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Q&A with Dcn. Ed Sheffer

Member Type: Diocesan 


Tell us a bit about yourself.

Married 34 years – Anne Marie. Father to Ryan & Christen. Was a Corporate President & Chief Operating Officer. Later owned and operated an OEM business for 18 years. Was Ordained a Deacon for the Diocese of Tucson in 2003 and assigned to St. Thomas the Apostle. Left the Corporate world behind 12 years ago and became a full-time employee for the Diocese. Pastoral Associate and Director of youth Ministries and Family Life.

The Ministry work outside parish life has included bereavement counseling in hospice, developed spirituality programs for elder-care facility, retreat master, and ministered on death row for 18 years. Have been a speaker on topics: Vision of True Leadership, Best Practices of Youth Ministry, Nature of Virtue, GenZ, & Praying. Have appeared nationally on Catholic radio talk shows and was part of CBS’ 60 Minutes expose: The Execution of Joe Wood – 2016 on capital punishment. Have been a guest speaker providing insight into Catholic Social Teaching on the Church’s position on the sacredness of life issues.

I continue to share my love for and experiences with family, tweens, and teens.

 

How has being a member of NFCYM helped you and your ministry to young people?

I have experienced first hand the benefits that NCYC offers to teens and families. What convinced me to become a member of NFCYM was due to the urging of a ministry friend, Joe Perdreauville. I consider this year’s experience with NFCYM to be one of the key blessings that came out of Covid-19. It has been insightful, useful, and provided an additional sense of connectedness.

 

What is your relationship with NFCYM? What does accompaniment mean to you and how has NFCYM  accompanied you?

To accompany just so one doesn’t feel alone doesn’t meet the goal Jesus set in place when he sent disciples out into the world. I think of accompaniment in terms of understanding Luke’s Gospel reference to Jesus’ sending them to places he intended to visit. The goal of accompaniment is working together, so we can better tell the story of God’s presence in our life stories, in order that Jesus might be welcomed by others. Ultimately, so Jesus can become the purpose of their life too.

 

Why ministry? Why do you do what you do? 

I love Jesus too much not to allow him to be the focus of my life.

 

What are some unique ways you have ministered and accompanied through these times?

Ironically, I was asked to step away from any physical ministering – being present in a physical sense to others. In March of 2020 I was exposed to about 100 people. They all showed up at a graveside service I was leading for a 23 year old (former teen from youth group) who died of a drug overdose. Because of contact with so many people and my age  it was deemed necessary to work from home; liturgically sidelined. In late October, I was reinvited to be present and lead all the Christian Burial Rites for another young man (former teen from youth group) who also died from a drug overdose.

All the youth ministry has shifted in our Diocese to a digital platform and I have learned through eight months of Zoom & Live Streaming that strong connections are essential. Connecting people to one another and Jesus is key.

 

If you could share one thing with other ministers, parents, families, and clergy, that you have learned throughout your experience ministering what would it be? 

Love is the measure of our journey to God. We are not meant to be alone. We need God and we need one another. – My message to fellow youth ministers and catechists: Lone Ranger Ministry won’t succeed long term. – This pandemic will have the most negative impact on those who don’t have access to healthy relationships providing love.

 

NFCYM members can ask me about…

GenZ/iGen, Developing Teen Leaders (3 Part Presentation), Necessity of Theological Virtues (3 Part Presentation), Art of Praying, Nature of Virtue, What Confirmation Is and What It Isn’t

Latest Member-Exclusive Content

Yazmín Maní Malone

Pastoral Juvenil Hispana Coordinator,
Diocese of Austin


Diocesan Member

"NFCYM has accompanied me in reaching out to like minded professionals to better provide service (ministry) to adolescents. NFCYM has allowed me to network and grow professionally.

'Youth as Protagonists' has been essential to Pastoral Juvenil Hispana in the Diocese of Austin."

Eva P. Delgado

Youth Minister, St. Christopher Church

Associate Member

"The various resources have helped me keep our program exciting and vibrant. NFCYM has provided me with shared information via webinars, workshops, conferences, outreach, and opportunities that are very informative to help make my ministry successful.

NFCYM is an open forum for me to seek material, guidance and support in keeping the youth ministry program successful."