Profile: Greg And Mary Keslar — Stewardship At The Center Of Family Life

Greg and Mary Keslar certainly have a special history as a couple with our parish — in fact, they came to Mass at St. Leo’s on one of their very first dates! Today, the Keslars have been married for 21 years, and St. Leo’s remains a fixture in their married life together. If you happen to attend the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays, you have likely seen Greg and Mary with their daughter, Maggie, sitting in their “regular” pew.

Both Greg and Mary have been actively involved in parish life over the years. Greg is a member of the Knights of Columbus and serves as a greeter for Mass.

“I enjoy talking to people, so greeting people puts that talent to use,” Greg says. “The Knights let me serve the community and help people.”

Mary, too, is a greeter at St. Leo’s, as well as a Eucharistic Minister. She has also found ways to use her background in finance to help with various committees. She was a member of our parish Finance Committee for 12 years and served on the Fundraising Committee for expanding the church some years ago. In addition, she is the current treasurer for the Ladies of St. Leo’s.

“God has taken care of us, so we want to give back and serve the Lord by giving of our time, talents and treasure,” Mary says. “We feel it is important to make time to serve the Lord and enjoy working with others. We feel closer to the Lord and get fulfillment in the fact that we are helping our fellow parishioners to take a little off of their plate.”

The stewardship way of life is something that Greg and Mary witnessed in both sets of their parents, and they always knew that they would pass on the family tradition of the Catholic faith to their own child. Their daughter, Maggie, 19, began her own involvement in the parish as an altar server. While a student at Grand Island Central Catholic School, Maggie volunteered with various programs, taught a Religious Formation class and went on three mission trips.

For the Keslars, St. Leo’s has become more than a faith home over the years — it has become family. Amid the global pandemic, “family life” at St. Leo’s has looked a little different this past year. However, Greg and Mary believe the sense of community here will continue to strengthen well into the future.

“We feel that we are part of a family here,” Mary says. “The people of St. Leo’s are good people and willing to help others. We hope that the parish community will continue to grow in stewardship and help each other with their daily needs and prayer lives. We also hope we can get back to being a complete community after this COVID virus and return to worship at St. Leo’s.”

Thankful for the many blessings they have experienced by staying involved in parish life, the Keslars hope all parishioners will find a way to fully engage in this loving faith family!

“We would advise anyone to get involved, as it is a great way to serve the Lord and brings you closer to the St. Leo’s community,” Greg says. “It gives you a sense of fulfillment by serving the Lord and His community.”

Greg and Mary Keslar with their daughter, Maggie