Late Nite Catechism comes to Rock Rapids

By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
Posted April 10, 2003

ROCK RAPIDS - The Holy Mary Knights of Columbus Council representing Holy Name Church in Rock Rapids and St. Mary Church in Larchwood, are offering parishioners from the cluster an opportunity to laugh with one another and help each other out at the same time.

Late Nite Catechism, an Off-Broadway comedy production, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Central Lyon High School's Forster Auditorium in Rock Rapids.

According to Dennis Haselhoff, a Holy Name parishioner and Holy Mary KC member, what prompted the KCs to offer this form of entertainment was when they were approached by a local family who was having some medical problems with some of their kids and had financial difficulties.

"We went to the state and national Knights of Columbus to get some matching funds, and there was nothing available," Haselhoff said. "So what we decided to do was start our own, local Good Samaritan fund for the communities up here if any families are in need. Any proceeds from this performance will go into that fund."

As for the performance, another Holy Mary KC member, Jeff Gallagher, who is a St. Mary parishioner, described what should be an interesting show.

"Late Nite Catechism is a fun picture of a Catholic grade school classroom in the '50s and '60s," he said. "The audience becomes the students, and the actress is the nun teacher. She play with the audience asking them questions, gets them involved, disciplines them, gives them rewards and all that kind of stuff."

Although he admits the main purpose of the evening is to benefit the Good Samaritan Fund, Father Jeff Schleisman, administrator of St. Mary and Holy Name, said another important aspect is the way it brings people of both parishes in the cluster together.

"It involves a lot of cooperation and teamwork in getting it put together," he said. "That is a big benefit of it - having the two parishes work together. I think it's wonderful that we can have such a big production come to northwest Iowa in a small community.

"The people are willing to make it work and believe that they can. The ticket sales are going pretty good. If this one works well, we may possibly be able to hold some other play or production in the future."

Haselhoff said he has never seen the play but knows some people in Rock Rapids who have, and they have told him it is worth the money.

Cost for admission is $25 per person, and that includes light hors d'oeurves and dessert types of foods, which will be available during the intermission. Tickets are available by calling either the Holy Name rectory at (712) 472-3248, St. Mary's parish office at (712) 477-2273 or any Knights of Columbus member.

"We're trying to sell 400 tickets for the play because it does take quite a bit of revenue to have them come out and put on this play," said Haselhoff, who added that supporting this event for the Good Samaritan fund is, "like neighbor helping neighbor. We all don't have problems now, but if we have a problem in the future and need help from other people, they know that this fund will be there to help them out."