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Father Fred Foundation Has a New Leader

May 12, 2000
The Rev. Edwin A. Thome, founding pastor of Christ the King church in Acme, took over as spiritual director of the Father Fred Foundation on May 4 and will assume the duties of the late Rev. Edwin Frederick, who died in January. Thome will interview families served by the Father Fred Foundation, assist in public relations and organize special events. The Foundation offered Thome the position last month. "The board asked me to take over and I was near retirement – and once you are a priest you never stop with the original commitment that you made," said Thome. "I am honored to take over for Father Fred, as I have know him for almost all of my life, and feel honored to continue what he and all his volunteers started." J. Scott Lizenby, board president of the foundation stated, "We are very fortunate to have a person of Father Thome's stature and past experience in working with the needy as spiritual director. Despite the region's strong economy and improved living conditions for most people, Father Fred volunteers still serve 30 to 50 families a day, four days a week. "There is a very real need for the foundation's work, and a strong commitment to perpetuate Father Fred's mission to listen, care and share," Lizenby said. Father Fred was posthumously honored on May 5 for his excellence in service to northwestern Michigan by the Michigan Education Association in Lansing. He received one of the two David McMahon Awards at the MEA Human Rights Awards banquet. Thome, 72, will retire as pastor at Christ the King in August. He is also presently Vicar General of the Diocese of Gaylord and president of the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools board. "People will have to be a bit patient with me here in the beginning as I am juggling several responsibilities." Thome said. "Some of them will cease in June and August, but for now I am very busy." Thome's primary mission at the foundation will be to ensure it continues serving people of all denominations or walks of life who are in need. That was the original mission of Father Fred and his volunteers, and is Thome's hope in taking over. "If I could continue what was started here, I would be very happy indeed," Thome said. "There is already so much enthusiasm for this foundation, from all facets of life, that it is just fantastic. "I feel energetic and inspired just when I walk in here," he said. Since Father Fred's death in January, many volunteers and foundation members have had to work particularly hard to get everything done, Lizenby said. It seems though that Thome has been destined to work with the poor since becoming a priest. "Just before I was ordained in 1954, because I was involved with the Spanish-speaking apostolate with migrants, the bishop that ordained me said, ‘Young man you will always be identified with the poor.' Well here I am working at the foundation now so it looks like he spoke the truth."