Meet Parishioners Wade and Mary Margaret Mathers: Faith and Family Go Hand in Hand

As Christians, we are called to bring the Good News out in our everyday lives. We aren’t meant to only practice the faith at Sunday Mass and simply proceed with our week. For those who work in a secular career, bringing the faith into our workplaces can be a little more challenging.

Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners Wade and Mary Margaret Mathers both work in public education, so they know the delicate balance of faith and work.

“I’m just always trying to keep my priorities straight,” Wade says. “I always try very hard to have faith, family, then work.”

Wade is the Principal of Little Falls Community Middle School. Mary Margaret is the Assistant Special Education Director for the Freshwater Education District. Mary Margaret has also worked as a teacher in the past. The couple has a daughter, Samantha, who lives in Duluth with her husband, Andreas, and their son, Soren.

The COVID-19 precautions and shutdowns of the past year and a half have presented challenges for all of us, but those working in education have been particularly affected. But through all of life’s ups and downs, Wade and Mary Margaret strive to keep their faith at the center.

“We struggle every day, just like everyone else,” Wade says. “I am just always trying to say ‘no’ to human nature, and go back to complete surrender and child-like faith. There’s conversion every single day, even through each hour in the day.”

For Mary Margaret, it’s important to keep her faith at the center, even in the midst of the simplest daily tasks. She always strives to let God be in control.

“I always try to keep faith as the priority, no matter where I am,” she says. “I want to always be Christ for others and treat everyone with dignity.”

Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners Wade and Mary Margaret Mathers

They both agree that keeping the faith and letting God be in control helps them be a better spouse, parent, grandparent, and employee.

“We love God and we love each other,” Wade says. “We fail often, but we keep getting up again. We are learning over and over how to surrender.”

Both Wade and Mary Margaret are on the Stewardship Committee for our parishes. They also serve as a Mentor Couple for the Marriage Prep Ministry. Mary Margaret is also a lector and Wade teaches high school-level religious education.

Being a Principal means that, at times, Wade does have to have tough conversations with students. He tries to follow the example of Fr. Mike Schmitz, a popular Catholic priest and speaker, by delivering a message with love.

“I try not to be afraid to deliver the truth with love,” Wade says. “I also find that if I try to be open to the Holy Spirit, the scales are taken off my eyes, and it’s easy to follow His will.”

Wade and Mary Margaret Mathers with their daughter, Samantha, son-in-law Andreas and grandson Soren

For Mary Margaret, St. Therese of Lisieux is an important saint to whom she feels a very personal connection. For Wade, St. Padre Pio is the “go-to” saint — his mother prayed to St. Padre Pio when Wade was a teenager. He feels those prayers made a big difference in his life.

Wade and Mary Margaret enter the upcoming 2021-22 school year with hope and continued faith.

“I believe I was created for the time I am in,” Wade says. “The world can be topsy-turvy, but you can be excited about the time you are in.”