Hello everyone, my name is Daniel Yoder and I am a parishioner here at St. Patrick’s church. I attend church each week with my grandfather, Patrick Yoder. We have been going to church together and grabbed breakfast directly after each Sunday since I was preparing to make my confirmation in 8th grade. We have been going each week for about 8 years now. When I was asked to write this column, we both knew what we wanted to talk about.
Since we started going to church together, we have been able to foster a close relationship with God and with each other. We wanted to stress the importance of being a part of this community and what lessons we have learned over the years. First, we have learned the necessity of making God a priority in life. I have been blessed that I have been able to grow up in the church by going with my grandfather. Without God, we would not have grown so close to each other and to those around us. Unselfish giving is directly related to this. Maintaining a relationship with God allows us to become closer and to serve our fellow man. We have been able to maintain close relationships with those we’ve met at church, and we have seen how important it is to keep a close relationship with God throughout our lives because it gives us our purpose to serve others as our Lord has served us. We have also been called to bring our family together to church as best as we can.
Lastly, we wanted to mention how grateful we are to God that we have been able to grow closer together. It has given us a new perspective on life and has especially made me very grateful for everything that God has given me in my life. I have connected and served my community and I must give all of my thanks to the St. Patrick’s community and to our Lord, God for allowing me to have such a great relationship with my grandfather and to allow us, together, to serve the Lord.
God bless,
Daniel Yoder