Get to Know the Members of Our Area Catholic Community Council!

The Leadership Team takes on the biggest ideas involving all six parishes — St. Donatus in Brooten; St. Alexius in West Union; St. Francis de Sales in Belgrade; Sts. Peter and Paul in Elrosa; Our Lady of the Angels in Sauk Centre; St. Paul’s in Sauk Centre. Their most ongoing topic is how to foster stewardship as a way of life. They are a great help to the pastor in guiding our ACC. The purpose of our team is threefold:

1. To be the primary body of the faithful for the pastor to consult for pastoral direction within the Area Catholic Community (ACC).

2. To study, pray, listen and act upon the inspirations of the Holy Spirit as a way to further the mission of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church in each parish and in the ACC.

3. To work together for the greatest pastoral good of each parish and of the ACC. There are 14 lay members including representation from each parish and from the Catholic school. In addition, we have representation from each priest.

ABBY ZENZEN

1. How are you involved in your parish?

I actually belong to St. John the Baptist in Meire Grove. I am the secretary of the St. John’s Society, which is a combination of our former men’s and women’s societies. I am also a Eucharistic Minister, hoping soon we can return to this ministry.

2. How did you get involved on the Leadership Team?

I was asked to represent Holy Family School. It is very hard to say “no” to Fr. Greg or Lynn Peterson.

3. What is the best part about being on the team?

I think building relationships with all the different people from the different parishes has been the best part — understanding where they come from and how each parish has unique needs and gifts. The common bond of loving our Lord and wanting to serve our parishes and schools is pretty awesome!

4. Being on the Leadership Team, what is your hope for the ACC?

I think it is important to be fiscally responsible but also remember emotions are involved. When business decisions are made it is important to also see the impact these decisions make to the emotions of the humans that are impacted. I think we all want the same thing — a healthy, thriving church where unique identities can still be maintained.

5. How long will you serve on the Leadership Team?

Holy Family School, Sauk Centre — I serve until June 30, 2024. I did just sign up for one more threeyear term, so they are stuck with me!

JUDY DETLOFF

1. How are you involved in your parish?

I am a sacristan, Rosary leader, lector, Extraordinary Minister, Anchoress of the Seven Sisters Apostolate in our parish, I do the laundry for the church, and I am on the ACC committee.

2. How did you get involved on the Leadership Team?

I was asked to serve by Fr. David.

3. What is the best part about being on the team?

We all work together like a family! We all have the same goal, to better our parishes, and increase the attendance and involvement in Faith Formation, by sharing resources.

4. Being on the Leadership Team, what is your hope for the ACC?

I hope that we can get the youth and young couples involved in our churches, and bring Stewardship to the Southern parishes.

5. How long will you serve on Leadership Team?

St. Donatus, Brooten — I serve until June 30, 2024. Our mission is to bring souls to Our Lord, and help them gain the rewards of heaven. Our six parishes share one Pastor and two Parochial Vicars. We have combined and made one website, and one bulletin for all six parishes! We are also sharing resources for our Faith Formation!

DEB FRIE

1. How are you involved in your parish?

I’ve been a member at St. Alexius for 36 years. I’m involved with the Funeral Committee, Christian Mothers and help with sausage supper preparations for several days before the actual supper.

2. How did you get involved on the Leadership Team?

I was nominated by the Pastoral Council at the time. Fr. Greg called and asked me to be a part of the committee.

3. What is the best part about being on the Leadership Team?

I think the best part is getting to know people from all six of our parishes. Everyone is willing to work together for the betterment of all parishes.

4. Being on the Leadership Team, what is your hope for the ACC?

My hope is that all of us continue to grow in our faith and can come to work together like a well-oiled machine.

5. What goals are the Leadership Team working towards? Why are these goals are important?

The leadership team is working on trying to get more involvement from everyone in several areas, including adult faith formation, stronger youth formation and more community involvement with non-parishioners. All of these are important because things go better when more people are involved. The old saying “many hands make light work for everyone” definitely applies.

6. Which goal are you most interested in and why? What concrete things need to happen to achieve that goal?

I’d like to be more involved with mission trips for the youth. If more youth could go on these trips, they would realize a lot more about what’s really going on in the world. Not everyone has adequate food, clothing, education and shelter. The first thing that needs to happen before these trips can occur is for the COVID-19 pandemic to be brought under control.

JANET ZENZEN

1. How are you involved in your parish?

I am involved in the parish of Our Lady of the Angels by volunteering as a lector, a Weekend Rosary Leader, adorer of the Blessed Sacrament, praying for teenagers through Teen Intercessory Prayer, and a Money Counter.

2. How did you get involved on the Leadership Team?

Fr. Greg asked if I’d consider representing OLA as part of the ACC Leadership Team. I am grateful that my parents brought me to OLA to Mass every Sunday for as long as I can remember. It taught me the importance to have worship and the consistent renewal of faith in my life. I felt that was a good reason to say “yes.”

3. What is the best part about being on the Leadership Team?

We share a unified intention for the Catholic faith to be a foundation for people.

4. Being on the Leadership Team, what is your hope for the ACC?

My hope for the ACC is for our churches to become more vibrant; to welcome individuals and families to the Catholic faith, to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ; to learn His teachings through the sacraments and guidance by the service of the priests in our parishes.

5. What happens at the Leadership Team meetings? When and where do they meet?

We pray together and discuss what is working well in each parish and what could be improved on. Through collaboration with each other, we hope to help build stronger parishes. We meet the second Thursday of the month at one of the six parishes or at the Centre for Christ.

6. If someone would like to submit requests to the Leadership Team, how do they do that?

Any requests to the Leadership Team may be made by contacting any one of the Leadership Team Members. Written requests may be dropped off at any of the parish offices, Attn: ACC Leadership Team.