Tim Streiff joined the CRL staff in August as the Program Manager, a new role on our team focused on CRL Chapters and our Thriving in Rural Ministry program. Tim’s professional experience and his enthusiasm for our mission are a great addition to our team and we wanted to introduce him to the CRL community.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in a rural town in southwestern Minnesota. Growing up, I participated in many of the agricultural activities in my community such as FFA, working part time on neighbors’ farms, and growing sweet corn and other crops in our backyard. I’m particularly grateful to my father for teaching me how to harvest seeds from what we had grown and save them for replanting the next year. I currently live in the Twin Cities with my wife–we met while we were in graduate school at the University of St. Thomas, where I was studying theology.
2) Before working at CRL, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked in the beverage industry for about 10 years during and after graduate school. Immediately prior to working for CRL, I spent 4 years as a beer distributor representative in Minnesota. You certainly meet many interesting people in that job!
3) What about CRL and our mission made you interested in this role?
What attracted me to CRL was the ability to serve others, especially the clergy and families in rural areas similar to my hometown. I always appreciated the role that my pastors had in my life and, later, as a seminarian and parish employee, I have grown in respect for the unique challenges which they face serving in rural areas.
4) What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I’m a talker! I really enjoy meeting new people and sharing the joy of the Gospel. I’m very much looking forward to working with priests in the Thriving in Rural Ministry program and the CRL chapters to help them build up the Kingdom of God.
5) Who is your favorite Saint?
I have always been inspired by the integration of faith and reason in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. So much of the Church’s theology stems from his writings and examples. In fact, in the Church’s instruction for the study of theology, he is the only theologian singled out as an example for how to do theology. He was also a deeply holy man who integrated the Church’s teachings into his own life.
