Return To Church Marks Turning Point In Life

 The People of Faith feature is compiled by Steve Halbig, who asks a series of questions of people of the diocese – some who have reached the “age of wisdom” and some who are younger.  All will share stories of faith.

 This month’s People of Faith features Tanya Eger, a 77-year-old retired teacher from St. Joseph Parish in Dale.  She talks about her return to the Catholic Church.

 Children, grandchildren? Three children, 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren

 Who or what has had the biggest impact on your life? My mother

 Who do you consider to be the best role models today? 

My sister and Father  John Brosmer, pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Dale.

 Describe how your faith helped you through a difficult time in your life.

I had been out of the Church for many years. When my husband died, I turned to God to help me get through it.

I had turned  to God for many things in my married life but my husband's death was the turning point in my life.

 Do you have any hobbies? How do you stay active?

I love reading any type of books. I go places with my friends. I also visit the homebound and go to the nursing home to visit and give them Communion.

I also walk most days no matter the weather.

 What do you like most about being Catholic?

I like the rites that are always the same no matter what the parish. I just feel good after I leave church. I try to go to Mass most days. That I think is due to Father John. His homilies give me solace. Catholicism does not change tenets to fit society.

 Of those things that are possible to change in the Catholic Church, what would you change?

Find a way to keep young people in the Church.

 If you could make one change in your community, what would it be?

I'm pretty satisfied with my community.

 Any regrets in life?

Stay in the Catholic Church. I find I really enjoy being back in the Church.

 Tell us a few more things about yourself.

My father was killed in a farming accident when I was nine.  I was the oldest of five children. My mother never remarried. She raised us five alone by farming and working in a grocery store.

Three of the five graduated from college. I taught school for 26 years after graduating from college at 35. I've lived in Indiana, Illinois and Texas.

I have returned to my hometown, hopefully to help my sister with a husband with Alzheimer’s, which was the reason my husband died. I greatly enjoy returning to my childhood parish.

 I always resented that men and boys could serve and girls couldn't. My favorite change in the Catholic Church is that women can participate in everything now except priesthood.

 What do you do in your spiritual life that you would recommend to others?

Read the Bible each day. Actually there are some good stories in there as well as it makes you think about your own spiritual life and how to improve it.

 What is your best wisdom on life? 

Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you.

 Contact Steve at shalbig@evdio.org or call 812-424-5536.