Meet Parishioners Dana and Scott Trost: Trusting in God’s Providence

With God’s help, even a neighborhood garage sale can be a lifechanging event — just ask parishioner Dana Trost. This past spring, Dana was selling various secondhand goods, along with a substantial pile of Catholic-themed books, merely hoping for some extra cash in her pocket. Instead, God chose that moment to answer a prayer, fulfilling a longing in her heart for like-minded friends of faith.

“A lady came up to us, saw the books, and asked if we were Catholic,” Dana says. “She wanted to start a Rosary group and asked if we would be a part of it. We now meet about once a month. It is a small group, but it is very powerful. It was such an answer to prayer.”

Dana and her husband, Scott, recently joined Holy Family Cathedral. They have been married for 25 years and have six children ranging in age from 10 to 24 — two boys (the oldest and the youngest) with four girls inbetween. Dana is a cradle Catholic and Scott converted to the faith as an adult. Both have been involved as parish volunteers for many years.

“I got an email with a checklist for volunteering and I filled out one for my husband too,” Dana says, with a laugh. “I think I signed him up for just about everything!”

Both Scott and Dana are actively involved in the Church, not only for the sake of their own personal growth but also as an example to their children.

“Parish life is being drawn to the sacraments,” Scott says. “It is humbling and beautiful — perhaps a glimpse of heaven — to see such a community of families desiring the frequent reception of the sacraments and to see the fruit that it bears as we share these gifts together. God is good!”

Dana admits to not having all the answers but tries with her whole heart to live a countercultural life modeled after the saints, about whose lives she loves to read.

“We become who and what we surround ourselves with,” Dana says. “Our goal — more importantly, God’s goal — is for our children to become saints. The world isn’t going to be an example to our children, so we have to be. We must do saintly things.” The thought of doing “saintly things” can be intimidating, but even in our everyday lives, God is present and waiting to open doors. The garage sale-turned-Rosary invitation is a perfect example. All it took was a simple prayer and the Lord answered in an unexpected way.

Dana encourages all parishioners to take a leap of faith and ask the Lord for more. With so many parish ministries reopening following the pandemic, it is a fantastic time to start!

“Think about your God-given talents and where they can be used,” Dana says. “Do you like speaking or leading? If so, try being a reader. Do you like learning Scripture? Join a Scripture study. Do you like quiet time but can’t find any? Sign up for an hour of adoration. Do you like social time and chatting with people? Come down for coffee and donuts. If you’re not sure what to do, ask Him! He will tell you!”

“The world isn’t going to be an example to our children, so we have to be,” Dana says. “We must do saintly things.”

Both Scott and Dana are actively involved in the Church, not only for the sake of their own personal growth, but also as an example to their children.