Posts Tagged ‘Bud Ozar’

Bud and Sue Ozar have been invited to preach the mission appeals in five parishes in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in Western Pennsylvania, four parishes in the Erie Diocese, also in Western Pennsylvania and three parishes in their home Archdiocese of Detroit. “This is a great opportunity for Friends of Kenyan Orphans,” said Sue Ozar.  “These mission talks allow us to spread the word about St. Clare and widen the circle of compassion so that more people can become involved in the miracle of St. Clare.  It is also an opportunity for us to encourage other people to think about becoming lay missionaries.”

Last year the Ozars spoke in the Archdiocese of Detroit and in Altoona Johnstown and met some marvelous people who have contributed to the success at St. Clare. This will be their first visit to the Diocese of Erie.        

“We usually drive to the diocese and stay in a rectory. Then we split up, Sue will speak at all the masses at one parish and I will drive to another and speak there. It is a bit exhausting but it is very fruitful in spreading the word about St. Clare,” said Bud Ozar. “It consumes our summer but it is worth it.”

This past year the Diocese of Allentown shared its annual Lenten Rice Bowl collection with Friends of Kenyan Orphans, donating $7,000 to St. Clare.    

Before he left for the annual trip to St. Clare Centre, Bud Ozar decided to combine physical education and the art of playing  into “his project” for 2012.      

You also need to know that Bright Old Bald Bud (his name for himself) recalls that he was never the “stellar athlete” in any phase of his education and vividly remembers never being picked first for any team.  However, his philosophy is “if you are old enough to walk or old enough to spend the day taking care of livestock, or old enough to carry water or dig in the fields, you should be old enough to develop physical exercise and play skills during recess.” Over the years during his trips to St. Clare, “Coach Ozar” watched the girls during their outside recess time just standing around not doing anything.  So he developed a master plan and sought the aid of P.E. teachers to learn games he could teach the girls where they could play without equipment.

Armed with a trusty whistle (“I still am into control,” Bud noted.), and a whole bunch of games, “Coach O” would meet various classes under a mango tree to teach and conduct fun PE games.  These games were fun, great exercise and taught the girls lessons about teamwork, cooperation and collaboration.

Interestingly enough, at the same time, the St. Clare Girls’ football (soccer) team was doing very well competing against the other area schools.  In fact, St. Clare had won the area championship and was leading in the district competition.  If the girls won there, they would go on to nationals.  One day someone from one of the other schools passed by St. Clare and saw Coach Ozar working with the girls, teaching and leading their games.  This person reported this and the word went out.  “St. Clare had brought in an American coach,” accounting their winning.  Because of this one team actually forfeited its game with St. Clare, refusing the play.

Who would have ever guessed that Bud Ozar, the non-athlete-who-was-never-picked-first-for-any-school-team would became Coach Ozar, PE teacher and game leader par excellence?  What a small world it really is!