Director of catechesis goes on the road to listen and learn

Rita Bohman, left, administrator of religious education (ARE) at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Enochsburg, speaks with archdiocesan director of catechesis Kenneth Ogorek, right, during a meeting on Nov. 16 at the Batesville Deanery parish’s rectory. Also attending the meeting were, from left, Stacey Weisenbach, ARE at St. Maurice Parish in St. Maurice, Bertha Patterson, ARE at St. Anne Parish in Hamburg, and Father George Joseph Nangachiveettil, administrator of the three parishes.

By Sean Gallagher

ENOCHSBURG—On a recent crisp fall morning, the sun rose brightly into a clear blue sky as Kenneth Ogorek, driving along in his compact car, wound his way around the hills and valleys of southeastern Indiana that were bedecked with a broad panorama of autumn colors.

Ogorek was on his way to visit the administrators of religious education (ARE) at St. Anne Parish in Hamburg, St. John the Evangelist Parish in Enochsburg and St. Maurice Parish in St. Maurice as well as the priest who is the administrator of the three faith communities.

“Every time you make a new turn down a country road, it’s just beautiful,” said Ogorek, archdiocesan director of catechesis.

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s selfish of me to do this. But it’s a blessing.”

Although a native of South Bend, Ind., Ogorek is a newcomer to central and southern Indiana. Since last July when he began his ministry as archdiocesan director of catechesis, he has frequently set out on the road to visit as many parishes as he can.

“When I first started catechetical administrative work in the Church, I was told that if you’re at your desk more than half the time, you’re not doing your job,” Ogorek said.

Thus far, he has paid visits to 35 archdiocesan parishes, including at least one parish in each of the 11 deaneries.

When he delved into the heart of the Batesville Deanery on Nov. 16, Ogorek’s day started early because he wanted to make it to Enochsburg for the parish’s 8 a.m. Mass.

“Whenever I visit anywhere, I always try to be at Mass,” he said. “That’s very important. We are the mystical body of Christ.

“These connections that we make by worshiping together and spending time with each other can’t help but make God’s work of teaching the faith a little better.”

Father George Joseph Nangachiveettil, the administrator of the three rural parishes, celebrated the liturgy.

Afterward, Ogorek sat down with Father Nangachiveettil and staff members who collaborate with him in religious education in his parishes: Bertha Patterson, ARE at St. Anne Parish; Rita Bohman, ARE at St. John the Evangelist Parish; and Stacey Weisenbach, ARE at St. Maurice Parish.

Weisenbach looked forward to the meeting with Ogorek after the Mass.

“He gets a perspective from a lot of different parishes,” Weisenbach said. “So, hopefully, he can give us ideas of things [that] maybe we haven’t thought of or just kind of keep us connected with everyone as a whole.”

Patterson came to the meeting with 25 years of experience in catechetical ministry in her parish and talked about what makes St. Anne a strong faith home.

“They’re close-knit. We’re like one big family. Everybody knows everybody—and their business, too,” Patterson said with a laugh.

“That keeps you on the straight and narrow sometimes,” Ogorek said with a smile in reply.

The new archdiocesan director of catechesis said visits like these help him become a better leader by giving him the chance to get to know the faithful of the archdiocese where they live and where they worship.

“I often say that common sense and empathy will get you far,” Ogorek said. “I think we’re all able to empathize with people at a much deeper level when we spend time with them, when all of our senses get involved.

“The beautiful sites, the sounds, the smells—those are things that stay with you. And that’s what you draw from when you’re doing your administrative work, when you are in your office.” †