Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / 100-year-old gets her wish of a church ramp
100-year-old gets her wish of a church ramp
by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published December 18, 2009
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Photo courtesy St. Augustine Parish. Helen Nehrenberg, 100, assisted by great-grandson Jacob Folske, prepares to cut the ribbon to open the new handicapped-access ramp at St. Augustine Church, Richmond. |
DETROIT — A 100-year-old parishioner's campaign for a new handicapped-access ramp for St. Augustine Church in Richmond has been successful.
In October, Helen Nehrenberg was able to cut the ribbon to open the new ramp for use after Fr. Joseph Plawecki, St. Augustine's pastor, blessed it. Her wheelchair was then pushed up the ramp and into the church by her great-grandson Jacob Folske.
Besides advocating for a new ramp to replace the crumbling old one, Nehrenberg helped the campaign take a major stride forward when she requested donations toward the rebuilding of the access ramp instead of gifts for the 100th birthday party the parish threw for her back in June.
That gesture brought in about $3,500 for the project.
The Oct. 3 ramp-blessing ceremony also included the presentation of a papal blessing document in recognition of her 100th birthday.
A member of St. Augustine Parish for 59 years, Nehrenberg has been active over the years as a catechist, eucharistic minister, Altar Society member and in other ways. Even at 100, she still attends Mass regularly.
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