Dear Friends,
March heralds spring’s arrival, a season of hope and new beginnings. Join me in welcoming its warmth and promise of renewal as we bid farewell to winter. As nature awakens, let’s remember the boundless possibilities ahead.
March also holds special significance for my family as we honor St. Joseph (March 19), chosen by God as Jesus’ earthly father. His unwavering faith, love, and dedication make him a timeless role model. I’m reminded of my father, Frank Waldron, who passed away three years ago.
Recently, while organizing my home office, I found a letter dated May 1960 from Divine Word Missionaries to my dad, thanking him for a Lenten donation made from saved “coffee money.” It was a simple act of love.
The letter expressed prayers for my parents’ understanding of God’s will, especially for my sister Mary Kate, born with hydrocephalus on St. Joseph’s Day 1960. Despite a grim prognosis, my parents found comfort in their faith.
Eight months later, Mary Kate passed away. I never met Mary Kate. But God blessed my parents with seven children — two before Mary Kate and five after her, including my twin sister Maureen and me. Inspired by her memory, my siblings and I established the Mary Kate Waldron Mercy School for Special Learning Endowment Fund after our dad died in 2021. With much sacrifice, my parents sent all seven us to St. Thomas More School and Central Catholic High School. If Mary Kate had lived, my parents would have sent her to the Mercy School for Special Learning for her Catholic education.
My dad, like St. Joseph, cared for his wife and children with unwavering faith. As we journey through the final days of Lent, let’s embrace reflection and reconciliation, preparing for Holy Week’s solemnity and Easter’s joy. Let’s build on St. Joseph’s example, guided by unwavering faith, love, and compassion.
With warmest regards,
Pete Waldron
President
[email protected]
