Meet Bob and Emily Garza:
Encouraging All to Get Involved in the Faith and Parish Life
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f every person at St. Mark’s used their talents to serve the Lord, imagine all the good works we could do! We all have talents that fit — from singing to cleaning to praying. Bob Garza has a talent that might not immediately jump out as important in a parish, but it is. He’s a whiz at spreadsheets, and he has used talent that to create personalized spreadsheets for the Money Counter Ministry. He also leads one of two teams of counters. His career was in information technology, mostly at AT&T, and he did a lot of financial work during this career — experience that is essential to the Money Counter Ministry. Bob and his wife, Emily, moved to Denton from Carrollton nearly five years ago. They love the community they have found at St. Mark’s. Bob’s zeal for the faith exploded when he retired about 11 years ago. He started attending daily Mass at their previous parish, Mary Immaculate in Farmers Branch, as an offering for Lent. “From daily Mass, I went on to become very involved,” Bob says. “This led me to be a sacristan and an usher. And I got involved in the finance committee, served as a ministry director
Bob and Emily Garza
for senior adults and brought Communion to the nursing home.” Here at St. Mark’s, Bob locks the building twice a week and does the repose for the Adoration Chapel at 8 p.m. He arrives in time to pray a Rosary before the repose. He prays the Rosary each day, but enjoys having the opportunity to pray in the chapel at least twice per week. “This is a special time,” Bob says. “It brings me closer to God.” Bob has also helped with inventory and tracking for Oktoberfest. In
addition, he helps Fr. Baby George by providing transportation to administer the Anointing of the Sick or the Eucharist, when Fr. George is going to an unfamiliar area. “When I was at Mary Immaculate, I caught the bug to be involved,” Bob says. “I gave myself a year here to get the lay of the land, and I got to know Fr. George and the staff. I’m glad to be involved.” Bob was raised mostly by his greatgrandmother and aunt. Thanks to his aunt’s encouragement, he was able to graduate high school and go on to college at the University of North Texas, where he stays involved as a volunteer with the alumni association. Bob and Emily have been married 56 years, and they are blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Emily recently retired and enjoys reading in her free time. When Bob has free time, he enjoys playing golf. As we approach Advent, Bob encourages everyone to get more involved at St. Mark’s and with their faith. Last year, he made an effort to learn more about Advent — he and Emily have an Advent wreath at home. Bob regularly posts to Facebook to help friends learn more about the season.
“When I was at Mary Immaculate, I caught the bug to be involved. I gave myself a year here to get the lay of the land, and I got to know Fr. George and the staff. I’m glad to be involved.” — Bob Garza
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