2011-2012 Community Council

		Council Chair Facilities Council Faith Formation Council Finance Council Justice Council Lay Leadership Council Pastoral Care Council Stewardship Council Worship Council At Large At Large At Large Trustee (Non-Voting) Trustee (Voting) Parish Director Pastor	Shari Steffen Greg Halvorson Jim O'Laughlin Jim Sankovitz Mark Weber Steve Olinger Joan Waterstreet Carrie Chevalier Mosher Eric Anderson Tom Keane Mike Lindseth Mary Frances Messer Sue Fier Bruce Koehn Sue Kelley Fr. Patrick Kennedy
Top Row (left to right):  Sue Fier - Trustee, *Eric Anderson, Mike Lindseth, *Greg Halvorson, Fr. Patrick Kennedy, *Mark Weber, *Jim O’Laughlin, *Jim Sankovitz Bottom Row (left to right):  *Carrie Chevalier Mosher, Steven Olinger, Sue Kelley - Parish Director, *Tom Keane, Shari Steffen - Chair, *Mary Frances Messer, Joan Waterstreet Missing: Bruce Koehn - Trustee * New to the Community Council.

The Community Council is the guiding body of Pax Christi Catholic Community.  The role of the Community Council is to facilitate the periodic (typically 5-10 years) formation/revision of Pax Christi’s Vision, to nourish an environment that will encourage achievement of the Vision, and to conduct regular evaluations of its progress.   The actions of the Community Council are governed by the Purpose, Mission, Guiding Principles, and Goals of Pax Christi (the Pax Christi Vision).  As a tool of the Community, the Community Council's actions are focused on support of the Pastor, Parish Director, and the eight Ministry Councils.  The Community Council should view itself in partnership with the Pastor, Parish Director, and Ministry Councils.

Eric Anderson
WORSHIP CHAIR
My wife, Louella and I have been members of Pax Christi since 1983.  From our first Mass here, we have been blessed with an environment for spiritual growth.  I believe that Worship is the act of making ourselves available to relationship with God.  There is a multitude of ways in which we can do that including the Sacraments (in particular Eucharist), music, quiet reflection, petitions, reading and breaking open Sacred Scripture and uplifting one another on a daily or weekly basis are a few.

As I discerned for a ministry council, it was impressed upon me the value of worship in my life.  I have been amazed at how the same readings and rituals can strike me so differently at various times in my life – based on my needs at that moment.  I truly believe God delights when we are fully in relationship with Him.  When we are in relationship we are open to His blessings.

I know that as I have delved more deeply into the rich history of our Catholic worship and questioned why we do the things we do as a worshipping community, I have gained a wonderful appreciation for what we share.  I hope to do whatever small part I can to help make worship here at Pax Christi as meaningful and spiritually uplifting as we can for all of our members so that each of us might experience the fullness in life provided by a growing relationship with our God.

Carrie Chevalier Mosher
STEWARDSHIP CHAIR

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. 




Greg Halvorson
FACILITIES CHAIR
Twenty years ago I found myself in the unenviable position of having lost my job.  It was a tough time like today in the job market and a great deal of soul searching was the outcome for me.  My self confidence was shaken and all the life balls were up in the air.  Through the prodding of my wife Beth, I came with a fair bit of reservation to Pax.  From the beginning the homilies seemed to be talking directly to me and often it was like the presider had picked me out of the crowd and was speaking to me only.  Those early blessings brought me back to the church and continue to nourish and help me with my life challenges.

Several years ago the concepts espoused by Father Kennedy and Mary Kennedy in their messages to us about stewardship hit home with me. I had been blessed through my family, through relationships formed as the result of Pax and  I felt it was time to start giving back.   Having watched my father give much of himself to our church as I grew up I was cautious and started slowly.  Clean up projects around the church were easy to commit to.  Then came greeting, the hard hat group, living your strengths  and then the Facilities Council.  Now in my third year of involvement with leadership the community council seemed to need help.  As an engineer by training I felt I might be able to offer help with challenges the church faces with its facilities.

Pax is blessed with a fine staff, wonderful priests and a committed group of volunteers who continue to build on the traditions established years ago.  I am pleased to be part of this group of talented and caring individuals.




Mary Frances Messer
AT LARGE
I have been a member of Pax Christi for almost twenty years.  The past six years have found me becoming more actively engaged after retirement from my professional career as a registered nurse in the areas of both critical care and the operating room.

I consider myself very blessed to have been raised in a home and parish where faith, concern for all people and social justice issues were not only a concern but made visible to me by actions taken and seen day in and day out, even though they were often not the norm for that time or place—a small town in East Texas. I also consider myself very blessed to be here with the people of Pax. I believe in Jesus Christ, the sacraments, and His message of love. I think it is a lifelong journey, a challenge, as well as an obligation, to try to understand and live His message  by using the gifts He has given each of us to help each other move forward and as we change and help create a more peaceful, and joyful, world through concern and justice.

I believe in the mission, vision and the values of Pax Christi.  My decision to join the Community Council was based on my beliefs and the hope that by serving with others on the Council, I can help in achieving these—and at the same time, in a very small way, say thank you for all I have received.





Jim O'Laughlin
FAITH FORMATION CHAIR
When I first came to Pax Christi in 1999, I had been searching for ways to reinvigorate my Catholic faith.  The vibrant and welcoming nature of this community set Pax Christi apart from the other parishes I had previously attended.  Pax truly provided me a home where I felt comfortable and offered the right environment to renew my faith journey.

Since becoming a member, my wife, Jennifer, and our two children, Makayla and Meghan, have engaged in a variety of the many parish ministries, including faith formation council, Eucharistic minister / team leader, altar server, sacristan / set-up, Vacation Bible Camp, Circles of Welcoming, and childcare.  

These ministries have provided a faith-enriching environment for my family as we continue our faith journey with Jesus Christ – we are truly blessed to have an opportunity to give back to our community.  As a member of the community council, I encourage all members of our parish to be fully engaged within our faith community by becoming involved in one or more of the many ministries our parish offers.  It truly is a rewarding experience – both personally and spiritually!



 
Shari Steffens
COUNCIL CHAIR
I have been blessed to be with the Pax Christi Community since it began.  For much of that time I played with the Pax Christi Bell Choir or directed it as I do now.  I am recycling through membership on the Worship Council for the second time and thoroughly enjoy getting to know more Pax Christi members through that association as well as on the Community Council.  During my professional life I was a music teacher for 26 years and then a principal for 10 years in the Minnetonka School District.  Since retiring from public education, I work as a nanny caring for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers for various families in their homes.  When work permits I enjoy being part of the pastoral care ministry that visits Friendship Village residents and holds prayer and communion services there.  Before Pax Christi was founded I was a member of St. Martin's parish in Huron, South Dakota where I grew up, and Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park, St. Patrick's in Edina and St. Edward's in Bloomington. 




Joan Waterstreet
PASTORAL CHAIR
My introduction into Pastoral Care Ministry started simply enough.  On a Sunday after a pancake breakfast, I walked past the many tables of the Ministry Fair being held.  Reading through leaflets describing Companion Ministry and also Southwest Grief Coalition, I felt an immediate tug at my heart.  “I can do this.  Why am I not?”  After prayerful consideration and family discussion, I contacted Deacon Al.  And now I am richly blessed to be a part of these ministries as well as being a Eucharistic minister here and for the homebound, lector, prayer line minister, and occasional hospitality volunteer.

I have been a Pax Christi member since the earliest days of our parish.  What drew me here and continues to inspire me is that our parish is alive, ever growing, ever changing.  I witness people striving to follow the example of Christ in the here and now.  We are intentional about living the Word.  We are also about welcoming and relationships, diversity and action.  The care, concern and respect demonstrated for each of God’s children, rich or poor, young or old, Catholic or not, is there for all who walk through our doors.  There is an ever-present spirit to join in, become an active participant, that our faith journey is a life-long journey.   

I believe in the importance of an engaged church and I look forward to helping in any way I can to nurture that principle within our church and beyond.  I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve you as a member of the Pax Christi Community Council.




Mark Weber
JUSTICE COUNCIL
My wife, two sons and I have grown up with Pax Christi Catholic Community, having been members since the current church building opened in 1984. Drawn by values that closely matched our own, we found it to be everything we hoped for – and much more.

Like many married couples, involvement at Pax Christi has closely followed our family’s growth: nursery attendants when our children were young, Eucharistic ministers as they moved through their teen years, and more recently involvement in special events – book fairs, stewardship drives, Twelve Baskets projects and so on.

Now that my sons are grown, and my time commitments have eased ever so slightly, I feel compelled to serve Pax Christi in other ways, including membership on the Justice Council since 2008. The people I have met through the Justice Council, the schools and organizations helped with justice grants, the staff at Pax Christi – these things have been nothing less than inspiring.

It’s my hope that through the Justice Council’s efforts to educate and engage parishioners, we make involvement easier and even more rewarding for those who follow us.
   

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Click here to view an expanded calendar of events and the parish daily activites.

Click here for an expanded 
Faith Formation schedule for 2011-2012.

Homelessness Exhibit
January 7-February 12

Webmaster, Melissa Nault, mnault@paxchristi.com