News

Small store providing big service to women

	NEW RESOURCE: Judy Krablien, Jeannie Hannemann and Karin Ratzlaff welcome visitors to The Little House at 619 W. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton. (Patricia Kasten photo)
	Providing service Who: The Little House, Elizabeth Ministry Resource Center What: Outreach to women and their families, gift shop, prayer room, drop-in ministry. How: Prayer support, prayer services and workshops, coffees, one-on-one ministry, awareness issues, retreats, family blessings, religious gifts and mail-order baskets. Where: 619 W. Wisconsin Ave, Appleton. Hours: Mondays: 9 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours to expand in fall. Weekly rosary at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Phone: (920)731-3031. Open House: Starts on Sept. 8 and runs through September, with special events on Sept. 15 and 22. More: Other information at www.elizabethministry.com

A small store, in an old house in Appleton, is now home to a resource center for Elizabeth Ministry, a peer ministry for women and families. The Little House, Elizabeth Ministry Resource Center, 619 W. Wisconsin Ave., houses a shop, prayer room and meeting room.

"From day one," Elizabeth Ministry founder, Jeannie Hannemann said, "people have stopped in, even though we aren't even officially open."

As she was speaking, a mother came in because her children wanted "to go to the angel store."

Their very first customer was a woman who had been "peeking in the windows" as they started repainting. She wanted baptismal gifts. Another visitor was an Hispanic man who "saw Mary (on the shop's sign) and wanted a drink of water."

"It's not about the degrees you have," explained Hannemann. "It's about caring, listening, faith friends who can show you where God has been in your life."

That's the heart of Elizabeth Ministry, started in 1991 by Hannemann and the late Fr. Kurt Gessner, OFM Cap, when Hannemann was family life minister at St. Bernard Parish in Appleton. What started as fielding basic questions from new parents has spread to ministry in all areas of family life - from infertility and miscarriage, to infant death, to births and baptisms, to special needs and sacraments, to raising teenagers, to aging. Anything that touches the lives of families is in the venue of Elizabeth Ministers - whose main qualifications are a desire to help families and women and a willingness to listen to stories and share their own experiences of pain, loss and joy. It's one-on-one ministry, where those who understand reach out to each other and experience God's love - just as Mary and Elizabeth did.

Since 1991, this peer ministry has grown from two people to hundreds of Elizabeth Ministers worldwide and - while the ministry remains grounded in Catholic teaching - to people in many faith denominations.

The unofficial opening of The Little Store came with a Mass, celebrated by Fr. Glenn Gessner (Fr. Kurt's brother), on May 31, the feast of the Visitation. Fr. Gessner, a Capuchin missionary to Nicaragua for many years, told Hannemann they must make Jesus "the first guest" of the shop. The official opening will be Sept. 8, the Nativity of Mary, with grand opening events throughout September.

While the shop sells merchandise - cards, books, gifts, music and manuals - "the bulk of our focus is the power of visit," said Hannemann. "This is a place where people know they can come and people will understand. Everyone here will recognize Jesus in you."

Even though she hasn't asked for volunteers for the shop - whether to paint, stock, answer the phone or offer ministry - the stream of helpers is steady.

One of those is Sarah Schimek. Infertility problems led her and husband, Dan, to Elizabeth Ministry. They are now expecting their second child.

"People walk in the door and they immediately tell you their story," Schimek said. "It's like they've been waiting and they emotionally throw up."

Elizabeth Ministers listen. For anyone who needs it, there is a prayer room - complete with a kitchen table for sharing. (Serious counseling matters are referred to Catholic Charities.) Bistro tables in the meeting room provide a place for tea and a chat. Spiritual direction will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings by Sr. Lisa Lucht, OP, former chancellor for the Green Bay Diocese. And Hannemann - who holds a master's degree with a family life focus from Jesuit-run Regis University - is returning to school for certification as a spiritual director. Bp. Robert Morneau is Elizabeth Ministry's spiritual advisor.

But the ministry works both ways. "Everyone has their own gifts to bring," said Judy Krablien, another volunteer. "It's a place to talk to others and open up."

Karin Ratzlaff says that, as a young mother of three daughters, the multi-generational sharing among Elizabeth Ministers has brought her good parenting advice. "Everyone can benefit," she said.

For now, the shop's hours are limited, but the ministry of presence and listening stands ready. And, since the local office of Planned Parenthood is right across the street and the Association for Retarded Citizens is next door, Hannemann believes The Little House will reach out to many more who search for answers in the difficult times of their lives.

"I always envisioned this resource center as a type of Grandma's house out in the country," she said, as traffic zipped by on the four-lane street out front. "But God said, 'No. It'll be here, in the heart of the city.'"