Mary Our Queen Church in Omaha, NE

The MOQ Spotlight shines this month on the Buchholz Family
November, 2008

Chuck and Kathy (Bracht) Winbinger

Chuck and Kathy Winbinger have deep roots in Mary Our Queen Church. They joined the parish in 1970, and their six children attended Mary Our Queen School. Both cradle Catholics, Chuck and Kathy grew up on farms: Chuck in Cuba, Kan. and Kathy in West Point, Neb.

Chuck attended Creighton University where he obtained his bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's degree in Guidance. He spent two years stateside in the U.S. Army. Kathy graduated in 1962 from St. Joseph 's Nursing School in Omaha . They met on a blind date and had an off-and-on courtship for seven years. Their wedding took place in 1969 at St. Thomas More Church in Omaha , officiated by Kathy's uncle and founding pastor, Father Clem Bracht.

Chuck's career has taken him through various positions over the years, including 14 years at Boys' Town. He currently works in IT at SAC Federal Credit Union's Main Office. Kathy is a 30-year employee at Bergen Mercy Hospital . She is a surgical registered nurse.

The Winbinger offspring are a source of pride and joy for the couple. The six children, all Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School graduates, have careers following diverse paths: Beth is a teacher in special education; Debbie is a physical therapist; Debbie's twin, Matt, works in sales; daughter Kris is a family practice physician; Amy is a landscape designer; and Greg is a wellness coordinator. Chuck and Kathy's first son, Charles Lee, Jr., died in infancy. The Winbinger children have given the couple seven grandchildren ranging in age from 18 months to 14 years old. Daughter Debbie gave birth to a baby girl on Sept. 29. Daughter Amy was married on Oct. 18.

Chuck and Kathy have a special devotion to St. Jude, whose intercession, they believe, has helped them through the difficult times often experience by families. When their twin granddaughters were born prematurely, father, Matt placed St. Jude oil (blessed at the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus) on the babies' crib, then later on their feet. The couple believes that the miracle of the girls' survival is attributed, in part, to the intercession of St. Jude. Kathy is also devoted to the Mother of Perpetual Help. She cites Chuck's strong faith as an inspiration for her. According to Kathy, Chuck taught her the power of prayer.

Membership and participation in ministries at Mary Our Queen speak of the couple's strong ties to the parish. Kathy has been a member of the Ladies Guild since 1970. Chuck is an EMHC, member of the Adult Choir and Knights of Columbus . Together Chuck and Kathy belong to the married couple spirituality group, Teams of Our Lady.

The Winbingers encourage parishioners to take on a welcoming attitude for others in the parish and to make a point of greeting those unfamiliar to them. Chuck's advice for improving the sense of community at Mary Our Queen was simply, "Try to remember, the people around you are your neighbor. Love your neighbor as yourself."

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Here's how you can help bring recognition to a fellow parishioner

The MOQ Spotlight is a new feature dedicated to introducing members of the parish to the broader parish community. Spotlight articles will be featured on the MOQ Web site, displayed in the gathering area of the church and summarized in The Steward .

All parishioners are invited to participate. Just choose someone whom you'd like to see recognized. Inform the person and gather a few interesting details about the person's life or faith practices. Be sure to snap a digital photo. And be sure to inform the person that the feature will appear on the MOQ Web site. Assemble the material in a few short paragraphs and email it to The Steward at fpart74465@aol.com to be readied for publication and posting. Any questions may be submitted to the same email address.