Patrick & Peggy Maas

Patrick’s story:

In 1998 I believe God placed an idea on my heart to open a Catholic Christian bookstore. When I shared this with Peggy, she seemed surprised but really didn’t doubt what I felt. The three years leading up to this included dramatic changes in my life as I discovered my faith and developed my own relationship with God. I was not attending church when Peggy and I began dating and laughed abit whenever she asked me to come. I eventually went with her and was surprised by what I found. I found a great community that helped me not only find my way back to my faith but, helped me to find my way back to God.

Patrick and Peggy in the back room of the newly renovated store

Peggy and I were married in 1997 and by that time I was attending church on a regular basis, even becoming involved in the music ministry playing bass guitar in the choir at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Coquitlam where we were befriended by (then) Pastor, Rev. Craig Scott. It was through Fr. Scott that I participated in a Cursillo weekend which really helped to me to understand my new relationship with Jesus, with my Catholic Christian community and provided me with invaluable tools to help to enrich my worship and prayer life. It was quite a conversion from where I was and therefore I don’t think Peggy was surprised by my zeal for the faith.

Seven years later in 2005 after much prayer and many life changes, the desire to open the store was strong again. I think there was a pressing feeling in Peggy and I that time was passing by and that was God creating the sense of urgency that we needed. Of course, His timing is always perfect and here we are.

I am more the behind-the-scenes partner with Peggy as the proverbial hostess, something she loves to do and is very good at. She really allows God to work through her and that makes the store what it is. I feel very blessed on many counts and I pray that God will continue to use us to spread the Good News both through the store and through our music ministry (Elijah Music Ministry at St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Coquitlam).

Peggy’s story:

When Patrick announced one day that he thought that “God told him that he should open and operate a Catholic Christian booktore”, I thought, “oh, sure He did! I’m the one that’s been back to church for years, here you’ve just come back, and God’s speaking to you. Really?” Well, I’m just being honest. But, the more Patrick kept talking the more I believed him.

Patrick and Peggy at the front counter showing the books, gifts and CDs of local Christian musicians

In fact, nothing should have really surprised me where God is concerned. I also was away from my faith for many years, coming back in my late 20’s. Although my parents ensured I received all the sacraments and instructions as a child, I lived most of my youth and young adult life absolutely contrary to God’s teachings until one day a friend invited me to participate in the music ministry at her parish. God is so clever isn’t He? Using whatever He can to fan that flame that He placed in you when He created you. When I joined my friends I was to substitute for their vacationing guitarist/vocalist for 4 weeks…that was almost 20 years ago and I’ve barely missed a week!!

Thank God He never gave up on me even when I had given up on myself. The day He became real to me came through a tragedy in the summer of 1990 when I lost my 2 young sons Elijah and Elias to a drunk driver. God took care of my daughters Elishah and Elizabeth and I and our whole family.

For me, this is part of the reason that I do everything that I do. I sing His praises and share with people how God lifted me from my pain and sorrow and gave me His peace. I place my trust in Him because He has never, ever failed me. I place my trust in Him because He has taken better care of me than I ever did of myself.

Patrick and I are members of the Catholic parish of St. Clare of Assisi in Coquitlam, British Columbia where together we direct the Elijah Music Ministry. Named after Elijah, my oldest son, and named so because the name Elijah means “Yahweh is our God”. The music ministry is our other great joy, so it was very befitting to call the store “JOYFUL NOISE Books & Gifts”. The psalm says “make a joyful noise to the Lord” and we do wherever we can!