ME E T PA R IS H IO N E RS JOH N AN D JU D I MAL LEN:
“T HIS IS OU R FAMI LY ”
J
ohn and Judi Mallen were But what really brought both raised in large famithem close together as a coulies, and to them, the family ple was going through Maris a reflection of the Church, riage Encounter in the 1980s. which needs all its members. “It was a bonding experi“It was really a blessing in ence for us as a couple and for a large family if you identified us and the parish,” Judi says. how important each person “We moved away from our is and how each person has a family, and our church is more talent,” John says. “You have family than our families are. to rely on each other because Marriage Encounter opened you have expertise that other us up to friends and families people might not have. Everyin the parish and got us inone has to pitch in and help.” volved in every direction.” After moving to Yuba City When John and Judi first in 1979, John and Judi started joined the faith community, looking for a Catholic church a parishioner reached out to as soon as they arrived. them, expressed genuine con“Honestly I was a little cern, and welcomed them into taken aback by the design the parish. This act of inviting of the church, though I have others into parish life might really come to love it,” John connect someone with the parsays. “It was designed in the ish as a “family” in a way they St. Isidore’s John and Judi Mallen late 1950s to represent a barn weren’t connected before. because St. Isidore was a farmer in Spain.” “‘Be not afraid’ to reach out and see what you can get John and Judi have both been Extraordinary Minisinvolved in,” Judi says. “There are always sign-ups at the ters of Holy Communion and taught marriage preparaback of church for different things. Pick something and tion classes together. In addition, they have participated try it out.” in a Rosary group and Bible studies for years along with Recently, as John has reflected on their decades of other ministries. Judi has also served on the Finance involvement with the parish, he has felt called to give Council for about 15 years, and John has been a member even more to the parish and to the school. He describes of the Knights of Columbus for about 30 years. the “big picture” and how important it is for all of us to continued on page 6
“What we’re doing, we’re not doing for ourselves. We’re doing it for the people who come after us. The responsibility is to build up the Church spiritually and physically because there are people after us, and it is going to be necessary for them.” — John Mallen 5
