Meet Parishioners Jeff and Diana Hollis: “We See the Need to Help Others in the Community”

After 44 years as parishioners at Immaculate Conception, Jeff and Diana Hollis have made many ties to their home parish. They raised their daughters, Linda and Laura, at Immaculate Conception — both attended the parish school and were married at the parish. Since their girls were young, Jeff and Diana have been involved in a variety of ministries, committees, and organizations.

When their daughters were in grade school, Diana served as a Girl Scout troop leader through the parish. Later, her real mission became her service through the Legion of Mary.

“It’s a wonderful ministry to be a part of in honor of our Blessed Mother,” Diana says.

Through the Legion, Diana began visiting Catholic patients at Lake West Medical Center. She dedicated 17 years to the Legion of Mary, though recently she stepped back in order to focus on volunteering for hospice. A retired hairdresser, Diana hopes to offer her skills to patients once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Jeff’s involvement began when he and Diana first joined the parish, and he went to the Chair of the Finance Council with an idea. One thing led to another, and Jeff found himself on the Finance Council, eventually serving as Chair for at least 10 years. He has also served on the Endowment Committee and the Parish Council.

“It got us much more involved,” Jeff says. “We got to know a lot of parishioners much better than we had in the past. It got me into other activities at the parish, and I think as time went by, I kind of got away from the financial aspects, but serving others was a natural progression from that.”

Now Jeff gives much of his time to the Mother Teresa Society as a driver, picking up food donations from local retailers and delivering them to Immaculate Conception and Mount Carmel. He often goes straight from making his deliveries on Sunday morning to helping as a greeter at Mass.

Both Jeff and Diana serve as Eucharistic Ministers at Mass and have taken Communion to parishioners in assisted living. While COVID-19 restrictions have impacted how they serve, Jeff and Diana have stayed committed to their service and it certainly keeps them busy.

“Being in any ministry is important because it’s a big part of our faith,” Diana says.

“We see the need to help others in the community,” Jeff says. “Organizations such as the Mother Teresa Society do a wonderful job addressing that issue and I’m very happy to be part of it.”

Serving the parish and the community has had a major impact on the Hollis family, providing them with valuable opportunities for both prayer and service.

“I think with any ministering or volunteering, you feel like you somehow get more out of it than those you serve,” Diana says. “It’s a good feeling to assist others. People just need to do it that one time and break the ice, and they’ll realize how comfortable they can be.”

Jeff and Diana Hollis