06/09/2026
One of the many ways St. Joseph Parish helps parishioners feel remembered and appreciated is through our Birthday Card Ministry. Parishioners who are 70 years of age and older and have a birth date on file with the parish receive a card from Fr. Marcin on or near their special day. Church ministers, members of parish groups, and other volunteers are also included in this thoughtful outreach.
While many parishioners recognize Fr. Marcin’s signature on the cards, there is another person working behind the scenes to make sure those birthday wishes arrive on time. Longtime parishioner Diane Gonczy lovingly prepares the cards for mailing each month and sees that they are sent out to their recipients. Around the parish, she has earned the affectionate title of “The Birthday Card Lady.”
Often helping Diane with this ministry is her grandson, Max Thompson. Pictured above assisting with the June mailing, Max regularly joins his grandmother as they prepare the cards together. What began as a parish service project for Diane has also become a special tradition for the two of them. They often make an evening of it, enjoying time together over pizza and conversation while completing the mailing or grabbing dinner out afterward.
This ministry is a wonderful example of the small acts of kindness that help strengthen our parish family. A simple birthday card can brighten someone’s day and remind them that they are remembered, valued, and prayed for by their parish. Thank you to Fr. Marcin for taking the time to recognize parishioners on their birthdays, and thank you to Diane Gonczy—and her faithful helper Max—for making sure those greetings reach mailboxes throughout the year.
