MEET THE SCHWEGEL FAMILY: Living the Faith Daily and Trusting in God Together

As St. Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Do small things with great love.” It’s a simple but profound idea — none of us needs to do anything huge, unique, or life-changing. We just need to do all things, even the small ones, with love.

Preston and Teresa Schwegel try to model this for their children through prayer. While it may not be possible to pray multiple rosaries each day or attend daily Mass, we can lovingly give our Lord moments throughout our days. For a busy family like the Schwegels, this is a great plan. Teresa and Preston try to spend time during their busy days praying with their five children — whether it’s on the drive to work, during childcare and school, around the dinner table, or in a few moments before bed. They believe modeling this for the past 10-plus years is having an impact.

“Our kids see the need for prayers with loved ones who are struggling with cancer or the lonely and those that have asked for extra prayers,” Teresa says. “This reminds them how blessed we are.”

Preston and Teresa have a busy home as they raise Carver, 11; Drake, 9; Jax, 7; Breeze, 5; and Bexlee, 3. Preston is a physical education teacher, coach, and bus driver, and Teresa is in Office Operations at the Dawson Co-Op Credit Union.

Teresa loves the Morning Offering Prayer and has tried to make praying it a habit.

“Our life can be chaotic,” she says. “A lot of times, we are in a hurry, rushing to get out the door. We have about a 10-minute drive to town. This is a great time to say the prayer out loud together. “

Teresa and Preston love to spend time outside as a family. They have four hunting dogs, and the kids love to climb trees and build forts. Preston also coaches various sports for each of the boys.

“We find such a spiritual benefit in being outdoors, in the boat or the deer stand,” Teresa says. “There are a lot of benefits to being outside.”

Teresa grew up near Mayville, N.D., where her father serves as a deacon, and Preston grew up in Backus. Both were raised Catholic, and it brings them so much joy to be raising their children in the Catholic Church.

“It’s so rewarding to show our children the truths of the Church,” Teresa says. “It made us proud when the two oldest recently asked to go to Confession. It’s meaningful that they know God can help them through things.”

Teresa helps with Vacation Bible School and previously taught adult faith formation classes on Theology of the Body. She knows life can be challenging, especially for today’s youth. There are so many pressures and temptations in the world. So, it’s important for Teresa and Preston to teach that faith is an antidote to those pressures.

“Anxieties are so high, but we tell the kids we need to offer them to God,” Teresa says. “Let Him be in control. When you get stressed out, offer it to God.”

Teresa and Preston Schwegel are parents to Carver, 11; Drake, 9; Jax, 7; Breeze, 5; and Bexlee, 3.