Matthew And Katie Volk: Parish Youth Live Out Stewardship

“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” With these words, Proverbs 22:6 instructs us on the great importance of bringing children up in the faith. When parishioners Cody and Christy Volk got married, there was no doubt in their minds that they would raise their children in the Church.

Thankful for the example provided them by their own sets of parents, the Volks have made involvement in parish life a natural part of their family’s schedule, to include the participation of their children, Matthew and Katie. Both Matthew and Katie are altar servers and, along with their father, they have also helped train other young parishioners in this ministry.

“I like altar serving because I get to work with the deacons and the priest,” Matthew says. “I also think that it helps me pay more attention to the Mass. When I help with training the new altar servers, I feel good because I’m helping the church.”

Following the lead of their dad, Cody, who serves on the Parish Council and parish Social Concerns Committee, Matthew and Katie have also volunteered to tie prayer blankets for hospital patients and have helped with the annual Christmas Eve Dinner here at Ascension.

“I helped with the blankets because I knew it was a good thing to do, and I wanted to help the church,” Katie says. “And it felt good helping with the Christmas Eve Dinner. I like to stay active in my faith life because my mom and dad encourage me to participate in Mass and all these activities, and it always makes me feel good.”

As a middle schooler himself, Matthew knows how difficult it can be for some children his age to resist the temptation to stray from their foundation in the faith. His advice for young people who are struggling to stay on the right path is to surround themselves with like-minded peers and remember that the Lord will give them the strength to follow His will.

“Peer pressure is probably the hardest thing for kids my age,” he says. “I normally just hang out with the friends I know I can trust, and not other people who aren’t as trustworthy. I would tell kids who are facing peer pressure to make sure you have friends you can trust, and if you get put in a bad situation, just walk away. Know that God is watching over you, and if you do make a mistake and do something wrong, you can go to Confession.”

Like Matthew, Katie is thankful that she has God — and her parents — to turn to whenever she faces a difficult decision or situation.

Both of the Volk children plan to stay active in parish life as they get older — Matthew envisions himself one day serving as a lector and usher, while Katie has an interest in serving as a lector and in music ministry.

It is the sincerest hope of Cody and Christy that the seeds of faith and stewardship they are planting in their children at an early age will continue to grow and blossom through their adulthood.

“Cody and I were both fortunate that we had a good foundation in the faith and it was important in our families’ lives,” Christy says. “And it’s especially important for kids growing up in today’s world. I hope our kids always talk to us, but I also hope they know God is always there and they can talk to Him, too. Faith is so important for getting through life.”

Katie and Matthew Volk enjoy altar serving and helping out with parish ministries.