3 minute read
PROFILE: Kathleen Festler
A Commitment To Faithful Stewardship And Service
Whether we were born into the faith or later discovered its truths in adulthood, the life of a Catholic is one of continuous conversion. It’s a gradual process of coming to know and inviting the Lord more fully into our minds and hearts. And, it’s a journey of healing and discovery as we become more like clay in the potter’s hands (Isaiah 64:7).
Advertisement
Parishioner Kathleen Festler can attest to the truth of this through her own spiritual journey. Over her 47 years of involvement at St. Mary’s Church, Kathleen has come to associate stewardship with the story of the Good Samaritan — one of generous service out of love.
“To me, it is not so much the giving of money as it is engaging the heart,” Kathleen says. “When I understand that a neighbor or stranger is in need, then my heart is engaged and I respond to help.”
This response has taken many shapes over the years. It’s led her to become involved in bake sales and to chair the kitchen for the annual Bazaar. It’s inspired her to contribute items or money when needed and to volunteer with community outreach such as Meals on Wheels and Share a Meal. Stewardship has caused her to become a more vocal advocate for life, working with Morrison County to bring about pro-life legislation.
These ministries have helped keep Kathleen anchored through the inevitable storms of life. They’ve also indirectly facilitated healing and conversion in her own heart.
“For many years, I carried a deep, unresolved hurt in my heart from my parents’ tragic marriage which affected my own marriage greatly,” Kathleen says. “Had I left the Church, I might still be seeking answers. I still had a long wait, but I found the answers I sought in St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, which I am deeply grateful for. Through it, I gained confidence and came to understand what is true, good, beautiful and pure. I was
Fred and Kathleen Festler able to learn about how our sexuality plays out in what we do to and with our bodies and minds — to learn that sexuality is not a right or a need, but a gift given to us by God.”
Kathleen shares that she also struggled for years with receiving Holy Communion, held back by feelings of unworthiness. Yet, God remained faithful, using the example of others to transform her heart and allow her to eventually find solace in the Eucharist.
“I found it very difficult to go to Confession and I never felt worthy to receive Communion,” Kathleen says. “An older woman encouraged me and today my strength lies in the amazing grace of the Eucharist. I can actually taste the goodness of the Lord in my life now, mysterious as it is. It makes my everyday living sweeter and my burdens lighter.”
Though still a work in progress, Kathleen is deeply grateful for the gift of her faith, which has remained the bedrock of her life. She continues to serve faithfully out of love whenever possible. Currently, she cares for her husband, Fred, who served as a longtime lector in our community, and is in the comfort care phase of hospice.
“Jesus is the reason for everything I do,” Kathleen says, “He and His Church are what have helped me through life’s difficult moments.”
— Kathleen Festler
