A’ Laura was born in Seguin, Texas and grew up in this area; she has one younger brother. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a framer in homebuilding. He now has a general contractor’s license. They presently live in McQueeney, Texas.

When A’Laura was in the seventh grade, the family moved to New Braunfels. She attended area schools, graduating from Canyon High School where she was a cheerleader for three years. She became very active in the youth group at Sts. Peter & Paul, participating in a clown ministry that visited nursing homes to entertain the residents.

After high school, A’Laura went to a vocational trade school and obtained a manicurist license and worked in salons for several years. She would also go to nursing homes to give to give manicures and pedicures to the residents. She loved pampering the seniors and they loved her attention. She later worked waitressing and hosting in restaurants. She had yet another job beginning as a secretary in a home health agency and working her way up to recruiting and hiring nurses, aides, and physical therapists.

A’Laura met her present husband Shane through mutual friends. They have a very active family of three children; Perry age 14, Raylee age 12, and Sawyer age 11. (Oh, and Teddy, a Yorkie and A’Laura’s baby.) Perry is in the high school band playing a sousaphone at football games, Raylee dances at her middle school and studio in recitals and competitions, and Sawyer plays on a soccer team that Shane coaches. So they are very busy making memories! Added to all this, they just finished building their forever home in New Braunfels which was very challenging during the current pandemic. But this close-knit family survives because of their strong faith and reliance on each other.

A’Laura started coming to St. Thomas about four years ago when she was asked to help bring the ACTS mission here. She liked the small church atmosphere, friendly smiles and acceptance she felt. Soon all her family started attending Mass here. Shortly, after listening to Fr. Alberic’s plea for a Director of Religious Education, the Holy Spirit moved her to answer that call. She didn’t have any special training for the position, but felt a strong desire to bring religious teaching to the children. She told Fr. “I’m a Mom and I know what children need.” She met with other DRE’s, had a short training, and in December will have been our DRE for three years! She credits her success with going through the learning journey together with the children, and she loves it. She is very grateful for the parental and parish support given to the program. She is a hands-on director, doing an online catechism for first graders, and Shane teaches second graders preparing for first communion. A’Laura also videos the 8:30 Sunday morning Mass to put online since the beginning of the pandemic for those unable to attend Mass in person. She wants to encourage and welcome families to come back to Mass and partake of the sacraments, and is willing to do whatever she can to make that happen.

Her advice to those seeking to enrich religious education for children or adults is to pray a lot; let God guide you and He will qualify you. You have to have a commitment and a love for Jesus. Follow your heart. We at St. Thomas are very blessed to have her! Thank you, A’Laura.