Barbara: "Social work is my calling. It can be very draining ff one  doesn't take care of ones's spiritual needs."

Deacon Alonso: "Remember when you were young and Mass seemed to take  forever? Now I blink and Mass is over because I understand more each  part of Mass and I've found meaning in them."

[Full disclosure: Producer Mike Malcom is married to Barbara’s sister.]

Barbara grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma with a heart for serving  others. She pursued a degree in social work and currently works in  western Colorado. Deacon Alonso has a variety of interests with a common theme: service. He is an accomplished chef, a retired seaman in the US Navy, and a recently retired 5th & 6th grade teacher. A few weeks ago, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Pueblo and can probably count the number of homilies he has given on one hand.