Sitting with Lue Ann Watchus in her office at Sacred Heart Rectory in Norwichtown, one quickly becomes aware of being in the presence of holiness. Whether it is her quiet demeanor or the softness in her voice, or the way she ends a telephone call offering a blessing to the person on the other end, there is an endearing gentleness about her that speaks of a life-long relationship with Jesus.
She speaks about that relationship not in pious or overly religious tones, but as one who knows Jesus intimately as a friend and companion on her life journey. It is that relationship, which has shaped the essence of her life, that others in her parish have long recognized and prompted one parishioner to nominate her for and the Norwich Diocesan Women’s Conference Committee to unanimously select her as recipient for this year’s Our Lady Queen of Hope Award.
“I never would have thought that this would happen to me,” she said humbly, fighting back tears. “I don’t do anything special and there are others that are so much more deserving than me.”
She remembers going home from the office the day she learned she would be receiving the award and through her tears told Jesus, “It shouldn’t be me.” She did not get a response confirming what others already knew, that Watchus was more than deserving.
The Our Lady Queen of Hope Award is given annually to a woman in the Diocese who demonstrates a strong faith, commitment to living out Catholic values, spiritual leadership and a spirit of love and service to the Catholic Church. In nominating Watchus for this year’s award, Parishioner Kathy Irr wrote about her deep faithfulness, warm heart, humility, and humor.
“I have seen her tired but never down. She gives with a loving heart everything she can. She does it all thinking about the Lord and always wanting to do His work on earth…She exemplifies what it means to follow Christ,” Irr wrote.
Watchus is quick to praise others for their service to the church while humbly avoiding any recognition for her own contributions to the parish as Eucharistic minister, Lector, Sacristan, former president of the Rosary Altar Society and for the past five years as Administrative Assistant for the parish’s pastor, Msgr. Les Janik.
Under her leadership of the Rosary Altar Society, Watchus spear-headed many fundraisers benefiting the parish and local charities. Her deep and abiding faith in Jesus and the constant witness of that faith to others has helped shape the Rosary society in becoming a strong and vibrant spiritual presence in the parish. Watchus takes no credit in this recognition content to simply remain hidden behind the scenes doing the silent work of God.
When Watchus was five and living in her native Maine, her parents sent her to a Catholic boarding school, where she stayed until entering high school. “It was the best decision my family ever made,” she recalled, as the religious sisters at the school instilled in her solid values of faith, dedication to prayer, and a desire to live her life committed to doing the will of God.
Eventually she married and had two children, landing in Pittsburgh, where she worked as an executive assistant for an international construction firm. Upon retiring 15 years ago, she moved to Norwich to be near her adult son and other family members. Wanting to make new friends who also shared her same values, Watchus attended various parishes in the Norwich area before settling in at Sacred Heart. “When I came here, it felt like home,” she said noting how inspired she is by the strong faith of the parish community.
A daily communicant, Watchus opens the church each morning and serves at the Masses. “I can’t imagine starting my day without receiving the Eucharist,” she said. “Every day I ask Him (Jesus) to help me to be who He created me to be. I try every day to live up to what He expects of me.”
Those quiet moments in the church give Watchus the time she treasures sitting with and talking to the Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary and then listening to their response. It was in the church where Watchus found the inspiration to write a religious novel called Jesus, My Friend, which was published in 2015. It is the story of a young boy named Joseph who develops an intimate friendship with Jesus who he can visibly see, talk to, and interact with. While Watchus penned the words, “the Holy Spirit wrote it,” she said.
Five years ago, Msgr. Janik asked her to help out in the rectory office for three months; she’s been there for five years. Her work there as well as other volunteer activities for the parish, she says, “Gives me a purpose to get up in the morning. When that phone rings and someone has an issue, it is a gift to be able to help them.”
While that may be true, her fellow parishioners and her pastor would add that Watchus’ presence and contribution to the life of their parish is an even greater gift. As Msgr. Janik wrote in the Women’s Conference Program announcing Watchus’ selection as this year’s award recipient, “May this moment of celebration remind her that she has affected a number of countless lives with her kindness.”
By Mary-Jo McLaughlin