Meet Parishioners JASON AND REBECCA KNUFFMAN: Blessed to Share Time and Talents as Family

About eight years ago, when Jason and Rebecca Knuffman moved to Quincy, Jason’s hometown, they checked out all the Catholic parishes. They settled here at St. Peter because it felt like home. The longer they have been here, the more it has truly come to be home.

“We loved how inviting it was here,” Rebecca says. “There are lots of opportunities to get involved. We also fell in love with the school.”

“It’s just been a natural fit here,” Jason says. “The kids enjoy going to Mass and getting involved in ministries.”

Jason and Rebecca have four daughters, and each of the six family members is active at St. Peter’s. Rebecca and the girls use their vocal talents to cantor and sing in several choirs — we are so blessed to enjoy those talents at weekend and school Masses. Each of the four girls is either currently an altar server or has been in the past. Rebecca also helps in the St. Peter’s School cafeteria.

“To me, music is a form of prayer,” Rebecca says. “It’s so beautiful to me that my girls can follow in my footsteps and learn the beauty of music.”

In contrast to his wife and daughters’ service at the 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.”

The Knuffman family