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Kathi Horn Working Subtitlet

athi Horn has poured her heart and soul into every youth who has

walked through the doors of the Saint Joseph’s Youth Group’s door. Regardless of their race, sexual orientation, or religious preference,

she welcomes all. When one walks in, there is a jolly woman sitting there to say hi and welcome you in. She asks how you are doing and how’s your day. Kathi is not only a youth group leader, she is a counselor. She has encountered teens who have struggled with their sexuality, had eating disorders, abusive parents and drug problems.

She has led them to find answers through their religion and within 1

themselves. She teaches the teens to live in the moment and be happy with the life they are living.

She first learned this lesson from her father. When Kathi lost her father, her biggest regret was that he may have died not being very proud of her. Then, at the age of thirty, she began to rebuild her life.

She wanted to be something bigger, something that she and her father could be proud of. As if a dove flew over her, she experienced a rebirth in her life. With this, she created a life that she is proud of Kathi Horn is outspoken and blunt; however she is also caring, understanding, and there when you need someone. Her honesty and compassion are what stood out the most when Kathi and her husband, Joe, first met.

These qualities have also helped her serve in Saint Joseph’s Youth Group since 2008. She has dedicated a lot of her time and money to the teens at the church. One might 2 think, who would will-

ingly work with teenagers? Kathi’s mother treats Kathi like a teenager; in fact she has grounded Kathi in the past. This is why her and the youth can relate. When asked if she wanted to work

with t h e youth at Saint Joseph’s she jumped on board. Kathi is also a paternal figure to many members of the youth group. When people’s parents or guardians were not there for these members she was there for them.

From helping them to cope with the feeling of not having anyone

there for them to giving them a ride to lunch.

Kathi has been there whenever someone needed her help.

Kathi’s mother and Father searching for the perfect religion, and decided to become catholic. She w a s baptized when she was three year old, a time when masses were still in Latin. Soon after, the Pope changed it to be in the language of the native speaker, however. She stated, “...the Pope said no more Latin in mass. A three year old can throw a tantrum like you cannot believe, and I did.”(Horn) This is very much something in Karthi’s character to say. She is radiates confidence, and when she says something it always correct, weather or not it’s an exaggeration.

Later, s h e

moved to the Bay Area because her father started working at Stanford.

She attended Nativity School in Menlo Park and absolutely adored school. She was in love with her faith and her academics. She then began attending public high school, and in the very least, her experience was unpleasant.

She stated, “I don’t regret my experience at Menlo Atherton High School, it was not my choice.”

Still, she graduated with a 4.6 GPA and a 1800 on her SAT. She got into Stanford on a full ride, but turned it down because it was too close to home. Instead she went Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. Two years in, she dropped out. The naturally headstrong thought thought she knew everything.

Her rebelliousness continued into her twenties, and then n her thirties, she lost her father.

Kathi’s life took an about face. She was devastated.

She stopped working as a cosmetologist and started working in a manu-

facturi n g firm. In spite of her grief, she quickly rose very high in the ranks the business. She worked up to being a business manager and financial officer. She worked there for 10 years. In her forties she met her husband Joe Horn. She met Joe on an online dating website, and within two weeks of talking to each other Joe asked her to marry him.

She had never seen him or spoke to him, but she said yes. Four months later her came out from Iowa to meet her and her family, and that December they were married.

They have been married for 15 years.

Even 25 years after the passing of Kathi’s father, there is not a day that she doesn’t think about him.

Her favorite memory of her father was a camping trip she, her mother and her father all took.

Her parents at the time were in a motorhome.

Her dad would go out before dawn, when it would still be dark . He would walk alone on the beach, within the deep fog. He would wander back to the campsite, and the first thing that he would say, “I know when it’s time to come back when I smell coffee and bacon.” Her fa- 3

ther would smell of wind, ocean and freshness.

This story Kathi told represent enjoying every day like its your last, to her. Whenever she has a bad day she remembers this story.

When Kathi spoke of her father she spoke with love and fondness for him. However, Kathi told me, “My father passed away probably not being very proud of me. So it made me change my life around for the better.”

The loss of her father was something that

made her realize one thing:“...this life is very short and the time the time that we are given we have to act for the positive, not the negative.

Not for just the moment and the self gratification” (Horn). She teaches this to her group. She shows us there are better ways to live life than drinking to excess or using drugs to feel some kind of euphoria. Kathi has had things in her

life that she is not proud of, but she choose to change that around.

Kathi has saved people’s lives. Kids on the verge of the mental breakdown, with no where else to turn to, she was their light. Sophomore year on Thanksgiving day, Kathi received a call from a youth group member saying that Lesley was in trouble. Lesley was “under the influence” and her parents h a d

found out. Her parents got angry and they started fighting. Her parents confiscated her phone and so she had no way to contact help. In that moment, she wanted to commit suicide. Instead, she contacted a friend via Facebook and asked him to call Kathi and tell her she needed help. Kathi rushed over and took Lesley back to her house. Lesley stated, “She me realize how great holidays can be”, Kathi changes Lesley life for the better, in fact that day she probably saved her life. Kathi was able to teach her what is is like to live life to the full-

est. Lesley is now able to enjoy her life, she is now a freshman at Sonoma State and loves it there.

Lesley is also a mentor to the youth group, offering a helping hand when she can.

Saint Joseph’s church is undergoing drastic remodeling the next two years;

the creation of “Saint Joseph’s Plaza” this will affect the youth group and Kathi drastically. She will have to locate an alternate place to hold youth group meetings and continue to organize events. However when renovations are finished there will be a new youth group room and this room will only be occupied by the youth group.

This room will have bean bag chairs, new couches, foosball tables, closets for the youth group supplies, and a mini kitchen.

The church is undergoing a lot of changes. Along with the new structures being, there is also a new Pastor. Beloved Fat h e r Bob

pro-youth and is getting the youth involved with the church. He wants to accomplish this goal via Kathi. She has been advertising to the members of the youth group to get involved in altar serving and eucharistic ministers. At home, Kathi will continue to take care of her mother. She refuses to put her in a convalescent home. Kathi stated, “She didn’t send me to a mental institution when I was a teenager, I’m going to pay her back” (Horn).

She will retire from the youth group in the next few years. She plans on traveling with her husband around t h e US, then living the rest of her life with her husband Joe.

has gone into retirement, so we have received a new Father, Father Engel. He is very

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