Department of Evangelization and Catechesis
Department Staff Members
John Gaffney, Department Director
Reachable by phone, 515-237-5026, or email
Responsibilities include:
- adult faith formation programming
- lay ecclesial ministry formation especially in the formation of catechetical leaders and catechists, directors of youth ministry and volunteers, and adult faith formation directors which includes portions of RCIA team formation
- catechetical services which continually reviews resources for use in parish and school formation program
Justin White, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Reachable by phone, 515-237-5058, or email
Responsibilities include:
- programming for directors of youth ministry and volunteers
- programming for young adults throughout the diocese
Patty Origer, Coordinator for Persons with Disability Ministry
Reachable by phone, 515-237-5073 or email
Responsibilities include:
- Share resources and expertise so diocese and parishes can create opportunities for people with disabilities to participate meaningfully in worship, parish life, lifelong faith formation and society.
Sherri Simmer, Administrative Assistant
Reachable by phone, 515-237-5058, or email
Responsibilities include:
- Administrative responsibilities relating to evangelization and catechetical programming throughout the diocese.
Father Protas Okwalo, SJ, Director of Diocesan Campus Ministry
Reachable by phone, 515-271-4747 or email
Responsibilities include:
- Programming primarily for college ages students in the Des Moines area campuses
"Laudato Si" (Praise be to You: On Care For Our Common Home) -- Pope Francis issued his encyclical on the environment in 2013. At this link you can read the encyclical, see Bishop's statement on the teaching document, find the homily from St. John Paul II' visit to Iowa in which he addressed care of our environment, and get the date for the upcoming Rural Life Mass.