PASTORAL FACILITATORS

Jessica Adams

Jess serves as Pastoral Associate at St. James the Greater and Epiphany of our Lord parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and brings 20 years of experience in parish and diocesan pastoral and social ministry, executive non-profit leadership, and strategic consulting with parishes. She holds Masters degrees in Social Work (St. Louis University) and Pastoral Studies (Aquinas Institute of Theology) and begins a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in the summer of '25. Jessica and her husband live in St. Louis, MO with two of their five children and also enjoy the time they get to spend with the three who have left the nest.

Jane Angha

Jane is the founder and dreamer behind Ministry Blueprints. With years of director, coordinator, and mentorship experience in parish, diocesan, and non-profit ministry, she brings to the work of hospitality a broad knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of faith communities and a passion for them to be places of welcome and belonging. Jane holds a BS in Education and Religious Studies and a Master of Theology. She is a national conference speaker and moderator, retreat leader, writer and currently part of NCCL and NFCYM project teams.

Elizabeth Becerra

Elizabeth is a dedicated bicultural Latina leader who is renowned for empowering young Latinos to have personal encounters with God and leverage their culture for positive change. With a professional demeanor and enthusiasm, Elizabeth excelled as the Program Coordinator for Engaging Stories: Summer Theology Program for Teens at Lewis University, Romeoville, IL, since July 2018. In this role, she has facilitated theological exploration, faculty development, and discussions on Catholic Social Teaching and justice issues. Elizabeth's commitment to pastoral formation is evident through her involvement in numerous organizations and affiliations, including NFCYM, USCCB Leadership Roundtable, and Instituto Fe y Vida. As the Founder and Advisor to the coordinating team of a diocesan network of Latin@s, she fosters intercultural dialogue and empowers diverse communities. Her leadership, bilingual proficiency, and ability to inspire commitment have made her a valuable asset in many ministry settings including, Director of Religious Education, RCIA Coordinator, Coordinator for a Senior Meal Program, and youth minister. Elizabeth resides in Joliet, Illinois with her husband William and son Emmanuel.

Sister Ruth Bolarte IHM

Sr. Ruth is a member of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, Pa. A native of Peru, she holds degrees in theology from Immaculata University and St. Charles Seminary in Pennsylvania. She graduated with a doctorate in ministry from the School of Theology and Religious Studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has been involved in parish and diocesan ministry working in areas of adult faith and leadership formation, both national and internationally, within an intercultural context. She is, also, adjunct professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University and Pastoral Consultant for Renew International.

Lori Dalhoff

Lori is an experienced leader, educator and consultant with a demonstrated history of working in non-profit organization management. She is the former director of lifelong faith formation for the Diocese of Portland (ME). She is skilled in administration, strategic planning, catechesis, volunteer management, and curriculum development. She has a M.A. in pastoral ministry with focus on catechesis, liturgy, and pastoral leadership from Saint John’s University School of Theology and Seminary, and an Ed.D. In education from Hemline University School of Education with a focus in leadership, spiritual aspects of teaching and learning along with constructive conflict response during major organizational change. She is completing a Post-Masters Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Boston College.

Edwin Ferrera

Edwin serves as Director for Hispanic Ministry in the Archdiocese of Seattle and has more than 25 years of pastoral ministry in different contexts. He brings more than 10 years of executive leadership in diocesan, regional, and national ministerial organizations, and has served as a collaborator/consultant to various USCCB agencies. Edwin holds a master's degree in pastoral counseling from Seattle University and a doctorate in ministry (D. Min.) from Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. Edwin moved from his native El Salvador to Los Angeles, California, at the age of 15. Edwin and his wife are proud parents of three children, with whom they enjoy spending time exploring the natural beauty of Northwest Washington.

Claire Gallagher

Claire implements the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation-funded project "Flourishing Sisterhood: Nourishing Communities in the Gulf South." Born and raised in the New Orleans area, Claire is a consecrated virgin for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She earned her Masters in Theological Studies through Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA, and also earned a B.A. in General Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Claire’s experience includes parish faith formation and youth ministry, high school campus ministry and theology, women's ministry, and retreat ministry. Claire has presented workshops and papers at various conferences, including the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry and Princeton Theological Seminary Research Gathering.

Jodi Hunt

Jodi is the Executive Director of the Neuhoff Institute at the University of Dallas. Dr. Hunt has been actively teaching in the secondary and higher education levels for over ten years and active in parish ministry (youth ministry and catechesis) for over fifteen. Her primary research interests reside within her developed framework of looking for meaningful ways of approach within the walls of  the Catholic Church to what is happening in the public sphere outside them. In her free time, Dr. Hunt enjoys spending time with her husband and her three children participating in 4-H livestock shows and other activities, occasionally writing devotional posts for a Catholic mothers' ministry,  Mighty is Her Call, and spending time on her family's farm in southwest-central Texas.

Jim Merhaut

Jim is an award-winning author, national motivational speaker, internationally-known leadership trainer, and ICF-Certified Coach. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education from Duquesne University with an emphasis in adult formation. Jim has authored and co-authored several books and published dozens of articles and essays on leadership and relationships. Jim has served as a coach for two of Vibrant Faith Inc. Lilly Endowment grant-funded projects on Calling and Vocation, and on Thriving Congregations. Jim’s website is www.coachingtoconnect.com.

Bertha Peralta-Rodriguez

Bertha is the former Director of Ministry Formation at the Department of Youth Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of New York. She has been a catechist and youth minister for close to 30 years, has worked in the areas of higher education and mental health, and has been involved in diocesan leadership/faith formation programs for 15 years. Bertha has a M.Ed. from Fordham University. She has been married for 17 years and is a mom to a 15 year old daughter. She is passionate about thinking of creative ways of reaching and evangelizing the young and their families!

Eunice Park

Eunice is a Korean American pastoral minister from the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her two Master’s degrees from the Franciscan School of Theology and her Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. She has worked in Young Adult Ministry, Multicultural and Intercultural Ministry, Campus Ministry, and Youth Ministry; and has sat on various boards and consultative committees for the USCCB and other national organizations. In August 2023 she launched the Asian Pacific Islander Ministry Certificate Program at the Franciscan School of Theology with her Co-Director Fr. Linh Hoang, OFM (Siena University). She is currently also the Interim Executive Director of the Franciscan Federation.

Project Consultant:

Darius Villalobos

Darius serves as the Senior Project Manager for Diversity and Inclusion for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). He has served in the Archdiocese of Chicago in a variety of ministry roles, including youth ministry, young adult ministry, and catechesis. He is a graduate of DePaul University (B.A.) and Catholic Theological Union (MA intercultural ministry). He has served as a parish RCIA director, liturgical music minister, retreat director, catechist, and youth minister. He and his wife live in Chicago.

Project Directors:

Tracey Lamont

Tracey is Director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry and Associate Professor of religious education and young adult ministry. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Religion and Religious Education from Fordham University and specializes in curriculum development, youth and young adult ministry, and religious education. Dr. Lamont's research focuses on the implementation of synodal practices in ministry with young people, particularly on how parishes can accompany young adults on their faith journeys through listening, dialogue, and shared decision-making. She is also a member of the Religious Education Association. Before Loyola, Tracey was a teacher, a parish youth and young adult minister, and Confirmation coordinator. Tracey has a strong record of service in the field of youth ministry. She served as a committee member for the National Dialogue on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment from 2017-2019, and was a member of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops National Young Adult Advisory Team from 2017-2021. She also serves on the boards of the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults and the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL), demonstrating her commitment to advancing best practices in ministry and religious education.

John Roberto

John has spent a lifetime working in faith formation—teaching, writing, researching, consulting, and developing program resources. He founded Lifelong Faith in 2006 to continue his work. John is also the founder of the Center for Ministry Development (1978) where he worked for 28 years. His latest publications include Lifelong Faith: Formation with All Ages and Generations (Church Publishing, 2022), Faith Formation with a New Generation (2018), Families at the Center of Faith Formation (2016), Seasons of Adult Faith Formation (2015), Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century (2015), Generations Together (2014), and Faith Formation 2020 (2010). He was the creator and project coordinator of the Generations of Faith Project, a five-year Lilly Endowment funded project (2001-2006) to develop intergenerational faith formation in Catholic parishes across the United States. John has a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University and graduate studies in sociology at Catholic University. He is married to Linda, father of three married children, and grandfather of five.