NEWS FROM KOLPING VANCOUVER At the time of writing this report, our spring on the West Coast seems more like a continuation of the warmest winter on record, except that our mountaintops are now adorned with the beautiful powdery snow we were so desperately lacking in that unforgettable month of February 2010. The Vancouver Olympic Winter Games and the Torch Relay are now a golden memory. For seventeen magical days, not only the people of Greater Vancouver and Whistler, but the whole country were united in a warm, exuberant spirit of patriotism and goodwill, welcoming athletes and guests from around the world with open arms.
Our Annual General Meeting took place on February 6th. After a brunch hosted by Erika Fahrmann and Hanna and Fred Bierhaus, the executive members submitted their reports. President Horst Zimmermann read a letter from Msgr. Axel Werner, in which he wrote that the integration of new immigrants into the life of formerly German-speaking Kolping Families in North America is of vital importance. He would very much welcome it if other North American Kolping Families would take similar steps. -- Horst then gave a progress report on the El Salvador Project. Father Herman Montoya is very enthusiastic about introducing Kolping in his community. His sister Delmy Romero and her husband Gustavo, members of Kolping Vancouver, while on a visit to their hometown Jucuaran last November, showed the new Kolping DVD to a group of young people and spoke to them about the Kolping movement. After months of frustrating delays in clearing El Salvador customs, the computers shipped from Vancouver finally arrived at their destination in Jucuaran. A building has been rented and renovations are underway, including the roof and three rooms, which will house the computer classroom and Internet cafe. Even the Archbishop has been involved - he has already come to bless the facilities! -- The next item on the agenda was the election. As the three executive members whose terms had expired (Hanna Bierhaus, Günther Vetter and Rose Vetter) were willing to stay on and there were no other nominations, the executive basically remains the same:
- President: Horst Zimmermann
- Vice-President: Günther Vetter
- Second Vice-President: Gustavo Romero
- Secretary: Erika Zimmermann
- Treasurer: Hanna Bierhaus
- Social Convenor: Erika Fahrmann
- Editor: Rose Vetter
- First Trustee (appointed): Jack Bank
- Second Trustee (appointed): Dieter Fahrmann
A decision was also made to form a committee, which will meet periodically to focus specifically on the El Salvador Project.
For years Kolping Vancouver has sponsored the Lenten Meal, mostly in aid of a local charity. A humble bowl of soup is offered in return for a donation valued at what one would spend for a restaurant meal. Members of Holy Family Parish have always generously supported this event, and on March 21st over 100 people filled the hall after Mass to share a bowl of Horst’s special lentil soup. The beneficiaries of the collection this year were the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, who serve the poor, sick and imprisoned. The convenors were the Zimmermanns and Vetters.
On behalf of all of us, a hearty Treu Kolping to all our sisters and brothers!