by Angie-Lee Vazquez
On Sept. 19, I had the privilege of joining nearly 80 directors of religious education (DREs) and youth ministers for our first joint DRE and Youth Minister Convocation at Immaculate Conception Parish in Jamaica Estates. Hosted by the offices of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis and the Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the day gave participants a meaningful opportunity to pray, learn, and strengthen relationships that support their shared ministry.
Deacon Matthew Halbach, vice president for mission and campus culture of Mercy Health Sciences University, was our keynote speaker. His presentation invited DREs and youth ministers to recognize their shared mission and offered practical planning steps for greater collaboration.
One message resonated especially deeply with me: Although their ministries serve different age groups and areas of formation, they are united in the same mission — to build up the Church and foster a deeper relationship with Christ. Isn’t that true of all of us who serve the Church?
Following the keynote, we moved into breakout sessions. Father James Kuroly, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Lucero Manzanares, its associate director, led the youth ministers, while I had the honor of accompanying the DREs. During our session, I guided the DREs in identifying practical ways to coordinate ministries and strengthen communication, connection, and outreach throughout parish life. We were also gifted with the opportunity to spend time in prayer. Together, catechetical leaders placed their ministries, the young people entrusted to their care, and themselves before the Lord, as Father Kuroly and Father Joseph Gibino, vicar for evangelization and catechesis, celebrated Mass and led us in a Holy Hour.
Over the past several days, I continued to reflect on the convocation, and what became apparent was both the growing need and the strong commitment for catechetical leaders to collaborate across the Diocese of Brooklyn.
My takeaway: When parish leaders listen to one another, share their gifts, and work toward a common goal, the seeds sown for effective evangelization take root and blossom.
The day left me feeling encouraged and inspired, and I was not alone. Many participants shared their own sense of encouragement and renewed commitment to their ministries.
This gives me great hope for this catechetical year. And to think, this is just the beginning of what I believe will be a continued partnership between catechetical and youth ministry leaders throughout the diocese.
Angie-Lee Vazquez is the director of Children’s Faith Formation and Catechesis in the Diocese of Brooklyn.