Parishioners Greg and Mary Hobbs Sharing in Dedicated Prayer and Active Service

For Greg and Mary Hobbs, being active parishioners takes a combination of dedicated prayer and loving service. With deep roots in the Our Lady of Lourdes community, the Hobbs family has much to be grateful for and much to offer.

Greg and Mary moved here in 1995, but Greg was actually baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes over 60 years ago — his parents were one of the original parish families. He remembers a time before the new church was built and attending Mass in the gym. Later, he took part in his brother’s wedding — the first wedding in the new church.

“I have fond memories of going to school there and serving Mass there the first time on Christmas Day,” Greg says. “I grew up with a lot of families that were part of the community. That church is important to me for a lot of reasons.”

Greg and Mary raised their three children in the parish and now they are happy to see their daughter bring their two grandchildren to Mass here.

In the last 15 years or more, Greg and Mary have found their place in the Legion of Mary. Mary served as president in the past and is currently the vice president. Mary remembers how after daily Mass, two Legion members invited her to join.

“I just felt compelled to show up,” Mary says. “I thought God must be calling me to do this.”

In their years with the Legion of Mary, Greg and Mary have engaged in service in many ways, from door-to-door evangelizing to visiting new parishioners, homebound parishioners, and those in nursing homes. Mary taught faith formation to the fourth grade for more than 10 years.

“I became a member of the Legion because I felt it was something I should do,” she says. “These are the things we’re supposed to be doing as Catholics — evangelization, working for God, being the army of the Blessed Mother. It was more of a duty. But it has grown to help me see Christ in other people and to really enjoy living my faith with the discipline of the Legion.”

Through their years with the parish, Greg and Mary have also been faithful adorers at the adoration chapel. Their weekly Holy Hours have been foundational to their spiritual lives.

“Adoration has really been a vehicle of grace for me,” Mary says. “I believe God has drawn me in during that hour. Somehow, I’ve gotten to be a better Catholic by going.”

Sustained by prayer, Greg and Mary’s service to the parish and community is a priority for them.

“It’s the way that I show my love for God,” Mary says. “I don’t want to ever become complacent with just living in the world, but not building up my treasure in heaven.”

For Greg and Mary Hobbs, active involvement in the parish is a combination of dedicated prayer and loving service.