Get to know our members
Each of our members brings a unique perspective and skillset to the Grail in the US. Learn more about them!
Stephana Tikalsky
Name 2 things that your Grail sisters may not know about you.
I enjoyed meeting with and calling Mary Lou Ziga and Betty Rose once a month and miss that immensely. want to go out more and be more active since giving up driving and moving into assisted living.
What do you think is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today?
The immigration issue in the US is out of control. Keeping the wall down is one of our biggest challenges. Trying to keep families together is hard enough much less when they are being separated due to politics and immigration laws.
What are you doing as your Grail mission focus or work?
Thinking and praying often about Equality and Justice in our world.
Name 2 of your favorite things.
Cross Country Skiing and biking (If I still could!)
My mother’s cheesecake and Poppyseed Kolaches (ko-laa-cheez) (I miss them)
Final Thoughts …
I’ve stopped driving, I’m not very socially active (though trying), and miss the things I used to be able to go to terribly. My nephew David and his wife are a wonderful blessing. I still get to enjoy live concerts with the Brown County Civic Music Association because of their kindness in helping me get to these events. David also helped me get to/from the Spirit Series of talks in Green Bay which I loved being able to go to.
About Stephana
I heard about The Grail at a “slumber party” my senior year at East Public High School in Green Bay WI in 1947. I later participated in a summer course at Grailville, then the year school. It was my introduction to the world.
My first Grail “assignment” was with Mary Imelda Buckley of Monica House in Brooklyn, NY There I worked with high school students-what an experience! Then I went back to Grailville, then to the inner city of Detroit, MI to the Gateway Grail Center founded by Joan Overboss where I did programs with high school volunteers, a food coop, and discussion groups. Special memory: Dorothy Day joining us for dinner following her visits to the Detroit Catholic Worker (Cay Charles our gourmet cook!) Next I studied the cooperatives at ST. F.X. in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where I met Mary Boyd and introduced her to the Grail! Then I went back to Brooklyn, NY where I was part of a working team with the Grail Overseas Institute.
I completed my B.A. at Queens College in Flushing, NY while living and participating at the Queens Grail Center. I volunteered at the Grail Book and Art Center. Then I was on to Fordham University school of Social Service in NY where I received my MSW.
I then went to Chicago where I lived and worked in the mental health field for 25 years and participated in the Chicago Grail group. Returning to Green Bay, WI I became involved with the Milwaukee Grail and served on the Grailville Board during a transition period.
I returned to Green Bay to be with my mother during her last years. She died at 94, my father died at 39, my brother, a lawyer in Waukesha, WI died September 2009 at 85, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my sister 82, lives in Rice Lake, WI- husband died unexpectedly at age 69. I have 10 nieces and nephews, and 20 great nieces and nephews.
My interests include gardening (community garden in Chicago and gardening in Green Bay), water exercise in Green Bay. Chicago has great music programs. Being members of Joshua- a coalition of faith communities to work together on issues of justice and community building.
It would take many more words to name people in the Grail I have lived, worked, prayed with and remember with love and humor.
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The Grail in the US is a movement where all members are encouraged to advance our shared vision in the manner that best befits their interests, abilities and the needs of their community. We are individual threads that together weave a tapestry.