St. Thomas Council Names Cusack Family as Family of the Month for October 2020
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October 31, 2020The Cusacks are longtime communicants at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, having been parishioners for over 33 years. Thomas has been employed at Shaw’s Supermarket as a Meat Cutter for over 30 years. His wife Joanne has worked as an Administrative Assistant at St. Thomas School for over seven years.
Thomas and Joanne were High School Youth Ministers for several years when they were first married. They have volunteered as chaperons at Diocesan events such as Journey and Convention.
When their children were young, they volunteered to meet with young couples as they prepared their children for Baptism.
For several summers, Tom and Joanne were on a committee for the Summer Picnic and Family Gatherings, helping out with food, decorations and games.
Joanne was President of the Development Council for St. Thomas School for many years as well as Secretary for the School Board Committee.
Joanne has been involved with the Adult Faith Formation program and has lead small group discussions on various topics –most recently The Search with Chris Stefanick.
Tom and Joanne Cusack are the proud parents of Hillary, Hannah and Peter Cusack. They are also proud grandparents to a grandson and two granddaughters.
Their daughter Hillary and her husband Alex Swetz make their home in Sanford and are proud parents to a daughter Marie-Therese, with another child on the way. Hillary was a High School teacher but is happy to be a stay at home mom now. She and Alex share their faith with young families looking to have their child Baptized at our parish. When Hillary was growing up, she was an altar server and was involved with the Portland Diocese Catholic Youth Leadership Team. She has also volunteered with Vacation Bible School at our parish.
Their other daughter Hannah and her husband Joshua Milani make their home in Minnesota and are proud parents of a son, Gabriel and a daughter, Hadara. Hannah serves as a Youth Minister at their local church, called Holy Spirit Parish. Joshua serves as Music Minister at the same church. Like her sister Hillary, Hannah was an altar server and was involved in the Portland Diocese Catholic Youth Leadership Team and she emceed her senior year. Hannah enjoyed working with Vacation Bible School, too.
Their son Peter is a Freshman at U Maine in Orono and plans on majoring in Engineering. Peter graduated from Sanford High School, 10th in his class and was president of the National Honor Society. He was a captain of the SHS football team where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines. He was also a member of the track team, where he competed in the discus and shot put. Peter is an Eagle Scout and was a member of the Order of the Arrow, which recognizes Scouts who best exemplify and live out the Scouting oath and law. It is no surprise that Peter won the Sanford High School Achievement Cup his senior year. Peter has been an alter server since he made his First Communion and Confirmation and has helped out with Vacation Bible School, too.
All three of their children went to St. Thomas School. The family has been involved for over 20 years with fundraisers while their children attended St. Thomas. They helped out with the Spring Fever Fair, Community Breakfast, Silent Auction, Catholic Schools Week and Olympic Day to name a few.
The Knights of Columbus proudly present the Family of the Month for October, the Cusack family, a family united in living their faith together. We are blessed to have them in our parish!
From left to right: Past Grand Knight John Chandonnet, Alex Swetz, Marie-Therese Swetz, Hillary Swetz, Joanne Cusack, Tom Cusack, Maureemn Cusack (Tom's sister) and Grand Knight Terry Sylvanus