Morgan woman to receive national award

Mary Larsen's

garage ministry

continues

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MORGAN -- Mary Larsen learned about the importance of family and hard work early. More than 40 years ago, she and her 11 children provided food and necessities for migrant workers on her parents' farm.

The We Care Project, a grassroots, volunteer ministry was born in her four-car garage. It grew like wildfire. Now, it provides food and necessities to more than 200 families a month in 13 counties in southern and central Minnesota.

For her efforts, Larsen became the second Minnesotan to receive the Lumen Christi Award (Light of Christ in Latin). The national award is presented by The Catholic Church Extension Society for outstanding missionary work in America.

Larsen will receive the award during a 5 p.m. Mass, Saturday, Sept. 27 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Morgan. A dinner and award presentation will follow at 6:15 p.m. Bishop William R. Houck, President of Catholic Extension, will attend the ceremony.

A day earlier, The St. Paul Lumen Christi Event will be held with an 11 a.m. Massy at Cana Chapel, Cathedral of St. Paul at Selby and Summit Avenue. A lunch and award presentation follows at noon. Catholic Extension will further honor Larsen with a $10,000 gift plus $25,000 for the Diocese of New Ulm.

Houck said Larsen exemplifies what it means to share the light of Christ.

"The number of people she and her organization have helped is incalculable as are the numbers of hours she had dedicated to helping the needy," Houck said.

One of six children born to Clara and Frank Schwab, Larsen attended Wabasso High School and teacher training in New Ulm. She taught country school for four years before she married Gilbert Larsen on Oct. 5, 1948. The couple had 11 children, six boys and five girls.

To make ends meet, she sewed all her children's clothes by hand and baked cakes, including her own wedding cake. Mary baked four cakes a week for weddings, confirmations and other events.

Among the first contributors to Larsen's ministry was the Super Valu grocery store in Redwood Falls, where her son Joe worked when he was in high school. He brought home damaged canned goods as did her sisters from a variety of stores.

Mary stored the goods in her basement and started giving to the needy including migrants and accident victims. She never turned anybody away.

Larsen still bakes cakes for family events. With 37 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, there are plenty of weddings, baptisms and confirmations.

Her husband Gilbert died in 1996. He performed many jobs for the City of Morgan -- policeman, maintenance work, etc. Mary's son Joe and her two sisters that are nuns continue to help her with the We Care Project.

Larsen -- who turns 77 next month -- has no plans to slow down, particularly when the number of needy people is up these days. She served 216 families of all nationalities, colors, creeds and religions last month.

"I've made many friends. We get individual and corporate donations from all parts of Minnesota," Larsen said. "We're here for anybody and everybody. People call me all day. I went to the state fair one day and had 12 phone messages when I got home."

She didn't expect the award.

"I was dumbfounded and surprised," Larsen said when she learned that she will receive the award. Mary was named the Outstanding Senior Citizens in Redwood County earlier this summer.

Other awards she has received include the Southwest Initiative Fund Leo Grossman Award, WCCO Radio Good Neighbor Award, KEYC Television Jefferson Award, The Governor's Acts of Kindness Award, College of St. Theresa Alumnae Recognition, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Ageless Hero Award, Minnesota Food Share's Hope Award, St. Michael's Catholic Aid Award, and the KLGR Radio Hometown Hero Award.

We Care provides more than $150,000 worth of goods and services each year. Last year, it distributed more than 214,000 pounds to more than 2,000 households. This year's total will likely top that amount.

Last year, Catholic Extension distributed more than $14 million to needy dioceses. For more information, call 1-888-473-2484 or visit:www.catholic-extension.org on the web.