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?
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