Tim Joganich

Q: What do you like about St. Jude parish?
Our family joined St. Jude 20 years ago after moving to Chalfont, PA from Tucson, AZ due to a job transfer. Throughout the 20 years, St. Jude has transformed into a lively parish offering ever-increasing ways for parishioners to increase their faith, such as Scripture studies, book discussion groups, and retreats (CRHP – Christ Renews His Parish). These have been invaluable for my personal journey after spending many years in a lukewarm mode.

Q: In what way do you participate in parish life?
As my sons got older, I had more free time to devote to various ministries. I have been part of the RCIA team for the last 6 years and particularly enjoy teaching Church History. I am also part of the Welcome Committee and have been on the Parish Council for the last 4 years. Perhaps the most special is being an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, which has allowed me to better appreciate how and why the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith.

Q: Tell us about your family.
I grew up in Arizona and attended school there. I met my wife Diane of 32 years in Arizona and we were married at the All Saints Newman Center at Arizona State University. My older son (29) is married and lives in Colorado with his wife and their 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter. My younger son (27) lives locally.

Q: Do you have a piece of advice to share with a new parent?
Always talk about our Catholic faith to your kids, including the hard and difficult questions, especially as they get older, so it becomes part of the air they breathe. The world will certainly offer answers to your kids’ questions, but only the Catholic faith has all that is true, beautiful, and good.

Q: How do you nurture your faith?
First and foremost is the Mass. Beyond the Mass, I try to read the Sunday readings prior so it sinks in a little more. I then try, although not always successfully, to spend some time first thing in the morning reading the daily readings and reflections. It just gets the day on the right track because there is certainly enough going in the world to take it off track. Attending the Scripture studies that St. Jude offers has been tremendous, especially the Bible Timeline series.

Lastly, my work requires me to travel regionally a good deal, at which time I will listen to podcasts and Catholic radio, i.e. Holy Spirit Radio (1570 am) and Relevant Radio (640 am). My favorite podcasts have been Father John Riccardo’s Christ is the Answer and Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire. These have kept me company for many hours while driving the PA turnpike out to Pittsburgh where we have an office.

Q: What do you do to have fun?
I enjoy the sport of cycling and have been riding avidly since high school. I also enjoy wood working, cooking, especially Mexican with its brilliant colors and spices, and reading Church history. (The picture is of Tim talking to seminarians about biking safety before the 2020 Biking for Vocations in August.)

Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
I was born in Guam, where my father was in the Airforce.