The 2008 Notre Dame Pork Dinner fundraiser for the retired Notre Dame Sisters was held on May 4th. Members of the Knights of Columbus and parishioners from Mary Our Queen, St. Philip Neri and Blessed Sacrament worked to help make the day a huge success. Don Trouba, Tom Sladek, and the group of Sr. Pat Guizic, Nancy Krostad, Sr. Christine Elias and Sr. Stephanie Matcha provided wonderful Czech music for all to enjoy. Thanks to all who came to Notre Dame and enjoyed a great Czech Dinner!

Before Lent, Sr. Lucille Jelinek and Servite Sister Ann spoke to the children of St. Wenceslaus School in Omaha about being retired Sisters. On Ascension Thursday, the children of St. Wenceslaus presented their Lenten gift to the retired Servants of Mary and the retired Notre Dame Sisters. Sr. Rita Ostry, Provincial Team member, and Sr. Christine Elias accepted the children's gift on behalf of the retired Notre Dame Sisters. The picture, taken by the statue of St. Wenceslaus, also includes the Principal of St. Wenceslaus School and Mark Zimmer, counselor at St. Wenceslaus.

On April 23 the Notre Dame Sisters and Seven Oaks of Florence invited volunteers to come to Notre Dame for an Appreciation Supper. One hundred and thirty volunteers, residents and Sisters enjoyed a casual supper prepared by the Seven Oaks staff and the Notre Dame Kitchen. Julie Kaminski, Administrator of Seven Oaks of Florence, thanked Juanita Harding and Joel Hoyt for their outstanding service to others. Mary Wood, Development Director for the Notre Dame Sisters, spoke about the good accomplished by the volunteer work being done by those present, including the Notre Dame Sisters.

The eighth grade of La Salle Middle School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, spent an afternoon at Notre Dame as part of their Rays of Hope journey to Omaha. For the thirteenth year, students have spent three days in Omaha doing service and volunteer work. This year 32 students entertained the Sisters and the residents of Seven Oaks of Florence with dramatic presentations and singing.

Sr. Cynthia Hruby, center, with Award

Excitement was high on Wayne State College campus for the events for Honey Sunday activities, November 12 – 19th, 2007. For the third consecutive year, Wayne State Counseling Center (WSCC) and the Catholic Newman Center (CNC) are partnering in their coordination of plans for Honey Sunday, the annual fundraiser of the Arc of Norfolk.

WSC Counseling Director, Lin Brummels and CNC Secretary, Adrianne Svitak are the co-chairpersons for the project. Joining them this year, and expanding the fundraiser, was the Theta Phi Alpha sorority, chaired by Ashleigh Anikputa. The sorority was gratefully welcomed as a wonderful expansion of this effort to assist people with disabilities.

On November 15, 2007, the Arc of Norfolk honored Wayne State Counseling Center and Catholic Newman Center with recognition awards for their contribution and dedication to the mission of the Arc, an agency that assists individuals with disabilities and their families. The program also included Travis Shaffer who presented his personal story regarding his life as a person with a developmental disability and how the Arc has been instrumental in his life.