Who We Are - Divine Treasures - Your Catholic Book and
Gift Source!
In September 1989,
following a pilgrimage to
Medjugorje,
Yugoslavia, Lois Brookhart felt a strong calling
from God to start a Catholic book and gift
ministry to serve the Des Moines Catholic
Community. She envisioned a ministry that must
be about the business of helping Catholics know,
love and keep their faith with a burning hope in
our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. After
sharing her vision with her husband Jim, a
nominal Baptist, and her friend and co-worker,
Susan Greenwood, a cradle Catholic, these two
women began prayerfully discerning how God would
have this ministry come to fulfillment.
Susan’s husband, also a non – Catholic, and
military officer suggested the new enterprise be
called, “Divine Treasures.” Susan and Lois,
convinced this was a sign from God, an
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, moved forward
with their plans to open the store, and Divine
Treasures, was conceived and given birth. With
much encouragement and prayer support from their
friends Ila and Jim Daly, owners of Daly’s
Catholic Store, the only other Catholic store in
Des Moines, Divine Treasures, Inc. opened its
doors for the first time on All Souls Day,
November 2, 1992, in the Franklin Plaza, a small
strip mall in the Beaverdale area.
Lois served as president, and Sue
vice-president. Within two to four years of
opening, both Susan and Lois’ husbands joined
the Catholic Church. And until his untimely
death on January 29, 2004, Jim Brookhart served
as the manager and oversaw the ministry’s day to
day operation. Since Jim’s death, both Sue and
Lois have assumed that responsibility and role.
But it has taken these two women, the ongoing
support and prayers of loyal customers, three
wonderful employees, a host of loving friends
volunteering their gifts and talents to Divine
Treasures, and the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and St. Joseph to fill Jim
Brookhart’s shoes.
The success of this little ministry, has
resulted in two location changes in the past 17
years of its operation. With the help of God’s
grace, the ministry continues to grow and serve
the needs of the Des Moines Catholic community
and beyond, and hopes to do so for years to
come.
You can e-mail
us
a message by clicking
HERE
Meet Sue
Greenwood and Lois Brookhart
 |
Sue Greenwood, wife and
mother of three children.
Born,
raised, and educated in Des Moines,
a "cradle" Catholic, is a member of
St. Mary of Nazareth, where she has
served on the Pastoral Committee,
and is currently serving on the Holy
Trinity Board of Education, where
her children attend school.
Sue
has an undergraduate degree in
Business Administration at Grandview
College. |
 |
Lois
Brookhart, widow, mother and
grandmother.
Born, raised and educated in Des
Moines, a convert, then fell away
from the Church for 25 years and
became a revert to the faith, served
as Director of Religious Education
at All Saints Parish for two years,
was member of the Steering Committee
for the Mid-Iowa Marian Society
which sponsored and hosted the 1992
Marian Conference at Vet’s
Auditorium in 1992. She is currently
a member of the Basilica of St. John
in Des Moines, is a member of the
Choir, and served on the Finance
Committee, and currently serving on
the Parish Council, the Basilica
Foundation Committee, and Christ Our
Life Conference Steering Committee,
as Chairperson of the Exhibitor
Committee. |
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