FAMILY OF THE YEAR 2016 – Jerry & Shari Mersch family

Nominated by St Francis Council #1010 of Brookville, the Jerry & Shari Mersch family have faithfully persevered in the Pro-Life Movement for many years. They have made many trips to the March for Life in Washington DC as a family, as well as being chaperones with youth groups for different parishes. They have been involved in the Franklin County Right to Life for over 25 years, with Jerry currently serving as President. Jerry and Shari helped found and open the Gospel of Life Ministry Center, a Crisis Pregnancy Center and small Catholic library & bookstore in Brookville nearly 20 years ago, where Shari still serves as a counselor. Jerry has served as his local council’s Culture of Life chairman for over 10 years, and organized several events in the community. They have always included their children as a part of their pro-life work, and those children have continued that family tradition.

The parents of 12 children, Jerry and Shari still consider raising & homeschooling their family to be their greatest pro-life accomplishment. They are active members of SS Philomena & Cecelia Catholic Church in Oak Forest Indiana, where their boys, Rob 25, Jeremy 19 & Michael 17 are altar servers, and the children are involved in choir, boy’s club, and youth group. Four of their oldest daughters, Michelle, Kristy, Emily and Julie have graduated from Steubenville University, Ave Maria College, and Christendom College. Currently Jeremy and Jennifer are attending Christendom as well. Michelle, Kristy & Amy are married and each has six children with Michelle & Kristy both expecting their 7th child this year. Their daughter Lindsey 28, after graduating from Christendom College, joined a Carmelite order. The entire family made the trip last summer for her profession of final vows, since Sister Mary Joseph of Jesus now resides in California. Please join me in recognizing the Jerry & Shari Mersch family as the Indiana State Council Family of the Year for 2016.