2009–2010 Pax Christi Community Council
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Facilities Council
Faith Formation Council
Finance Council
Justice Council
Lay Leadership Council
Pastoral Care Council
Stewardship Council
Worship Council
At Large
At Large
Trustee (Non-Voting)
Trustee (Voting)
Parish Director
Pastor |
Joe Michels
Tom Keane
Doug Faust
Ernie Stelzer
Carla Gestach
Joan Waterstreet
Jenine Anderson
Shari Steffen
Elaine Larabee
Carolyn Zucker
Sue Fier
Tim Kosiek
Sue Kelley
Fr. Patrick Kennedy |
Jenine Anderson
STEWARDSHIP
I found a home at Pax Christi in 1991, and am profoundly grateful for the peace and spiritual guidance I continue to find here each week. My first volunteer experience was with the especially devoted Social Justice Council. From there I went on to lead Faith Formation classes for several years. It’s true that you don’t need formal experience to teach; only a willingness to share your faith. As with parenting, I found that the kids teach you a lot if you let them.
I think my most memorable moments over the years are from Holy Week services. Our Worship Council does an outstanding job of making each mass reverent and meaningful. My husband was fully initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil eight years ago, and I truly believe his desire to formally commit to the Catholic faith was a result of the welcoming way in which we worship at Pax.
It would be nearly impossible to individually thank all of the leaders and parishioners that have enriched my experience at Pax Christi. We have an extraordinary, deeply committed staff and have always benefitted from the wisdom and energy of our lay leadership.
A year ago I was blessed with the opportunity to serve on the Stewardship Council. I embraced it as one way to live Pax Christi’s value of stewardship as a way of life. To share your time, talent and treasure is to truly become the fabric of our Catholic community.
Sue Fier
TRUSTEE, NON-VOTING
When our family moved to Eden Prairie eight years ago, we searched for a Catholic Community that would guide and support us as we raise our children to follow the teachings of Jesus. We looked for a community that invited active participation in the Liturgy and offered opportunities to connect with others on a similar religious path. We found Pax Christi to be a vibrant and engaging community that could serve our religious needs.
As a family we have found that giving of our time and talent in addition to our treasure has led to a deeper connection with the parish and the mission it strives to achieve. Participation in Parents of Young Children, the Good Shepherd faith formation program, and Eucharistic Ministry has strengthened my commitment to lead a faith-filled life.
I have felt compelled to move beyond participation towards leadership and have served on the Finance Council from 2003-2007. During my fourth year on the Finance Council I discerned to the chairperson position and represented the Finance Council on the Community Council. I have a background in accounting and business analysis which I believe gives me the skills to make sound judgments on behalf of this parish while serving as Trustee. I am fortunate to currently be out of the workforce while at home raising our three young children. I see my role as Trustee to be a voice and representative of the next generation of leaders of this parish.
Carla Gestach
LAY LEADERSHIP
My call to chair the Lay Leadership Councils has been through a journey of discernment within several areas of the Pax Christi community. As a member of the community for the past eight years, I’ve severed as a catechist, Eucharist minister, Adult Faith Formation committee and hospitality committee member. As I continued to foster my own spiritually growth and journey, I have participated in the various adult faith formation programs including Alpha, Adult Faith Formation Spring Series, CAFÉ and Living Your Strengths. I continue to serve on the Adult Faith Formation committee and I’m working on becoming a certified “Living Your Strengths” facilitator.
The Living Your Strengths program equipped me with a clear vision of my talents and how I may use them to develop and cultivate the newly formed Lay Leadership Council. I look forward to the challenge of creating a resource that will help others develop a strong leadership within that modules the teaching skills of our greatest leader, Jesus Christ.
Tom Keane
FAITH FORMATION
My wife, Leslie, three kids, and I settled in Eden Prairie after touring the country courtesy of the USAF, and moving from Washington D.C. I learned to love Pax Christi for its Mission to be a visible witness of Christ and to provide service to those most in need.
Serving on the Faith Formation Council has been a tremendous experience and has helped fulfill a continual challenge of God. I have been motivated by a question God asks of me, “why should I get involved” from Anthony DeStefano’s book, Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To. The answer centers around the prayer, “please Lord, make me an instrument of Thy needs”. With the strengths that I have been given and recognized through the Living Your Strengths program, my desire to learn as much about Scripture and the tradition of the Catholic Faith as I can, and the strong programs with some needs that exist in Faith Formation, I am doing what I can to meet God’s challenge.
I am in my third and last year on the Faith Formation Council. I hope and pray that this will be a productive year and that our mission and purpose of life long faith formation will some day be a reality.
TIM KOSIEK
TRUSTEE, VOTING
“I believe my ability to serve God in today’s world demands that I identify a ‘spiritual center’ and commit to it. This critical aspect of who I am as a Christian manifests itself in my willingness and ability to live a life dedicated to sound Christian values; it compels me to get involved in active justice initiatives and devote time, talent and treasure to worthy causes.
“For my family and me, our spiritual center includes the relationship we have developed with Pax Christi Catholic Community. Though we are each at different points in our spiritual journey, we have all derived great value from our life with the community. We are committed to Pax Christi as the source of the energy and passion that enables us to be intentional about our Christian values. Further, it is what gives us the confidence necessary to extend these Christian values to all aspects of our lives.”
Elaine Larabee
AT LARGE
My family and I joined Pax Christi over ten years ago, shortly after moving to the Twin Cities. We found a vibrant active faith community where we immediately felt at home. This parish has a place and a ministry for everyone. All are truly welcome. Our family has truly been blessed by the richness that Pax Christi has to offer.
It is in this sprit that I decided to join the community council as an at-large member. Over the years I have served the parish in several areas and always felt that I gained more than I gave. Recently, while participating in the Living Your Strengths program I learned that we all have unique individual talents to share. My top five strengths happen to be: “Intellection, Harmony, Responsibility, Empathy, and Input.” These gifts will serve me well on the community council as we work together toward a unique Vision for our community and its future. I appreciate these unique strengths and feel called to help others discover and appreciate theirs as well.
Joe Michels
FACILITIES
Jan and I joined Pax Christi upon returning to Minnesota 19 years ago, after belonging to 9 different parishes during the multiple company moves required during my 37 “corporate years”. It did not take long for us to understand that Pax Christi was a vastly different community than most of those we had belonged to along the way. The immediate welcome into the community, the remarkable abilities of Fr. Tim Power, the active encouragement of parishioners to become involved in Pax Christi’s community life were among the many things we had not experienced in most of the previous parishes.
About 2 years ago, after retirement, I again decided to commit the time and energy to increase my level of participation in Pax Christi’s leadership team and joined the Facilities Committee. This lead to a request to participant in the Renovation Committee and this year will be the second time I am fortunate enough to serve on the Community Council. I appreciate the opportunities of working with a group that assists Ken Rieneccius in managing your facility and participating on a Community Council during this period that has the probabilit y of shaping the future of our Community for many years to come. Yet on a personal note, I am happy to get involved again. For I’ve found over the years that the benefits received from becoming involved, in the form of the friendships that have been made, the satisfaction derived from the giving of one’s time and talents and a sense that in some small way, I’m “paying the Lord back” for the blessings He continues to shed on our family, far outweigh the time and effort required.
Joan Roethle
AT LARGE
When our family moved to Minnesota in 1987, my husband, Gary, and I were searching for a Catholic Church that was more than Church. We were looking for a Catholic Community dedicated to fulfillment of its mission and purpose, and found that in Pax Christi. Through the years I have been involved with many ministries – some have been short-term commitments, others were long-term commitments, and some are life-long commitments. However, all of those commitments were compelling for me. They were, or are, Faith Formation, Justice Grant Board, Justice Ministry, Prepare Ministry, Community Council, Lectoring, and the Renovation Committee.
Somewhere along the line, those commitments transitioned from volunteering of time and talent to engagement. This act of engagement gives back to me more than tenfold, and has brought me opportunities for relationships, learning, giving, and receiving. As a member-at-large of the Community Council, I hope to assist in the implementation of the Vision for the second 25 years at Pax Christ, and to serve in a way to help grow the spirit of engagement within our Community. It is a blessing to have this opportunity to serve.
Carolyn Zucker
AT LARGE
My husband and I joined Pax Christi in 1995 when we moved back from the east coast. We were searching for a spiritual home that would continue the rich traditions of my Catholic faith but would also allow for the acceptance and richness of my husband's Jewish faith. We found that here at Pax Christi. I grew up at Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville, MN and my parents showed by example how enriched your spiritual life can be when you're involved and engaged in your community. I have a passion for Pax Christi and look to fuel that passion by being involved. I have worked in many ministry areas during the years including Social Justice and Stewardship with a special emphasis on event planning as I chaired the 25th Birthday Party, the 2006 Cana Dinner and several Good Shepherd events. I have always had a desire to serve on community council and was blessed to have that opportunity this past October. My message to everyone in our community is to find something the be involved in...no matter how big or how small...you will receive so much in return through the relationships you form, the sense that you can make a difference and the comfort in knowing that this is your community.
