Getting married and having a family, while full of so many blessings, isn’t particularly unusual. In fact, it could be considered something quite ordinary. However, once you are in the middle of finding a proper balance of working, parenting, and managing all of the things that come with family life, you realize that this “ordinary” life isn’t as straightforward as it looks from the outside! Raising a faithful family can actually feel like a monumental task. For Nick and Ashley Leintz, one of the most important resources that they have for their family is the church community.
“Being a part of the parish community is so important for our family because it provides us with a firm spiritual foundation and an opportunity to grow in our faith together,” Nick says. “It allows us an opportunity to engage with others who share our beliefs, creating a supportive network of people and a sense of belonging. Our children get to see the importance of faith in the lives of others, not just us. The parish community is a vital extension of our family’s efforts to raise our kids in the faith.”
Ashley was raised here at Ascension, and she and Nick were married here at the church as well. They have been members of Ascension since they got married 11 years ago, but it has really been in the last four years that they have gotten more involved in the parish.
“I am so grateful for the relationships that we have grown to have with the other people at the parish,” Ashley says. “It is special to get to be a part of the parish with people that I saw involved in the church when I was growing up. I wish that we would have taken advantage of the community sooner than we did.”
Ashley has been teaching kindergarten faith formation for the last couple of years — their two children, Cullen and Harper, also attend faith formation. In addition, she volunteers when the kids attend Vacation Bible School.
“It is amazing that even as an adult Catholic, there are still so many beautiful things to learn about the faith,” Ashley says. “We also love taking part in the adult activities that they offer. It gives us a break as parents to do something together and it is enriching for our marriage as well.”
The Leintz family enjoys taking part in and serving for the seasonal activities that are offered at the church, such as the different holiday events. Nick has recently joined the Knights of Columbus and is really looking forward to taking part in the newest men’s group, Into the Breach.
“Engaging in the parish events and ministries helps put our faith into action, thereby connecting us more deeply with our beliefs and providing a greater sense of purpose,” Nick says.
For families who are seeking to grow in their faith and raise children in the church, having this vital resource offered by an active faith community is an irreplaceable tool in a secular society that does not value the dignity of life or the worth of a family. We are blessed with a parish home that allows everyone to grow in relationship with others, to grow in faith, and to give back to God and others in service. In turn, our parish supports the “ordinary” but most important work of parents in raising their children to be faithful and loving stewards of God and the gifts that He has given them!