ST. PETER
CATHOLIC CHURCH
JASON AND REBECCA KNUFFMAN continued from front cover parish, Jason’s service is done in solitude, as a committed adorer at the Eucharistic Adoration chapel. “I enjoy the contemplative time in the chapel,” he says. “No one would want to hear my singing voice.” Jason also assisted with a Girl Scout project on a memorial garden to Fr. Augustus Tolton at St. Peter’s. Fr. Tolton was the first black Catholic priest in the United States. In addition, Jason is the coach of the high school girls’ golf team at Quincy Notre Dame. Both Jason and Rebecca feel blessed to be a part of this parish and school. “We feel we will be indebted to St. Peter’s School forever,” Jason says. “The school is the biggest ministry of the parish.” The Knuffman family does their best to help at St. Peter’s when and where they can, whether by making pizza for a fundraiser or helping at the annual Parish Picnic. They admit there are a lot of valuable secular organizations to be involved with, but Jason and Rebecca want to set an example to their daughters that the church is the best place to direct their energies. “We believe the Body of Christ is present here,” Jason says. “We do what we can. We are all-in.” Jason emphasizes that the family members aren’t involved at St. Peter’s because they want to look good or receive praise — they are simply giving their gifts back to God. If we have gifts, then we have the responsibility to share them with others,” Jason says. “If our gifts aren’t perfect, that’s okay. We give imperfect gifts back to God.” 2
Rebecca Knuffman Takes Over New Parish Nurse Program at St. Peter’s
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his June, our parish was blessed to have Rebecca Knuffman begin serving as our parish nurse. Her love for nursing started from a young age. As a child, Rebecca was in a sledding accident, which resulted in a broken leg that required three surgeries and a two-month-long hospitalization. "During that period, I was blessed with many kind nurses whose compassionate care inspired me to become a nurse," Rebecca says. "I attended St. Louis University School of Nursing and received my Bachelor of Nursing in 2000." Following her graduation, Rebecca worked at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis in a cardiac unit. A couple of years later, she took a position in the ICU at St. Joseph's Hospital in her hometown of Milwaukee. "My next move was to Madison, Wis., after getting engaged to my college sweetheart," she says. "There, I worked at Meriter Hospital in the Cardiac Cath Lab, Electrophysiology Lab, and Interventional Radiology Lab for several years while my husband, Jason, finished his Allergy/Immunology Fellowship at UW Madison. "During that time our daughter, Hana, was born and soon followed by our daughter, Heidi," she adds. "After our second daughter was born, God graced me with the ability to stay home and raise our four beautiful daughters." Rebecca's main role as parish nurse will be to integrate faith and healing to promote wellness within St. Peter Parish, with a focus on homebound, hospital, and nursing home parishioners. She will also accompany Fr. Leo and Fr. Pawel on home and hospital visits, as well as provide blood pressure checks following Mass on first Sundays.
