Bob Hager, Denise Hager to lead off annual Lenten breakfast events at area churches this next week

The tradition of weekly ecumenical Lenten Breakfasts is set to get underway once again this year, with the inaugural events taking place next week at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. The breakfasts begin at 6:45 a.m., serving coffee, juice and rolls, with the program starting at 7 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend each week. The men gather each Monday during the Lenten season and start their breakfasts February 14. The women meet each Thursday and will begin their series of breakfasts February 17. Locations will be rotated between area churches each week, according to the following schedule: February 14 and 17 - St. Patrick's Catholic February 21 and 24 = St. John's Lutheran February 28 and March 3 - First Presbyterian March 7 and 10 - St. Paul's Methodist March 14 and 17 - Zion UCC The featured speakers for the initial week of the Lenten breakfasts, Monday, Feb. 14 and Thursday, Feb. 17, are:

Bob Hager Bob Hager is a lifelong resident of the Waukon area, he and his family are presently living in a small suburb of Dorchester. Bob and his wife Kristi, also a lifelong resident of the area, own and operate Upper Iowa Resort. They have three daughters: Aubree, 19, who is currently in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter, SC; Alyssa, 16, a sophomore at Waukon Senior High; and Alaina, 13, a seventh grader at Allamakee Junior High. Bob and his wife have been involved in many community projects, including the Waukon Jaycees and the Hideaway Park project, and are currently involved with the Bear Creak Kids 4H group. He is also involved with the local Pheasants Forever chapter and is serving on the Allamakee Community School District Board of Education. The Hagers have recently joined St. Patrick's Catholic Church, but have been involved with the men's and women's CEW (Christian Experience Weekends) for a number of years. Bob's topic for his February 14 Lenten breakfast presentation will be "Building Ourselves and Our Community". By sharing his story, he hopes to encourage others to be the best they can be.

Denise Hager The speaker for the first Women's Lenten Breakfast at St. Patrick's Church Thursday, Feb. 17 will be Denise Hager. She will be speaking on a message of H.O.P.E. Denise is the wife of John Hager of rural Waukon, a mother of four children, and grandmother of eight. She is a long-time member of St. Patrick's parish, and participates in the Ministry of Mother's Sharing, St. Patrick's Choir, Liturgy Committee, and Christian Experience Weekends sponsored by St. Patrick's Parish, and is also involved in Bible Study. Denise is self-employed with a business in her home.