Karen Hartke :
MEET PARISHIONER
EMBRACING THE FAITH IN A WARM AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY
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aren Hartke is happy to different people and at different call St. Andrew’s her home gatherings. She has made rolls for parish. Having joined the faith breakfast in the morning to share community in 2008, Karen has with parishioners after Mass. She continued on her faith journey has also prepared and served accompanied and supported by meals for Totus Tuus missionaries. many welcoming parishioners. “Making and serving food has “I have had some great discusbrought different people into my sions with other members of the life and made me a better person,” parish, and seeing and hearing she says. “I really enjoy sharing in how others think and question food and fellowship.” things has challenged me to think Karen would encourage padeeper,” Karen says. “Working rishioners who want to be more Karen Hartke is happy to call together with others has brought involved in parish life to look at the St. Andrew’s her home parish. different people into my life and bulletin and see what opportunimade me a better person.” ties exist. Parishioners might also think about what Karen had been teaching for years and attenddoesn’t exist yet, and if you’re familiar with a ministry ing church with her students before she decided to from another parish, have a conversation with others make a change. about starting that ministry here. “I wanted some anonymity and separation be“There are always ways to get involved,” Karen tween my personal and professional life,” she says. says. “How I give back is ever-changing depend “I wanted to be seen as a mom, wife, and parishioupon what the parish’s needs are and my own talner at my church, not just a teacher.” ents. Being involved and sharing your talents gives While raising her own small children, Karen you a sense of belonging.” had been involved in parishes with a children’s litKaren would like to thank the people of Holy urgy. After joining St. Andrew’s, she spoke with Fr. Family Area Catholic Community for being so warm Jim Devorak and decided to start such a ministry and welcoming. for our children here. “I really like how welcoming the faith commu“They thought it would be a good idea to try, nity is,” she says. “I have done many of the Lenten so we had a children’s liturgy at St. Andrew’s for Bible studies and have often attended other parishabout three years,” Karen says. es in the Holy Family Area for the weekly discusAnother way Karen has been involved in parsions. Each and every time I was welcomed with ish life is through preparing and serving meals for open arms by the members.”
“I have had some great discussions with other members of the parish, and seeing and hearing how others think and question has challenged me to think deeper. Working together with others has brought different people into my life and made me a better person.” — KAREN HARTKE
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