Jonathan Conrad 

I’m Jonathan Conrad, the Catholic Woodworker. I grew up Catholic, and when I wasn’t at church I was building things with my dad, my grandfather, or just me. I’m married to my high-school sweetheart, Carey, and we’ve been blessed with three boys. I always thought it was my job to teach them how to be a man, but I think I learn more from them than they do from me. It wasn’t until we had kids that I realized how much I needed daily prayer, the rosary, and especially the sacraments. This zeal for daily prayer and the rosary is the inspiration behind the handmade wooden rosaries I create, our in-home altar sets, and all the devotional items we offer.

Eric Jackson

I am Eric Jackson, Director of Operations and first full-time employee for The Catholic Woodworker. I am excited and grateful to be able to serve in this capacity. I answered a call to help make rosaries in early 2020 and could not have imagined it would lead to this opportunity. Previously, I worked full time in the green industry - doing both residential and commercial landscaping as well as estate management. Reflecting on my life experiences up to this point, I can see all the ways that God, in His perfect timing, was preparing me for this new role with The Catholic Woodworker.

Hey there, I'm Madeline Pierce, the Product Specialist. I started with The Catholic Woodworker in June 2021 as the second full-time employee, but I shifted to part-time to care for my growing family. You can still find me fulfilling orders, packaging materials, making rosaries, and more often than not—providing customer service. My time here at The Catholic Woodworker has truly been a blessing and I love our customers. It's such a gift to be able to bring the joy of prayer and meditation to Catholics/converts globally! (Yes, we ship international.)

I had been exposed to the rosary throughout my life as I was raised Catholic, but I really didn’t begin the deep-dive into my faith or the understanding of the rosary until my husband, Tyler, came along. He has been the rock in our family and we are blessed to have him. We met in college here in Indiana and have put down our roots here in a young, vibrant Catholic community. We wed in 2021 and now have two beautiful boys together.

When I feel angry, anxious, or restless I find myself praying the rosary or talking to our Heavenly Mother and her son until I’m asleep or calm. As a mother now, I find that to be the case even more so! And a bedtime, rosary is a surefire way to help me fall asleep in peace... or at least more at peace. I feel privileged and blessed to be able to make these tools for the spiritual battles everywhere. 

T.J. and Annmarie Schwarz

Hello! We are T.J. and Annmarie Schwarz. We are humbled and honored to be a part of the rosary-making team here at The Catholic Woodworker. God sure works in wonderful and mysterious ways and one of those has been leading us to our friendship with the Conrad family and then being added to this beautiful ministry.

We have been married for 8.5 years. We met at a wedding back in 2008. Based on the events of the weekend, neither of us would have guessed we would now be married. Actually, we would never have guessed we would have even talked again. But, God had a plan and we are forever grateful. We have been gifted and entrusted with the care of 3 rambunctious little boys that keep us active, humbled, always learning, and often a little crazy.

T.J. works as a CPA for a tax consulting firm in Indianapolis. He had dreams of being an architect/developer but graduated the same year as the housing market crash, so he was led in a different direction. Annmarie is an occupational therapist with a passion for pediatric patients. But at this time she has been called to currently spend her days at home nurturing and raising those 3 boys.

We have both grown to have a deep love and appreciation for the gift of the rosary. Annmarie's started at the age of 9 when she found the immense power and peace it provided to her when she started battling fear and anxiety. It helped her to be able to fall asleep at night and became a nightly ritual for many years. T.J. is a convert to the faith, who joined the church in 2009 so his love for the rosary has been more recent. His love has grown from random learning of it as well as fascination with stories he had heard of the power behind it and the fruits that come from praying it. We find ourselves praying it together in our times of deepest need, a decade here and there with the whole crew, separately as T.J. drives to work, or Annmarie randomly pieces together the prayers amidst the juggling of the daily grind. No matter when, how often, whether it is spread out or completed in one sitting, we find the graces it provides are immeasurable.

We both vividly recall and often reminisce about our trip to Rome back in 2012. A part of our trip that was so special to us was when we stood in the Sistine Chapel staring and studying the alter wall covered in the fresco of Michelangelo's The Last Judgment. One part of the painting particularly stuck out to us- 2 souls being hauled up to heaven by a soul already there, with the mechanism in between being the rosary. Our number one goal that we strive for every day is working towards getting each other and our children to heaven. Man, do we struggle and fall short every day. But what an incredible gift we have been given in the rosary- a spiritual weapon to help us in this difficult life battle- a force to be reckoned with. And we are beyond grateful to now be able to help create them for all of you. Know that as we use our hands to make them, that we are praying for yours that will hold them. And we pray by God's grace, through Mary, we one day will all be hand-in-hand in heaven.

To learn more about The Catholic Woodwork and our mission, visit our About Us page.