• Written by Char and Larry Hargis

The Human, Spiritual, and Social Development Committee is a little known but very active group at St. Joseph's church. The group is comprised of 9 parishioners who meet on an 'as needed' basis to plan, organize, and implement the various seasonal outings,family events, and spiritual enrichment programs that you may have attended or participated in over the past few years. The group is headed by Father John Steiner, our pastor. Current members of the committee are Kathy and Tony Smetana, Tom and Denise Gearing, Phil and Fritz Arndt, Larry and Char Hargis, Shirley Lunde, and Jean Lee. Programs and events organized by the committee over the past few years have been the Pancake Breakfast (geared as a fundraising event), the Spring Social, the Church Picnic, Spaghetti Dinner (fundraising event), Family Night at the Movies (at Falls Cinema) and Family Movie Night (held in the Smetana's back yard on a beautiful pre-autumn evening). Scripture study programs were held in the past and most recently, the Committee worked in conjunction with the CCD staff in sponsoring diocesan speakers for the CCD parent's faith enrichment programs. On one particular Wednesday CCD evening a dinner was prepared and served to the CCD children and their parents by the Committee prior to the diocesan speaker's presentation. This event was a welcome break for the parents as they did not have to worry about cooking supper that evening. The Human, Spiritual, and Social Development Committee is a faith-filled, hard-working, and fun-loving group. Our goal is to help nourish and augment parish faith and family life. The best part of belonging to the committee is having fun while working together and knowing that we are doing God's will.