Denise and John Knight

Thinking of that day when we enter the pearly gates in Heaven, our family strives to live a Godly life on earth by giving God our time, talent and treasure. John and I, along with our three children, pray together and often talk about God at the dinner table. We share examples of how we seek to serve and reach out to others.  We consider opportunities that come our way and discern how we may answer God’s call in our lives.  Sometimes we find ourselves being led to teach, be leaders, or imagine and create new programs or tangible products. We understand that each step of the way, little or big, is an opportunity to show and model our Christian walk. We try to do so with smiles, humor, and engaging friendships.
      
John and I met teaching Faith Formation. In discerning God’s call for our lives, we found ourselves closer and closer to church, literally and figuratively.  About 20 years ago after a Sunday Mass, we drove through the church neighborhood and found our home, close enough to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton that we could walk on icy days! We are raising our children in our church home, attending Sunday Mass regularly and weekday Masses as often as possible.  Seeking to use our God-given talents, we are involved in many parish organizations and activities. I am the coordinator for changing the holy water, an extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and a catechist for children with special needs. John, a life-long catechist, also volunteers annually to lead youth service projects during the week of Mission Possible and previously served on the Parish Pastoral Council. Our children are involved in children’s and youth choirs, and our oldest, Andrew, is a CREW leader and EM. We were thrilled when our son, James, received the scholarship for Catholic Identity to attend John Paul II High School.

Influenced by my professional career teaching special needs, it is my deepest desire that everyone feel accepted and welcomed in the Mass and church life as well. Believing that in God’s eyes we are equal in dignity as necessary members in the Body of Christ, and I worked with church staff to start the Fully Inclusive Special Needs Program ( Seton Fully Inclusive). Through this program, parishioners with special needs, and their families, receive support and accommodations that allow them to worship, grow in faith, an d celebrate the sacraments. 

One of these supports started as an endeavor to help my own daughter understand the Mass, and to answer her questions - “What’s next?” “When do I get to sit down?” “How many songs until it’s over?”  I developed a hands-on Mass Guide with visual cues for different parts of the service. Upon sharing the guide with Church staff, teachers, and students in faith formation, and seeing children more engaged and participating in Mass, while using the ‘My Steps To’ guides, the positive responses led to the start of our ‘mom and pop’ cottage business, www.MyStepsTo.com. Now these Mass Guides, the Rosary and Confession Steps are available to other families who might be struggling with engaging children in the Mass, or who simply want to foster a better understanding of the Church and Church teachings. Through this family business (which incorporates workers with special needs in the assembly of products), we feel we are following God’s direction for our lives and offering a ministry to build God’s kingdom on earth.