♦ St Paul Pastoral Council
Jared Bergmann – Trustee, Building & Maintenance Committee
Jared grew up in Washington County, IL, just southwest of Okawville where his family attended Saint Barbara Catholic Church. After getting married to Jenny in 2006, they moved to Vienna and have lived on the edge of town since then. They have two children. He works at WM Nobbe John Deere where he is in agricultural sales in southern Illinois and southeast Missouri.
Becky Bowers – Vice Chairperson, Communications
CHURCH: I was born and raised in Paducah Kentucky and resided in Paducah until 3 years ago .I belonged to the parish of St Thomas More and remained a member there for 40 years until transferring to St John Parrish which was closer to my residence. I joined St Paul last year. EDUCATION: I attended St. Thomas More grade School and then St Mary High School . After graduation I took marketing courses at Paducah Community College.
WORK: I worked all through grade School and High school at our family owned business Peggie’s which was a local upscale dress shop. After we closed the shop due to my father’s poor health I went to work for The Paducah Sun Newspaper where I worked for 20 years. I went to work for Hultman Signs in Paducah as an Outside Sales Rep and worked there for 7 years. I run for the local government office of “McCracken County Clerk” . I am currently employed by Blake Summarell at Edward Jones Investments in Paducah KY as a Branch Office Administrator. FAMILY: I am married to Joe Bowers and together we have 3 grown children. Joe and I have been married for 11 years. HOBBIES: My passion is trail riding and I made the move from Kentucky 3 years ago to Illinois with my husband so we could enjoy trail riding and living in the Shawnee National forest full time. We reside in Simpson Illinois with 1 dog “Sinner” and three horses “Saint, Jake and Wolf”
Chris Cain – Religious Education
I’m a convert to the Faith. I took my family to St. Francis de Sales church in Stonefort IL in late 2019. My son Felix was baptised there in February 2020; my wife Megan and I were confirmed there in May 2020. When SFD closed we began attending St. Paul Church in Vienna IL. We live in Ozark IL.
My professional history involves serving in the US Army (Military Police) and working as a Correctional Officer. I am currently an Agent with the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA). Concerning education, I hold two Bachelor’s degrees: History and Criminology.
I came to love the Catholic Faith through years of private reading and study. Upon understanding what St. John meant by the Logos in the opening of his gospel I cooperated with God’s Grace and joined His Church—outside of which there is no salvation. I believe it is of manifest importance that all come to know the Truth of Catholicism. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen said it best: “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”
I believe that for the Church to move forward, it must look to the past. We have such saints as Francis de Sales, Thomas Aquinas, Irenaeus, John Chrysostom, and so many others who have confronted the very controversies and contentions the Church now faces in our day. For as Ecclesiastes tells us: Nihil sub sole novum…
I hope to bring this zealous and historical focus on our past as inspiration to the St. Paul Parish Council.
Xennia Gruszczyk – Wellness Committee
I grew up in a dual-religion home in the Philippines. When I was very young I attended the anticipatory Catholic mass on Saturdays with my mom and the Baptist Sunday school with my paternal grandparents, aunts and cousins. At some point I told my parents that they need to decide on my religious affiliation so I can have some of my playtime back.
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Paul University of Iloilo, Philippines and belong to the class of Ancilla Domini. I recently completed my Master of Science in Nursing from Capella University. I have a long nursing career that includes progressive care, telemetry, step-down ICU, cardio-thoracic surgery and heart transplant ICU, and nurse-educator positions. I work for Southern Illinois Healthcare(SIH) and currently serves as the Nursing Professional Development and Outcomes Leader for Progressive Care and Telemetry in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
I am married to a wonderful and very supportive husband(Harry) who is always willing to support my cause from being a Geisha girl (Halloween party), Bingo caller(Chili Cook-off), Chauffeur (for occasional night shifts) and to recently a Magi. We are an example of opposites attract or yin/yang if you would, while Harry is adventurous, I am very grounded (literally with the exception of air travel). We however share the need to nurture and take care of the less fortunate. All of our children are rescued, furry and have 4 legs although we had some 2-legged ones including Chi-Chi (chickadee), Pidgee (pigeon) and Miggee (cardinal). Living in a farm has provided me the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of God’s creatures and nature, peacefulness and disconnection from the rat-race of life.
I have been attending mass in St. Paul’s for a little while now and even remembered masses at the hall. I officially moved to Southern Illinois in December 2012 and have been a parish member since that time. I am a current member of the Wellness committee and have participated with blood pressure checks on various occasions. I have collaborated with Frank and Peggy with the application and acquisition of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) grant and have authored the Medical Emergency Plan. I have been a lector (by default) on a lot of Saturday afternoon masses in the past year. I have participated in the past Christmas choirs and socials including Draw-down, Chili and Dessert Cook-off and Ladies Luncheon.
With your blessings, support and prayers, I will do my best to serve as one of St. Paul’s Parish Council member.
Zachary Garrett – Liturgy Committee
I have been a part of the St. Paul parish community since 2012 and live in Vienna with my wife Erin and son Peter. Over the years, I have served in several capacities, including cantor, lector, adult study group leader, catechist, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, Liturgy Committee liaison, and Catholic Relief Services parish representative. I work as an administrator at Shawnee Professional Services, a surveying and engineering company based in Vienna. I also hold a doctorate in English (Rhetoric & Composition) and teach college-level English part-time in addition to writing and research. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my family.
I believe that the Church should be persistently present as a light in the world, and that requires a group of believers that is enthusiastic and informed about their faith. If God was really made incarnate and raised from the dead, there is nothing more important. As a result, we should make efforts to show our children, one another, and our community why our faith is compelling, and I hope to make this my emphasis on the pastoral council.
Cathy Kruep – Parish and Community Life
My name is Cathy Kruep. I will be married to my husband 40 years in May. We have 4 children and10 grandchildren. I was born and raised Catholic. I was a former PSR instructor for 14 years. Last taught in 2007. We moved to Golconda area in 2011 which is when I joined St. Paul Church. I have been a member of the CCW, assisted with the fish fries, been on the Parish Council the last 3 years where I was responsible for the Parish and Community Life committee. I arranged trips to Miners ball games and Lady of the Snows, card making for Hillview nursing home residents, make sure monthly social is set up, and help with fish fry, picnic, both at Lake Glendale and church, drawdown, and Christmas party. I also assist at Faith Alive on Wednesday and our weekend. I participate in a sewing/quilting group that gives its completed projects to Poshard and veterans.
Steve Pobst – Chairperson
My name is Steve Pobst and my wife is Katie Pobst. We have been married one year. We have three sons, Blake aged 23, Will age 12 and Wyatt age 9. I live near Reevesville on Reevesville Road. I moved to Vienna a year ago when Katie and I married. I am originally from Sikeston, MO. While at Sikeston I attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic church. I was a team member of the youth group at SFX working with youth ages 13 to 17. I was a lector and a sacristan and an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. Outside of the church I was a member of the board of education at Scott County Central schools for 12 years. I work as a director of the Breakfast Show at KFVSTV 12 in Cape Girardeau and have been there for 20 years.
∙ Pam Shallenberger– Altar Sodality
∙ Matthew Slife – Trustee
Ryan Weeks –
I grew up in small farming community in Central Illinois attending St. James Catholic Church. After high school, I moved to Carbondale and attended Southern Illinois University, majoring in Ag Business. Since college, I have lived near Champaign for several years and then moved back to the Goreville area for the last ten years. For the last 17 years I have worked as a pharmaceutical sales rep in the animal health industry.
My family has a recreational farm near Goreville where I enjoy hunting, fishing and hiking. Previously, I attended St. Marys Catholic Church in Anna. I was also an active member in the Union County Knights of Columbus. I have been very involved in the K of C, organizing events, cooking fish dinners, and was the deputy knight on the council.
In the last year I started attending mass at St. Pauls and became a member. I look forward to being involved and contributing to the pastoral council.