Our New Faith Formation for Youth Coordinator

Father Lambert Nieme and I are happy to formally announce that we have hired a new Coordinator of Faith Formation for Youth (grade 7 through Confirmation), and she is already someone familiar to many of you. Jillian Carelli is already an important part of the Pastoral Team serving our collaborative as the Director of Music Ministries at St. Mary Parish for nearly three years. Her musical credentials are well known, and just last weekend over a hundred of us attended her wonderful performance at the first of our PWC Open-Air Concert Series.

Less publicly known are some qualities that we discovered in Jillian’s initial interview and have witnessed in her time among us. Her own experience of a deepening practice and knowledge of our Catholic faith as a teen has led her to enthusiastically embrace many forms of ministry with youth. From her reviving the children’s choir in our collaborative, to working to cultivate our current and future youth cantors, Jillian has a fire in her heart for helping youth to grow in their faith and relationship with Jesus who wants to help them through life.

Jillian’s experience with teaching youth and working with them in liturgy will allow her to confidently take over leadership of the youth and catechists from Father Lambert, who graciously stepped up as interim director during the pandemic after Brian stepped down. Since Father Lambert has academic degrees to spare, he will work closely with Jillian to continue guiding the curriculum for our middle- and high-school youth, assisting in the formation of catechists as they share their faith through teaching the break-out groups. Jillian will also help us build the connection between faith formation, prayer, and worship as we strengthen the participation of our youth in the Sunday 5pm Mass (to finally resume this September). This new role will be in addition to her music director role so that she is working full time with our collaborative.

People first notice Jillian’s quiet, reflective personality. She is also a powerhouse in more ways than just her voice! Her volunteering to be on our Sunday Experience Team and accepting my invitation to be a co-chair has allowed her leadership skills to shine. We are confident that both the teens and their parents will come to appreciate Jillian in her new Faith Formation role. Congratulations, Jillian!
- Fr. Joe