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BY ERIKA ANDERSON
Staff Writer
ATLANTA--Kathy Wolf, former archdiocesan director of youth ministry, has
accepted a new position as director of religious education and faith formation
for the archdiocese.
“It wasn’t something I was expecting and it wasn’t even
anything I had thought about,” said Wolf, who has directed youth ministry
since 1994. “But I felt called to something more.” Wolf’s
appointment, succeeding Suzanne Foster, was effective July 16.
Bertha Martin, secretary for education, said that Wolf, 34, has established
a reputation within the archdiocese for dedication and excellence. She is a
member of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta.
“Kathy is ideal for the position of director of religious education
because she is dedicated to the church, well known and respected by youth
leaders, youth and their parents,” Martin said. “Her ministry has
afforded her the respect, within the parish communities, of pastors and lay
ministers.”
“She is dedicated to excellence and has demonstrated this excellence in
her ability to organize major youth programs, establish and maintain positive
relationships with colleagues in the office, and with pastors and youth
ministers throughout the archdiocese,” she continued. “I am so proud
of her accomplishments and it is a joy to have her on our team.”
Wolf said one of her first priorities will be to hire her successor in youth
ministry.
Wolf has been in youth ministry for 10 years, first at the parish level at
St. Jude’s and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, both in Atlanta. She is a
graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens and has a master’s degree
in pastoral studies from Loyola University in New Orleans. Wolf has been a
keynote speaker for national and international youth conferences.
She said that she will bring to her position an appreciation for the faith
and joy of young Catholics.
“The young people of this archdiocese are so alive, so hopeful and so
full of idealism that it gives me hope for the church,” she said.
“They have taught me how to be a child of God and not to get discouraged.
They have taught me unconditional love.”
Wolf also praised North Georgia youth ministers.
“The youth ministers of this archdiocese are a different kind--they are
a breed apart. The caliber of the youth ministers is immense,” she said.
“I will miss collaborating with them.”
In her new position, Wolf hopes to develop a network among catechetical
ministries on the parish and diocesan level.
“We need to know that we’re a team and we’re a unit. We need
to work together, bringing all of our expertise and supporting each other in
our specific ministries,” she said.
Wolf said it is important for ministries to be brought together because of
the many good programs being implemented at individual parishes.
“There are some incredible things going on in parishes that people
don’t know about,” she said. “My hope is to be present not only
at diocesan offerings but parish offerings as well...not as an evaluator, but
as a fact-finder to see what’s out there.”
“Building relationships is the only way I can be an advocate for
catechetical ministry,” she said. “We need to celebrate the good
things going on and look at the challenges that need to be addressed.”
Evangelization and catechesis should go hand in hand, Wolf said. “In
total faith formation, we need to look at the total person and how they’re
formed in faith--not just the head knowledge of doctrine, but the heart
knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ, which will provide us with opportunities
for conversion.”
“Faith formation is the total person. Religious education is just a
part of that,” she continued. “Doctrine needs to be taught, but
hearts need to be formed. I want to bring them together so that the desire to
learn more about our faith increases. As we learn more about our faith, our
hearts are formed.”
Wolf is excited to be a part of religious education during this time of
Catholic growth in North Georgia.
“In the Archdiocese of Atlanta as a community, there is so much growth
and excitement going on and any minute it could break wide open. It’s an
honor to be a part of that through this position,” she said. “My
desire is that we reach the hearts of all those in the Catholic community and
then go beyond that to the North Georgia community.”
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