Prayers Answered

Margaret Jurgovan - Kindergarten Aide:

I was recently asked what I thought brought me to St. Joseph Cathedral School. To keep the answer somewhat short, I went back only 10 years. I was a preschool teacher by day and waitress by night, fighting my way though life, thinking I absolutely knew what God wanted for me, I was sure he wanted me to find a husband and start a family of my own.

After many struggles of my own, I finally realized how selfish I was in all of my choices and how casual my relationship with God had become. I decided to make a change. I opened my heart and prayed God would open my mind to him alone. It seemed to me that I was going to remain single, so I prayed that I would find happiness in my circumstances no matter what they may be and that I might be a blessing to any and all families in my life. I felt a peace I had never known, though nothing had changed in my life except an open heart to God's will.

Two months later I met my husband. We married one year later.

Soon after our marriage, my husband accepted a job here in Jefferson City. We were happy to start our life together, and we wanted children right away. Again, falling back on my selfishness in my relationship with God, I became very frustrated that we were not being blessed with children as fast as I wanted. Again, I fell to my knees and prayed that I would open my heart to God alone. I prayed that I would be a blessing to any and every child in my life. I walked away feeling completely blessed. Not long after, we were blessed with a successful pregnancy and our son was born 9 months later; a year and 10 days after that we were blessed with our daughter. I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I was a stay at home mother for 5 years, continually praying that God would show me his way.

My son was going to start school my husband, and I wanted to send him to Catholic School but we did not know how we were going to afford even the nominal fees at St. Joseph Cathedral School. This time I kept my heart open. After Mass one Sunday morning I was talking to a friend and previous employer - I taught with her before I became a parent. She asked if I could help out during the summer. Needless to say, this gave us the extra money we needed to start our son at St. Joseph Cathedral School. Our son started his education in Mrs. Braddock's kindergarten class, and my daughter and I were able to help out in class quite often. I was looking forward to my daughter starting school and trying to think of ways I could offer my time to St. Joseph Cathedral School.

Near the end of the year, Mrs. Braddock called me. She sounded hesitant, so I immediately assumed she was trying to tell me she was leaving St. Joseph. I convinced myself that was the reason for her call, and I was so distraught that I didn't realize she was asking if I would be interested in being a kindergarten aide this school year. Finally, God calmed my fear and I heard and answered YES!

I felt my faith was getting stronger, but my knowledge of my religion was not so strong; I prayed I would find a way to better my understand Catholicism so that I might pass the knowledge on to my children and in steps have found help with Mr. Allen with his newsletters and audio of Adult Catechesis. What a blessing! I suppose I could have simply said I am at St. Joseph Cathedral School by the Grace of God!