Twenty-one lay ministers received a certificate in pastoral ministry from the Diocese of St. Cloud at a Mass with Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C., June 25 at Saint John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville.
The individuals, from various Area Catholic Communities across the diocese, completed a four-year program with Emmaus Institute. Designed for formation for lay leadership ministry and potential Latino/Hispanic diaconal candidates from the Diocese of St. Cloud, in partnership with Saint John School of Theology and Seminary, the course work included theology classes, ministerial competencies, theological reflection, spiritual companioning groups, retreats and a parish practicum.
This is the second graduating class in the program — 15 students graduated in February 2022. Kristi Bivens is the diocesan associate director for lay leadership formation and the director of Emmaus Institute.
“You have made many sacrifices,” said Bivens, addressing the graduating class at the ceremony. “You have walked with each other through the joys and the struggles. You have lived our diocesan mission statement with each other: to be Christ’s heart of mercy, voice of hope, and hands of justice.
“Now it is time for you to be Christ’s heart of mercy, voice of hope and hands of justice as leaders in your parishes and Area Catholic Communities,” she continued. “It may seem an overwhelming task, but you are now well-equipped lay ecclesial ministers with the gifts to be those leaders. Do not be afraid, God is with you.”
Graduates and their ACCs include:
Centered on Christ (Cold Spring, Jacobs Prairie, Richmond and Rockville):
- Alma Coria Figueroa
- Sandy Cruz García
- Agustin Quetzecua Díaz
- Chuya Silva Mendoza
- Brenda Torres
- Ruben Uribe Mejia
Come to the Water (Alexandria, Belle River, Osakis)
- Tammy Huss
- Jennifer Kaweesa
Disciples of the Mission (Battle Lake, Brandon, Henning, Maine Township, Millerville, Parkers Prairie, Urbank)
- Rose Suchy
Five Star (Browerville, Clarissa, Grey Eagle, Long Prairie, Swanville)
- Horacio Aguilar Cardona
One in Christ (Mayhew Lake, St. Stephen, Sartell, Sauk Rapids)
- Danna Gasperlin
One in Faith (Freeport, Greenwald, Meire Grove, New Munich, St. Rosa, Spring Hill, Melrose)
- Maria Barragan
- Amy Hoeschen
- Chrystal Sand
Sherburne Area (Becker/Big Lake, Elk River, Princeton/Zimmerman)
- Rocio Meza-Barajas
- Rogaciano Pacheco Roldan
- Rigoberta Priego Solis
Together as One (St. Cloud, Waite Park)
- Luz Madrid
- Maria Nuñez-Rothstein
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
- Yanet Gloria
- Norma Pérez Izquierdo
For more information about Emmaus Institute, visit www.stcdio.org/Emmaus-Institute.
Pictured above: Bishop Patrick Neary and Abbott John Klassen say a blessing over the graduates.
(Photo by Brother Alan Reed, OSB)
Congratulations! These servant leaders haven sacrificed much to further their education and understanding of lay ecclesial ministry. Thank you, your families and your faith communities for their support. Now…go set the world on fire!