Ohio parishioners raise money for school by creating children's books

LIMA, Ohio (CNS) - Parishioners at St. Gerard Parish in Lima might say they are writing the book on fundraising.

That's because a parish literary group called the Gerardian Inkspot and Paint Society is in the process of creating and selling children's books to raise money for the parish school. The group's first effort was unveiled to the parish community last fall as families ate popcorn and watched a PowerPoint presentation of The Fox & the Hunter: A Retelling of an Olde Irish Tale for Today's Children. Second-grader Kennedy Metcalf, one of the children in attendance for the book's first reading, described the tale as "really good." The two writers behind the story know the literary tastes of young children from everyday experience as teachers at St. Gerard School. Preschool teacher Ann Mulcahy and art teacher Sheila Silone, along with about a dozen others, were asked by Redemptorist Father George Blasick, associate pastor, to be a part of the parish literary group when it formed in December 2004. The group's first work is based on a story Father Blasick once saw in a book of Irish stories about a mischievous fox that gets into the home of an Irish hunter. The teachers rewrote the story, maintaining some of the original flavor while updating the old Irish language for children. Father Blasick created storyboards for the book and Rick Jenkins, a mural artist, illustrated it with whimsical colored-pencil drawings. More parishioners helped with other aspects of the book's production and Father Blasick's brother assisted with graphic design. The first completed, self-published book is just the beginning and is proof that the project can be done, Father Blasick told the Catholic Chronicle, Toledo's diocesan newspaper. He said ideally the group will connect with a national or international publisher and quickly move beyond self-publishing. Once that is achieved, he hopes the school will be able to receive ongoing royalties for its endowment fund. "I would like to be able to dream big," he told parishioners at the reading event. "I would like to be able to dig a new well." The priest also said he believes the books are the "Spirit's work." A shipment of 3,000 copies of "The Fox & the Hunter" was slated to arrive in early January. The recipient of the first printed copy of the book has already been designated: Pope Benedict XVI, who also will receive a German translation of the work. The priest hopes families can make the first book a sellout by promoting it to extended family, friends and others. He estimated that sales would earn up to $33,000 for the school endowment fund. He also sees more books in the group's future that could further stabilize the parish school. Currently, a second book by a different team is already on its way to completion. The book, an original story about a dog, was written by Maureen Rode, who taught first grade at St. Gerard for 30 years. Members of the parish book group are not short on ideas or enthusiasm and they have several scripts lined up for future projects. Father Blasick is also thinking ahead to a third book and considering providing some of his own illustrations. - - - Editor's Note: "The Fox & the Hunter," a 25-page book geared toward children in kindergarten through third grade, sells for $13.95; orders can be e-mailed to: gips_lima@yahoo.com.

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