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Cancer survivor gives thanks to Blessed Mother

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

	HONORING MARY: Jan LaCrosse stands in a chapel at her home near rural Brussels with a copy of a CD she produced titled "Our Lady's Scriptural Rosary." (Rick Evans photo)
	Interested in ordering rosary CD? To order the rosary CD set for a donation of $34.95 or the CD or paperback booklet only for a $19.95 donation, contact Jan LaCrosse at (920)495-7035 or send payment to: Jan LaCrosse, 9415 County Road D, Forestville, WI 54213. The CD sets are also available to visitors of Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, located at the LaCrosse home. Voices featured on the CDs include Jan LaCrosse, Jim Halada, Mary Lou Dantion, Joan Alexander, Linda Salzsieder, Steve Chaudoir, Mike Jeanquart, Vicki Dantoin, Ann Nellis, Jane Chaudoir, Mary Chaudoir, Lucas Spude, Kayleb Chaudoir and John Spude as the voice of Jesus. Jayme LaCrosse and Chris Daubner assisted with the project.

FORESTVILLE -- Prayer has always been an important part of Jan LaCrosse's life. The mother of nine, soon to be grandmother of 21 and great-grandmother of 18 turned to prayer while battling breast cancer and then colon cancer in the 1990s.

"The doctors took out part of my colon," she said. "I chose not to have chemo. Back then, chemo was different than what it is today. It was so hard on your body. I didn't want the effects. Today, I'm a cancer survivor. Prayer does have a lot of power."

While her devotion to prayer continued, approximately eight years ago, LaCrosse struggled in her prayer life.

"It just wasn't what I wanted it to be," she said. "I asked the Blessed Mother to teach me to pray, and oh she sure did. It was as if I went through her school on prayer."

LaCrosse discovered two booklets, "Let's Pray (not just say) the Rosary" and "Prayer of the Heart."

"These helped the rosary be a lot more meaningful," she said. "I had so many new thoughts when I prayed the rosary that I began to think about putting them down on paper."

LaCrosse took it a step further. Not only did she create a booklet, "Let's Pray Not Just Say Our Lady's Scriptural Rosary," but she also recorded it on CD.

"I wanted to make a rosary tape for all my grandkids and great-grandkids for when I wouldn't be here so they can pray the rosary with me," she said.

The two booklets she had found offered meditations before each Hail Mary for the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, but LaCrosse also wanted to pray the luminous mysteries. She consulted her New Jerusalem Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

"The Holy Spirit must have been with me," she said. "It turned out beautiful. What I wrote down, I knew I wasn't capable of doing on my own."

Recording the CD was a challenge technically, financially and in obtaining permission to use particular resources, but LaCrosse persevered. She recruited 13 local choir members from St. Peter and St. Hubert Parish, Rosiere/Lincoln, and St. Francis and St. Mary Parish, Brussels, to provide the voices for the recording.

Former Green Bay Bishop David Zubik endorsed the CD after recommending a few changes.

"When it was all done, I cried because it is so beautiful," said LaCrosse. "I am so thankful for everyone who helped. Jane Chaudoir was my sidekick on all of this. We shed some tears."

LaCrosse's faith journey produced a set of two CDs, a paperback booklet featuring the prayers on the CD, a "Rosary Illustrated" booklet, a picture of "Our Blessed Mother of Fatima," and a copy of the endorsement letter from Bishop Zubik for a donation of $34.95.

The CD or paperback only are available for a donation of $19.95 (see box for ordering information). Donations help offset production expenses. LaCrosse also plans to use donations to provide sets for distribution to the homebound of St. Peter and Hubert Parish.

LaCrosse prays the rosary with the CD each morning.

"When praying the rosary, I believe some people don't pay close attention because of the repetition," she said. "With the use of the different voices and the way it is presented, you keep your mind on what you're praying about."

In 1993, Jan and Norman opened a place for prayer, Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, at their home. The chapel features a life-size statue of Mary, an altar, stained glass windows and pews from St. Francis Monastery in Pulaski and pews from a Catholic church in Duvall, Wis., which was closed.

Jan invites people to visit the chapel, which was inspired by a 1992 pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Much like the chapel, the CD set was a labor of love, she said.

"I don't want people to think that I am 'holier than thou,' because I'm certainly not," she said. "I think the Blessed Mother used me as an instrument."