The Williams Family: LIVING A LIFE IN FAITHFUL SERVICE

Some of us have a full plate of daily demands that don’t leave us much free time. Some of us might have plenty of time on our hands. No matter how much extra time we have each day, there are many ways to spend it, and parishioner Curt Williams tries to use his free time to help others and serve Our Lady of Lourdes.

“I get that from my parents,” Curt says. “It’s something God put in me. I’m also just an optimistic person. I believe we can do what we set out to do.”

Curt, Jennifer, and their three children — Megan, Clay, and Cate — each spend a portion of their time in service to Our Lady of Lourdes and the community.

Jennifer served and chaired the Stewardship Committee and also serves as a lector. She has also been involved at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. Curt has served on the Finance Council for about 10 years. He was also actively involved in Regnum Christi. This ministry helped him grow in faith through retreats and a men’s group.

“We all have talents and temperaments,” Curt says. “We should just realize the gifts we are given, and use them to build the Kingdom. If we do that, we have done what we are supposed to do.”

Curt is a born leader, and he has used this trait in his work at Our Lady of Lourdes. One community contribution of which Curt is most proud is helping to start the nonprofit Capital City Clauses more than 25 years ago. The one-night fundraiser supports the Salvation Army and, since its inception, has given thousands of toys to children throughout Wake County for Christmas.

“I am proud of the group who took it over and really made it what it is,” Curt says. “It’s something very special.”

In addition, Jennifer headed up the One Day for Him program. For five years, hundreds of parishioners gathered to volunteer at nonprofits throughout Raleigh. Volunteers bagged lunches, painted, ministered downtown, and more.

Curt, Jennifer, Clay, Megan and Cate Williams all live out stewardship at Our Lady of Lourdes.

The Williams children also give of their time and talent. Clay was an altar server and Cate is a current altar server. Megan gives of her time in talent whenever she can, like making masks and donating them at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They have a good model in my wife,” Curt says.

Jennifer was raised Catholic in Dayton, Ohio. Curt was raised Southern Baptist on a farm in Faison, N.C. In 2000, he took part in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults here at Our Lady of Lourdes and entered into the Catholic faith. He chose St. Paul as his Confirmation saint, because of Paul’s ability to evangelize.

“I found the Catholic Church to be the right place for me,” he says. “I thought that if this is the Church Christ started, then this is where I want to be.”

As time has gone on, Curt has found an even deeper love for the Catholic faith. He has also found his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Sheila, to be great role models in living out the faith.

“I call Sheila, ‘St. Sheila,’” Curt says. “With all that she has been through, she has a strong spirit and faith. She’s such an inspiration to me.”

Curt looks forward to inviting others at Our Lady of Lourdes into a life of stewardship. He has found so much joy and hopes others will too.

“I just want to see Our Lady of Lourdes be a beehive of activity,” he says. “I want to see people giving, helping, and actively involved. I want to see them reaching out in the community.”