After reforming in 2018, Office of Evangelization and Discipleship (OED) leadership and staff have been meeting with deanery, parish and community leaders within the Diocese of Raleigh to better understand their concerns and needs. To better meet those needs, several new staff members have recently been added to serve leaders in the Diocese of Raleigh.
Three part-time Regional Lay Formation Assistants have joined the OED to build relationships with parish leaders in remote and underserved parishes. Their role is not to do the ministry but rather to support parish leaders in such a way that sustainable, effective ministry is a reality. These field employees are tasked with establishing relationships with local ministry leaders and linking them to resources and ministerial support. The OED regional staff members are: Gianelli Andrade, Gabriela Del Rio, Leticia Ortega. Each of these regional employees are bilingual, and each has previous parish ministry experience.
Joshua Klickman has joined the OED as Coordinator for Human Life and Dignity ministry. His ministry and work experience are well suited to accompany leaders promoting dignity and respect at every age and stage of life. Josh comes to the diocese from the United States Army (Fort Bragg), where he most recently served as an Equal Opportunity Advisor and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. Josh has a breadth of ministry experience, having been involved in prison ministry, special needs ministry, pro-life ministry, and is a Guardian ad Litem and a trained volunteer advocate for neglected and abused children. He holds a master’s degree in Catechesis and Evangelization from Franciscan University.
Tristan Evans is the new African Ancestry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN) Coordinator. An active member of the AAMEN community at St. Michael the Archangel in Cary, Tristan’s primary role at the diocese is to build relationships with AAMEN chapters, chaplains, and parish leaders, to restore and create new avenues of communication to ensure that resources and support are accessible throughout the network. Well-known in the diocese, Tristan has years of ministry leadership experience as a parish staff member, as a volunteer, as a speaker, and as an entrepreneur.
Andy Baker is the new diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator. A Florida native with extensive training in theology and youth ministry, Andy has been in professional ministry for 19 years in the dioceses of Orlando and Raleigh. His experience includes youth ministry, faith formation, and a specialty in integrating school and parish ministry. Most recently, he worked as the Director of Elementary Faith Formation and Middle School Youth Ministry at St. Patrick parish in Fayetteville.
These staff additions will join OED Executive Director, Amy Daniels; Lettie Banda, Administrator; Aracely Alcala, Certification Specialist & Registrar; Patrick Ginty, Director of Faith Formation; Terrie Baldwin, Coordinator of Adult Formation; Gabriel Hernandez, Director of Marriage and Family Life; Rebekah Tolson, Coordinator of Married Life; and Roberto Cortes, Coordinator of Married Life to:
- Promote and support the mission to share the Good News and form disciples in parishes, multicultural contexts and communities throughout the diocese
- Equip parish leaders through formation, training, consultation and collaboration with deaneries and parishes
- Serve as added value to parishes and/or communities, especially the underserved.