I have been in parish ministry since 1981.  My journey to this place in time had a strange beginning.  My children were in a CCD program at a parish in Mukwonago (in southern WI) in 1981.  One day after Mass, the pastor asked me if I would agree to lock and/or unlock doors during CCD times.  Because I lived less than 5 minutes from the parish, I agreed.  What I didn’t know when I said YES, was that it was also his expectation that I coordinate the program as the person who was in charge was going to leave…thus started my “keeper of the keys” journey!

It didn’t take me long to realize that I knew nothing of what was needed to administer a large rural parish’s catechetical program.  At that time, there were about 650 children in grades 1-8 alone with an additional 275 in grades 9-12!   Plus, there were over 75 volunteer catechists and small group leaders who were looking for direction.  Thank God for a wonderful diocesan director in the Office of Catechetics in the Milwaukee Archdiocese!  I think I lived in her office for at least a year.

I took whatever classes the archdiocese offered in the area of catechetics (religious formation), spirituality, scripture and methodology.  After co-directing the program for about 6 years with the help of two other wonderful volunteers, I decided that I still needed to know more so I went back to school.  I received my bachelor’s degree from Alverno College , Milwaukee , in 1990 in Religious Studies.  I then returned to pursue a Master’s of Instructional Design with a focus in religious education/formation which I completed in 2000.

I have ministered in a number of places in the Milwaukee Archdiocese from rural to urban to suburban parishes.  I have been responsible for the religious formation of anywhere from 150 to 650 children and their families.  This area of ministry is my “labor of love.”

I find that I am continually learning!  That is one reason I participate in the various workshops and seminars that come my way.  I am a firm believer in LIFELONG LEARNING!   We can never learn or know all there is to know about our faith, about Jesus.  We are constantly growing and changing and therefore so is our understanding of who we are as Catholic Christians.

It has been a sometimes tumultuous journey but one I wouldn’t trade for anything.  Everyday I thank the Holy Spirit for leading me to this place in time.

My husband, Larry, and I have three sons who are now married and have children of their own.  

We learned about this beautiful part of the state when we started camping at Lake Arrowhead in 1986 and have lived in central Wisconsin since 1997.  I love to tell the children that I live in Rome –Rome , Wisconsin , of course!