Hayley Horning Shibley
What a wonderful question to sit down and answer in word form. I was born and raised in a big Catholic family. My mom and dad were both born and raised in big Catholic families, and they raised their eight children to be Catholic as well.
Growing up in a family of 10 had its challenges, of course, but I remember our Catholic faith being at the core of everything. It’s why we did certain things and it’s why we believed certain things, and I have carried that into adulthood with me.
I didn’t know it at the time, but my mother’s strong Catholic faith really shaped me into who I am today, a proud Catholic. Now being a mother myself, I see myself in my daughter as we attend Mass and as she grows up being Catholic. Being able to share the precious sacraments with my children is a beautiful thing, and it’s something I cherish as a Catholic. My mom was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion for as long as I can remember, and now I am honored to serve in the same role. I was an altar server growing up, and now my daughter is an altar server. Carrying on these blessed Catholic traditions means more to me than I even knew. My Catholic faith led me and my family to a wonderful church where my faith has never been so strong, and it has allowed me to reflect on my Catholic upbringing and how much it has shaped me as a person.
I’m Catholic because I choose to be Catholic. I am Catholic to carry on beloved, cherished traditions that my mom has passed down to me and now I am passing down to my own daughter.
Shibley, 44, is a tennis coach who lives in Burnsville with her son, Trey, and daughter, Peyton, and her husband of 16 years, Jeremy. She and her family are members of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville. She grew up attending St. Mary in Willmar and graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul with a degree in education.
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