Fr. Bob Simon -- a diocesan priest at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Moscow, PA -- has never been shy about letting his parishioners know that he's a proud Notre Dame alum...
Well, recently one of his parishioners started a business making custom teddy bears with a focus on individuals who are grieving. A friend of Fr. Bob commissioned this woman to make him a Notre Dame Teddy Bear (photo above) as a surprise gift. The custom bear is wearing a Notre Dame hat, a priest's cleric collar and has the ND Monogram and Fr. Bob's name on its chest. You'll also find the Notre Dame Leprechaun on its back...
It was delivered to Fr. Bob the very day that they were ordered to "stay inside" because of the coronavirus -- divine timing.
Fr. Bob recently learned that people around the country -- inspired by the book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen -- were putting teddy bears in their front windows so that families taking a walk could play a game with their children searching for bears in the windows.
So, Fr. Bob shared this story in a recent homily that was livestreamed to the parish. He's since learned that many parishioners have joined in the fun -- including Fr. Bob, who has placed the Notre Dame Teddy Bear in the front window of the parish rectory.
Now, that's the story of the Notre Dame Teddy Bear!
