Meet Our Southern Parishes Secretary Janae Nemmers: Blessed To Work And Serve At Home Parish

Janae Nemmers has always enjoyed working with people. One of her main tasks as the secretary of our southern parishes is to edit the bulletin. She sees many parishioners’ names come across her desk, but she doesn’t always get to meet them. So, if you find yourself at St. Francis de Sales in Belgrade, pop in and introduce yourself! She would love to meet you.

“I don’t always get a face to a name,” she says. “I’d love to meet more people, so please come say ‘hi.’”

Janae has been working at St. Donatus, St. Francis de Sales and Sts. Peter and Paul since October 2018. She loves that she can work at her home parish where she knows people and they know her. Janae has received every one of her sacraments at St. Francis de Sales.

“I’ve known most of the people here since I was a kid,” she says. “I just love that.”

Janae and her husband, Tony, have two boys, Treyson and Blake. The couple enjoys spending their free time watching the boys play sports, including basketball, football, and baseball. They also love to be out on the lake in the summer. Raised near Grove Lake, Tony is the General Manager of Dining at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

It means a lot to the couple that they can raise their boys near where they grew up. Although they lived in Bemidji early in their marriage, this area is home.

“We moved back here because as we talked about starting a family, we wanted to be near family,” Janae says.

Besides taking care of the bulletin for our parishes, Janae also maintains the sacramental books, helps the parish bookkeeper, and performs any other tasks assigned to her. It’s a busy job, and Janae loves it.

In addition, Janae volunteers in the office during Faith Formation. She’s also a collection counter and the secretary for the Catholic United Financial chapter.

Janae is so thankful that she learned about the fraternal secretary position when stopping by the St. Francis de Sales office nearly four years ago. It’s been a blessing to work in her home parish and to be so immersed in her Catholic faith.

“I love working with our priests,” she says. “Fr. Greg always sets aside time for prayer and worship during our meetings. That has really impacted my faith.”

Janae has a particular appreciation for Proverbs 31:25 — “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come.” She feels exactly like what the verse says, and trusts the Lord and His plans for the future.

“I feel this with all my heart and soul as I grow in my faith,” she says. “I trust in the Lord because only He knows my future.”

Janae Nemmers with her husband, Tony, and their two boys, Treyson and Blake