Welcome, Deacon Rogers

Dear friends,

Photo provided by Deacon Rogers

Hi! I’m Deacon John Rogers. Though we have not yet met, I’ve been praying for you for a while! I was equally humbled and excited to learn in June that I would be your deacon, starting July 1. God’s ways are not our ways, but it’s pretty clear He’s been arranging this assignment for a while:

• Father Nathan and I share a parish home–St. Joseph in West St. Paul

• Father Nathan and my home pastor are both Companions of Christ

• I had the good fortune to receive most of my formation under the wise mentorship of your previous deacon, Joe Michalak

• Parishioner, Deacon Michael Lane, and his ordination classmates have been incredible “older brothers” to me and my classmates

• I spent ten happy years as a Catholic school teacher in the Archdiocese–and Holy Spirit has a wonderful school!

A little about me and my family:

My wife, Sara, and I are parishioners at St. Joseph in West St. Paul. Our children, Anna (14), Josephine (12), Elias, and Jude (10), attend St. Joseph’s School. We live in South St. Paul and have happily been on “this side of the river” since 2009, though I grew up in North Minneapolis and my wife is from a small town outside of Rochester. We’re a pretty typical Minnesota family– we like camping, cheer for the Twins, play a lot of board games together, and own a small dog (Bosco). I am in the midst of a second career, serving as VP for a small fundraising consultancy and church software company. Prior to that, I was an English and theology teacher at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights (sorry, CDH grads!).

As I begin my ministry here, please know that the Archbishop has called me to be of service to you and your families. My primary role as your deacon is helping you to grow in your faith that we might all become saints. I’m excited to meet you, pray with you, and serve alongside you in the days ahead. Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, and kindle in us the fire of your love…