For nearly 30 years, Holy Family Catholic Bookstore has served Catholic families with faith-filled resources and sacramental gifts. (Submitted photo)
When a business calls itself “Catholic,” what does that really mean?
Unlike a parish, school or ministry, there is no official designation that makes a business Catholic. Some companies sell explicitly Catholic products. Others provide everyday goods and services while striving to operate according to the values of the Gospel. What they share is the conviction that faith belongs not only in the pew on Sunday but also in the workplace Monday through Saturday.
For Catholic business owners, faith often shapes everything from how employees are treated to how customers are welcomed, how profits are viewed and how difficult decisions are made.
Faith, family and hospitality have shaped Bunzel’s Old Fashioned Meat Market & Catering for nearly five decades. (Submitted photo)
Chip Bunzel, whose family operates Bunzel’s Old Fashioned Meat Market & Catering in Milwaukee, said operating a Catholic business begins with putting faith first.
The business closes every Sunday so Bunzel and his wife can spend the day with family and take his elderly parents to Mass. Inside the store, he strives to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. “It’s similar to the ‘Cheers’ television show,” he said.
That same philosophy shapes the way he treats employees, many of whom have worked for Bunzel’s for more than 35 years.
“I am not a screaming boss, but one who tries to sit down and talk if we have any challenges,” he said.
For Bunzel, success comes from simple principles.
“If you provide a good product and are happy and nice, customers will come back,” he said. “Be nice, give them a good sandwich, be fair with prices and care about others.”
For Colana Kay Hutchinson, owner of Shower of Roses Shoppe, being a Catholic business means ensuring that every product reflects the faith accurately and reverently.
Founded in 2016, her online business creates products honoring saints and angels, the seven sacraments, feast days and important moments in Catholic family life, including wedding stationery and funeral prayer cards.
“When I create a design, I am aware that it may be used during a sacrament, placed in a church, distributed at a funeral, given to a priest or kept by a family for many years,” she said. “Because of that, I try to make certain that the imagery, prayers and language are respectful and faithful to Catholic tradition.”
Hutchinson intentionally includes Catholic prayers on memorial cards and has created more than 400 Catholic wedding prayer card designs because, she said, prayer remains essential in marriage.
“My hope is that every design, in its own small way, preserves something beautiful about the Catholic faith and points souls closer to Christ,” she said.
At Holy Family Catholic Bookstore in Pleasant Prairie, owners Wes and Anne Ricchio see their business as an opportunity to share their faith. Customers frequently visit looking for gifts or sacramental items but leave with something more valuable — answers to questions about the Catholic faith.
“We have had customers come in and after talking to us, have considered joining the faith, and some have become more actively involved and more engaged,” Anne Ricchio said.
Just a few of the many prayer cards, stationary, gifts and more at Shower of Roses Shoppe. (Submitted Photo)
While they never pressure customers, they welcome questions about Catholicism.
Anne recalled speaking with a Baptist minister who wanted to better understand Catholic teaching.
“He appreciated my clarifying things for him, and I think it helped him overcome his misconceptions about Catholicism,” she said.
Whether helping families prepare for First Communion or assisting someone searching for a religious gift, the Ricchios try to remember what they believe matters most.
“Each person is a soul, and each is worthy of great respect, whether coming as nonpracticing individuals or active in the faith,” Anne said. “Each is a gift from God, and we strive to treat everyone as such, and hope they share it with others.”
Although Bunzel’s Meat Market, Shower of Roses Shoppe and Holy Family Catholic Bookstore serve customers in different ways, each owner described faith as something that shapes everyday business decisions.
For Bunzel, that means welcoming customers, treating employees well, and making time for family and Mass.
For Hutchinson, it means creating products that remain faithful to Catholic teaching and tradition.
For the Ricchios, it means treating every customer with dignity while remaining willing to answer questions about the faith.
Together, their experiences suggest that, for these business owners, being a Catholic business is less about a label than about allowing Catholic beliefs to guide the way they serve others.
