Margaret Hochla

Pastoral Associate and Minister of Education, Youth and Music for St Andrew Catholic Church, in Moore, Oklahoma.

I have been married for 27 years to Victor and have 4 children. The two girls and two boys range in age from 25-10 years. We are pleased to still have one grandparent from each side of the family and are able to spend time with them as well as provide substantial assistance to their lives. My husband and I are truly members of the "sandwich" generation!

I play a variety of musical instruments and enjoy making music at home with the other members of my family who play guitar, violin, oboe, piano and organ. I became devoted to the pursuit of eating in a healthy and sustainable way after I suffered extensive injuries in a near-fatal automobile accident and was left with a severely compromised digestive system. Around this same time, I also noticed that my 5 year old daughter seemed to be over developing physically for her age. and heredity. I attributed this to hormones and other food additives.

I love to cook and had canned and grown a garden yearly with my parents and grandparents until I moved out of the home at age 24. I make jams and marmalades each year to supplement my holiday gift giving. I am still very much a learner in the areas of sustainable and local agriculture and eating seasonably. I believe in gathering around a table to offer hospitality and to engage in real relationship with those who are there as an imperative to decreasing stress in our lives and attaching meaning to life.