Community Council

Dave Barczak, Chairperson of Council
Rosemary Daly, Pastoral Care
Dave Faulise, Finance
Sue Fier, Trustee, Non-Voting
Carla Gestach, Lay Leadership
Mike Karas, Justice
Tom Keane, Faith Formation
Sue Kelley, Parish Director
Fr. Kennedy, Pastor
Tim Kosiek, Trustee, Voting
Elaine Larabee, at Large
Joe Michels, Facility
Joan Roethle, at Large
Jan Wagner, Worship
Carolyn Zucker, at Large

Dave Barczak
CHAIRPERSON OF COUNCIL
I answer the call to leadership as a result of a series of experiences. The first occurred as I recognized the change of a founding Pastor is a monumental transition for any parish including Pax. As I looked to the familiar “founding” faces to navigate the transition, I saw them looking back at my generation. Then, Fr. Doug delivered a homily encouraging the ordinary person to step out of the pew and get involved. More recently, the Living Your Strengths program affirmed I have been blessed with gifts useful in keeping organizations on track in their fulfillment of purpose and mission.

My hope and prayer is through service on the Community and Stewardship Councils, I help Pax Christi establish a Vision for the second 25 years, learn how to recognize, celebrate, and develop each person’s talents, and create an environment where our everyday acts of kindness bring comfort and joy to the greater community.

Sharon, my wife of 13 years, our three children and I have been members of Pax Christi for nearly 13 years. I serve or have served as Greeter, Lector, Loaves & Fishes server, Eucharistic Minister and First Holy Communion, Children’s Christmas Mass, and 25th Birthday Celebration planner.

Rosemary Daley
PASTORAL CARE
Our family’s involvement with Pax Christi began over twenty years ago when we were attracted to this vibrant parish that emphasized social justice and family based faith formation. Over the years I have participated as a catechist, a Pax Christi News contributing editor, member of Renew, greeting team, Peace and Justice Prayer Ministry, a planner, group facilitator and prayer minister for Alpha, and a hospitality worker for various community functions.

Central questions for me have been, “Am I ready to stand up and be a peacemaker for Christ? What am I doing to lift up the community in fellowship?” Prayer and service are central to my daily life and I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me not only in service at Pax Christi, but in my vocation as a middle school Language Arts teacher. Just as my students require careful stewardship to nurture their gifts, so our larger faith community requires service to support its pastoral needs.

This is my second year as a member of the Pastoral Care Ministry Council. I have been greatly moved to witness the compassionate service of Pax Christi members in Pastoral Care Ministries who continuously answer the call to be Christ for each other.

Dave Faulise
FINANCE
When we began attending services at Pax Christi in the mid-1990’s, Joanne and I were searching for a Catholic community that goes beyond merely talking about the teachings of Christ. We wanted to join a community that put the Gospel into practice, and we found Pax Christi to be the right parish for our family. Justice, Faith Formation, Worship, Hospitality and the many other parish programs continue to make Pax Christi engaging and attractive to us.

After several years of only “sitting in the pew” and making financial contributions, we decided that Christianity wasn’t intended to be a spectator sport. Our family has been blessed in countless ways, and we felt a need to give back something more than we were.

I joined the Finance Council in 2006 and discerned to the chairperson position in 2007 when I also became a member of the Community Council. My background as a partner in a public accounting firm and as an owner of a small business gave me experiences and skills that seem to be a good fit with the Finance Council. My focus is to help ensure that the financial contributions from members of our congregation are used wisely, are applied to the best programs, and bring the greatest value to everyone in our community. Being actively involved continues to energize me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve.

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.

Michael Karas
JUSTICE
We moved here to Eden Prairie from Buffalo, NY in 2001. Even though we live in the shadows of the church, we explored several different parishes before choosing Pax Christi. As I sat in the pew and listened to message of the gospel, I began to understand that more was being asked of me than to come to Mass every week and to give financially to the church. I needed to offer my time and talents as well. The more involved I became the more rewarding my experiences have become. I would encourage everyone to become a little more active in our church and our community. I welcome the opportunity to work with the other members of the Community Council and be the spokesperson for the Justice Council in the coming year.

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.

Jan Wagner
WORSHIP
When I first came to Pax Christi 21 years ago I was drawn by the warmth and inclusiveness. It felt so good to be included in the language of the prayers. Since that time I have served on a parenting committee, the liturgy committee, the handbell choir, various bible studies and now I’m in my third year on the Worship Council. I believe if you care about an organization as I care about Pax Christi, you need to step up and participate and be part of the community and its mission.

As Chair of the Worship Council I am privileged to sit on the Community Council. I hope to get to know the other members as I have found it easiest to get to know people in small group settings. I am sure they are wonderful people like the many others at Pax Christi that I have come to know.

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.