Welcome to Deacon Jim Reinhardt!

Dear Parishioners of Annunciation,

I am delighted that Archbishop Hebda has asked me to serve at Annunciation as your new deacon.

I was raised in a devout Catholic home and I was the third of 6 children. I grew up in St. Louis Park, MN where I attended Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church and School from grades 1-8. I later graduated from Benilde-St. Margaret's High School. After high school I moved across the Mississippi River and completed my undergraduate studies in Social Work and Criminal Justice at St. Thomas College and then completed my graduate studies at Mankato State University in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.

As a freshman in high school, I made a firm decision to follow Christ and devoted my life to Him. Since then, Jesus has given me many graces to live out my Christian faith. Most important among these are those received in the sacramental life of the Catholic faith. In my later high school and college years, I was introduced to a Charismatic Christian Community, now called the People of Praise. I eventually made a lifelong commitment to the community. In our life together in the People of Praise, we are encouraged to share our lives (spiritually and materially) with one another, help one another grow in holiness, and pursue a life of service to the Church.

In 1986, I married the love of my life, Nadine. Together, God blessed us with 10 children (now ages 13-33). We have 9 grandchildren with 2 more due later this year. I am self-employed and work at Minnesota Rehabilitation Services as a Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant. In a nutshell, I help individuals who have been injured on the job and find themselves off work.

Throughout my later adult life, I felt an inspiration from the Lord to discern whether He was calling me to serve Him as an ordained man or remain in service to Him in other ways. The journey of discernment for Nadine and me has been meaningfully rich and has had a powerful influence on both of us. Our love for the Lord and for each other has grown significantly. That was over 7 years ago! I was ordained a permanent deacon in December of 2017. I am humbled and blessed to be able to lay down my life to serve Jesus in His Church as a deacon. I am excited to serve the Annunciation community as your deacon. I also look forward to meeting each of you and getting to know you personally. Please bear with me as I have difficulty remembering names—at times, even the names of my own children!

May God Bless you with His every grace. In His Service,
Deacon Reinhardt