When Brug and her husband, Howie, moved to Raleigh from the Midwest 43 years ago, they never looked back. They fell in love with the Raleigh area, the people they met, and the opportunities they found here – including St. Raphael Catholic Church. In the more than 40 years she and Howie have been members of our church, Brug has served as a Catechist for Confirmation, as a Pastoral Council member, and on several building project committees. In addition to currently serving as Pastoral Council Co-Chair, she’s currently also serving as an Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist (EMHC).
 
Brug brings a wealth of leadership experience to her role as Pastoral Council Co-Chair. As owners and operators of ACE Hardware stores in Raleigh and Cary, she and Howie were “The Helpful Hardware Folks,” for 40 years. She’s also served on the Diocesan Bishop’s Annual Appeal Steering Committee and on the Cardinal Gibbons Board of Trustees.
 
Brug was appointed as a member to the Pastoral Council in the Fall of 2017 and as Co-Chair in August 2019. What she enjoys most about being on the Pastoral Council is the dedicated opportunity to serve our St. Raphael community. She sees St. Raphael as a “little town” and wants to help make sure that everyone who comes to St. Raphael to celebrate with our community in God’s grace receives some benefit.
 
Brug and Howie celebrated 49 years of marriage this past August and are looking forward to many more years! They fill their retirement years with golf, scuba diving, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, and have also become quite the ACC fans.
 
When asked what she would say to someone who is considering joining the Pastoral Council, Brug replied, “This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference for future generations of St. Raphaelites. With God’s Grace, our parish will become one of strength, discipleship, and hospitality for many years into the future. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that vision?”