Mark and Cindy Nelson: Following the Call to Serve

As children of God, we are all called to a life of service. The way we embrace this calling is different for each of us, whether we serve in grand gestures or small acts of daily kindness, or within the walls of our home, or out in the broader community. For parishioners Mark and Cindy Nelson, service has always been a part of life. Both have served in the Air Force. Mark also spent time as a firefighter and EMT before becoming an engineer, and Cindy is a nurse. In addition to choosing careers that focus on service, the Nelsons also find time to lend their talents here at St. Scholastica!

For both Cindy and Mark, following the Gospel call to serve was something they witnessed early in their lives. Cindy was born in Oregon and grew up in Pennsylvania. Her mother, a single mom to three children, made it a priority to keep the family close to the Church. Mark was raised primarily in Miami. His parents were a strong example in the faith to him, as was his childhood priest, Fr. O’Brien.

When Mark and Cindy met in the Air Force, their shared Catholic faith helped bring them together. That same faith went on to get them through some tough times. In August of 1990, just two months after the couple was married, Mark was deployed in the Gulf War. Cindy leaned on her faith during his deployment. It was also a reliance on God and prayer that later got her through the loss of her mother to cancer.

In bringing up their own two children in the Church, the Nelsons passed on this same gift of faith to the next generation.

“What I tell them is just to have faith and prayer — especially during troubled times — to make sure that they remember that God is always there for them,” says Cindy of the couple’s two grown children, Christopher and Susan. “We hope we have formed them and pray that they always remember that there is something bigger out there than this crazy world we live in.”

“We realize that we turned out the way we did based on faith and family, so we wanted our kids to have that,” Mark agrees. “We had such good role models.”

Both of the Nelsons describe themselves as “helpers” and emphasize their love of helping others. In addition to the various service-based careers they have chosen over the years, they have also been willing to serve here in the parish. Mark is a Knight of Columbus and Cindy is part of the Daughters of St. Scholastica. Before taking on the night shift at her place of work, she also helped with Religious Education classes.

Staying active in their faith has always been important to the Nelsons — and they have found a home in the Church everywhere life has taken them.

“I make time for church no matter what,” Mark says. “I just don’t miss church. The Catholics are a second family, I guess you could say. You could go anywhere in the world and adapt quickly because of your beliefs. Even when I was in Germany and when I was in Guam, I had parishes to go to.”

The Nelsons have called St. Scholastica “home” for 10 years and can’t wait to see what the future holds for our faith family. Whatever may come, you can be sure that these natural “helpers” will be here lending their time and talents to our parish and community!

“Fr. Rob has been wonderful and has done a lot of good things for the church — and all the parishioners, as well,” Cindy says. “Before COVID, if you weren’t in church one day, people asked if you were okay. During the flooding and other things that have happened, everyone has helped each other. I have some wonderful relationships with the older women. It’s an extended family that is wonderful to have, and sometimes just being there can ease your heart when it’s frustrated.

“I’m excited to see our church continue to grow,” she adds. “I love to see us out in the community helping, and I’m just excited to see what’s next for our church.”