Called to Serve: Introducing Rubi Garfias and Dana Hengstler

by Rev. Gabriel Baltes, O.S.B.  |  08/31/2025  |  A Message from Our Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

On this Labor Day Weekend, when our minds and hearts naturally direct our attention to the gift of work, I am pleased to introduce two recent additions to our work force here at St. Joan of Arc parish. The first of these is Rubi Garfias, hired as our new parish secretary replacing Karen Eldrenkamp. Karen held this position for three years, and although she was hired as a part time employee, she served our parish and its staff in a full time capacity. She has decided to explore and enjoy new possibilities that retirement will offer her and her family. We are all grateful for the selfless devotion and professionalism that were hallmarks of her service to us.

Rubi, our newest secretary, is a lifelong Catholic who has embraced the vocation of a Consecrated Virgin in the Church. This is a publicly recognized state of life, formally ritualized by Bishop Ronald Hicks, whereby Rubi lives a celibate life centered on the Eucharist and dedicated to serving the people of God in a manner conducive to this way of life for the enrichment of the Church. Having grown up in West Chicago, her faith was nurtured by the examples of her mother and grandmother as well as the many priests who served at her parish of St. Mary.

As parish secretary Rubi will undertake be responsible for a wide variety of essential duties such as: answering the phone and dispensing messages to the designated staff person, coordinating our parish registration and recording the sacramental events, processing the Sunday collection and other offerings, preparing and maintaining an Office Procedures Reference Manual, overseeing the commuters who rent space in our church parking lot, scheduling and overseeing the adorers who pray in our Adoration Chapel, coordinate the scheduling of funerals and weddings, maintain the parish filing and records system that include the annual report and taking the minutes of our Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council minutes and a host of other tasks that foster an efficient and Christian work place. In addition to these and other activities woven throughout her secretary position, Rubi is also enrolled in the School of Spiritual Direction with Franciscan University in Steubenville which will enable her to discover new gifts and talents that will benefit those who are seeking to deepen their relationship with Christ and his Church.

We are also blessed to welcome to our staff Dana Hengstler who was hired to the position of Accounting Assistant. This is a full time position that will include the responsibilities of Beverly Calvert, our former bookkeeper. Beverly brought many gifts to this position, including her radiant smile and joyful personality, but was not able to undertake it in the full time capacity that was needed. Thankfully God led Dana to us who has a wealth of experience in the corporate world of finance and accounting as well as in the Catholic Church. In her area of work, Dana will: process accounts payable and check distribution, file invoices and deposits, enter online donations, print and mail parishioners’ statements when needed, update parishioner contribution records, manage the Amazon online order process, help to coordinate the annual Diocesan Ministry Annual Appeal, gather W-9 forms for new vendors, assist as receptionist at the front desk when needed, and work closely with Lori Trinche, our parish business manager.

Dana, her husband and daughter lived in Nebraska where they managed a farm for a number of years. There they were enriched by a lifestyle that brought them close to God’s creation and the wholesome rhythms of the natural world. Twenty years ago, God called Dana’s husband to his eternal home where, from another place, he continues to tend the garden of her heart. Although Dana’s preference is for wide open spaces, she has adapted well to a more local plot of land where she can maintain a vegetable garden and enjoy the many benefits of farm life. I am grateful to Rubi and Dana who have come to our parish of St. Joan of Arc where we will draw inspiration from their vocations and be enriched by their professional talents. May God bless them both in their new adventures of labor among us.

Fr. Gabriel O.S.B.