I am excited to share an opportunity to join the team at the Center for the New Evangelization.
We are currently seeking a mission-driven Managing Director of Parish Evangelization to help lead and advance evangelization efforts across our parishes. This role is central to the work of the CNE: is a key member of the CNE leadership team, and director of the Parish Support Team, which exists to form, equip, and coach parish evangelists.
The person called to this position will not only bring strong organizational and leadership skills, but also a deep love for Jesus and a passion for forming others to live and share the Gospel.
The Managing Director will help shape the strategic direction of parish evangelization efforts and mentor leaders who are on the front lines of parish life. We are looking for a practicing Catholic in good standing, with advanced theological or ministry formation and proven leadership experience.
If you, or someone you know, feels called to this kind of mission, I strongly encourage you to prayerfully consider applying.
Our previous Managing Director for Parish Evangelization, Shane Legg, has accepted the position of Director of Pastoral Planning with the Center for Pastoral Vitality.
Shane has been an integral member of the CNE for the past several years, beginning as the Associate Director for Youth Evangelization and then as the Managing Director of Parish Evangelization. As the leader of the Parish Support Team, Shane has made a lasting impact both on the CNE and the parishes we serve. As a member of the CNE Leadership Team, Shane has been foundational in helping to build the culture for mission within the CNE and achieve our vision. I am confident that Shane will have a similar positive impact in his new role.
Please join me in praying for Shane as he transitions to his new position and for the person God is calling to the Managing Director role.
This workshop will help your Leadership Team, Evangelization Team, and parish leaders develop a shared imagination for mission by exploring the full Process of Evangelization and Discipleship. Together we will examine the often-overlooked stages that precede initial conversion—pre-trust, trust, curiosity, openness, and seeking—and how these moments prepare the soil for the Gospel to take root.
Young Adult Pentecost Vigil Mass & Social Gathering
May 23 | 7:00 - 10:00 PM | St. Gertrude Church
All young adults (age 18 to 35) are invited to our Pentecost Vigil on Saturday, May 23, at St. Gertrude Parish (6543 Miami Ave., Madeira, OH). The free event begins at 7 p.m. with Mass, followed by a bonfire and social with burgers, hot dogs, and more from 8:30 to 10 p.m. All are invited to bring a side dish to share. Come ready for fun, food, and fellowship, and a hunger for the Lord and the gifts of the Holy Spirit that he wants to fill you with this Pentecost!
A retreat for couples preparing to enter the Sacrament of Marriage after loss or nullity Saturday, May 2 | 9:00 AM St. Francis DeSales Church
This retreat is designed specifically to help couples prepare for the sacrament of marriage following a death of a spouse or a declaration of nullity. You will hear stories from couples who have experienced the loss of a spouse, the pain of a civil divorce, the process of seeking a
declaration of nullity and the challenge of raising children in a blended family.
We’re excited to announce the launch of
the St. Dominic Savio Internship Program, a new initiative designed to provide university students with valuable hands-on ministry experience in local parishes. This program offers a unique opportunity for students of any academic background to receive mentorship from parish evangelists, experience the day-to-day realities of parish work, and discern their vocational call to ministry. We are currently accepting applications for the program’s first year and encourage you to share this opportunity with students who may be interested, open to growth, and eager to explore a potential call to parish ministry.
As the summer draws near and we approach the Feast of Pentecost, now is a good time to look back on your experience of the previous year. How did things go? What would you like to do differently? What’s one way that you can improve initiation ministry for the next cohort? If you would like someone to brainstorm with as you consider any changes, both big and small, just let me know! I’m happy to help.
Also, the Center for Pastoral Vitality recently sent a survey to the neophytes, to get a better sense of their religious background and what compelled them to become Catholic. Here are some of the high-level trends that emerge from the data:
Most seeking the Church were middle aged, White, with over half being females who had some college education.
2/3rds of those coming through knew little to nothing about the Catholic faith prior to seeking.
Life questions about marriage and family were driving emotional factors.
Topics like truth, love and forgiveness were strongly associated with the
Catholic Church.
Convenient access and a process that fit into their schedules were important.
I thank you all so much for your hard work! Jesus is certainly on the move, and I pray that we will continue to effectively discern and respond to how He is working on the hearts of our people.
The Peace of Christ to you,
Nicholas Hardesty, Assoc. Dir. of Adult Evangelization & OCIA
