The Valley Catholic December 10, 2013 | Page 21

The Valley Catholic community December 10, 2013 21 St. Simon parishioner recognized as Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser Jean Rousseau, St. Simon Church parishioner and Los Altos resident, received the Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser Award as part of the Silicon Valley Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the Santa Clara Convention Center Nov. 22. This honor recognized her two decades-plus fundraising, service, and leadership for the Villa Siena Foundation, in Mountain View. Corine Bernard, Executive Director of Villa Siena Senior Living Community, said, “Jean Rousseau has been a valued and dedicated Villa Siena Foundation volunteer leader for over 22 years. Her untiring efforts in fundraising and in personal giving have enabled Villa Siena to fulfill its mission of providing quality compassionate care to senior residents after they have outlived their financial resources.” Jean, a cancer survivor, has served many community causes: being a Eucharistic Minister and spiritual discussion leader at St. Simon Catholic Church; preparing and serving meals to the needy and homeless at Our Daily Bread, an outreach program of St. Thomas Episcopal Church; and leading a group of 19 volunteers who visit the sick and give spiritual support at El Camino Hospital. Villa Siena, sponsored by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, recently completed expansion of its residential care unit from 46 to 68 units with a wellness center, therapy services, a library, and café. Renovation and expansion of the Nursing Care Center, from 20 to 30 beds, is in progress, with completion Jean Rousseau, with her husband Norm, is recipient of the Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser Award. scheduled for early Spring 2014. Villa Siena is located at 1855 Miramonte Avenue, Mountain. For more information visit www.villa-siena.org. Lurine Larson (left) with Garvin Thomas of NBC Bay Area Proud and Bette Elkins, Mary McKiernan and Lynn Wiley, members of the Holy Family Prayer Blanket Ministry. Holy Family Prayer Blanket Ministry serves emotional need Holy Family Prayer Blanket Ministry ladies were featured recently on NBC Bay Area Proud. The ladies ‘Faustina, Messenger of Divine Mercy’ hosted at Our Lady of Peace Saint Luke Productions will present “Faustina, Messenger of Divine Mercy,” a live multimedia drama performed by Maria Vargo, directed by Leonardo Defilippis, and hosted at Our Lady of Peace Church, 2800 Mission College Blvd. Santa Clara, Mon., Jan. 13, 7 pm. St. Faustina, the Polish mystic who created worldwide zeal for Divine Mercy, was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. The production is on a nationwide tour. Tickets for the local showing, cosponsored by St. Francis Cabrini Church, are available at Our Lady of Peace Gift Shop: $10 single, $25 family (suitable for ages 12 & up), clergy & Religious free. For more information contact Barbara Wilkinson at 408-9884585 x 3400 or email [email protected]. presented host Garvin Thomas one of their hand-crafted crocheted granny square blankets. Blankets and scarves have been crocheted or knitted for the sick, people facing surgery or those who are recovering from surgery. Lurine Larson, Prayer Blanket Ministry Coordinator, explained, “We present these gifts to families who have lost a loved one, a job, their home, and those going through various difficult times. “We also provide blankets to neonatal unit babies at Good Samaritan Hospital, the Diocesan Layette Program, Palo Alto Veterans, or anyone who needs comfort,” she said. “Our creations have also been sent to Katrina (hurricane) survivors and also to the Virginia Tech victims and families of those who were killed in the massacre.” Larson said the group has handcrafted over 10,000 blankets and scarves in the 13 years of the ministry. Donations of yarn or money are most welcome, she added, “so we can continue to provide these items to those needing them.” DONATE YOUR CAR DONATE YOUR CAR DONATE YOUR CAR Proceeds Benefit Villa Siena Proceeds Benefit Villa Siena Senior Living Community Senior Living Community Help maintain care for seniors who have Help maintain care for seniors who have exhausted their financial resources exhaustedTax Deductibleresources their financial Proceeds Benefit Villa Siena Tax Deductible Call 1-800-320-0476 Seven days a week for Senior Living Community FREE NextSeven days a week for Call 1-800-320-0476 for seniors who have Help maintain care day Pick-UP! Or go to FREE Next day Pick-UP! exhausted their financial resources [email protected] and choose Or go to VILLATax Deductible SIENA, Mountain View, CA [email protected] and week for Call 1-800-320-0476 Seven days a choose VILLA SIENA, Mountain View, CA FREE Next day Pick-UP! Or go to www.dsj.org [email protected] and choose