Most days, John Van Hook works alone performing maintenance. After nearly three decades at St. Leonard Faith Community and eight more at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Centerville, he knows every corner of the church buildings. His days are filled with quiet service, such as setting up for weddings, troubleshooting A/C units, and fixing electrical switches.

But one day in May, the stillness was broken.

“I kind of passed out,” Van Hook said. “I fell down and hit my head. I don’t remember that—I was out.”

What happened next was a chain of grace, quick action, and divine timing.

“Normally I work by myself,” Van Hook said. “So, I was kind of fortunate in that we were changing a room over … putting in doors with glass. Two other maintenance guys were there helping me.”

Kevin Allen and Rob Theewis had finished a CPR/AED training with the parish only a few weeks earlier, and that preparation proved to be lifesaving.

“They did CPR, and they fractured about 11 of my ribs,” Van Hook recalled. “The next thing I remember is waking up later that day at Miami Valley Hospital.”

Deacon Chris Rauch, managing director of operations for the Our Lady of Light Family of Parishes, received the call in a meeting. “Kevin notified us that John had collapsed and they were giving him CPR,” Deacon Chris said. “Father Brian [Phelps] and I immediately drove over from Incarnation to St. Francis. When we got there, John was in a lot of pain and distress, and when they put him in the ambulance, I jumped in and rode with him to the hospital.”

Deacon Rauch contacted John’s wife, Barb, and prayed with the family as they gathered. “The Holy Spirit certainly was active,” he said. “John almost always—99 percent of the time—works by himself, and this one particular day, Kevin and Rob came over and were assisting him when he suddenly collapsed.”

Even Rob felt the divine presence guiding his hands. “Rob shared with me that he felt like the Holy Spirit took over and guided him as they did CPR and used the AED,” Deacon Rauch said. “That in itself is another miracle.”

Van Hook’s recovery has been steady. “Right now, I feel good. My strength’s back, and I’m supposed to be coming back [soon],” he said. “I have no restrictions or anything.”

There’s another part of John’s story that adds depth to the moment. “When I was 10 years old, I was walking home from school, and I was hit by a car,” he shared. “So I am actually visually impaired.” After the recent incident, his vision dipped briefly, but has mostly returned. “It might not be to where I was before I fell, but it’s pretty close, so I’m blessed about that,” he said.

As for what sustained him through it all? “God puts the right people at the place they’re needed the most at that time,” Van Hook said.

Deacon Rauch agrees and hopes this story reminds others of the power of preparation and prayer. “As a manager of people, I really want to get the message across … that CPR and AED training really need to be a regular thing,” he said. “A number of first responders and medical staff that day over and over told me to tell Rob and Kevin how incredible a job they did bringing John back.”

In quiet faithfulness and unexpected trial, Van Hook’s story is one of divine orchestration, a moment when ordinary service became extraordinary grace. ✣

This article appeared in the September 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.