Meet Parishioner Paula Pregler: Embracing Great Joys of Giving

Paula Pregler has discovered that the secret to living a joy-filled life is living a love-filled life. Over the years, she has found that by doing things for others and making them happy, she experiences a unique sense of happiness as well.

“My mother and my grandmother were really great cooks, and they loved to entertain at the drop of a hat,” Paula says. “They would say, ‘Give us 20 minutes and we will have a party!’ That is the kind of hospitality I grew up with. It is something I have enjoyed forever! I offer hospitality to others because I really want to, not because I have to.”

These days, Paula continues to bring stewardship to life through hospitality, especially by cooking for our parish — as well as for other parishes on occasion — and being very involved with the Activities Committee.

“We have such a great group of men and women on the committee,” Paula says. “We help out in many different ways, such as by handling work for parish committees that can’t do it all themselves. For example, we make kolache (a Bohemian/Polish fruit-filled pastry) for the Rosary Society’s bake sale each December. Last year we made 1,000 of them, in 12 different flavors. It gave them a big boost!”

In addition, Paula loves to help the committee by coordinating a soup sale that runs every January through March. They make two soups per month and sell them to raise money for their committee’s endeavors, such as keeping up the parish kitchen and its supplies.

“Initially, our mission was to make soup for the elderly who weren’t eating as well during the winter, so they could buy some and freeze it, but now we are sometimes getting 131 orders from various people in one weekend,” Paula says. “That’s a pretty good number! We work together. Some of the men help us lift heavy kettles and do dishes, while others really enjoy cooking. The ladies are interested in cooking as well as in sharing each other’s lives.”

Furthermore, she likes to help the Activities Committee cook for parish breakfasts, as well as the Mother’s Day Banquet each May.

“The banquet is a really neat way to appreciate mothers,” Paula says. “The moms can just attend and enjoy it without necessarily having to help. The men do most of the cooking. I love working with families this way and allowing them to have successful gatherings. I enjoy helping with the grocery shopping and all of the details that go into putting on a big event.”

Paula also shows her love for Christ by serving on the Parish Council and being a dedicated daughter to her mother, Joan, who lives with her, and mother to Maria. “I love my parish,” she says. “It is small, just like a family!” She also owns and manages half of a title company.

Paula Pregler has discovered that the secret to living a joy-filled life is living a love-filled life. Over the years, she has found that by doing things for others and making them happy, she experiences a unique sense of happiness as well.