MEET PARISHIONERS Tim Hankins and Helen Maxey: Blessed to Serve God and Our Faith Community Together

Tim Hankins and Helen Maxey have been parishioners at Holy Family Cathedral for the last eight years. The pair have been involved in various ways throughout these years, from gardening to serving as Eucharistic Ministers and many efforts in between.

“We started noticing the grounds needing some attention,” Helen says. “We asked if we could help and ‘yes’ was the answer. I guess you could say it blossomed from that point.” While their volunteer efforts around the cathedral began with gardening, Helen and Tim have given their time and talents to several other ministries. Tim occasionally assists as an acolyte at Mass. He says that while all activities are meaningful in their own way, this particular ministry holds a special importance to him.

“I was an altar boy as a kid, but being an active part of the sacrifice of the Mass 55 years later with a front-row seat is very special to me,” he says.

The faith holds great significance for both Helen and Tim. Serving at the cathedral is something they feel blessed to do together, and it is among their favorite things to do as a couple. Tim and Helen have actively served in many capacities. They give their talents as lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, as well as through the Elevate capital campaign, adoration, the Hospitality Ministry, and ushering. Every Sunday evening, they greet parishioners and serve as ushers for our Sunday night Mass.

“We joke about the number of ushers that sign up for 5 p.m. Mass Sunday night since it’s just the two of us — ‘do you want to be usher one or two?’” Helen says

Helen and Tim were married in 2015, initially drawn to one another having been cradle Catholics their whole lives and sharing a middle name with each other.

“I proposed to Helen from a kneeler in front of a side altar, the Mary Altar,” Tim says. “That was after a Mass during Christmas season 2013. We were married at that altar 15 months later by Msgr. Gier. A month later, we were on a pilgrimage to see the Shroud of Turin and other Italian stops. While we had hoped to marry in Assisi, the logistics were too complicated. Msgr. Gier did assist us in repeating our vows at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, our patron saint. He noted that it was the first time in all his long career that he had to repeat a couple’s vows in 30 days!”

We thank Tim and Helen for their wonderful stewardship example here in our Holy Family community!

Tim Hankins and Helen Maxey have been parishioners at Holy Family Cathedral for the last eight years.

Helen and Tim have given their time and talents to several ministries.

We thank Tim and Helen for their wonderful stewardship example here in our Holy Family community!

Helen and Tim were wed at the Mary Altar in 2015 and, a month later, repeated their vows at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.