The moment Stacy Golden appears on the screen the energy of the call shifts. She radiates enthusiasm—talking fast, laughing easily, and leaning into the conversation like an old friend catching up. As the Director of Family, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries for the Archdiocese, she’s been on a mission to revitalize faith formation, and her passion is undeniable.
“I always say there are three conversions: Christ, Church, and Mission,” she tells us, settling into the discussion. “For a long time, I had a conversion to the Church, but not necessarily to the mission. It took time for me to understand that the Church isn’t just a building—it’s the people, the community.”
Golden’s journey to ministry wasn’t the one she planned. A convert to Catholicism in her twenties, she was a hairstylist before diving into volunteer work. “I became a ‘super volunteer,’” she says with a laugh. “And before I knew it, I was being asked to step into formal ministry.” Her career trajectory has since taken her through parish leadership, diocesan-level ministry, and now into the heart of reshaping the way the Church supports families and young people.
Golden is candid about the challenges facing today’s Catholic families. “We were trying to plug families into existing models and wondering why they weren’t sticking,” she says. “We had to rethink everything.”
Part of that rethink meant partnering with organizations that help families encounter faith in a more personal way. “It’s not about pushing a program; it’s about creating an environment where families can respond to Christ,” she explains.
Parishes, like St. Mark in Fallston, have embraced this shift. “At first, people were resistant,” Golden admits. “They didn’t want to change. But the pastor trusted the process, and over time, people started coming back. They saw the fruit of what they were doing.”
Youth Ministry Going beyond Pizza and Games
Golden isn’t afraid to challenge traditional approaches to youth ministry. “For too long, youth ministry has been treated as confirmation prep with a little pizza on the side,” she says, shaking her head. “That’s not enough.”
With a recent grant from the Pacione Foundation, the Archdiocese is investing in a more engaged model, one where young people themselves have a voice in shaping their faith experience. Their office coordinator, Rena Black, had the brilliant idea of creating a committee and starting this “lab” where they work with young people to see what they need.
“We’re not just guessing. We’re asking them,” Golden says.
She points to parishes like Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City, where youth leaders are taking ownership of their ministry. “That’s the key, giving them a sense of agency in their faith.”
Sports ministry is also becoming a vital part of the strategy. “The issue isn’t that kids miss Mass because of sports, it’s that they don’t see Jesus as relevant in their lives,” Golden explains. To address this, over 500 coaches have been trained to integrate faith into athletics, and prayer is now part of every archdiocesan game. “We’re not just forming athletes; we’re forming disciples.”
Young Adults and the Search for Meaning
Young adults present another challenge. “We used to just focus on big events, but that’s not enough,” Golden says. “Community has to be local, regional, and sustained.”
One significant success has been the Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) launched in Baltimore. “A young man came to us and said, ‘We need this.’ And he was right,” Golden says. “YCP connects young adults who love their faith and want to integrate it into their professional lives. It’s a game-changer.”
Scouting, too, has become an important piece of the puzzle. “Before Tony Blackburn, Coordinator of Ministry Partnerships for the Archdiocese came on board, we didn’t even know how many Scout troops we had,” Golden says. “Now, scouting is fully integrated into parish life. It’s another way to help young people encounter Christ.”
Investing in Marriage and Family
Golden is particularly passionate about marriage ministry. “We used to have couples coming to the Church a year or more before wedding. Now, they come with the venue booked and four months to go,” she says. “How do you prepare couples for a lifetime in just a few meetings?”
The Archdiocese is developing a discipleship pathway for marriage inspired by Pope Francis’ calls for deeper formation. “We need to walk with couples beyond the wedding day, into Baptism prep, into family faith formation,” Golden says. “If we get this right, we change everything.”
Another focus for Family, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries is Hispanic ministry. “For years, Spanish-speaking couples were given less support in marriage preparation,” she admits. “That wasn’t intentional, it was due to a gap in resources.” Now, a team of deacons is being formed to train leaders in culturally relevant marriage prep, ensuring Spanish-speaking families receive the same formation as everyone else. “If we don’t invest in families, we lose everything else—youth ministry, campus ministry, even vocations.”
Campus ministry has been yet another success story. “UMBC and Towson are thriving, but we don’t have the resources to expand at the rate we’d like,” she says. “But when you see 100+ students attending Mass and even joining the Knights of Columbus, you realize what’s possible when you invest in young adults.”
Winning over Skeptics
Golden knows change is never easy, especially in a faith community where tradition runs deep. It can feel uncertain, even unsettling. But change is also growth—it’s how we respond to new needs, new challenges, and new opportunities to serve. Some may resist, and that’s okay. Real change happens through open conversations, shared prayer, and a willingness to listen. It takes trust, built over time, through both dialogue and action. The need is urgent, but the approach must be patient. When we remain flexible and keep the conversation going, we don’t just manage change, we shape it into something that strengthens our mission.
How You Can Help
As our conversation winds down, Golden leans forward, eyes bright with excitement. “None of this happens without donor support,” she says. “Every dollar given to the Annual Appeal [for Catholic Ministries] supports Family, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries, helping us to form disciples, strengthen families, and ensure the future of our Church.”
Golden smiles. “We’re investing in eternity. And honestly, what could be better than that?”