Richard Pechon has spent his whole life as a Catholic and has been a member at St. Patrick’s for the last eight years. Richard has also spent most of his life with a desire to learn more about the faith and to be involved. But he’s never felt as invited as he has at St. Patrick’s. Having received those personal invitations, he’s gotten involved in lots of ministries.
“I think that I had no specific talents to bring to the ministries,” Richard says. “I was invited, and I had a desire to learn more of my faith. And that, I can share with others.”
When Richard first introduced himself at the parish office before becoming a member, he will never forget how people treated him.
“I was greeted and looked in the eye,” he says. “I was recognized — that was a real change for me. Every ministry that I am involved in, I have been invited to.”
Richard’s ministry involvement started when he was asked to become a lector. He found that he enjoyed the ministry and had the drive to learn more about the readings since he was sharing them with the congregation. Richard also helps lead a Bible study, which also has him spending time with Scripture.
“In my nursing career, I also taught,” he says. “I learned that if you want to teach something, you have to know it. I’ve found that to be true with Bible study.”
Richard admits he doesn’t have a great singing voice, but he wanted to do more than just sing with the congregation during Mass. This led him to join the choir. He’s thankful that the choir has been accommodating as he learns.
“Everyone has been so patient with me as I learn,” he says.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is another ministry in which Richard is heavily involved. He enjoys how welcoming everyone is and the impact he can make through this ministry.
“I learn as much if not more than the people who are becoming Catholic,” he says.
In addition, Richard is a member of the Knights of Columbus. And while he notes that he’s not very involved in the Divine Mercy Group, he commits to praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day. He was introduced to the Chaplet when he was working as a nurse. He loved praying the Chaplet specifically for those in the nursing field. In a previous parish, he also served in a parish nursing ministry.
Richard chuckles when he considers what he does in his free time — most of his free time is spent at church! He enjoys spending time with his wife, Carolynn, and traveling. Carolynn and Richard have a blended family of four children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
“There are parishioners I meet on a daily basis who are more an inspiration to me than the saints,” he says.
Although Richard is involved in many ministries at St. Patrick’s, he appreciates joining his fellow parishioners in the pews.
“I do love having the chance to listen and participate in the Mass without having an assignment,” he says.
He is impressed by the involvement among members at St. Patrick’s. In past parishes, Richard observed the same group of people doing all of the ministries.
“Here at St. Patrick’s, people are constantly exposed to ministries and encouraged to get involved,” he says. “People here readily want people to be engaged. I think parishioners have the idea that it never hurts to ask. That is how you get people to join.”
