Dave and Georgia Pauls have been parishioners here since 1995. Being close to two different parishes at the time, they chose to join St. Patrick’s.
“St. Patrick’s was the one we felt most at home at,” Dave says.
Over the years, Dave and Georgia have been involved in many ministries and raised their six children in the parish. Around the time when they joined the parish, a friend of theirs asked if Dave might consider teaching in Religious Education. He agreed and taught in the program for many years. Georgia still serves in the program.
Shortly after joining the team for Religious Education, Dave had another friend invite him to join the Sacristan Ministry.
“It just grew from there,” he says. “Those two people coming to me are what prompted me to get involved.”
Today, Dave and Georgia remain active participants in the parish community. Dave serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, frequents Eucharistic Adoration, participates in the Knights of Columbus, and serves on the Stewardship Committee and Pastoral Council. He also helps out with the Newcomers’ Reception about twice a year and leads the committee for it.
Georgia is a member of the Vocations Committee, and together, she and Dave are mentors in the FOCCUS program for couples considering marriage. For them, sharing their stewardship gifts through service to the Church is an important part of their lives as Catholics.
“The reason that we serve is we believe it’s our duty to be involved in the Church,” Dave says. “It’s just like tithing — the Church gets our first fruits. And so, that also means our time. Back when we were pretty poor, it was through talent and time that we were able to do our tithe. Over time it’s grown more and more important to us — the more we do to help out in the Church, the more we grow in our walk with Christ.”
Dave recognizes and appreciates how Fr. Francisco has led our flock with a mission of intentional stewardship. He credits this as inspiration for him and Georgia on their faith journeys.
“That has really been beneficial,” he says. “It’s giving us more tools. I wouldn’t have made some of the gains I have without him. He really brought home stewardship and how it’s a way of discipleship. So that has meant a lot to me.”
Because service has been part of their journey for so many years, Dave recognizes it as something that has become a natural part of their lives. By donating their talents, Dave and Georgia are living “stewardship” at St Patrick.
“It’s just part of us now,” he says. “It’s part of me. I don’t even give it a second thought. Sometimes it’s difficult — it requires a lot of effort leading a committee. But when you see the thankfulness on newcomers’ faces that they’ve been recognized, you know you’ve done the right thing.”