"I'm so glad to be here!!! For 2 years I've lived out-state, and now that I've moved back, I'm back at St Joans", said Irene.

About 30 New Parishioners enjoyed meeting each other and SJA staff at the biannual New Parishioner Party in Hospitality Hall on November 6th. Apart from fun conversation and a tasty meal, the staff held an informal Q&A session.

Handouts included a list of SJA Programs, the Handbook and the Fall Calendar. The staff mentioned several current important needs - volunteers for Youth Ministries, volunteers for Communion Ministers and a light-hearted suggestion that more folks sign-up for the Automatic Payment Plan (APP). Key current needs are usually described in the weekly Bulletin. The New Parishioners were encouraged to get involved - even as "worker bees" to start - in order to make new friends, feel connected and have fun.

When privately asked, "Why did you join SJA?", people said:

• "I love the liturgies and homilies." John
• "The masses are very uplifting. It feels like a real community." Patty
• "There's not a fear to be different." Mike
• "There's a big commitment to social justice and focus on the community." Nicole
• "Open to everyone. All that's done for the divorced. Love the music." Pat
• "SJA has a vibrant sense of community." Rachel

The next New Parishioner Party is planned for Spring 08. If you missed this event, remember to come next spring!!!

and

Jerry and Trish Hartlaub commute from New Brighton to be refreshed and challenged at the "SJA spiritual oasis". Jerry is a regular webreporter who was helped by his wife Trish on this story. He's a Sunday mass slide jockey and "worker bee" at many SJA events. For fun he has written a bunch of poetry, printed his first book, and invented lots of stuff in a 30-year bioengineering career. These days he teaches cardiac physiology (but he's mostly retired), serves on non-profit boards, does Junior Achievement gigs and plays softball. But most rewarding is providing child-care for two of the world's smartest, cutest grandchildren.