Giving them enough | Bridget Locke

Giving Them Enough

By Bridget Locke | Photos by Megan Marley

Cristina Ruiz, Confirmation Coordinator for Our Lady

of Peace Catholic Church, was among 62 honorees last August given the Bishop’s Recognition Award, which biennially commends volunteer service within the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

“I was very honored and surprised,” said Ruiz, who was nominated by Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Peace, Father Andrés Moreno. “I kept thinking, ‘Me? Really? There are so many who serve our parish faithfully.’”

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

In the early 2010s, Ruiz decided to pursue a master’s degree at Newman University in a field relevant to her faith: theological studies. As graduation drew near, a professor asked, “What are you going to do with what you’ve learned?”

Already serving as the leader of Our Lady of Peace’s quinceañera program, Ruiz felt called to go deeper with her parish’s young people. Ruiz spoke to then-Pastor, Father Jason Koch, and in 2016, began the transition into her current role.

At the beginning of each year, Ruiz meets weekly with a new group of teens, ages 1418, to prepare them for confirmation in the fall.

“Preparing for confirmation starts at different stages for different people. Sometimes, we begin by learning to find Bible verses; other times, the group is more advanced. But we always explore beyond Our Father and Hail Mary and ponder why they are professing their faith. I tell them, ‘If you’re going to be Catholic, then be Catholic.’”

Ruiz doesn’t take serving the youth lightly. She remembers vividly the moment her belief became real during her younger years, and she understands that her influence in young people’s lives could be life-changing.

“I felt true forgiveness during one pivotal confession. That moment triggered my faith,” Ruiz recalled. “Now, I’m always wondering, ‘Did I give them enough?’ I want our youth to feel the power of their belief, as I did.”

She also wants to encourage others to serve in the Church, because there’s something for everyone to do ... and room for everyone’s gifts.

“Whatever you like to do, God gave you that talent,” Ruiz said. “Give it back to Him.”

MORE THAN A CENTURY of life, faith and fun

By Marty Denzer

Photos by Megan Marley

Esther Huslig and Virginia Corn have both been parishioners at Our Lady of the Presentation for more than 20 years and attend Mass nearly every day. However, until Oct. 14, 2022, they had never met.

Seated side by side following the 8:15 a.m. Mass, sharing memories of life, family and faith, they got acquainted. Esther celebrated her 105th birthday Oct. 5 and Virginia will celebrate her 100th on Dec. 19.

Esther’s daughter, Sylvia Boyd, brought her to Mass and sat nearby while the women chatted and laughed. Virginia was accompanied by good friends Mike and Rosemary Meyers.

Born in 1917 in Hooker, Oklahoma, Esther was the fourth of 12 children. They moved to a farm south of Fowler, Kansas, in 1919. She started school at a Catholic school taught by “sometimes kind of mean, Dominican nuns.” At age 10, Esther switched to a one-room country school, Grandview School, before attending the high school in Fowler.