Meet Parishioner Colleen Deneen: Advocating for Life and Sharing Talents with God

Parishioner Colleen Deneen has always felt convicted to advocate for the lives of the unborn and to value the lives of the elderly, especially in our current culture that disrespects life in its earliest and ultimate moments.

“Participating in the Pro-Life Ministry is a calling, an obligation if you will, to work to right a wrong that is the underlying cause of so much destruction in our world,” Colleen says. “We must learn to recognize the blessings of little children and the wisdom and experience of our elderly.”

Colleen and her family relocated from SanFrancisco to Grass Valley in 1993 because they wanted to raise their youngest daughters in a rural setting free from a “big-city influence.”

“Since we had decided to send our children to Mt. St. Mary Academy, it only made sense that we would join St. Patrick even though we lived between Grass Valley and Auburn,” Colleen says. “This parish has been our home for 28 years.”

Over the years Colleen has engaged in several different parish ministries, but she has been particularly called to the Pro-Life Ministry and Music Ministry.

In San Francisco, Colleen and her family were committed to helping young women in crisis pregnancies.

“We provided a home, education, and emotional support to unwed mothers during a very challenging time,” Colleen says. “During those years in San Francisco, five young women lived with us — a benefit not only to them but to our own children who learned the value of helping others.”

Having sung in her parish choir as a child, Colleen has an ongoing love of music. During her high school and college years, she helped with annual elementary school musical shows for parents and school communities.

“I was particularly drawn to liturgical music, and this love carried over into parish life in San Francisco, where I started a children’s choir and a junior high choir to sing at Mass,” Colleen says.

It was a natural transition for Colleen to continue working with the Music Ministry at St. Patrick.

“Teaching children to know and understand their faith through liturgical music just made sense,” Colleen says. “How many of us still remember the musical jingles we heard on TV or radio as children?”

At St. Patrick, Colleen also had the opportunity to work with our adult choirs when a choir director was needed.

Colleen Deneen’s own faith has grown immensely through her work with the Music Ministry, and she has also grown closer to the faith community.

“It was the best of all worlds — continuing my work with the children and teens, as well as working with the adult choirs to continue bringing beautiful music focused on God to our parish community!” Colleen says.

Colleen’s own faith has grown immensely through her work with the Music Ministry, and she has also grown closer to the faith community.

“I have come to know nearly all of our parishioners by name or face over the years,” Colleen says. “I have shared in their happiness while planning weddings and anniversary celebrations, or their pain and sorrows while planning the funeral of a loved one. I have learned that music is the universal language that speaks to the heart.”

New members are always welcome to join any of our parish choirs and share their talents with our faith community while enjoying fellowship on their spiritual journeys.

“It’s rewarding to watch Mt. St. Mary children experience the joy of singing in music class or even in the hallways at school,” Colleen says. “I am so thankful that God gifted me with music and so grateful that I’ve been given so many opportunities to offer this gift back to Him in so many ways.”