INSTITUTE FOR EVANGELIZATION

Office of

PARISH RENEWAL

Who We Are

The Office of Parish Renewal exists to help parishes nurture a Christ-centered culture of evangelization and discipleship and build the healthy, mission-focused leadership structures that sustain it. In this way, the theological, sacramental, and catechetical underpinnings of parish life are magnified.

What We Do

We do this through “Emmaus Teams,” named after the disciples whom Jesus accompanied on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). Comprised of two individuals gifted in the arts of evangelization and organizational health, each Emmaus Team is assigned to work with a specific set of parishes and is grounded in the value of personal relationships and authentic accompaniment.

How We Do It

Through these Emmaus Teams, every pastorate in the Archdiocese will find individualized support for their efforts to cultivate a culture of discipleship and bear fruit in disciple-making through the six Core Mission Priorities:

LITURGY
WELCOME
ENCOUNTER
ACCOMPANIMENT
SENDING
MISSION SUPPORT

The Office of Parish Renewal accompanies parish leaders by providing facilitated discussions, training, and formation.

Formation for
Missionary Discipleship

Every parish is called to make missionary disciples. We need to create a discipleship pathway that will plant and water the seeds of discipleship in people’s hearts. If you’re looking for the most effective ways to foster missionary discipleship, be sure to check out these resources

MEET YOUR EMMAUS TEAM

The first step for your parish is to find your “Emmaus Team.” These two-person teams from the Institute provide individualized support to pastors and parish leaders through facilitated discussions, training, and formation.

Select your parish from the drop-down above to discover your Emmaus Team.

BECKI KAMAN

Becki grew up in Wilmington, DE then lived for a time in Arizona and Illinois, before settling in Catonsville, MD in 2003. Becki and her husband Dean have two children, Nathan and Samantha. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Duquesne University and a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Planning, Administration, and Community Practice from Arizona State University. She served in youth ministry for 20 years and most recently was Pastoral Associate for Evangelization at St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton. In her years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Becki has served on teams for Justice Action Week, Mid-Atlantic Congress, Archdiocesan Pilgrimage, Rise Up!, and Baltimore Youth Catholic Conference. Becki and her family are members of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Arbutus.

DEACON ROCH KALLMYER

Roch is a native Marylander and grew up in Frostburg. He and his wife, Linda, have been married for over 30 years and have four adult children.  Roch and Linda have been parishioners at OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City) since 1997. Roch attended the University of Maryland in College Park where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Roch spent 25+ years in high tech corporations with roles in design, program management and sales/marketing.  Roch decided to enter Diaconate formation in 2017, was ordained a Deacon for the archdiocese in May 2021 and has served at OLPH since then.  Before joining the Office of Parish Renewal, Roch left the corporate sector in October 2021 and was hired by his parish as the Director of Evangelization.  Roch is the co-chair of the Ongoing Formation committee for the archdiocese Deacon Life and Ministry Board and is pursuing his Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Divine Mercy University.  Roch is a huge sports fan and supporter of the University of Maryland Terrapins, where he and Linda regularly attend both football and basketball games. Roch also loves the outdoors, including hiking, gardening, playing golf, fly fishing, or just lying in a hammock.

I am inspired to accompany people as they learn about Jesus Christ, grow in their desire to have a personal relationship with Him, and gain the confidence to share our beautiful Catholic faith with those they meet.

WAYNE HIPLEY

Wayne is a lifelong resident of Maryland and currently resides in Catonsville. Married in 1983 to Julie, they have two children, Martha and Grady. In 1998 Wayne came into full communion with the Catholic Church and immediately became more involved as a volunteer and catechetical leader. In 2002 he began professional ministry as a Coordinator of Youth Ministry, and in 2016 was named Pastoral Associate for his home parish of St. Agnes and St. William of York. He has served on the Archdiocesan Response Team, the Beyond the Boundaries committee, the USCCB-affiliated Catholic Mobilizing Network, directed justice and peace programs for youth, and is a frequent workshop and retreat facilitator. Prior to full-time ministry Wayne worked 25 years in the film and video media production industry as a director, writer, camera operator and editor. His hobbies include photography, cooking, writing poetry, and personal research on the American Civil War and the Holocaust.

The greatest gift we can give is our presence to another. I am always blessed by the opportunity to accompany others on their journey.

KRISTEN STAMATHIS

Kristen is a lifelong resident of Maryland. She lives with her husband and three children in Baltimore County. Kristen is passionate about helping leaders and teams thrive in ministry. As a Certified Coach, Facilitator, and Organizational Development Consultant, she enjoys supporting leaders to develop new insight to spark inspiration and create positive change. Kristen is experienced in enhancing organizational health by supporting teams to improve dynamics, address conflict, foster accountability, and manage change. Kristen holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Development and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Towson University. 

 I am inspired to accompany parishes to fulfill their mission and vision. 

SAM CHEY

Sam, his wife Eileen, and their four children are from Northern New Jersey. The call to Lay Ecclesial Ministry for Sam began as a volunteer in youth ministry for a local parish in the Diocese of Paterson, serving on the Young Adult Council for the Archdiocese of Newark, participating in the Frassati Fellowship in NY, and being part of Lifenet, Inc’s Speakers Bureau. As the call grew stronger and became clearer he left secondary education to serve as full-time youth and young adult minister at Guardian Angel Church in the Archdiocese of Newark. During this time he was blessed to have met his wife and complete his MA in Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary. Prior to joining the Office of Parish Renewal, Sam served on the Board of Lifenet, Inc. and was a founding member of the New Jersey chapter of Fathers of St. Joseph.

I am grateful to the Lord to be a part of this ministry in this time of saints, to share the Good News of John 3:16 and Romans 5:8, and to cultivate A Light Brightly Visible.

KELLIE REYNOLDS

Kellie is a native of Baltimore and grew up in Harford County in St. Stephen Church, Bradshaw. She currently resides in Cecil County, MD with her husband Jay. In 1998, encouraged by the Sisters of St. Francis at her parish, Kellie began professional ministry as a Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for St. Stephen, where she had been volunteering as a catechist since the age of 19. After graduating from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland with a BA in Religious Studies, she enrolled at the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary where she completed Master’s Degrees in Theology and Church Ministry. Upon completing the Pastoral Associate Formation Program, Kellie became the Pastoral Associate of St. Stephen in 2016, broadening her ministry scope beyond youth and young adults to include support for a variety of parish ministries. Currently, she is enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary. When not studying, Kellie and her husband Jay enjoy exploring National Parks, camping, and gardening.

Some of my greatest joys have come from parish life, especially walking with lay leaders of all ages as they generously share their gifts in service to their family, the community, and the Church.

TEAM 4

TEAM 4 DESC

TEAM 5

TEAM 5 DESC

TEAM 6

TEAM 6 DESC

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Institute for Evangelization?

The Institute for Evangelization was created by Archbishop Lori in February 2021 and given its charge from A Light Brightly Visible 2.0. The Institute exists to support parishes and pastorates in their local evangelizing mission. It provides parish leaders with practical tools to clarify their vision, unify their parish, and mobilize for mission.

What is new about this approach?

The Institute is built on the idea of subsidiarity, which means that efforts should be carried out at the lowest level possible so that the parishes are empowered to make decisions on issues that affect them at the local level. Evangelization is done through relationships, so the Institute supports and equips parishes in their local evangelizing efforts and offers programs and ministries that require an archdiocesan response.

Have other dioceses and archdioceses created Institutes?

In recent years, many dioceses and archdioceses around the United States have recognized the growing need to support “New Evangelization” efforts. Some have created institutes, but few have created institutes that support parishes in the same manner that the Office for Parish Renewal and the “Emmaus Teams” supports parishes.

What are Emmaus Teams?

The Office of Parish Renewal has three teams, each with two Parish Renewal Specialists. Each team of two is called an Emmaus Team, which is rooted in the story of accompaniment on the road to Emmaus and Jesus’ exhortation to go two-by-two. These Specialists are well versed in the latest evangelization resources as well as organizational health tools. Every parish or pastorate will have an Emmaus Team.

What is the “New Evangelization”?

The new Evangelization speaks to the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel using new “ardor, methods, and expression.” In 1975, Saint Paul VI issued Evangelii Nuntandi, which is about evangelization in the modern world. From St. John Paul II to Pope Francis there has been a consistent exhortation to proclaim the Gospel using new “ardor, methods, and expression.”

Is Pastoral Planning still happening?

Yes. The Emmaus Teams will be able to support parishes and pastorates in their planning efforts. While the phased process for planning will look different each pastorate is expected to undergo planning and Emmaus Teams will be able to support pastorates in preparation for planning, during planning, and during the implementation process. These teams will ensure a seamless process of Archdiocesan support.

INSTITUTE FOR

Evangelization

The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute for Evangelization is a new model for engagement with parishes seeking to realize their evangelizing mission more fully.
The Institute is composed of four offices that collaborate closely to ensure that support is never “one-size fits all” but can adapt to the changing needs of each parish community.

NEWS

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