Area Catholic Community Welcomes Adam Saltmarsh as Our New Business Steward

Our three parishes are blessed to have people who remain committed to serving in whatever ways they can. Many of these devoted stewards are also leaders, showing people the way to Christ through their work on ministries, councils, and committees. One position was recently formed for our Area Catholic Community (ACC) — that of the Business Steward. We are excited to welcome Adam Saltmarsh to this role.

“I am here to help our shepherds, so they have the time to be better shepherds,” Adam says. “This is a ministry, not a job. When God puts something like this in front of you, you have to go down the path He’s leading you to.”

Adam started his work in his new position in early April. He looks forward to working with our three parishes, along with the rest of the Area Catholic Community. He and his wife, Shari, were married at St. Paul’s, and live just outside Osakis with their four children — Analise, 11; Karsten, 10; Kalim, 7 and Kamden, 5. Adam will work to be a good steward of all business aspects of our parishes, along with the rest of the parish staff.

Having worked for the parishes for about two months, Adam is continually learning along the way — in fact, this is his first time working in a nonprofit capacity. He felt called to the position when he first heard it announced during Mass at St. Paul’s. He and his family were visiting for his mother-in-law’s birthday. He applied and after the first interview, was asked back to spend part of a day with Fr. Greg Paffel, visiting the parishes in the ACC.

“Touring the parishes, it just really brought joy to my heart,” Adam says.

Adam has worked in various capacities throughout his career. He enjoys leadership roles and being involved in the community. Up until early April 2020, he was working in the marketing department at Arvig and owned Log Cabin Pizza in Osakis. His position at Arvig was terminated toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he sold Log Cabin Pizza around the same time.

“I had been going 300 miles per hour for the past 13 years,” Adam says. “When all of that happened, it gave me an opportunity to just reevaluate my life, understand my purpose and grow as a person. I prayed more than I have ever prayed in my whole life.”

Everyone in the ACC has made Adam feel right at home, and he says he’s felt “blown away” by the hospitality.

“I just want to thank everyone for the hospitality, for bringing me into this family, and for showing compassionate love for me,” Adam says. “I’ve never felt this welcome in my whole life.”

Adam’s office is at St. Paul’s Parish, but he will go to the southern parishes at least once per week. His position covers all six parishes.

“I am here to serve the community, parishes, and parishioners,” he says. ”I am here to support our priests, so they can spend more time being shepherds and less time on administrative duties.”

Adam entered into the Catholic faith in 2011. He and Shari had been members at Immaculate Conception in Osakis, but they’ve now joined St. Alexius. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with family, riding his bicycle, and traveling. He looks forward to getting to know more parishioners.

“We are all here for each other — to be a steward to other people,” he says. “I am so honored and humbled to be doing this work.”

The Saltmarsh family — Adam and Shari with their children, Analise (11), Karsten (10), Kalim (7), and Kamden (5)