Eric serves the Bishop as executive secretary of evangelization and catechesis, directing and overseeing the work of the diocesan office. Eric came most recently from his role as executive director of the Montana Catholic Conference. Prior to that, he spent several years as director of communications for the Diocese of Helena. Eric has a passion for youth ministry, and spent 22 years working in youth ministry in both paid and volunteer capacities at parishes in Montana and Georgia. With a degree in computer science, Eric owned a software development company before working for the Church. He and his wife Koena and their six youngest children are members of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison.
Patrick serves as associate director of evangelization and catechesis. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Mt. St. Mary's College and Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, as well as an additional M.A. with an emphasis in moral theology from the same institution. Following a brief period working in politics, he worked in the area of public human rights advocacy, writing and speaking on Catholic moral teaching, interfacing with the media and lobbying legislators at the state, national and international levels. Most recently, Patrick acted as an instructor at St. Ambrose Academy which provided valuable experience in designing and implementing a variety of history and religious education curriculums and bringing young people to a deeper understanding of, and relationship with, Christ and his Church. Patrick is a native Madisonian and graduate of Our Lady Queen of Peace grade school and Edgewood High School. (Contact concerning: General Catechesis, F.O.R.E.M., Getting Started)
Ron serves as the coordinator of youth and young adult ministry within the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. From the Janesville area, Ron served for ten years as a police officer: seven years in Beloit and three years in Roanoke, Virginia. In 2001, he was prompted to return to his Catholic faith and began a life of prayer, devotion to adoration, and the Rosary. Recently, he served as youth minister at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee. Currently, he is working on a certification in youth ministry and a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology through Ave Maria University. Ron has a great passion for working with young people, especially to help them come to know Christ and his bride, the Church, better.
(Contact regarding: Middle School and High School Youth Events, Young Adult Ministry)
Andy serves as the coordinator of the diocesan marriage preparation program. Andy has a masters of science degree in natural resource planning and has significant experience designing and implementing complex projects and programs. Andy and his wife Chris have spearheaded an effort to bring the Theology of the Body to the diocese, and Andy is president of the Madison Conquest Catholic Boys Club. The Galvins have served as a FOCCUS facilitator couple, been trainers and facilitators for Familia (a family-focused apostolate), coordinated the efforts of a lay movement in the area, taught as catechists in their parish, and been continually and actively involved in the work of the diocese. Andy and Chris have been blessed with five children and are members of St. Raphael Cathedral Parish in Madison.
(Contact concerning: marriage preparation, Theology of the Body, Natural Family Planning, sexuality issues)
Jessica serves as coordinator of family planning, collaborating in the updated Marriage Prep program, as well as revitalizing and coordinating the existing Natural Family Planning efforts of the diocesan office. Jessica was born in Germany, raised in Virginia, Saudi Arabia and Alaska, but feels at home in the simplicity of small time life as well as appreciating the grandeur of global living. She has been married to her best friend, John, since October 2006. Together they run a new faith and culture group, Ruah Arts Group, which aims to “renew the face of the culture” by returning to the sources and following the call of John Paul II to transform culture by “opening up the human soul to the sense of the eternal.”
(Contact concerning: Natural Family Planning, God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage, Family Planning)
Sister Marcia Vinje is a member of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. She has a BA in religious education from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee and an MA in theology from the University of Dayton. Her past experience includes teaching in Catholic schools, community formation, directing a retreat house, extensive work in adult formation, and 15 years experience as a parish director of religious education. Until recently, she served as Associate Director to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. Sister currently serves as the associate director of the Office of Vocation and the Permanent Diaconate.
(Contact concerning: Vocations, lay movements, permanent diaconate)
Monica serves as administrative assistant to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. Michigan born and raised, she moved to Madison one year ago to serve as a dorm missionary at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center on the campus of UW-Madison, where she led a bible study, mentored undergraduate students, and helped to coordinate various student events. Monica has always had a heart for youth ministry and catechesis, being involved in both since high school and throughout college. She holds a bachelor degree in Theology from Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, MI. As administrative assistant, she handles day-to-day tasks of the Office and coordinates schedules and logistics for various events, as well as helping to develop and implement better procedures for catechetics and formation.
(Contact concerning: General, Event Planning, Diocesan Lay Institute, St. Therese Lectures, Getting Started, Women’s Retreat)
Gloria has worked for the Diocese of Madison for 21 years. She worked for the Office of Religious Education (now the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis) and most recently for the Office of Family Ministry. She has enjoyed working with the people of the Diocese of Madison in all of the many ways she has encountered them. Gloria and her husband Eugene have been married for 37 years; they have a son, a daughter and three grandsons. They belong to St. Bernard Parish in Madison. Gloria serves as administrative assistant to the OEC for the areas of marriage preparation, youth ministry, young adult ministry, TEC and Catholic Scouting.
(Contact concerning: TEC, Catholic Scouting)
Marcia serves as the audio-visual librarian in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis three days each week. In employing her master’s degree in library science, she coordinates the AV library, a collection of 3,000 videos, DVDs, CDs, and audio tapes, as well as organizing and overseeing the curriculum sample collection, the resource library, and the newspaper and journal subscriptions received by the office. A native of Grant County, she and her husband Wally, have been residents of Madison for over 30 years, and members of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish for over 25 years, where she has volunteered in many capacities including parish librarian for six years, and worked as the school librarian in the early 1990s for two years.
She is the mother of two daughters, Emily and Carol.
(Contact concerning: audio, video and print resources, curriculum library)
Jason and Grace are co-executive directors of the Evangelical Catholic, a non-profit organization based in Madison which seeks to promote and foster a vibrant Catholic community and culture through an emphasis on interior conversion, a renewed commitment of the Scriptures, solid Catholic discipleship, and mission to the world. Working in close collaboration with the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, the EC shares office space with the OEC in the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison. Before leaving Madison three years ago, to each complete a Masters in Divinity degree from Notre Dame, Jason worked as director of religious education and youth ministry at St. Aloysius Parish in Sauk City, and Grace worked as coordinator of small groups and undergraduate ministry at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center at UW-Madison.
(Contact concerning: CONNECTIONS)
Michael is associate director of The Evangelical Catholic. Michael holds a master’s degree in systematic theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to graduate studies, Michael served for five years as an area director in Young Life where he developed a passion for relational ministry and evangelical outreach to adolescents. He currently lives in Verona, Wisconsin with his wife Tasha and dog Cooper.
(Contact concerning: evangelization, small group training, lectio divina)