Advent

Local book stores offer aid for Advent, all year

By Jaye Alderson
Compass Correspondent

OSHKOSH -- What better place to find meaningful gifts of the Advent season than Catholic shops that offer this selection all year long? Two such shops in the diocese - The Greatest Gift in Manitowoc and On This Rock in Oshkosh - are both owned and operated by women of faith who say they were inspired to take on this mission by the Holy Spirit.

	A d v e n t Time of Preparation

"That's the only way I can do things," said Therese Gretzinger-Heraly, who runs The Greatest Gift at 818 York St. in Manitowoc. The store has been open about two and one-half years.

Although Gretzinger-Heraly had no previous selling experience, she said "a lot of prayer" got her through the beginning of this venture.

She purchases merchandise through the Catholic Marketing Network and offers prayer books, rosaries, crucifixes, a variety of Bibles, scapulars and statuary. She said that books featuring Mother Teresa and Pope Benedict XVI are popular.

Another very popular book is "Faith, Hope and Cancer," written by Carol Westfahl of Manitowoc, who also is one of Gretziner-Heraly's volunteers at the shop.

"I've sold more of that book than any other book," Gretzinger-Heraly said. "It's about her recovery, twice, from cancer and her advice on how to deal with it, how others can help, what people caring for them can say or do to help."

Popular seasonal items and gifts include nativity sets and figurines, history bracelets that tell the story of Christ, daily devotionals, Catholic word games, which she said are nice gifts for the elderly; St. Christopher and crucifix medals and necklaces; rosary bracelets, and music.

"We have a humongous selection," she said. "(It's important) to have these things available for children, instead of everything that is so worldly and so secular. She advises parents to consider religious-themed gifts so their children get the exposure to things like the rosary, prayer books and the saints.

"Someday they'll need it," Gretzinger-Heraly said.

She said the shop's many volunteers offer their support because of the mission and the atmosphere of the shop."They find it very peaceful here," she said.

Anne Hocking, who runs On This Rock in Oshkosh, agrees. The store has been open for four years and this summer moved into the old rectory of the former St. Vincent Church at 216 South Park Ave. in Oshkosh. (St. Vincent de Paul Parish joined with St. John the Evangelist and Sacred Heart to become St. Jude Parish.)

"It is a ministry," Hocking said. "My husband and I opened up with that in mind. There was a real need. There was no Catholic (book shop) presence in Oshkosh. The Lord laid it on our hearts that we needed to do that. It's an exciting journey, but it's a lot of work."

Hocking said this venture is part of a journey of faith for her. She had left the Catholic Church as a teenager and returned years later.

"By the grace of God, I started wanting to know more about my faith," she said. "The more I learned, the more excited I got."

Her husband, Deacon Rick Hocking, who serves at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, suggested that she open a Catholic store. She took the leap of faith and left a 15-year job with an area manufacturing company.

"It's not my store, it's the Lord's store," Anne said. "It's kind of fun to work for him, but it's challenging. I'm one person wearing 15 hats."

The store's offerings include a book room, including saints, teen and prayer books; Bibles; rosaries and medals; a children's room; prayer books, prayer cards and holy cards; tapestries; saints bracelets; pictures; videos and CDs; and the Vatican 1928 jewelry line, which are replicas of jewelry at the Vatican Museums.

In addition, On This Rock has become a gathering place for Catholics to gather and talk about their faith.

"There's a lot of sharing that goes on here," Hocking said. "A lot of people are excited about the faith and can come and talk. It's not Bible study, but a lot of evangelizing. There's been some fascinating things that have happened here.

"We're kind of the hub," she added. "When people want to find out things that are going on, they come here. A lot of postings go up here. People love the store and love being here."

The store offers hot apple cider, cookies and coffee during the holiday season, and soon will add Mystic Monk coffee from a young religious community in Wyoming.

Hocking believes that her kind of ministry is critical for today's families, especially during the Christmas season.

"I think our whole society needs to start looking at Christ," she said. "We need to, as Catholics, focus on what the presence of Christ's birth really means to us. The Advent wreath and holy water fonts are becoming really popular. The Catholic faith is rich in traditions, and I really emphasize that in the store."

She also worries about spiritual attacks on the family today. "If we don't bring the beauty of our faith into our homes," she said, "it lets the devil in."

Hours at The Greatest Gift are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Hours at On This Rock are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 8 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

(Other Catholic book stores in the diocese include St. Catherine's in Green Bay and St. Patrick's in Appleton.)