The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 7, 1997 3° v3 Rev. Seegar will speak for adoption By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER wrote her back and thanked her Post Staff and told her I would like to con- tinue correspondence and she SHAVERTOWN - The stigma didn’t respond so I let it go. I surrounding adoption has slowly faded over the years. For Rev. Kenneth M. Seegar of St. Therese’s in Shavertown, it was hardly ever an issue; he considers his adop- tive parents and his life with them a gift from God. Seegar, now 36, was born at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre and adopted by Irene and Ken- neth Seegar of Taylor when he was just three months old. The agency involved was St. Joseph's Children and Maternity Hospital in Scranton. A few years later the Seegars adopted another boy, Michael, now 32 years old. “Our parents always let us know (we were adopted.) They told us that we Rev. Kenneith Seegar of St. Therese's Church will give the homily at a Mother's Day Adoption Mass May 11 in Scranton. He is an adoptee. his desire to correspond with his birth mother and the process be- figured it was 32 years later and she probably wasn’t in the mood to have her past come back,” he said. : “It helped put my life in per- spective, ust knowing that this person really isn’t a mystery any longer,” Seegar said. “At the time I needed to find out why she gave me up and she satisfied my ques- tion. I let it go, that was all I needed.” He added that his birth mother was pleased he had be- come a priest. Seegar said the entire process of contacting his birth mother went smoothly. “The social worker at the agency said it's one of the fastest cases she ever had.” Seegar said his brother, Michael were a gift from God,” explained gan. His parents supported him has no intention of trying to find Seegar of his early understanding in this decision. his birth parents. of adoption. “They gave me a “I wrote to them (the agency), Seegar will be the homilist at sense that my natural mother theywrotetomymother,shewrote the second annual Mother's Day couldn't take care of me so God back to them, they wrote me a Adoption Mass to be held at St. gave me a family who could.” letter stating that she would be Peter's Cathedral in Scranton on CariTO L Seegar’'s mother and fatherare willing and I wrote her back,” he May 11 at 10:30 a.m. The liturgy now retired. His father worked in explained. The process of using is beingheld to thank and pray for a chemical mill and his mother the agency as a “middle man”isa allthe peopleinvolved inthe adop- | | wasanurseattheVNAof Scranton safeguard for both the birth par- tion process. I DE Al for many years. ents and the child. “The mass is trying to show -» Ee As time went on and Seegar Seegar wrote and told his birth ~~ that adoption is an option to abor- \ State Sen. Charles entered grade school, kids tended mother who he was and that he tion. There are families who can’t Lemmond Jr. hosted an to be relentless in their teasing at was a priest. “She wrote why she have children and would give a -1aL times. But, after finding Seegar did what she did and gave a little loving home,” said Seegar about Sxhiit Of Jrawings and secure with his status as an family information. At the time the event. “In society, a lot of the paintings by students of adopted kid, they gave up. “When she was a single parent and tak- stigma has been taken away for 4 Sue Hand's Imagery at his kids found out, Thad some trouble. ing care of her elderly parents. unwed mothers. There are many office in Dallas. Students’ lIjustignored it and it went away,” She couldn't juggle a job, family more social programs to help renditions were inspired by Seegar said. and me at the same time and them.” the 1997 calendar of the Many adopted people share a there was no hope of support from Seegar is a staunch supporter State Senate. which natural desire to contact their the father,” Seegar said. of adoption. “If it wasn’t for adop- & 8 | lud h ha of birth mother and Seegar is no That was the last he ever heard tion I wouldn't be sitting her to- Incly es Pho ograp 13 0 different. Several years ago he from his birth mother, but it was day. Adoption isthe better choice.” he Cape building in wrote to St. Joseph's expressing enough to put his mind at ease. “I arrispurg. Sen. Lemmond | umm. be Postal service collects food May 10 Mother/daughter Josie ad en. on On Sat. May 10,. members of the National Association of Letter dinner May 0 : : Carriers (NALC) will be doing more than delivering mail. They will At right, Jane Clements be picking up non-perishable food items in additional to their Shavertown United Methodist smiled proudly before her regular duties. Nationwide, this one day food drive is an attempt to Church is having its annual painting of a montage of fill community banks across the United States. ; Mother-Daughter dinner on May ® | features of the Capitol. Local members of the NALC are working in cooperation with the 9 at 6 p.m. All ladies and girls are POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK United States Postal Service, United Way of Wyoming Valley, the invited. The dinner is “pot luck” . Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council AFL-CIO and the Commission style, and you are asked to bring on Economic Opportunity. a dish of food to share. The pro- Residential route customers are invited to particpate by leaving gram is Ark-E-Ology, presented non-perishable food items by their mailbox on May 10. Their letter for all ages by ‘the St. Paul's Luth- carrier will pick them up and distribute them to local food banks. eran Church's group “Gestures for Jesus”. There is no cost but reservations are required and can be made by calling Mrs. Ketchmer at 696-4518. Customers in participating areas will receive a flier with more information from their letter carriers about one week prior to the collection date. Lake Twp. recycling Corrections Due to a mistake made by the reporter, in its April 30 issue, the Post to be held May 10 reported that Lake-Lehman School Board candidate Samuel Rhodes The voluntary recycling drop- said the school would earn reimbursement from the state if a feasibility - off center for Lake Township will study was done on the middle school. In fact, the district does not E | be accepting recyclables on Sat. receive reimbursement due to the study, but can apply for it after the ILE E A AVY, JAN RY H May 10 from 10-12 noon at the study is completed. township building. The following d items may be dropped off: Alumi- In the April 30 issue of the Post, Shirley Moyer, Kingston Township num and Bi-Metal cans, clear, Board of Supervisors Chairperson, was misidentified as vice-chairper- brown and green glass, plastic #1 son. Also, Paul Sabol was misidentified as chairperson, he is a AN B24 S T DIO D = and #2 only. No motor oil con- supervisor and Herbert Hill is the vice-chairperson of the board. | tainers can be accepted. ° maw Pine Brook Restaurant S 0 O : Lower Demunds Road, Dallas, PA 18612 "Just Off the Beaten Path” | PHARMACY 7 ) = ' «Computerized . Prescription Service . * Russell Stover . Candies + Greeting Cards Reservations for Mother's Day Dinner. 3 ow || «PA Lottery Ticket Seatings will be at 12 noon, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. : * Newspapers Call early to reserve your favorite table te : : : I I WVagezines For Reservations Call 675-3550 SHARON EILEEN THE Machine "ECO-XL TON Mamaia) iy. 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