CANFIELD Parish sells items -- all in good time

Collector watches are just in time for the holidays.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
CANFIELD -- The Rev. Terry Hazel is learning about time management, thanks to a generous donation.
The pastor of St. Michael Church, 281 Glenview Drive, said the church received a windfall donation of 2,738 wristwatches. The parish is selling the watches, with proceeds earmarked for the construction of a Family Life Center.
The timepieces, made by Teslar Watch Co., were donated by First Berkeley Capital Corp. of Houston, the Rev. Mr. Hazel explained. A parishioner who is in marketing had done some work with First Berkeley and learned that the company was willing to give the watches to a charitable organization. Arrangements were made for St. Michael Church to get them.
"We had nothing to lose," Mr. Hazel said.
The Teslar Vatican collection watches, which were just marking time in a warehouse, were manufactured and sold in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium, Mr. Hazel explained. Of the 400,000 collector watches made, only a relatively small number didn't sell.
The choices
The watches, which come in dress and sport styles, feature the Seal of St. Peter or the dove of peace on the face. Mr. Hazel said the designs had been approved by Pope John Paul II to celebrate peace in the millennium year 2000. Roman numerals also distinguish the faces of the watches, which are battery-powered.
The watches have a one-year warranty. And they are collector's items, never to be made again.
"We're selling the dress watch for $100, which is $29 under the original retail price, and the sport design for $50, which is $15 under retail," Mr. Hazel explained.
There are 15 dress models to select from, Mr. Hazel said, with various colors and bands. The sports model offers seven choices. "The dress watches are in men's and women's sizes. The sports watches are unisex.
"So far, we've sold about $8,000 worth of watches," Mr. Hazel said. And that has been just in the two weeks the church has had them and just within the parish. "The dress ones are the most popular. They just look nice."
The watches even give a nod to a healthy lifestyle. "They contain a chip ... to cleanse electronic toxins," he said. That is a Teslar trademark, he added, and the chip blocks electronic pollution (from cell phones, radio and television and other electronic devices). Visit www.teslar.com. for more information.
Anyone interested in buying a watch may call the church office at (330) 533-6839 and speak to the timekeeper. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.