Patrick Delaney - Acting Director of Evangelization & Catechesis
# - (608) 821.3161, @ - patrick.delaney@straphael.org
Patrick 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, Jesus 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, Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute, and Respect Life.)
Michelle Nilsson - Associate Director of Evangelization & Catechesis
# - (608) 821.4545, @ - michelle.nilsson@straphael.org
Michelle Nilsson holds an undergraduate degree in Education from Ohio University. She held an elementary and special education teaching license in the State of Ohio. Her teaching pursuits included 4-6th grade special education, 2nd grade in Cleveland inner City Catholic Schools and preschool administration. After a year commitment in her 20’s to The National Evangelization Teams (NET Ministries), Michelle went on to study a Master’s Degree in Theology from Franciscan University in Steubenville in Ohio where she specialized in Catechetics. Michelle has served the Church in various dioceses & roles for the past 10 years including, campus ministry, foreign missions, youth ministry, sacramental preparation, adult faith formation and as a parish director of religious education. She looks forward to serving in the Diocese of Madison and sharing her passion for The Faith. Michelle is married and resides in Madison with her husband Matt and her dog named Pete.
Andy Galvin - Coordinator of Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program
# - (608) 821.4517, @ - andy.galvin@straphael.org
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, and sexuality issues.)
Lindsay Becher - Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
# - (608) 821.4544, @ - lindsay.becher@straphael.org
During Lindsay's college years, she spent five and a half summers working at Camp Gray, where she grew an intense passion of working in the Church and for the youth. Lindsay finished her undergraduate studies in 2008 at the University of Wisconsin in Elementary Education, while simultaneously having begun studying in Ave Maria University's Institute of Pastoral Theology. She graduated with her Master of Theological Studies degree in 2009. Prior to joining the OEC staff, she spent three years in Baraboo working for the Church and spreading the truth to Middle and High School students, as well as spending her summers beginning and growing Love Begins Here, the local, life changing mission trip apostolate of the Diocese of Madison. (Contact concerning: Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Love Begins Here, Youth 2000, and Resurrection Rally.)
Alison Hetue - Coordinator of Natural Family Planning
# - 608.821.3134, @ - alison.hetue@straphael.org
Alison graduated with a B.A. in Theology from Marquette University and worked for three years as a youth minister. Alison’s background in Natural Family Planning includes instruction in the use of the Sympto-Thermal Method through CCL and in the use of the Creighton Model System. Last February, she completed her Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner education program. She loves working with couples to both achieve and postpone/avoid pregnancy using a natural method that is in accord with God’s design for marriage, and she is thrilled to also be working on the Diocesan level to coordinate the schedule of all NFP methods in the Diocese, recruit new teachers, and to promote a greater awareness of God’s plan for human sexuality. Alison and her husband Philip live on the east side of Madison with their 1-year-old boy, Michael. (Contact concerning: Natural Family Planning.)
Marie Lins - Administrative Assistant
# - (608) 821.3160, @ - marie.lins@straphael.org
With over ten years as a professional administrative assistant for a Middleton-area law firm, a master's degree in theology from Ave Maria's Institute for Pastoral Theology, continuing experience as DRE (K-5, RCIA and adult faith formation) for St. Ignatius Parish in Mt. Horeb, and certification as a Marian Catechist, Marie does far more than her title implies. Not only does she handle handle typical administrative tasks for the office, coordinate schedules and logistics for various events, and help develop and implement better procedures, but she is also involved in creating and implementing a number of OEC programs and events. (Contact concerning: Anything and everything.)