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Alumni Ambassador Program |
What Are Athenaeum Ambassadors?
Ambassadors are active ministers to those in their parish regarding vocations and act as intermediaries between the Athenaeum and parishioners interested in vocations and expanding their religious education. They promote committed vocations in their parish, and are not passive in any aspect of Catholic life in the Church. Ambassadors make a difference as they are good listeners and are able to communicate well. They are also persons seeking holiness through giving of themselves and loving those in their parish.
Ambassadors are motivated and encourage motivation among the parishioners in the continued growth and practice of chosen vocations. Ambassadors need to understand what vocation choices entail, and seek the means to create situations that will benefit the lives of their parish. Motivation comes in a lot of forms. Promotion can come from the Athenaeum, if sought. There are ways to promote an environment for vocations in every parish, and these can be exchanged among ambassadors. For example, praying for vocations, and more specifically for those being called, as well as parish prayers for family life, armed services personnel, special community jobs (police and fire personnel), those who are struggling and need support. Prayers can be offered for the clients of the SVDP society, those employed in dangerous work. Ambassadors should initiate and maintain dialogue with all ministry leaders in their parishes.
If the Ambassador has a handle on setting into motion prayer and worship responses to the lives being lived in their parish, their life will also be full, and holy.
The Ambassador must be a good communicator, and meet people easily. Behavior among the parish people must also compliment the pastor and be synchronous with him. As ambassadors quietly help in their parishes, they must listen well. It is advantageous to have a few others helping ambassadors as needed to carry out motivational activities within the parish. Be open, friendly, and loving in soliciting input from the parish. Ambassadors ask what they can do for their Church and what the Church can do for them.
Ambassadors may want to measure performance in order to correct or enrich their methods of interaction. Perhaps a spiritual director may help them open the doors needed in a parish. We all need a guide for our lives as well as a means for self-review. Just as in the game of golf, a person measures how well one is playing the game by the score and quality of play, so may an ambassador measure the effects of their interaction with the Athenaeum and parish.
Frequent examination of conscience may help ambassadors fulfill their mission in the parish -- No half hearted attempts; No excuses; be yourself and spread love. It will be returned in abundance.
Ambassadors also must have an enriched prayer life that will support their activities through frequent attendance at Mass and special services at the Athenaeum. It also is necessary to have a private prayer life through Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio, meditation and contemplative prayer, if desired.
Ambassadors are leaders by the nature of their assignment. They are people able to persuade others through gentle and kind words and example. Ambassadors should pause at times to look at their own lives, asking themselves, “Have I grown in this program? Have I helped others? Have I given my best?†Sometimes this can be answered by looking at the growth of the programs or activities or vocations that have been graced by God within your parish.
Ambassadors should elaborate on the power of delegation and the ease of encouraging others to pursue a vocation that will bring them closer to God. Look at how this fits with their desires and abilities. Not everyone is called to the same vocation. We are all from a different family and are called to fulfill what God wants for us.
Value of Communications
Ambassadors foster communication within their parish -- particularly with regard to the relationship between the Athenaeum and the parish. Ambassadors are alert to what is going on in their parish and what is happening at the Athenaeum that will be of interest or benefit to the parish.
They may use the parish bulletin or newsletter as a constant source of providing information to the parish. They will have access to the ambassador newsletter Faith in Action posted quarterly on the Athenaeum website www.athenaeum.edu and receive periodic emails from the Athenaeum that should be made known to all. They may wish to extract information from the email for use in the Sunday bulletin, or they may post items on the bulletin boards. They may also wish to send emails to specific organizations and people within the parish.
Ambassadors promote an awareness of special programs within the diocese and particularly those pertaining to vocations. While making the parish aware of what is happening at the Athenaeum, ambassadors also will seek from the Athenaeum those events or persons who will provide help for specific needs at their parish.
Ambassadors also may create special ways of communication within their parish.
They are the communications hub in the parish for vocations.
Growth Opportunities for Ambassadors
- Look for opportunities to help others at the Athenaeum, such as Advancement, the Bishop Fenwick Society and the Legacy Society.
- Be a beacon for the Athenaeum by promoting spirituality.
- Act as a resource for the Athenaeum wherever possible.
- Bring information that will enrich and extend the reach of the Ambassador program that will be complimentary to vocation efforts
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the contact person for the Ambassador Program at the Athenaeum of Ohio?
Walt Schaefer,
alumni liaison,
513-233-6130;
wschaefer@athenaeum.edu
May I call on others involved in this program for additional information?
Absolutely, You are encouraged to get to know ambassadors serving in other parishes to share ideas and maintain dialogue. It is beneficial to meet with other ambassadors in your area of the archdiocese. Please refer to the ambassador handbook for contact information for each division of the Athenaeum and other important offices such as the advancement department and library. Do not hesitate to call.
How do I bring information about this program to my parish?
First of all, discuss your role as an ambassador with your pastor. He nominated you to fill this position in your parish. Meet with key ministry leaders in your parish to outline your role as dictated by the pastor.By all means, meet with the bulletin editor and newsletter editor if your parish publishes a newsletter.
Can a parish have more than one ambassador?
While ambassadors are encouraged to form a team of volunteers to address the importance of advancing the Athenaeum within each parish, only one person, chosen by the pastor, may serve as the parish's official Athenaeum ambassador.
What if I can't continue as an ambassador?
First, notify your pastor of your inability to continue service. Recommend to the pastor any individuals who you feel show the necessary abilities to be an ambassador. If you have volunteers helping you, you may want to recommend someone from that group. Notify the Athenaeum by calling Walt Schaefer, Athenaeum alumni liaison, at 513-233-6130 or wschaefer@athenaeum.edu
Does my pastor support the Athenaeum Ambassador Program?
Obviously your pastor supports the ambassador program. He chose you to fill the role in your parish. To maintain pastor support, ambassadors should keep the pastor informed of any initiatives they are undertaking in the parish on behalf of the Athenaeum and keep him informed of vocation development in the parish.
How frequently do ambassadors meet?
A member of the Athenaeum's Alumni Executive Committee will be assigned to represent each deanery in the Archdiocese to act as a point person and coordinate periodic ambassador meetings in geographical areas of the archdiocese. In addition, the Athenaeum will host an annual ambassador meeting on campus.
How much time should I commit to being an ambassador?
In one sense you are an ambassador 24/7 because you serve as the Athenaeum's delegate to your parish. In another sense, the time you devote is at your discretion. However, there are certain benchmarks or goals the Athenaeum expects to see accomplished such as increased awareness of the Athenaeum through parish publications; an increase in vocations to priest, deacon and lay ministry; programs or events to advance the mission of the Athenaeum to parishioners (ie: Athenaeum tours for parish groups; use of the Athenaeum speakers bureau in the parish; use of the Athenaeum library; attendance at Athenaeum Chorale performances; promoting and attending Athenaeum lectures). Ambassadors also are charged with displaying and/or distributing Athenaeum literature and encouraging subscriptions to The Athenaeum Magazine.
Parish Ambassador Roster
Saint Francis DeSales Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Agnes | OPEN | |
| St. Andrew | OPEN | |
| St. Anthony | OPEN | |
| St. Cecelia | Marta Misleh | lmisleh@fuse.net |
| St. Francis De Sales | OPEN | |
| Guardian Angels | Bob Fey | mfey@zoomtown.com |
| Holy Trinity | George Freudenberg | gables@current.net |
| Immaculate Heart of Mary | Dave Shaffer | dashaffer@cinci.rr.com |
| St. Jerome | Ron Kienzle | ron@st-jerome-cinci.org |
| St. John Fisher | Tom Gaier | minister87@yahoo.com |
| St. Margaret St. John | Mary Mathers | sjvoffice@fuse.net |
| St. Mark | OPEN | |
| St. Martin De Porres | OPEN | |
| St. Mary, Hyde Park | OPEN | |
| Nativity | Sharon Groene | nativitysecretary1@yahoo.com |
| Our Lord Christ the King | Mary Alice Manley | 737mary@fuse.net |
| St. Robert Bellarmine | Flo DeWitt | florencedewitt@yahoo.com |
| St. Rose | Rev. Barry Windholtz | strosecin@aol.com |
| St. Stephen | OPEN | |
| St. Veronica | Tom Grant | tgrant@zoomtown.com |
St. Martin Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Angela Merici | Maureen Kiley | kilyinc@tds.net |
| St. Ann, Williamsburg | Fr. Bryan Reif | alleluia@fuse.net |
| St. Benignus | OPEN | |
| St. Bernadette | Beth Himes | streligioused@fuse.net |
| St. Columbkille | OPEN | |
| St. Elizabeth, Sardinia | OPEN | |
| St. George, Georgetown | Joan St. Clair | jstclair.sgchurch1@verison.net |
| Holy Trinity, Batavia | Fr. Bryan Reif | alleluia@fuse.net |
| Holy Trinity, West Union | OPEN | |
| St. Louis, Owensville | OPEN | |
| St. Mary, Arnheim | Linda Mulvaney | mulvaney_lin@yahoo.com |
| St. Mary Bethel | OPEN | |
| St. Mary, Hillsboro | Paul Leibold | pflwestend@hughes.net |
| St. Mary, Queen of Heaven | OPEN | |
| St. Michael, Mount Orab | OPEN | |
| St. Michael, Ripley | OPEN | |
| St. Peter, New Richmond | OPEN | |
| St. Philomena, Stonelick | OPEN | |
| St. Thomas More | Michael Thomas | mthomas@stm.org |
St. Margaret Mary Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| Assumption, Mount Healthy | Rick Reder | jmr5rpr@fuse.net |
| St. Bartholomew | Fr. Pat Welsh | frpat.welsh@fuse.net |
| St. Bernard, Winton Place | Bob Ivory | stbernardwp@fuse.net |
| St. Clare | OPEN | |
| St. Clement | OPEN | |
| Corpus Christi | OPEN | |
| St. Ignatius Loyola | OPEN | |
| St. James, White Oak | Carol Maingot | emaingot@stjameswhiteoak.com |
| St. James of the Valley | Sharon Russo | russo@stjamesvalley.org |
| St. John, Dry Ridge | Kenneth R. Schnur | kschnur@cinci.rr.com |
| St. John Neumann | Ron Risch | rsantel@isoc.net |
| St. Matthias | OPEN | kjklich@yahoo.com |
| Our Lady of the Rosary | Kathy Klitech | |
| St. Theresa, Little Flower | OPEN | |
| St. Vivian | Katie Barbara | kbarbara@cinci.rr.com |
Hamilton Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Anoysius, Shandon | OPEN | |
| St. Ann, Hamilton | Susan McAbee | slmcabee@gmail.com |
| St. Augustine, Germantown | Kenneth R. Stewart | krstewart@woh.rr.com |
| St. Augustine, Waynesville | Fr. Raymond Kammerer | |
| Holy Name, Trenton | Lawrence D. Gronas | lgronas@zoomtown.com |
| Holy Family, Middletown | Lois Allen | lamkaallen@juno.com |
| St. Joseph, Hamilton | James P. Finnigan | jimfinnigan20@yahoo.com |
| St. Julie Billiart, Hamilton | Mrs. G. Pate | stjulia@fuse.net |
| St. Mary, Camden | Cleo Gerber | |
| St. Mary, Franklin | Deacon Steve Bermick | st.maryfranklin@sbcglobal.net |
| St. Mary, Oxford | Michael Puglielli | mpuglielli@stmaryoxfordohio.org |
| Our Lady of Sorrows | Dr. Jessie Thomas | danny42@fuse.net |
| St. Peter, Hamilton | OPEN | |
| Queen of Peace, Millville | Mike Mignery | qpchurch@fuse.net |
| Sacred Heart, Fairfield | Brian Miller | frtharp@sacredheart-fairfield.org |
| Visitation, Eaton | OPEN | |
| St. Ann, Groesbeck | Florence Fisse | ffisse@yahoo.com |
Cathedral Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Peter in Chains Cathedral | Lynn Marting | lynn@stpeterinchainscathedral.org |
| Annunciation | Rev. Todd Grogan | klugann@fuse.net |
| Assumption (Walnuts Hills) | Sr. V. Vondenberger | victoriav@catholiccincinnati.org |
| St. Boniface | Carol Russa | croosa@fuse.net |
| St. Francis Seraph | Kathy Symons | kkaelin@athenaeum.edu |
| St. Francis Xavier | Cindy Henderson | gregf@americancatholic.org |
| Holy Cross/Immaculata | Margaret Shank | mshank@gchc.org |
| Holy Name | Charlene Hall | mgallagher7@juno.com |
| St. Joseph (West End) | Cynthia Hill | chill@cindyseller.com |
| St. Leo | Rev. James R. Schutte | stleocinti@aol.com |
| St. Louis | Carol Pell | carolp@cinci.rr.com |
| St. Mary | OPEN | |
| St. Monica/St. George | Kathlee Addison | kaddison@fuse.net |
| Mother of Christ | Barbara Reed | |
| Sacred Heart (Italian) | Jim/Jan Geraci | jgeraci@fuse.net |
| St. Augustine Germantown | Dennis Finn | finndp@msn.com |
St. Lawrence Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Aloysius (Bridgetown) | OPEN | |
| St. Aloysius on the Ohio | OPEN | |
| St. Antoninus | OPEN | |
| St. Barnard (Taylor Creek) | OPEN | |
| St. Catherine | OPEN | |
| St. Dominic | OPEN | |
| Holy Family | OPEN | |
| St. John (Harrison) | OPEN | |
| St. Joseph (North Bend) | OPEN | |
| St. Jude | OPEN | |
| St. Lawrence | OPEN | |
| St. Martin of Tours | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of Lourdes | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of Victory | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of Visitation | Marc A. Alexander | malexander@cinci.rr.com |
| Resurrection | OPEN | |
| St. Simon | OPEN | |
| St. Teresa of Avila | David P. Steinwert | dsteinwert@fuse.net |
| St. Vincent De Paul | OPEN | |
| St. William | OPEN | |
St. Andrew Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| All Saints | Bob Bell | rbell@cinci.rr.com |
| St. Andrew, Milford | Shirley Soellner | ssoellner@fuse.net |
| St. Columban | Richard Schuster | rschuster@cinci.rr.com |
| St. Elizabeth Seton | Edward Alten | atsed@aol.com |
| St. Francis De Sales, Lebanon | Sharon Faust | sfaust@stfrancisdesales-lebanon.org |
| St. Gabriel | Dcn. Gerald Flamm | |
| St. Gertrude | Christina McCarthy | |
| Good Shepherd | Barbara Litchfield | barb@thelitchfields.net |
| St. John, West Chester | John C. Dissel | |
| St. John the Evangelist (DPark) | Kevin M. Denzler | |
| St. Margaret of York | Ken Kabler | skabler@cinci.rr.com |
| St. Maximilian Kolbe | Dcn Jeff Merrell | |
| St. Michael, Sharonville | Herman W. Kneuven | |
| Our Lady of the Sacred Heart | Dcn James Geraci | jgerai@cinci.rr.com |
| Sts. Peter & Paul, Reading | Charles W. Roemer | |
| St. Philip, Morrow | Thomas Shea | earp3@ebarg_mil.com |
| St. Saviour | OPEN | |
| St. Susanna | Miriam Jackobs | mjackobs@gmail.com |
| St. Vincent Ferrer | Bob & Sandie Wubbolding | wubsrt@fuse.net |
Sidney Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Boniface, Piqua | Carol A. Roosa | croosa@fuse.net |
| St. Denis, Versailles | OPEN | |
| Holy Angels, Sidney | Joyce Goubeaux | info@holyangelssidney.com |
| Holy Family, Frenchtown | OPEN | |
| Immaculate Conception, Botkins | Thomas & Carol Schnippel | |
| Immaculate Conception, Bradford | OPEN | |
| St. Lawrence, Rhine | OPEN | |
| St. Louis, North Star | OPEN | |
| St. Mary, Greenville | Ann M. Kolb | stmak@bizworth.rr.com |
| St. Mary, Piqua | Anne S. Langsdale | annelpasmf@sbcglobal.net |
| St. Michael, Ft. Loramie | Ann Bollheimer | annb@nflregion.org |
| St. Nicholas, Osgood | OPEN | johnkcarlin@hotmail.com |
| St. Patrick, Troy | Dcn John K. Carlin | |
| Sts. Peter & Paul, Newport | Ann Bollheimer | annb@nflregion.org |
| St. Remy, Russia | Maria A. Hoehne | stremy@voyager.net |
| Sacred Heart. McCartyville | Barbara A. Riethman | sachrt@bright.net |
| St. Teresa, Covington | OPEN | |
| Transfiguration | OPEN | |
Springfield Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Augustine, Jamestown | OPEN | |
| St. Bernard, Springfield | OPEN | |
| St. Brigid, Xenia | OPEN | |
| St. Charles Borromeo, S. Charleston | OPEN | |
| Immaculate Conception, Lewisburg | OPEN | |
| St. Joseph, Springfield | OPEN | |
| Mary Help of Christians, Fairborn | OPEN | |
| St. Mary, Urbana | OPEN | |
| St. Mary of the Woods, Russels Point | Dona Fisher | dona@stmaryofthewoods.com |
| St. Michael, Mechanicsburg | OPEN | |
| St. Patrick, Bellefontaine | OPEN | |
| St. Paul, Yellow Springs | OPEN | |
| St. Raphael, Springfield | OPEN | |
| Sacred Heart, New Carlisle | OPEN | |
| St. Teresa, Springfield | OPEN | |
Dayton Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Adalbert | OPEN | |
| St. Agnes | OPEN | |
| St. Albert the Great, Kettering | David E. Zink | dezink@woh.rr.com |
| St. Anthony | OPEN | |
| Ascension, Kettering | OPEN | |
| St. Benedict the Moor | OPEN | |
| St. Charles Borromeo, Kettering | OPEN | |
| St. Christopher, Vandalia | OPEN | |
| Corpus Chrusti | OPEN | |
| Emmanuel | Fr. Leo L. Sciarrotta, SM | parishoffice@ammanuelcatholic.com |
| St. Francis of Assisi | Chris Rauch | crauch@stcharles-kettering.org |
| St. Helen | Marianne Balent | Marianne.balent@sthelenparish.org |
| St. Henry | OPEN | |
| Holy Angels | OPEN | |
| Holy Cross | OPEN | |
| Holy Family | OPEN | |
| Holy Trinity | Michael J. Leo | mleo@woh.rr.com |
| Incarnation | OPEN | |
| St. John, Tipp City | OPEN | |
| St James/Resurrection | OPEN | |
| St. Joseph | OPEN | |
| St. Luke, Beavercreek | William K. LeCain | niacell943@aol.com |
| St. Mary | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of Good Hope | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of Immaculate Conception | Ralph M. Gutman | ralphmgutman@aol.com |
| Our Lady of Mercy | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of the Rosary | OPEN | |
| St. Paul, Englewood | OPEN | |
| St. Peter, Huber Heights | David M. McCray | d-m-mccray@woh.rr.com |
| Precious Blood | Dale J. DeBrosse | daleanddeb@live.com |
| Queen of Apostles | Deacon G. J. Cerere | gacohio@sbcglobal.net |
| Queen of Martyrs | OPEN | |
| St. Rita | OPEN | |
| St. Stephen | OPEN | |
St. Mary's Deanery
| Parish | Ambassador | |
| St. Aloysius, Carthegena | OPEN | |
| St. Anthony, St. Anthony | OPEN | |
| St. Augustine. Minster | Dcn. Roger L. Klosteri | rogk1@adelphia.net |
| St. Bernard, Burkettsville | OPEN | |
| St. Francis, Cranberry Prairie | OPEN | |
| St. Henry, St. Henry | OPEN | |
| Holy Redeemer, New Bremen | Christopher Killian | ckil@nktelco.net |
| Holy Rosary, St. Mary's | Marty Brown | martybrown@watchtv.net |
| Holy Trinity, Coldwater | OPEN | |
| Immaculate Conception, Celina | Ann Hull | ann@celina-ic.org |
| St. John, Fryburg | OPEN | |
| St. John, Maria Stein | OPEN | |
| St. Joseph, Egypt | OPEN | |
| St. Joseph, St. Joseph | Dcn John Parker | parkerrjp@verizon.net |
| St. Joseph, Wapakoneta | OPEN | |
| Mary Help of Christians, Ft. Recovery | OPEN | |
| St. Mary, Philothea | OPEN | |
| Nativity of the B.V.M., Casella | OPEN | |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe, Montezuma | Linda Schulze | |
| St. Patrick, Glynwood | OPEN | |
| St. Paul, Sharpsburg | OPEN | |
| St. Peter, St. Peter | OPEN | |
| Precious Blood, Chickasaw | OPEN | |
| St. Rose, St Rose | OPEN | |
| St. Sebastian, St. Sebastian | OPEN | |
| St. Teresa, Rockford | OPEN | |
| St. Wendelin, St. Wendelin | OPEN | |
