March 13, 2020 was a day we’ll never forget. It was our last “normal” day before Covid lockdown began. That time helped me articulate the role of our Church in a simple question: How can the Church walk with the people of God through this time? For parishes and communities, that should have been our primary question. Unfortunately, and I saw this in denominations across the country, it was not. Laying off employees, applying for PPP loans, etc. became primary. In our defense, it was the first time churches would not have weekly collections. But for the communities that did focus on walking with the people of God first, they flourished.

Our Bishops define youth ministry as the response to the needs of young people. That sounds a bit similar to walking with the people of God doesn’t it? Until Covid I hadn’t articulated that question, but it was always at the core of ministry for me. In 1995 I was hired for my first part time youth minister position at St. Mary’s in Lancaster. For me that was a dream come true. There were only a few of us as paid parish staff in the diocese, and I remember pushing for youth ministers to be included in the Catholic Directory. Who knew that 30 years later one of us would receive this award tonight. God is good!

My time at St. Mary’s introduced me to the Diocesan Youth Department. Thanks to them I was able to take Certificate of Youth Ministry Courses and participate in trainings and workshops that made me the minister I am today. Walking with the people of God also means equipping them with skills and abilities. The Youth Department did that for adults and young people.

For those who may not have known or may not recall our diocese before 2020, our Youth Department was one of the most respected in the country. We had the longest running Diocesan Youth Convention, and one of the architects of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry was our very own Msgr. Fran Weldgen. Other dioceses looked to us to see how we were doing training and what programs and retreats we were offering for young people.

We were one of the first dioceses in the country to have the Christian Leadership Institute. This 5 day program taught leadership styles, communication and planning skills, group dynamics and situational leadership. It equipped hundreds of young people to be servant leaders and many have served in parish and diocesan roles.

I wouldn’t be a youth minister if I didn’t have some sort of activity in this speech. So I’d like to ask anyone who attended CLI, served as a CLI team member or went to CLI for the planning day with their young people to please stand.

This is the gift of good formation for young people.

You may be seated.

As you looked at the people standing, would you agree that they deserved good formation opportunities? What do the people of God deserve? I think Jesus would say, “The people of God deserve the best.” That attitude is key for the question – How does the Church walk with the people of God through this time?

In 2009 I made a decision to return to parish ministry, and it became one of the greatest gifts of my ministry journey. A simple country pastor kept asking me to come to work with him, and after saying no for almost 8 months, I finally said, “Yes.”

Some of you may recall Loughlan Sofield’s book on Collaborative Ministry. Well for 14 years with the leadership of Fr. Bob Wardenski and our incredible team at Immaculate Conception, we lived it. There were no lines between the parish, school, faith formation and youth ministry. All were equal and we worked together as one. That sounds so simple and so right, but it is rare to see it as a lived reality. It wasn’t only Fr. Bob – it was every member of our team. Sr. Judy Beiswanger, DRE and our principals Karen Adamski and Joseph Duttweiler were part of the collaborative team. The Smart Boards and technology in the school classrooms were used for faith formation because every resource of the parish belonged equally to all of us.

One of Fr. Bob’s axioms was “parish first” and another that he would say when he saw us standing and visiting was, “On behalf of the people of the parish, get back to work.”

It is worth a chuckle, but look at the center of the sentence – “the people of the parish.” How does the Church walk with the people of God through this time? Sounds a bit similar doesn’t it? In addition to collaboration, our team shared a theology of ministry. That unity inspired our people, and I cherish the gift I was given to work with those incredible people.

That collaborative unity should not be an isolated moment in time. It should be the reality in all of our parishes and our Families of Parishes. My friends, we are indeed in a difficult time in our Church. Our diocese continues to face so many challenges, and yet people still come to us. They still join our parishes and entrust their children and young people to our care. Don’t they deserve the best? I think they do.

I stand here tonight as the product of the parishes I’ve served at and the amazing formation I received from our former diocesan departments and Christ the King Seminary. I stand here tonight for all lay ministers who are often the front line and the face of the Church for the people of God. I have witnessed lay ministers go above and beyond through the many changes in our parishes. I stand here for the lay ministers who have been bruised by our Church, and yet continue to serve the people of God because they know it is God they serve, not institutions. I am honored to know and serve this diocese with so many competent and dedicated lay ecclesial ministers.

Finally, I am not a priest or a deacon. That’s pretty obvious! I am a minister in our Church though and this is my vocation. It is safe to say that I’ve given my life to our Church. As we continue to move into our new model of parish as Families, we are in the Storming stage of situational leadership. It is when things are changing, so there is conflict, disagreement and power struggles as we figure out our new reality. This stage requires leaders who coach, teach and explain. It is not a time for leaders to be spectators – the people of God need leaders who put in 110%. Did Jesus give any less?

I am grateful to know and serve with laity, priests and deacons who give 110% plus to their ministry. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

Now – on behalf of the people of God, let’s get to work!