December 25, 2003 - The Cincinnati Enquirer: RPCV Bob Herring's return mirrors surge in giving at Mass

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: November 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: November 25, 2003 - The Cincinnati Enquirer: School firing of NPCA Global Educator Award winner Bob Herring brings protest : December 25, 2003 - The Cincinnati Enquirer: RPCV Bob Herring's return mirrors surge in giving at Mass

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RPCV Bob Herring's return mirrors surge in giving at Mass



RPCV Bob Herring's return mirrors surge in giving at Mass

Principal's return mirrors surge in giving at Mass

By Bob Driehaus
Post staff reporter

Having helped their veteran parish principal win back his job, parishioners at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Pleasant Ridge offered another dramatic outpouring of support by tripling their average donations to the weekly offering basket last weekend.

According to a group that rallied around embattled principal Bob Herring, the church budgets $9,000 for its weekly collection, but received a total of $29,766 at three Masses last weekend.

"We were flabbergasted," said Patti Newberry, a parishioner and leader of the reinstatement effort. "We were hoping to make up the amount which was withheld, which was close to $8,000. We were looking for a number somewhere in the mid-teens. To get $29,000 was a really nice surprise."

Father Marc Sherlock, the parish pastor, fired the popular Herring on Nov. 24, angering many parishioners, who channeled their fury into a full-fledged campaign to restore the 19-year principal.

Supporters went en masse to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati offices downtown and secured a hearing with Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk. They held candlelight vigils for Herring, had many meetings, and demonstrated with picket signs in front of the church. Everything was chronicled on a Web site they created -- www.keepbobherring.com.

Sherlock, who has said he could not publicly discuss his reasons for firing Herring because it related to a personnel issue, rehired Herring last week after the archdiocese set up an arbitration hearing and mediation occurred.

Newberry said many parishoners withheld their normal donations during the dispute, resulting in about an $8,000 deficit through three weeks, when the amount collected was $19,100. Based on the parish's average $9,000 weekly contribution average, the parish had budgeted $27,000 for that period.

The same people who agitated for Herring's reinstatement put their organizational skills behind the effort to fill the donation baskets last weekend. They passed out flyers before each Mass and after school urging parishoners to "step up to the plate" for the parish.

The PTA donated $3,000. Newberry had not heard of any other large donations to account for the upsurge.

Mike Garry, PTA president, said the $3,000 donation was intended to help make up the deficit. "As far as the PTA goes, we don't make much of a distinction between the church and the school. We wanted to be part of the lead in stepping up collections."

Sherlock and other parish officials could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

Parishoners said the effort to restore Herring's job has invigorated the parish and brought members closer together.

"These last four or five weeks have been a trial, but it was also a blessing in disguise because this parish has come together like nothing I've ever seen," said Joe Muenchen, pastoral council president.

"We feel like we need to move forward as a community, and that (large collection) was a really strong way to show it."

Newberry echoed the sentiment.

"We're really moving forward from strength. I think there was some mutual admiriation built that really bodes well for our future," she said.


Publication Date: 12-25-2003




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Story Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Activism

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