Dave Hrbacek

4 weeks ago | thecatholicspirit.com | Dave Hrbacek

Though the houses have succeeded (boasting a sobriety rate of more than 70%), one part of that landscape continued to trouble him — the ongoing pain suffered by thousands of military veterans, who face the double whammy of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and addiction. For many, it ends tragically. Suicide takes the lives of thousands of veterans who feel there is no way to overcome these two demons.

4 weeks ago | thecatholicspirit.com | Dave Hrbacek

“I thought of applying to the Air Force Academy,” Deacon Ochsenbauer said. “My oldest uncle, Dave, taught my dad how to fly. And then he (Tom) went on to the airlines. When I was growing up, I thought that’s what I would do. … I wanted to fly F-16s.”But God had other plans for the young man who grew up attending St. Peter in Forest Lake with his parents and two younger siblings. Strong faith experiences and conversations with priests at his parish steered him toward a priestly vocation.

1 month ago | thecatholicspirit.com | Dave Hrbacek

In unison, all of them held out their arms to cuddle her. Evie’s parents, Jill and Andy Begalle, both 44, asked Evie which one of them she wanted to go to. It was a friendly competition. They all offered her inviting smiles to go with their outstretched arms. In the end, she chose Charlotte, a seventh grader at Epiphany Catholic School in Coon Rapids. Evie then jumped around to different laps and found her way to Cameron, a senior at Andover High School.

1 month ago | thecatholicspirit.com | Dave Hrbacek

In unison, all of them held out their arms to cuddle her. Evie’s parents, Jill and Andy Begalle, both 44, asked Evie which one of them she wanted to go to. It was a friendly competition. They all offered her inviting smiles to go with their outstretched arms. In the end, she chose Charlotte, a seventh grader at Epiphany Catholic School in Coon Rapids. Evie then jumped around to different laps and found her way to Cameron, a senior at Andover High School.

2 months ago | thecatholicspirit.com | Dave Hrbacek

Pomeroy paused as he stood in the doorway to the nave (portion of the church containing the pews). It has only been a month since he and other parishioners could take in a remodeling project that stretches back 10 years. Soon after seeing the results, Pomeroy decided to start making weekday visits for prayer, alternating between the main church and the adoration chapel, which also has been updated in recent years. “I love it when it’s quiet and nobody else is in there,” he said of the main church.