As I was giving thought to our VIP for the month of December, Tom Yerina, the word "leader" came into my mind, I believe, for good reason. As I share with you Tom's activities and ministries in the past and the present since he and his wife, Martha (of happy memory), moved to the Village and our parish in 1998, you will see that he was not only actively involved, but he also was a leader or took the lead in a number of  areas and ways. When I think of his active participation in our Knights of Columbus Council and Assembly (as a transfer from his previous Council and Assembly), I give thanks for his leadership on the initiation team for new members of the Knights of Columbus and how well he had his lines memorized for the part he played to exemplify new members. In our Assembly, he accepted the role of Captain of our 4th degree honor guard and served with distinction in that role for 19 years! Recognizing his efforts and the support he received from his dear wife, Martha, his fellow Knights voted he and Martha to be family of the year for our Council in the fraternal year 2000-2001 and he was awarded Knight of the year in 2006-2007. Tom served on the parish council as the chairman and was largely responsible for having AED (emergency medical) units brought to the gathering areas of our parish facilities. He set up training sessions for all of the ushers at the time. That training is still available and encouraged of our ushers now. Tom was a memeber of the committee that worked on growing the parish facilities by adding on the current administrative and classroom sections of our parish facilities. For several years he coordinated and encouraged men of the parish to go on a 3 day silent retreat that was held in a Jesuit retreat place in Dallas, Texas. Tom has been active over the years in liturgical ministries that included being a lector (which he continues to do at daily Mass), an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass and for our homebound parishioners, and as a member of the Sunday choir (as one of the few male members) and for awhile as cantor at Mass. He has been a Eucharistic Adorer (who, for a long time, took on one of the late nights hours) and continues to invite and encourage parishioners to participate with him in this ministry. Tom is often a participant in daily Mass, and for a while, "took the lead" in inviting people to join with him right before Mass in a prayer for religious liberty. He has been a long-time volunteer at CHI St Vincent Hospital where I saw him many times manning the information desk. Tom's leadership and long-standing participation in so much that goes on in this parish, including the Tuesday/Thursday afternoon exercise class is truly commendable, to me, especially now, when he is challenged by age to get around. All of us should say a prayer or prayers of thanks to God for Tom Yerina and thank him when you see him. I must not forget to mention his marriage to his dear wife, the love of his life, Martha that lasted over 60 years until her passing to the Lord! Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!