The Compass

HOWARD — Sometimes it’s necessary to take a step back in order to move forward.

Peter Gard discovered this when his extensive committee work was cutting into time with his family. Gard, a member of St. Anne Parish, Coleman/Lena, served on the parish council, finance council and worship committee. He also donated his time to the diocese as a lay leader for both the parish planning committee and school planning committee for the area north of Green Bay.

APPLETON — Chuck Agnew remembers taking his daughter on her first amusement park water ride when she was a child. The pair climbed the steep incline and prepared for the big plunge that awaited them.

"There was no turning back, you just have to ride it out," said Agnew. "That’s how I feel about this journey. It’s just another wild ride. We are going to experience it; it’s going to be interesting, and we are going to grow."

APPLETON — Jeff Prickette expects May 19 to be very emotional day. He is already warning those who will be at the deacon ordination to expect a "big puddle of water" when he becomes teary-eyed during the litany of saints.

Prickette said that his thoughts at times during the day will turn to important influences in his life, especially Walter and Anne Prickette, his late parents. Prickette grew up in Shawano, the youngest of six children. His father died when he was 19 and his mother died 25 years ago.

APPLETON — Don Schultz traces his call to ministry to his youth in Connecticut where he was raised in the Episcopal Church. Schultz, who will serve as a deacon at St. Patrick Parish, Menasha, recalls a draw to the priesthood as a 12-year-old.

"I remember talking to the rector, our pastor," he said. "I still had to finish school, so he said, ‘Let’s keep talking about that.’"