News

Fifteen to be commissioned for ministry

GREEN BAY -- Bishop Robert Morneau will commission 15 lay persons at a 7 p.m. Mass on Thursday, May 15, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 140 S. Monroe Ave.

	Related article this week: • Giving back to church motivates lay ministers     Commissioned ministry program graduates     look forward to serving others

The ceremony will mark the completion of the candidates' Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program, a nationally accredited joint effort of the Green Bay Diocese and Silver Lake College, Manitowoc. The program was fully accredited in 1995 by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops/Commission on Certification and Accreditation. The program was reaffirmed for accreditation in 1998 and 2005.

The Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program is a three-step process involving personal and spiritual experiences, academic studies, and a supervised practice of ministry:

1. Deeper understanding of scripture and theology.

2. Learning skills to carry out ministry competently and professionally.

3. Integration of personal/communal prayer and theological reflection in the faith experience of being a disciple.

The program provides preparation in five basic areas to assist the parish director/pastor:

• Pastoral Ministry Coordinator - pastoral care, RCIA, sacramental preparation, evangelization, and other spiritual needs and services.
  
  
• Liturgical Ministry Coordinator - providing prayerful worship experiences.
  
  
• Coordinator of Religious Education - promoting quality catechesis in a parish. The person may be responsible for all or a part of pre-K through grade 12, sacramental programs, youth ministry, and adult formation.
  
  
• Coordinator of Youth Ministry - providing resources to serve youth and their families.
  
  
• Parish Business Manager - providing stewardship of the personnel, financial and parish resources.

"Commissioning is really about stewardship: prayer, service, sharing," said Tony Pichler, diocesan director of Lay Ministry Formation. "These 15 people began the journey of the Commissioned Ministry Leadership Formation Program three to five years ago because each one had the desire to become the best minister possible in order to better serve the members of his or her parish faith community."

Those being commissioned on May 15 are:

Pastoral Ministry

Mary Ebben volunteers as a Confirmation group leader, eucharistic minister, lector, and youth retreat leader at Holy Cross Parish, Kaukauna. She is also the chairperson for the parish faith formation committee and is the adult leader for the Colorado Outdoor Leadership Retreat. Ebben, an optometric assistant at Family Eye Care, has participated in several volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity missions to Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and Mexico. Mary and her husband, Mark, have five children: David, 25; Daniel, 24; Kathryn, 20; Angela, 18; and Leah, 13.

Mary Herson-Roeser serves St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay as a religious education catechist, social justice committee member, FOCCUS program volunteer, RCIA sponsor and visitor to the sick and homebound. Mary and her husband, Mike, have a 12-year-old son, Bennett. She works as a clinical social worker for Heartland Hospice and Home Care.

Keith Preston volunteers at St. Pius X Parish, Appleton, as a eucharistic minister, parish council member, social concerns committee member and presider for Communion services for the Independent Living Facility. Keith and his wife, Sharon, have three children: Tony, 23; Erin, 11, and Emily, 6. He is self-employed as an online book salesperson for Prestonshire Books.

Karen Marks is the full-time Sacristan at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. She is also involved in the parish as a eucharistic minister, altar server and member of the liturgy committee. She has a daughter, Hannah Villaseñor, 11.

Religious Education

Penny Biwer is a full-time faith formation coordinator at St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay. She and her husband, Timothy, have four children: Heather, 33, who is married to James Steineke; Leah, 23; Cole, 20; and Tanner, 13. They also have two grandchildren, Carter and Sawyer. Penny is also a Sinsinawa Dominican Associate.

Char Kilsdonk is a high school faith development and confirmation coordinator at St. John Nepomucene Parish in Little Chute. Her volunteer work at the parish also includes serving as a Vital Youth Ministry team leader. She and her husband, Tony, have four children, Jason, 23; Megan, 20; Ethan, 14; and Logan, 12.

Holly Meyer serves as a facilitator for Sunday morning programs - Celebrate Jesus and Liturgy of the World for Children - at St. Bernard Parish in Green Bay. She also volunteers as a Eucharistic minister and as a second grade catechist. Her primary focus is working with children 4 to 8-years-old. She has a son, Nicholas, who is married to Samantha, and two grandchildren, Michaela and Kerstin.

Youth Ministry

Tanya Schreiber is the youth minister coordinator at St. Mary, St. John and St. Patrick Parishes in Menasha. She also volunteers for the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society, counts money for fund-raisers and is the adult education facilitator. Schreiber is also involved in the community as a certified hunter safety instructor, ski club chaperone for Winneconne Middle school and a certified facilitator for Teens against Tobacco Use in Winnebago County.

Rachel VanZeeland is a very energetic individual who works full-time as the religious education and youth ministry coordinator at Most Precious Blood Parish in New London.

Christine Wolf volunteers as a catechist for G.I.F.T., Eucharistic minister and sacristan at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Ashwaubenon. She and her husband, Tom, have three children, Jackie, 19; Amber, 19; and Katie, 15. Chris is a Blue Sky School of Massage therapist for Witzke Chiropractic.

Church Business

Tammy Krueger is very involved in her home parish of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Greenville, as a part-time secretary, sacristan, eucharistic minister, catechist and member of the stewardship committee.

Sue Philippi is the full-time secretary/bookkeeper at Holy Rosary Parish in New Holstein. She also volunteers for the parish as a eucharistic minister and is a member of Christian Women and the Fall Festival Committee. Sue and her husband, Roger, have been married 30 years and have two children: Brian, 28, and Kristalyn, 24.

Religious Education and Youth Ministry

Angela Bieda is the coordinator of youth ministry at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard. She volunteers as a high school retreat chaperone, substitute catechist, picnic helper and mission helper. She and her husband, Matthew, have four children, Michael, 16; Matthew, 13; Maxwell, 10; and Mandy, 6. Her home parish is St. Bernard, Green Bay.

Joanne Vanness volunteers as a fourth grade catechist with her husband, Damon, at St. John the Baptist Parish in Menasha. She is also a member of the Vital Youth Ministry team for the tri-parishes of St. John/St. Mary/St. Patrick of Menasha, the stewardship committee, faith formation committee and adult choir. Joanne and Damon will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in July. The couple has a daughter, Stephanie, 15.

Church Business and Youth Ministry

Bill Nettekoven is the full-time coordinator of youth ministry and Webmaster for Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Appleton. He is also a member of Catholic School Boosters and the cafeteria renovation committee. He volunteers at the parish as a eucharistic minister. Bill and his wife, Nancy, have three children: Travis, a member of the U.S. Navy; Tyler, a student at UW-Platteville; and Jennifer, a freshman at Xavier High School in Appleton.