Our spirits need lifting in situations like a death in the family, a stay in the hospital, a move to a nursing home; even being new in the parish. At Sacred Heart Bob Potts and other members of the Legion of Mary are on hand to give help and comfort.

Potts goes way back as a Legionnaire. He helped start the group at St. Mary’s in Wooster before he moved here in 1959. He recalled, "Our priest got a gang of us together to start the Legion. When we agreed, we didn’t know what we were getting into, and after about six weeks my partner and I didn’t think we could handle the schedule of two meetings a week. But two years later we were still at it. Our kids were small and if it hadn’t been for my wife, Lois, I couldn’t have made it."

He added, "When Father Andes came here, he jumped right on the Legion and wanted me to help get it started. " Potts was reluctant because of his 12-hour work days. "And here I am, 35 years later, still going, " he said. Now he and the other seven Legionnaires are working to bring younger persons into the fold.

The duties have changed over the years, and are fewer because of the work of our Eucharistic Ministers. "They’re just terrific," he said. "I am really impressed when I see all those young people who are Eucharistic Ministers go to the altar after 8 a.m. Sunday Mass." They take the hosts around and do the things Legion of Mary did, calling on shut-ins and in nursing homes. It’s a wonderful thing."

When the two-person Legion of Mary teams call on new parishioners they take a house blessing and a schedule of all the parish organizations, leaving a bottle of holy water for the head of the house to bless the rooms.

They visit the hospital every week, call on shut-ins, and deliver new Baptism certificates to parents with a medal for the babies.

Consolation calls to families of the deceased are their main project. Bob said, "We just drop in, and try not to inconvenience anyone. Especially in the loss of a spouse, they are glad to see someone and at times we could spend all evening with one person."

The teams also try to get to all funeral calling hours for parishioners. They are supported by the praying arm of the Legion, over 100 persons who say a special prayer along with the rosary daily.

One of the "real satisfying things" to him is that several people he has called on have come back to the church after leaving it. He remarked, "I don’t know what keeps you at this. At times it is a real burden, but mostly it is very enjoyable and rewarding."

Bob and Lois try to get to morning Mass every day and he makes a holy hour from 3 to 4 a.m. Sundays — "a very quiet time, but (snapping his fingers) that hour goes like that."

 — JOAN BRANNIGAN

``Since we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, let us...persevere in running the race which lies ahead.’’

- Hebrews 12:1-2