and night is strictly about really worried after hear- and her immense grief. You
her lost son. She has zero ing stories that we may need to have patience and
ANNIE LANE
est before all this. She is I just moved in with her interest in doing anything never get back to where grace for her as she process-
having panic attacks and in July, and things were -- no watching TV, leaving we were. Thanks for any es this loss and learns to live
has been prescribed med- strong between us before the house or even knowing help. -- At a Loss
ication to help with every- this. Now she doesn’t want when she can go back to
thing. She is in therapy as me going anywhere with work. She has lost interest
a life without her son.
of two weeks now. her and her other son. She in all hobbies and inter-
The problem is she has doesn’t want me sleep- ests.
completely shut me out. ing in the same bed. She
I completely understand
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Professional Licensing
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
October 24, 2022
9:00 a.m.
Location: G. Mennen Williams Building Auditorium
525 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan
The hearing is held to receive public comments on the following administrative rules:
Sanitarians – General Rules (MOAHR #2022-22 LR)
Authority: MCL 333.16145, 333.16148, and 333.18413, and Executive Reorganization Nos. 1991-9,
1996-2, 2003-1 2011-4, 2009-10, MCL 338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, 445.2030, and 333.26364.
Overview: The proposed rules will clarify definitions and the meaning of terms used in the rule set; update
environmental health baccalaureate programs accreditation standards, environmental health graduate
programs accreditation standards, and higher institution educational program regional accreditation
standards; clarify that applicants who are graduates of regionally accredited institutions or unaccredited
institutions must provide to the department an evaluation of their educational credentials by a credential
evaluation organization; and clarify the requirements for registration by examination, endorsement,
reregistration, and renewal.
The rules will take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State, unless specified otherwise in the
rules. Comments on the proposed rules may be presented in person at the public hearing. Written comments will
also be accepted from date of publication until 5:00 p.m. on October 24, 2022, at the following address or e-mail
address:
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Professional Licensing– Boards and Committees Section
P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909-8170
Attention: Departmental Specialist Email: BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov
A copy of the proposed rules may be obtained by contacting Board Support at (517) 241-7500 or the email
address noted above. Electronic copies also may be obtained at the following link:
Sanitarians - General Rules
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public may access this meeting by both web and phone and provide either oral or written comments.
Closed captioning will be provided, when available. Members of the public who are speech or hearing impaired
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participate in the meeting, or those that have questions should contact the department at
Please call (517) 241-7500 or email BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov with any questions related to the
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