Those who are raising children could come up with any number of excuses for being too busy to get involved. There is a lot of homework, extracurricular activities, meals — the list goes on and on. But many of us recognize that if we don’t step up and get involved, our parishes and school can’t prosper. We need “all hands on deck” to make things happen.
Matt and Ashley Hasel recognize this need and have found ways to share their time and talent. They have three children at St. Joseph Parish School — Jude is in sixth grade, Maggie is in fourth grade, and Jacob is in preschool.
“We’ve had a child at the school since 2014, and we love it there,” Ashley says.
Ashley shares her time at the school by helping organize the St. Joseph Parish School Coming Together annual fundraiser, which started in 2021. The first two years have been very successful. It’s a great fundraiser that has come with the bonus of bringing the school and parish community together following the pandemic.
“We have been very fortunate to have very generous donors for raffle baskets, and it’s just a very fun adult evening out,” Ashley says.
Matt shares his time by coaching Jude’s football team through the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). The Hasel family enjoys being involved in CYO sports — Maggie played volleyball last year, and they all look forward to the years when Jacob can play.
“We enjoy CYO programs as they instill faith into athletics, teach teamwork, and promote respect towards the opponents and officials,” Ashley says.
Maggie has been involved in the St. Joseph’s Parish youth choir for more than a year.
“Youth choir has been a great experience for her, and it connected us with the church in a different way that we really enjoy and look forward to continuing,” Ashley says.
Matt and Ashley recognize the need to be involved so that things like the Coming Together event and CYO sports can happen. But there’s another essential aspect at play — setting a strong stewardship example for Jude, Maggie, and Jacob.
“They recognize our involvement provides a deeper connection with the parish and school community,” Ashley says.
The members of the Hasel family have also gotten to know new people through stepping up and being involved. Sharing her time and talents with the school has helped Ashley feel more connected to the children’s education. She’s not just an observer — she has a hands-on role.
The whole family is thankful for the community they have found at St. Joseph’s Parish and School. They’ve made friends they know will be there with them through the ups and downs and look forward to continuing to meet people and make memories.
“We always feel welcome at the parish and enjoy seeing other school families at Mass,” Ashley says.