Family of the Year exemplifies service to diocese

Intermountain Catholic

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The Jesse and Bernadette Shackelford family has been named the 2011 Family of the Year by the Knights of Columbus Utah State Council. Courtesy photo/Bernadette Shackelford

SANDY — Jesse and Bernadette Shackelford and their nine children have been named the 2011 Family of the Year by the Knights of Columbus Utah State Council.

The family attends Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy, where Jesse and Bernadette and three of their children are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, Jesse is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Bernadette teaches the sixth-grade religious education class and rosary to the RCIA class. The entire family participates in the Refugee Resettlement Ministry and they pray together every night.

"They’re all about their family," said Knights Supreme Director John Wainscott, who also is a member of the Blessed Sacrament Knights Council. "You can see that they all love each other, they all care about each other and they work together as a family."

The Shackelfords have been married for 32 years and teach the Evenings for Engaged Program for couples preparing for marriage. They also host a prayer/Bible study group in their home. Since moving to Blessed Sacrament Parish 12 years ago, Jesse has served on many parish committees as well as the Diocesan Pastoral Council. He currently is a Catholic Foundation of Utah trustee.

The Shackelford children range in age from 6 to 30. Their oldest daughter, Mary Anna, lives in Arizona with her husband, where they are members of Holy Spirit Parish and she volunteers for the Humane Society.

Their five oldest sons all are Eagle Scouts; Michael Jesse and Charles Stuart and their wives are members of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Stephen Joseph graduated from the University of Utah last year served on the parish’s youth council for several years and hopes to join the Peace Corps. Twins Daniel Thomas and David Thomas attend the University of Utah; they also served on the youth council and now are extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

Catherine Grace is in her third year as a member of the parish’s youth council; she was an altar server for several years and now is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. She is a high school junior.

John Paul, who is in sixth grade, is an altar server and also is a member of his school’s student council and volunteers on the safety patrol. He is working on his Star rank in Boy Scouts.

The youngest Shackelford child, Andrew James, is a kindergartner who is learning his prayers and remembers to pray for everyone, including the earthquake victims in Haiti, according to his parents.

"We try to do services that involve the entire family," Jesse said, adding that he and Bernadette see their marriage as a vocation that sets the right example for raising their children in Christ’s path.

"Family to me is what it’s all about," Bernadette said. "Our faith is what we value, and from that faith comes the service. It’s all about God, it’s not about us. God has blessed us so much that I want to give back."

Blessed Sacrament pastor Monsignor Robert Servatius said the Shackelfords are a model Catholic family who are very supportive of the parish. "They’re wonderful parishioners," he said. "I think they’re a blessing as a family to have in the parish. "They’re a marvelous example of what it is to immerse yourself in parish life."