Meet the Behrmanns: Living a Life of Prayer, Service and Gratitude

If you visit the Behrmanns at their home these days, you just might find yourself refreshed by the divine wellspring of God’s Word.

“Prayer is an important part of our family life,” Angela Behrmann says. “This past year, we committed to listening to Fr. Mike’s Bible in a Year podcast, which covers the entire Bible in 365 days. During it, this amazing priest explains Scripture and salvation history. We have learned so much from it! I encourage everyone to begin this program because it has made a great impact on my family. Listening to and understanding God’s Word has changed my life.”

Leaning on the sturdy pillar of the Sacred Scriptures, Angela and her husband, Will, and their three children, Hannah, Andrew, and Brandon, seek to follow Christ in their home and far beyond. Day by day, Angela particularly devotes herself to a profound prayer life, receiving from it tremendous peace, love, and joy.

“I love Mary,” she says. “She has been at my side from the beginning. She helps me and guides me closer to Christ. I say the Rosary daily, which is a habit I began when one of my children was extremely ill, and now I say a decade for each member of my family each day. I am able to pray it while I am driving, waiting in line, or doing, well, almost anything! Mary wants to help us. We need to give her a chance. She will bring us to Christ.”

Will and his sons at Scouts

Bringing children to the heart of Christ is one of Angela Behrmann’s deepest desires as well.

“There are so many talented, knowledgeable, loving people in our parish family that can help our children and our families learn,” Angela says. “We need each other. We could do so much more to help our children grow in their Catholic faith, but it takes all of us to help them know about God’s love.”

Ever since the Behrmanns began attending our parish in 2008, they have been serving our faith community generously and enthusiastically.

“As soon as we joined the parish, we enrolled our oldest child in Faith Formation and I began teaching Faith Formation,” Angela says. “I love teaching children. I have learned so much about the love of God by teaching them. As we know, God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I have taught all ages and grade levels within the Catholic Church for over 25 years.”

Over the years, Angela has also enjoyed helping out with Vacation Bible School and the Italian Festival. Recently, she was also invited to lead the Altar Server Ministry.

As a couple, Will and Angela have dedicated much of their time and talent to work with teenage boys and young men.

Angela and Will Behrmann

The Behrmann children — Hannah, Andrew and Brandon

“Scout Troop 219 is an incredible ministry at St. Philip Neri,” Angela says. “It involves an energetic, fun, and dedicated group of scouts and leaders who help our youth grow into the men that God intended them to be. The Religious Emblems program for Catholic Scouts meets the boys where they are at — they love Scouting and the program shows them that being a good scout and a good Catholic go hand-in-hand. There is both a middle school (Ad Altare Dei) and high school (Pope Pius XII) program that gives scouts a place to learn about God’s love, and support each other as they seek to be leaders in our community.”

The scouts spend about a year learning, doing service projects, spending time with Catholic leaders, and praying and having fun together.

“As the Scoutmaster for Troop 219, my husband spends many days and nights supporting our youth as they develop,” Angela says. “He is an amazing role model not only for my children but for all of the scouts as well.”

For Angela, serving and living in stewardship each day has been positively impactful.

“I’ve always been taught that you get out of something what you put into it,” she says. “For me, getting involved, helping others, and making a difference help me be a better person and grow closer to Christ. Stewardship is a way of life. For it to be truly rewarding, it has to be integrated into my daily life.”

Hannah Behrmann with Life Teen friends

Fr. Fabio teaching the Behrmann children about Liturgy and worship

Lastly, Will and Angela encourage their children to embrace stewardship, as well.

“Hannah is working to get teens involved in helping with the Social Justice Ministry,” she says. “This involves learning about and helping with homelessness, poverty, fair market trade, and voting with a Catholic conscience. Furthermore, Hannah and my older son are acolytes and lectors, and my younger son is an altar server.”

Will and his sons at Scouts