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Volunteers pay tribute to CAP Founder, Father Beiting
As we all know, Father Ralph Beiting formed the Christian Appalachian Project in 1964 while serving as a priest in eastern Kentucky. Often referred to as CAP’s first volunteer, the northern Kentucky native’s work touched people throughout the Appalachian region as well as throughout the U.S. It is with deep sadness, and at the same time with profound gratitude for his life, that we share with you that Fr. Beiting died on August 9 at the age of 88 after a brief illness. We invited volunteer alumni and former employees to share memories of Fr. Beiting and would like to share the following reflections. Sr. Janet Peterworth, ‘69 In those early days, Fr. Beiting ran a tight ship with the volunteers. He took no nonsense because we were there to work and to help people. He was strict but kind. Of course everyone knows his philosophy that a tired volunteer is a happy volunteer. Years later, I came to know him as my pastor when he was a mellow, old man. He had changed from a strong, vibrant person to someone who accepted his infirmity. He relied on others for help, offering them gentleness and appreciation.
Father Beiting visits a CAP program, its volunteer, Tim O’Keefe, ‘90-’91, and participants in 1991.
Bill Begley, employee ‘71-’00 When I was general manager of Camp Nelson, on the Kentucky River, in Garrard County in the early 70s, I received a call from the Corps of Engineers during a flood, saying a loaded coal barge had broken loose and was floating toward Camp Nelson. Not knowing how to respond, I interrupted Father during a meeting to ask what I should do about the situation. He looked at me and said, “Bill, have you tried praying?” I had to admit I hadn’t gotten that far yet. “Go back to your office and pray,” Father said. So that’s just what I did. While I was still praying, the phone rang again. This time, the news was that the barge had run aground before it reached the CAP property. It was no surprise that when I reported the news to Father, he gave me a knowing grin. Peggy Wieck, ‘72-‘74 In 1972, most CAP volunteers lived off donated food, supplemented by meat and produce purchases. Many of us remember endless boxes of Count Chocula, other stale grains and dented canned goods. One day while he was driving between volunteer centers, Father came upon a broken down truck loaded with ice cream. The truck owner said that he couldn't save the melting mess, but Fr. B could have it if he could move it. He immediately called (pre-cell phone days) volunteer centers to brings cars and trucks to the site. We had ice cream for a long, long time, and even refrozen it was much better than the other donated food! Casey Sterr, ‘86-‘87 I was fresh out of college with energy to be about service when I met Fr. Beiting. I remember being inspired when he shared his vision. It was our volunteer orientation in August 1986 at Camp AJ and Fr. Beiting shared with us how he came to name the Christian Appalachian Project. He intentionally chose “Project” as we were to be about work, about getting our hands dirty as we served and shared. We were not a think tank or to be office-bound people. We were to be out and about. And what was most inspiring about his message is that he “lived” his words. He did as he was asking us to do. He was tireless. That still resonates with me 26 years later: a good day’s work is good for the mind, body and spirit. Thank you, Fr. Beiting, for all that you have done and for the inspiration you have given me and many others along our journeys.
Father Beiting asked Laurie Eiselt, ‘90-’92, Kathy (Watkins) Causey, ‘91-’92, and Carla Durand, ‘90- ’92, to accompany him when street preaching in 1995.
Carla Durand, ’90-‘92 In the fall of 1995, I was invited, along with three other former and current CAP volunteers, to join Fr. Beiting on a street preaching tour in Jessamine County. The first day of the tour, Fr. Beiting preached in the parking lot of the IGA grocery market in Wilmore, while on the second day, we congregated on the courthouse lawn in Nicholasville. I clearly recall Father’s rich and resounding voice as he preached on the nearness and familiarity of God’s love as Abba or Father. He illustrated his points with anecdotes from his years of ministry to his beloved people of eastern Kentucky. As day turned to night over the courthouse crowd, I felt awed by the power of this man who could gather more than 100 people in sweltering August heat to hear a message of love. Fr. Beiting was one of the great men of our country and he taught me, and so many others, about trying our very best to put God’s love—and our own faith— into action. I am forever grateful. Rev. Edward M. Riley, ‘91-‘94 The first time I met Father was 20 years ago when, after volunteering with CAP, I was one week away from returning home. After Sunday Mass, he simply said, “Edward, thank you for deciding to stay.” I’m sure my response may have been like many other young people whom he had met, “Father, I’m not staying I’m leaving.” Whether by intuition, grace, or both, Father had quickly discerned that I would be ‘slow’ in coming to discern my true vocation and, I am sure, simply gave the rest over to the Blessed Mother, which he did all things. Needless to say, my life focus greatly changed over the next three years of living, working, praying and laughing with Father, and I have him to thank for that patient, nurturing, prayerful manner that led me to be ordained to the Catholic priesthood six years later. Jim, ’01-‘02 and Trisha Dalton, ‘99-’00, ’03-‘04 While with CAP, we usually saw Fr. Beiting when he would come to volunteer houses for dinner or come to WorkFest to honor and encourage the volunteers and staff. You could tell three things: that he wanted all to have a vision of service that went beyond our self-imposed limits; that he loved the volunteers and staff for giving so much of themselves to others; and that he never met a microphone that he did not like.
We think it only fitting to end with the prayer that Fr. Beiting would offer anytime he met with a group of volunteers: Heavenly Father, I ask your blessings upon these good and wonderful people who have been generous and kind to me. Dear Lord, please go before each of them to guide and lead them on their way through life. Come behind them, Lord, that you might guard and protect them from all danger and harm. Hover over them, Lord, that you may rain and shower down on them your many blessings and rich graces. But especially Lord, come and dwell within their hearts that you might fill them with your joy and peace. This I ask for them in the name of Jesus, Your son, our Lord, Amen.” Have a Fr. Beiting memory to share? Post at our CAP Volunteer Alumni Facebook group.
CAP Quicks
Two volunteer alumni joined the CAP staff as employees to continue carrying out CAP’s mission. Jillian Gantz, ’09 – ’10, is now working in the Family Life Abuse Center. Julianna (Rado) O’Brien, ’11 – ’12, is the housing coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Region. We wish them well in their new positions.
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WorkFest 2013 will be March 3 - 29. Volunteers in the Cumberland Valley Region will serve in McCreary County for the first time since 2001. In the Sandy Valley Region, projects will benefit participants in Johnson and Floyd Counties.
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This fall we welcomed 21 new, long-term volunteers. We also enrolled 25 AmeriCorps members from our new and extending long-term volunteers.
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Camp Shawnee has a new addition thanks to a visit from the Wisconsin Fox Valley Mission team. In one week, the group got a new caretaker’s house completely under roof. Volunteers from Texas Roadhouse also contributed to improvements at Camp Shawnee.
(click any photo to see full size)
1970s Sr. Kathleen Weigand came to Kentucky as a CAP volunteer and served from 1979-1982. Later, after serving as Coordinator of Volunteers, she joined the Sisters of St. Benedict in Martin, Kentucky. In August she celebrated her 25th anniversary as a vowed religious woman. Joining her for the celebration were several alumni: (Back row) Kathleen Leavell ‘76-’78, Peggy Gabriel ‘77-’80, Sr. Carolyn Lambert ‘79-‘82, Joan Hellebusch ‘90-‘92, Beth Chauncy ‘98-’00, Kathy Kluesener ‘73’80; (Front row) Kathy DiVaio ‘83-‘84 and Sr. Kathleen Weigand. 
1990s Sarah Schilke Haroldson, ’97 – ’98, and her husband Derek welcomed their first child, Leah Beth, in August. The family lives in New London, Wisc. where Derek works as a kindergarten teacher and Sarah as a family physician.
2000s
Congratulations to Kelly Reis, ’08’09, and Steven Zlatic on their September 1 wedding. Joining them for the celebration were: (standing) Kim Rice, ‘08-’09, Harley Henline, Jenny King, ’08-’10, Ann (Fairchild) Henline, ’07-’09, Allen Hodges, ’08-’09; (seated with Kelly) Robyn Renner (CAP employee) and Jessica (Soule) Hodges, ’08-’09.
When Katie Bostiga, ’08-’10 married Frank Stephens in April, it was definitely a CAP celebration. Those attending included: (front row) Erika Hajiantoni, ’08-’09, Bridget Gaffney, ’08-’09, Gina Pirozzi, ’08-’09, Shannon Hoffman, ’08-‘09; (middle row) Stephanie Gittinger (CAP VISTA), Beth Gehret, ’08-’09, Kristine Seabloom, ’04-’09, Liz Pecoraro (current volunteer), Kate Stefanowicz, ’09-’11, Ellen Sulzbacher, ’09-’10, Catherine Mack (CAP VISTA, ’09-’12), Therese Costello, ’11-’12, Caitlin Elsik, ’09-’11; (back row) Jacob Wellman, ’08-’09, Mary and Bob Franch, ’08-’09, Tony Pecoraro (CAP employee), Kyle Lueken, ’09-’11, Molly Lueken, ’09-’10, Andrew Rath, ’09-’10.
In Memoriam
During the past few months, CAP has lost two volunteer alumni whose service we remember. 
Greg Bange, from Bowling Green, Missouri, first volunteered with CAP for two months in Housing in the summer of 2000. He served several more short-term stints and volunteered as an assistant crew leader at his first WorkFest in 2004. He returned each year for WorkFest through 2010, and also did other short-term trips. He was well-known and loved by many, long-term, short-term, and WorkFest volunteers over that ten year span. He was famous for his homemade apple pies and his love of dominoes, earning him the nickname of “the Domino King” at WorkFest. Two of his daughters followed his footsteps to volunteer with CAP: Rosella Finley, short-term 2010 and Angela Krieger, short-term 2009.
Ryan Coffey, ’08-’09, died in August after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 27. Ryan’s CAP friends recall his contagious excitement about his service in CAP’s Housing program and his zeal for life and adventure. Camping and hiking at Red River Gorge, for example, wasn’t quite enough for him. Instead of sticking to the well-used paths, he had to blaze new trails and leave no tree unclimbed. At the time of his death, Ryan was living in Cincinnati and working for a woodworking company. In September, Ryan’s family and friends, including many CAP alumni and nearly all of his housemates from the Jackson House, gathered in Cincinnati for a memorial service and celebration of his life. Ryan is survived by his parents, John and Judi Coffey, his brother Zachary, and devoted friend and companion Erika Hajiantoni, ’08-’09.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of both men.
CAP Connection is published three times a year by the CAP Volunteer Program. If you have news to share or story ideas to suggest, please send them to one of the following:
Beth Dotson Brown, ’90 - ’91 Contributing Editor
Amy Schill, ‘03-’05 Manager of Admissions and Recruitment
Kathy Kluesener, ’73 - ’80 Admissions Coordinator
Kathleen Leavell, ’76 - ‘78 Director of Volunteers/Christian Partners
volunteer@chrisapp.org 1-800-755-5322 606-256-0973 fax 606-256-5942 www.christianapp.org/vol/alumni
