Knights of Columbus to Honor Five with Southington Catholic Citizen of the Year Award on June 4, 2017

 Southington K of C
Honors Five as Catholic Citizens of the Year

The Knights of Columbus Isabella Assembly 122 will present its 4^th Annual Catholic Citizen of the Year Awards at a Luncheon to be held at noon on Sunday, June 4^th at Hawks Landing C.C.  This year’s five honorees, recognized for their service to church and community, are Donna Ayer of Mary Our Queen Parish, Dorothy Charette of St. Thomas, Leeanne Frisina of St. Dominic, Dr. Andrew Guest of St. Aloysius, and Susan Sajac of Immaculate Conception. Awardees are selected based on review of the individual credentials of nominees and consultation with pastors of the enduring service and commitment to their faith communities as well and their dedication to charity and citizenship within the wider community.   Though from many walks of life, they have consistently given years of voluntary service to others.  All are invited to join this special celebration. 

Awards luncheon reservations may be made at a cost of $32.00 per person by contacting Phil Mazzati at mazzophi@att.net or 860-276-8228 or 203-395-4381 as soon as possible to ensure seating.  Cost of Awards Luncheon is $32.00 per person. You may mail a check made payable to Knights of Columbus Assembly 122 to Phil Mazzati at 59 Marcy Avenue, Southington, CT 06489. Prompt action is suggested to ensure seating. 

Introducing the five nominees for Southington Catholic Citizenship Awards for 2017:

Donna Ayer

Donna’s first priority is her family, her husband, Kyle and their children Maisey and Ross.  Born and raised by deeply faithful Catholic parents, Peggy and Steve Fabian, Donna has been called to service to others, “a defining factor in my life.  I love my church community at Mary Our Queen and for 24 years have been active in faith and service to children’s liturgy, youth ministry, CCD, VBS, women’s retreat/bible studies. We’ve been part of the close-knit family and a member of the school board of St. Thomas School, (now Southington Catholic), which our children attended.  God has put a desire for service to others on my heart and I have been privileged to fulfill that call through four mission trips to Haiti and service on the Haiti180 team.  It is truly an honor to serve others in our community in my position for 28 years at the YMCA and most recently as Executive Director of Bread for Life. 

Leanne Frisina has two adults children. A member of St. Dominic for over 24 years, Leeanne has worked for the parish in some capacity for over 20 years, currently Manager of IT manager and Parish Information and Communications, she studied the Archdiocese of Hartford’s two-year Lay Ministry Program: Evangelization. Her activities have included the Stewardship Ministry, Parish Council, and Media Team and she has been chair of Social Justice ministry for 20 years, coordinating programs such as the annual Giving Tree, the Thanksgiving Tree of Thanks, food basket drives, food drives, blood drives, collection programs for West Ghana, Hurricane Katrina, area homeless shelters and more. Leeanne has worked closely with Southington Community Services, Bread for Life and the Southington Interfaith Clergy Ass’n. and has promoted and led Girl Scouts activities for years always ensuring that the diverse needs of our community are addressed.  She has established ties with Wheeler Clinic, the Dept. of Family Services, and others during her work in local outreach.  In 2011, Leeanne was instrumental in initiating and planning Southington’s 10th-anniversary memorial: Southington Remembers 911. Leeanne was also very involved with Girl Scouts as a Troop Leader, Girl Scout Program member, and in promoting Catholic Girl Scouts town-wide through the Archdiocese of Hartford Religious Education Program offerings for Catholic Scouts religious programs. 

Dorothy Charette was born and grew up in New Britain and married her husband, Don, and moved to Southington six years later where they joined St. Thomas Church, now parishioners of 55 years.  They have eight adult children, 12 years ago Dorothy became a Eucharistic Minister, taking Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass.  

A regular on Thursdays at Holy Hour and Adoration and Benediction in the Chapel, when Fr. Nick, (Melo), started a bereavement program at St. Thomas she joined now serves as co-facilitator. Dorothy says: “I am grateful to God for his blessings and to Fr. Nick for the opportunities that have been offered to me to serve our Parish.”   

Dr. Andrew D. Guest

My nomination of Dr. Guest as a recipient of the Catholic Citizen Award is based upon his devotion to the faith, both personally and as a part of his medical practice.  Dr. Guest comes to daily mass at 7AM at least 4-5 out of the 6 days that this mass is celebrated during the week.  During the 11 years that I have been at St. Aloysius Parish, there have been occasions when someone attending the daily mass has fell ill or had some kind of medical incident.  When this has occurred, Dr. Guest has always made himself available to assist the person and attend to them until an ambulance arrived.  For those who are his patients, there is no doubt of his devotion to his Catholic faith.  Each of Dr. Guest's are familiar with the holy cards of Fr. Michael McGivney that are found in each examination room.  For those who have been in his office there is religious statuary as well as many prayer cards from his late patients.  Dr. Guest's care for his patients extends also to their spiritual well-being as well.  There are times that he has approached me after morning mass and asked me to pray for a patient or visit them in the hospital or nursing home to administer the sacrament of the sick. Dr.Guest, truly exemplifies what it means to live one's Catholic faith in every aspect of his life."

Dr. Guest attended medical college in London England. He lived and worked in Canada and up-state New York before locating in Southington in 1979. Notwithstanding his very active practice, plus nursing home care and patients in the Alzheimer's center, Guest pursues continuing medical education at U.Conn and acts as a preceptor for medical students in the office. "Our family life centers around the three children, all living in New England, and now six grandchildren plus relaxation in the garden, reading, attending the opera and some traveling. Southington has always been a town I am proud to call home and I feel a great affection for the citizens and the community.", Guest said. 

Susan Sajac has been a faithful parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Church since her birth in 1947.  She has remained a devoted member of the church ever since. A person of deep faith and prayer, Susan has said, her happiest moments are the times when she is in the church.

Susan has served as a Eucharistic minister during Mass for many years. But, her deep faith and devotion have led her to reach out to our Southington community as she brings communion to the elderly of our town who cannot attend mass, to the local convalescent homes and to the assisted living communities. But she not only brings communion to these people who are from ICC or other parishes, but she spends time visiting with each person. They all become her friends.

Susan is also our parish sacristan, she tends to all the needs in the church whatever they may be, e.g. making sure there is always wine and hosts for masses, that the parish has all necessary supplies for masses with proper altar linens laid out in accordance with the church season. Basically, the church wouldn’t run without Susan!!  Susan is also the treasurer of the parish Holy Rosary Society and a member of the Parish Council. A gentle person with a quiet sense of humor, Susan could be considered one of the most humble people you will ever meet, a very rare quality these days. She lives a life of very simple means, though always willing, without hesitation, to give of herself or share what little she may have with others. Typical of the small but caring things Susan does for others, this year on St. Patrick’s Day, she took it upon herself to prepare a corned beef dinner for three of her neighbors. Susan Zajac is a paradigm of piety, service to church and community, especially the aging and lonely. No wonder everyone who knows Susan feel blessed to have her in their lives. 

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