Dear Friends,

I can’t believe it’s already August! As we begin another year of ministry, I want to especially welcome those of you who are new to youth or young adult ministry and receiving this email for the first (or second) time. Welcome! You have stepped into one of the most challenging, rewarding, and important ministries in the Church.

The mission entrusted to us is a big one: to proclaim the Gospel, invite young people to encounter Jesus Christ, form them as lifelong disciples, and send them forth to transform the Church and the world. None of us is meant to do that work alone.

Sixteen years into ministry, I remember less and less about my first year—but I vividly remember the people who helped me through it. My Youth Minister, Marc, along with Matt and Ellen (who where hired to replace Marc), became mentors who helped me move from simply surviving in ministry to eventually thriving. Their investment in me shaped the youth minister—and the disciple—I would become.

That is one of the greatest gifts I hope to offer you in this role: accompaniment.

Our team is here to be a resource and a partner as you serve the young people entrusted to your care. Whether you need help thinking through a program, have a question about ministry, want someone to help you navigate a difficult situation, or simply need a cup of coffee and a conversation with someone who understands—we are here for you!

This is also why I strongly encourage newer parish leaders—especially those in their first five years—to consider joining our Essentials for Catechetical Ministry Cohort. Essentials is designed to help you grow into your role with confidence while giving you a deeper understanding of the mission, policies, and practices of the Archdiocese. More importantly, it gives you a community of fellow leaders who are walking the same road, along with opportunities to learn from archdiocesan staff and experienced parish leaders from across the Archdiocese.

I truly believe investing in the formation and support of our ministry leaders is one of the most important things we can do. When we strengthen the people who accompany young people, we strengthen the Church’s mission to proclaim Christ and form the next generation of disciples.
So, whether you are brand new to ministry or have been doing this for decades, please know that you are not alone. Our team is grateful for the ministry you are doing every day, and we are here to help you succeed in the mission the Church has entrusted to you.
I hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunities in this newsletter, reach out when you need us, and—most importantly—know that we are praying for you and the young people you serve.
We hope to see many of you tomorrow at the Catechetical Conference. I look forward to seeing you there! 

Director, Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries. 

Anna Kozlowski has been promoted from Coordinator of Campus & Young Adult Ministry to Associate Director of Young Adult Ministry!
Anna first joined our team as a Brew City Catholic Missionary at UW-Whitewater, where she served for three years before stepping into her coordinator role. Since then, she has played an instrumental role in growing and strengthening young adult ministry across the Archdiocese. Along the way, she also earned her master’s degree from Sacred Heart School of Theology.
Anna brings a deep passion for young adults, a heart for the Church, and a strong commitment to equipping parishes and communities to accompany the next generation. I’m grateful for all she has already contributed and confident that she will continue to lead and grow our young adult ministry in the years ahead.
Please join me in congratulating Anna on this well-deserved promotion! 

I would also like to share that Michael Wiebersch, one of our Brew City Catholic Missionaries, has agreed to assist me by coordinating the Missionary Project as we reimagine what campus ministry can look like within this new office. Michael will continue serving as a missionary while helping provide leadership and coordination for the project. Please direct any questions related to the Missionary Project to Michael.

Students serve those in need, build authentic community, and discover that their faith is meant to be lived and shared. For parish leaders, it’s more than a summer service trip—it’s an opportunity to strengthen your youth community, form young disciples, and help students return home ready to live their faith more boldly.

Jan. 16-17, 2027  High School Men's Retreat

Feb. 20-21, 2027  High School Women's Retreat

April 15, 2027       Love Begins Here Group Leader Training

Don’t Let Your Students Navigate Their College Journey Alone!
In the coming days, your graduated seniors will be moving into residence halls, meeting new people, and beginning an exciting new chapter. But college can also be a time when young adults face new questions about their faith, identity, and place in the Church.

Our accompaniment of young people shouldn’t end at high school graduation.

Help your students take their faith with them by connecting them with a vibrant Catholic community on campus—where they can encounter Christ, grow as disciples, find authentic community, and build friendships that can last a lifetime.

Newman Connection makes it easy for students to connect with the Catholic community at their college or university. Encourage your incoming college freshman to take the next step and get connected before they arrive on campus.

Pallium Lecture | September 9, 2026 | 7:00pm

Annual event hosted by Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob, designed to foster conversation and engage the broader culture through the Catholic intellectual tradition. This year we will welcome Stephen P. White, executive director of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington D.C.

Join us for the first of our Formed for the Call Series as Fr. Joseph Heit presents on the Documents of Vatican II. Sponsored by The Lay Initiative and Marquette University Catholic Schools and Parishes Initiative . Cost is $25.

Franciscan at Home Webinars | September 8, 2026 | 1:00pm CDT
Giving Catechetical Clarity on Whether Jesus Intended to Found a Church: How Christ Prepared His Apostles to be the Foundational Priest-Shepherds of the New Covenant

Join us at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology as Dr. Paul Monson presents: "The History of Catholicism in the USA in relation to our 250th Anniversary."  Lunch is provided. Cost is $15 (Marada Members are Free).

Below are youth and/or young adult related opportunities in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. To have your open position advertised, email the link of the Archdiocese listing to Andrew.

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