R EF L EC T I N G O N G OD’S PA R IS H I O N ER
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f you had told Ingrid Larson 40 years ago that she would someday become a Catholic and have a daughter preparing to take religious vows in the Church, she scarcely could have believed you — yet, the Lord works in mysterious ways! Ingrid, who was raised in the Lutheran faith, became a confirmed member of the Catholic Church 10 years ago, and her daughter is currently a novice with the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Roswell, N.M. While God’s path for her life is not something she could have predicted, Ingrid is thankful for the many blessings found along the way. Ingrid grew up in the Lutheran church with parents who provided great examples of an active faith life. She remembers her mother in particular as a great “giver” who was always serving others. And as anyone who knows Ingrid can attest, this trait of open hospitality was certainly inherited! “I was a special ed teacher, so I guess I have always had an attraction to helping others,” Ingrid says. “I guess it is one of my gifts. I love to write cards to people, buy little gifts, or do little things for people. My husband says that I must have a sign on, because people will just come up to me in the store or anywhere and want to talk.” Ingrid and Gary have been married for 34 years. At the beginning of their marriage, the couple attended Ingrid’s Lutheran church in addition to Gary’s parish at St. James. Once they had children — son, Brent, and daughter, Sonja — they decided to raise them in the Catholic faith, and the family began attending Catholic Mass exclusively. Then one day, their son asked Ingrid what she thought about becoming Catholic herself. Ingrid enrolled in the RCIA process at St. James and was confirmed in the Catholic Church 10 years ago. While Ingrid had long been active in parish life at St. James — she and Gary have taught Religious Education classes for years — entering fully into the Church increased her love of the sacraments and the Mass. “The Eucharist has just been so special in the Catholic Church, and the liturgy is so meaningful and traditional,” Ingrid says. In addition to continuing to serve as catechists in our Religious Education program, Ingrid and Gary have
Ingrid Larson
The Larson family — Brent, Sonja, Ingrid and Gary
also led Lenten Bible studies for the last few years. Ingrid participates in the Music Ministry as a flutist and is a member of the new Holy Family Area Stewardship Committee. As she continues to become more involved in parish life, Ingrid enjoys the opportunity to connect with more parishioners at St. James and the other Holy Family Area parishes. Of course, one of the greatest blessings that the Larsons’ commitment to the faith has brought them is the joy they receive in watching their children live out intentional discipleship. Their son, Brent, first met his wife, Alyssa, while leading a Bible study. Today, Brent serves as a lector at St. James, where he, Alyssa, and their two young sons typically share a pew with Ingrid and Gary at the weekend Mass. The Larsons’ daughter, Sonja, is now known as Sister Karolina as she begins her second novitiate year with the Poor Clare Monastery in New Mexico. Sonja first began talking about a possible vocation to religious life when she was a vocal performance student at Viterbo University. Following her graduation, she continued her music studies as a Fulbright Scholar in Poland, where she fell even more deeply in love with her Catholic faith. As she was exploring a possible call to vows, Sonja suffered a serious concussion. Feeling that her recovery was a second chance at the one earth-
