News

Giving back to church motivates lay ministers

By Jay Alderson
Compass Correspondent

MENASHA -- A shared commitment to give back to the church has led two colleagues from Menasha parishes on a journey through the diocese's Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program.

	Related article this week: • Fifteen to be commissioned for ministry

Tanya Schreiber of Oshkosh and Joanne Vanness of Menasha will complete the program when they become commissioned ministers May 15 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay.

Both say this is just the start of a new journey being able to contribute more to their parish ministries.

The Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program integrates personal, spiritual, and academic components to prepare Christians to respond to God's call of discipleship and collaborative ministry. It includes personal and spiritual experiences, academic studies and a supervised practice of ministry; a deeper understanding of Scripture and theology; skills to carry out ministry competently and professionally; and the integration of personal/communal prayer and theological reflection in the faith experience of being a disciple.

Schreiber will become a coordinator of youth ministry, challenged to assist the pastor/parish director in providing resources that focus on serving youths and their families. She works at Menasha's three parishes - St. Mary, St. Patrick and St. John the Baptist - and belongs to St. Mary Parish.

She is a recent convert to Catholicism. Seven years ago, she was going through a divorce and a difficult time in her life. A Catholic friend gave her a rosary which Schreiber started to carry with her. She started to pray the rosary and listening to Mother Angelica on EWTN television.

"That began my process," Schreiber said. "When I went to my first Catholic Mass, I knew that that was the truth and where I needed to be. As part of my education, I was just falling in love with the Catholic teachings and the studies."

She considered getting a degree in theology studies from the UW-Oshkosh, but a priest recommended that she check out the Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program.

"I prayed on that quite a bit," she said. "Financially, it made sense and it was the right move for me. It was a real gift to be in that program."

Schreiber previously had worked in retail sales for more than 20 years and was involved in youth ministry as a volunteer for 15 years prior to taking the "leap of faith" to go into full-time ministry. She served as a catechist for high school at Sacred Heart in Oshkosh and then for three years as youth minister in Winneconne.

As she grew in her ministry, she saw the application for the youth minister position with the Menasha parishes and decided to apply.

"They're very vibrant and were really searching out someone to be part of the vital team," Schreiber said. "They had already chosen members to be part of the youth ministry team, and I liked that."

Being a youth minister gives Schreiber "the opportunity to help grow the church," Schreiber said. "Not only do I reach out to youth, but they reach out to me. It keeps my perspective fresh and challenges me in my faith."

She said youths ask a lot of questions and challenge the adults to give them the answers.

"I love that I have to seek out the proper answers and the true Catholic Church teachings," Schreiber said. "Not only are the youth the future, but they're the 'now' of the church. Once youth today are turned on to Jesus Christ, they're really on fire for Jesus and they won't turn back. It's so important to get them strong in their faith, know we're advocates for them and know that they are deeply loved. They're going to be our leaders, and they're going to be strong leaders, too."

With this ministry, Schreiber works closely with the adult leaders of the parishes. She is involving the youths with the Faith on Fire program for high school-aged youths, a drop-in center at the St. John's site twice a month, mission work for the summer, service work inside and outside the parishes and diocesan youth opportunities.

Becoming a commissioned minister is an important accomplishment for Schreiber.

"I think it shows people how truly dedicated I am to the faith and to moving Catholicism forward," she said. "When you're a convert, people sometimes think, 'Now what trip is she on?' It shows that this is something I take seriously, and it's an accomplishment. We (in the program) do it for witness (and) we're willing to really stand up and sacrifice for the kingdom."

Vanness, Schreiber's colleague at St. John Parish, will be commissioned as a coordinator of religious education, challenged to assist the pastor/parish director in promoting quality catechesis in a parish.

Vanness has been a church volunteer for several years. She is a volunteer catechist for St. John and St. Mary religious education programs. She also serves on the stewardship and faith formation committees. Three years ago she was asked to enter the Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program.

"I wanted to give back," Vanness said. "My husband (Damon Brandt) and I want to get more involved. This was a way I could get more involved. I think God has to play an important role in your life, and you have to put him first. This was a way I could grow my own faith and learn how to help others."

She said working in religious education gives her a way to develop relationships with parish youth.

"I only have one child myself, so it's nice to meet other kids and be involved in what's going on in the church," she said.

She said that the commissioned ministry program has advanced what she can do for her parish.

"I think it's given me a better background in faith," said Vanness. "When kids come with questions, I'll have something to tell them and know more than I did before. It's like climbing that big hill. You see things along the way and take different paths, and you get to the top finally. It's been a long journey."

She also values the relationships she has developed with other program participants and the opportunity to learn more about her faith and the practices of the church.

"You know them, but you don't really know why you do what you do," she said. "Learning the background was very interesting."

Vanness recommends the commissioned leadership program to others.

"Even if they're not going to get commissioned, they should take some of the classes to learn more about their faith," she said. "Our faith is so rich. Sometimes it's nice to hear it from a different viewpoint. Too often we put (responsibility for the church) off on other people. If you want it to continue, you need to take ownership and do it yourself."