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In the Spotlight--John Mjoseth, Board Chairman
By Jane Oppermann
It began innocently enough. During Benevolence Sunday at Kenilworth Union Church about ten years ago, John Mjoseth picked up a folder on Holy Family and paged through some informational material. An appeal for a water fountain for the school struck him as a humble and easily resolved request. So, enlisting some help from outside sources, John donated that much needed water fountain.
He should have known that hope and a few fountains spring eternal, or at least for a while. Keeping in contact with Holy Family over the next few years, John, who is regional vice president of McMaster-Carr Supply Company in Elmhurst, continued to help with occasional specific needs.
“I was slow to the table. Our relationship continued at the low level until five years ago when I got a call from Susan Work, who knew us by our occasional contribution,” recalled John. “We finally got around to visiting the school. And the thing that really touched my heart and captured me were a few fourth grade girls, busily working on an art project while their classmates were at recess, who were so very confident and self-assured. Their friendliness and courtesy convinced me that there was really something special going on in that school.”
Today John is chair of Holy Family Ministries’ Board of Directors, helping lead this ministry to even more service as the organization prepares to launch its most exciting and challenging effort: building a school with amenities to meet the needs of the children served by Holy Family.
John is quick to point out that there were plenty of dedicated folk who laid the groundwork for such an ambitious project.
“Joe Pringle, Nancy Nagel, Dick Tribble, the entire Board of Directors, and of course Susan’s tireless work: it’s a great team effort,” said John. “We’ve named the Capital Campaign ‘Building Hope.’ And it is wonderful to be a part of this team.”
Teamwork is second nature for this son of a career army officer who spent much of his childhood in Germany and Japan and himself served as an army officer in the 101st airborne division. John wasted no time enlisting the support of his wife, Pam, and younger daughter Sally.
Pam, a social worker, has contributed to expanding Holy Family’s network of supporters by spreading the word among friends and neighbors and inviting them to see the school and attend the North Shore Spring Benefit. “As a family, we have also attended special services at the church,” she said. “We have been touched by the love and warmth and by all that the children have accomplished” because of the support they have received.
Sally, a soon-to-be senior, at New Trier High School in Winnetka, has become involved in the ministry by working as an intern in the administrative office last summer and creating a database for the school’s first alumni directory.
Older daughter, Kristen, a student at Santa Clara University in California, majoring in art history and English, has yet to be recruited.
John credits his faith and belief system to the teachings he garnered in Protestant worship services while growing up in the military. Going on to graduate from Southwestern Oklahoma State, later receiving a Masters Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, John said his activity in church impacts his own faith today.
“That’s why when I see that work of faith at Holy Family, it really impresses me. It’s something that never leaves you really and is the reason I want to help it grow.”
Holy Family Ministries
790 Frontage Rd.
Northfield, IL 60093
Phone 847.441.4115//fax 847.441.4116
Email: info@holyfamilyministries.org
