Your Catholic Neighbor

By Nancy Barthel
Compass Correspondent

	Your Catholic Neighbor
	Name: Helen Frings Parish: Stella Maris, Northern Door County Age: 79 Favorite saint: Francis Xavier Words to live by: "Whatever you do for one of the least, that you do for me." (Matthew 25:40-45) "Nothing is ever too much to do for a child." (Christ Child Society motto)

EGG HARBOR -- For Helen Frings, her life has long been about Door County and the Christ Child Society.

Raised in Milwaukee, she spent a career there, retiring 18 years ago as a first-grade teacher. She and her husband Donald lived in the Holy Hill area before deciding to move permanently to Door County. It was here as a child that Helen came to visit her maternal grandparents, Anna and Peter Campbell, in Jacksonport. And though her grandfather died when she was just 6 years old, she remembers well that they came from Ireland to New York and then on to Wisconsin to eventually own the meat market in Jacksonport.

As a child and as a working adult she came to Door County as a tourist, one of the "summer people," she said. She and her beloved Donald - now gone nine years - built a home on land originally owned by her grandparents. It's a life she loves on the Peninsula.

And retirement gave Frings the time to get back to one of the great passions of her life - the Christ Child Society. Children have never been far from her mind, and through the Door County chapter, she and the other 60 current members have made a difference in the lives of many children in need. She was the impetus for the chapter's founding, is a past president and today is its vice president. The current president is Diane Stracka.

A graduate of St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind., it was there Frings was introduced to the Christ Child Society.

It all began 115 years ago with Mary Virginia Merrick. Born Nov. 2, 1866, she lived with her prominent family in Washington, D.C. As a result of fall in her teens, she was left paralyzed.

Her autobiography says it all: "I was always in bed or on the sofa ... I suffered constantly." Yet, continued Merrick, "I never doubted the love of the Father, but my spirit rebelled at the thought that I would be useless in His vineyard ... I strove to serve as best I could." And with that, recalled Merrick, "I resolved to do something every day for the Christ Child."

Today the Door County chapter is one of four in Wisconsin - the others are in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee. There are 7,000 members throughout the United States. The Christ Child Society was a charter member of Catholic Charities and the Community Chest - later becoming the United Way. Today it is headquartered in Bethesda, Md.

"I've always liked children so much and they asked us to help at the college by knitting," said Frings of her years at St. Mary's College. But a busy career and family life only allowed her limited involvement with the Milwaukee chapter. After retirement, Frings - with the help of the organization's former national president, Angie Kopf - began to consider a Door County chapter.

With the help of the Door County Chapter of the League of Women Voters they included questions on a planned survey to discern whether there was a need for a local Christ Child Society.

The survey indicated that Door County did indeed have poverty and unwed mothers in need, Frings said. Though the Christ Child Society is Catholic-sponsored, in Door County it is very ecumenical. "It's the love of kids that brings them," said Frings. Both Catholics and non-Catholics have been president of the chapter.

For years the Knights of Columbus provided space at no charge for their monthly gatherings, but when Prince of Peace Lutheran Church decided to build an addition, they offered planned space to the Christ Child Society. So it is here they have been meeting since May. Meetings are held the last Monday of the month April to December at 1 p.m.

Much of their charity work is done through Ministry Health Care and Door County Memorial Hospital. They help with classes including prenatal care and shaken baby prevention, as well as baby-sitting. Newborns referred by Katie Graf, the social worker at the hospital, are provided layettes featuring an abundance of clothing, quilts, diapers and sleepers, much of it homemade. Sarah Anschutz packs the layettes.

"Bishop (Robert) Morneau is wonderful to us," added Frings. "Each year he comes and says the shower (Mass) for us at Christmastime." Area school children participate and on this day donations for layettes are made to the Christ Child Society.

Baptismal gowns are also made by Annette Heck and Hedy Eller, now in her 90s, has long been making infant burial gowns which are offered by the social work department of the hospital when they are needed. At such a difficult time, "it's such a helpful thing," said Frings.

They also provide stuffed animals to local law enforcement for children they encounter in crisis situations. Some 75 or so are purchased each year through the hospital gift shop, she said.

The Christ Child Society also collected items for victims of Hurricane Katrina, which were sent south via Brett Favre's private plane, she said. And during the summer they traditionally host a party for the children of migrant workers.

Right now the Christ Child Society is preparing for its annual fund-raiser, a luncheon and fashion show Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Horseshoe Bay Country Club, 5335 Horseshoe Bay Road, in Egg Harbor. Sponsored by Portside Builders, the theme of the event is "Building for the Future by Helping Children Today." Local residents as well as "summer people" numbering 125 to 150 people are always part of the event, said Frings. She expects it will generate $6,000 for the chapter's endeavors.

And they welcome new members at any time of the year.

For Frings, the Christ Child Society has meant a fulfilling retirement and it has become over the years the story of three generations of her family all pitching in for the love of children.

"It's very important to have your kids help you in things like this," she said. Her daughter Patti Warmenhoven of Green Bay helps with the Door County chapter, as do her granddaughters, Ann, 23, and Amy, 21. Her sister Jeanne Desmond also participates during the summer when she's in Door County from South Bend, Ind.

For more information about the Christ Child Society or their Aug. 6 fund-raiser, contact Frings at (920) 823-2073. To learn more about the Christ Child Society, visit their Web site, www.nationalchristchildsoc.org.