Queen of the Holy Rosary C at h o l i c C h u r c h
Drew and Joanne Bodner Reflect on Stewardship G R AT E F U L F O R T H E G I F T O F A P E R S O N A L I N V I TAT I O N
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t all started with a personal invitation. Both Drew and Joanne Bodner have been active parishioners at Queen of the Holy Rosary for decades, but they can both still recall their first steps into parish life here. Drew was only 19 when he was first asked to become an usher in 1957. Just over 20 years later, Joanne was introduced to our parish when she began dating Drew. Her acceptance of the Lord’s invitation to come into the Catholic Church in 1983 began a new chapter in discipleship for her. Together, the Bodners have served God and His people in countless ways, receiving abundant blessings in return. Drew still remembers the day he was asked to participate in the liturgy at Queen for the first time. “I was home from college and went to Mass, and an usher came up and asked me to take up the collection,” he says. “This usher didn’t realize that he gave me a liturgical gift I cherish — the gift of ushering. Ushering offers unlimited joys and opportunities for evangelizing. It’s a matter of inviting people to serve — some are just waiting for an invitation.” In Drew’s case, that moment 64 years ago led to a lifelong ministry. By the late 1970s, he had become the usher coordinator, a role that he filled until 2007. Drew continued to serve as the head usher for the 9 o’clock Mass until the pandemic hit last March. Ultimately, the invitation he received as a young man shaped his entire adulthood in the Church. Similarly, Joanne discovered that being invited to participate in parish life had a great impact on the direction that her faith took following her conversion to Catholicism. “Through the years and most especially under Fr. Bill, the people coming into the Church through RCIA are really invited to participate in the liturgy and in the parish,” she says. “When you convert, it’s such a big deal. I liken it to moving to another country where they speak
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Joanne and Drew Bodner
the same language, but you still have to learn to follow all their customs. You’re reluctant to just jump into new things, and I think there is an emphasis at Queen on inviting new parishioners and RCIA people to participate.” Over the years, the Bodners have been involved in various parish ministries and activities. They served on the Call to Charity Action committee (which is no longer extant) and helped with the food pantry. Drew and Joanne are also charter members of the Queen’s Saints senior group. In recent years, they have enjoyed participating in the Centering Prayer Group and the Discovering Christ and Following Christ programs led by Fr. Bill. The Bodners’ life has also been greatly influenced by their connection with the Sisters of Charity of continued on page 7
