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sPotLiGHt on . . .

Feeding Our Fathers

T he thought of cooking for 30 men every night would terrify most,
but Helen Lopuchowycz says, “It was no big deal.” For those old
enough to remember the Basilian House at 402 Augustine Street, Helen
was the woman behind the scenes making three-, sometime four-course
dinners each night for the Basilian Fathers who lived there – many of
whom taught or worked at Aquinas at one time or another.
From 1976 until 2000, their kitchen was Helen’s second home, Helen meets Pope John Paul II. In 2002, she cooked for him and nearly 50 others staying on Strawberry
a place where all fi ve of her children – Stephen ’81, Th omas ’82, Island for World Youth Day.
Andrew ’88, Christine (Grout) ’88, and Victoria ’98 – spent time
aft er school, a place where she not only created beautiful meals
for “her boys” as she aff ectionately refers to them, but beautiful
friendships as well.
Th e memory of how the position came about, written down on a
notepad kept by Helen, reads:

My eldest son was in grade 9 at Aquinas Institute and had
Rev. Michael Cerretto, CSB as his theology teacher. Father
Cerretto was also bursar at the residence so when need of Helen (far right) attends the 25th anniversary celebration of Rev. John Huber’s ordination. Fr. Huber
a ‘temporary’ cook arose, he canvassed his students for a (center, sitting) lived at 402 Augustine Street during Helen’s time there as the cook. He is now the
mother willing to fi ll the position. My son, Stephen, raised President of Catholic Central High School in Detroit
his hand and enthusiastically said, ‘My mother can!’ So you would do is stop in the kitchen and say ‘hi’ to Helen. She was
began my journey with the priests of the Congregation of somebody who the priests would confi de in. She was very uplift ing
St. Basil. and affi rming.” Th at connection she felt with the Basilian Fathers
and the belief in what they were doing as a ministry at Aquinas and
For nearly 25 years she would arrive at the home on Augustine elsewhere eventually led her to become a Basilian Lay Associate.
Street at 2:00 p.m. so that she could have dinner on the table by
6:00 p.m. Her menu usually included a soup, salad, entrée and Aft er the Basilian House closed in 2000, and Helen’s formal dinner
dessert – all made from scratch. Helen’s Ukrainian heritage found duties for “her boys” had ended, she picked up her apron in an
a place on the menu as well, introducing many of the priests to offi cial capacity once again in 2002 when she was presented with
Eastern European cuisine such as stuff ed cabbage and pierogis. the rare privilege to cook for Pope John Paul II. As Helen tells it,
Rev. Tom Rosica, CSB ’77 who was the CEO and National Director
of World Youth Day, asked Rev. Dennis Kauff man, CSB ‘66 to
approach her and ask if she would cook for the Pope. Aft er realizing
the request was not a joke, she accepted the job.

For two weeks she was responsible for cooking three meals a day
for everyone who was staying on Strawberry Island including the
Basilian Fathers, the Pope and his security detail. Her menus were
sent to the Vatican months in advance for approval and not one
came back with changes. “It was no big deal. I was just doing what
I do every day,” said Helen, who remembers how loving, fun and
humble she thought the Pope to be. So humble in fact that he asked
specifi cally to speak to Helen on his way out to thank her for the
“wonderful, delicious food.” Whenever she is asked how she got
selected to cook for the Pope, Helen jokes, “I cooked for the Basilian
Fathers for 25 years and nobody ever got sick.”
Helen is still very much involved at Aquinas, volunteering for various projects and events including the
annual Founders’ Golf Tournament.
Not only did they never get sick, Father Huber said they were
She also kept three cookie jars full remembering that “when the blessed to have her. “She’s a maternal presence, but also a very
boys would come home from school they would pass through the dedicated presence, very faithful,” he explained. “She’s always very
kitchen and get their cookie treats.” encouraging, always prays for us. She’s just one of us.”

If you weren’t paying attention, you’d think she was referring to Helen’s house is a regular stop when Father Huber returns to
her own sons when she says “the boys,” but that’s just who she was Rochester to visit family and when he does, she always has a diet
explained Rev. John Huber, CSB ’81, President of Catholic Central coke waiting for him – a favorite of his that decades later she still
High School in Detroit, who lived in the house for a time. “She was hasn’t forgotten. “Th at’s just who I am. I take care of my family, my
the mother of everybody. You would come home and the fi rst thing boys, my neighbors; that’s what we’re here for.”
10 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2018