Category Archives for "Community Contributors"

It’s been a year. That is a loaded statement. For me, today, it takes on a different meaning. It’s been a year since the beginning of the Emmaus Institute for Ministry Formation. Last year at this time, I remember it being a beautiful, sunny day in Collegeville. I was running around like a chicken with […]

2020 and the pandemic that ensued due to Covid 19, better known as “the coronavirus,” will be a touch point for millions of people around the world. The whole episode of sheltering-in-place, mask wearing and economic fallout will lead to many conversations.  Everyone will have a tale to tell. Well, I have a tale too […]

On February 22, women from all over the St. Cloud Diocese gathered at St. Louis Parish in Paynesville to celebrate authenticity, restoration and beauty. What started out as a mission for teen girls to understand who they are in this culture of editing and perfectionism turned into a beautiful multi-generational event where babies were rocked […]

I’ve not actually earned a paycheck since 2011 but have never stopped working per se. I’ve been serving as president of a large multi-state community service organization: holding meetings, planning and serving at projects of many sorts and encouraging others to become involved. Simultaneously, I volunteered hundreds of hours since the 80s with the National […]

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.” – Psalm 118:6 That’s right, I will not fear because wherever I go, God is with me. Before I realized that God is with me, I was confused. I felt that he was punishing me for something I did. It all started one morning. On […]

What do we have to lose? That was my thought as Christy Louwagie (DRE/Youth Minister at Eden Valley/Watkins) and I hammered out the details for our combined youth lake nights. In my mind, we already both were adding things left and right to our schedule to provide fun and faith-filled opportunities for our youth, so […]

I have very little experience with art, especially drawing, and I didn’t think it was for me. As a 4H member, however, I won State Fair trips in 2017 and 2018 in the Crafts category with artwork that I had submitted. The second year the judge gave me a red ribbon and said I needed […]

I find prayer such a beautiful thing. I love to pray for all of the things in my life that I have to be thankful for. I spend many hours a day in prayer. I am thankful for my family, my home, the sunshine, the kindness of a stranger, a smile, the birds chirping in […]

The experience of going on a mission trip means to give some, and receive more.  I was profoundly blessed by this ‘could never possibly give more than received’ experience when I traveled with a group of people, primarily from Our Lady of Victory Church (OLV) in Fergus Falls, to live and do work coordinated through […]

Living a life of gratitude is something I strive to do every day and something I try to raise my children to do. I have found that there is always something to be grateful for. Every night, when we say our bedtime prayers with the boys, I ask them for three things that they are […]