Forming lay leaders for service: a partnership shaping the future of the Church 

The collaboration between the Archdiocese and the ECHO Program is an example of how the Church is investing in the future, empowering young people to serve with faith, dedication, and knowledge.  

In September, the Archdiocese of Newark hosted a heartwarming celebration to honor seven graduate students from the University of Notre Dame’s ECHO Graduate Service Program during a special luncheon. These students, who are currently serving in various capacities across the Archdiocese, are dedicated to making a lasting impact in their local communities while pursuing advanced theological studies. Three of the students serve as theology teachers in Catholic schools, and four are parish apprentices, all while working toward a tuition-free Master of Arts in Theology degree. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, along with Auxiliary Bishops Manuel A. Cruz, Elias R. Lorenzo, Michael A. Saporito, and Gregory J. Studerus joined the event at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center to express their deep gratitude for the students’ dedicated service and commitment to the Church. 

The ECHO Graduate Service Program, an initiative of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, is designed to prepare and equip lay leaders for service in the Church. Accepted students study theology on campus during the summer and work in Catholic parishes or schools during the academic year. The program offers a blend of on-the-ground ministry experience and online theological coursework. 

According to the ECHO program website, “Echo students benefit from a robust formation program that integrates their work, study, and life of faith to serve the Church and explore a career in ministry, all while growing as disciples and leaders in catechesis and evangelization.” 

A Growing Partnership with the Archdiocese 

Since its founding in 2004, the ECHO program has aimed to develop well-formed lay catechetical leaders for parishes across the nation. In 2014, the program expanded to include the formation of theology teachers for Catholic middle and high schools, helping to strengthen the theological education and faith formation of students. The Archdiocese of Newark initiated its partnership with the McGrath Institute’s ECHO Program in 2019, and the collaboration has borne great fruit. 

Each ECHO graduate student in the Archdiocese is paired with a mentor—an Archdiocesan parish or school employee—who provides professional, spiritual, and intellectual guidance. Joanne DePasquale-Parent, archdiocesan leader for the ECHO Parish Track, praised the program for its ability to invigorate parish and school life. 

“The Echo students bring a beautiful, vibrant faith and love for Jesus that is deeply inspiring,” DePasquale-Parent shared. “Their presence and work have enriched our diocesan, parish, and school leaders. We are privileged to accompany and support these young trailblazers who will become the next generation of Catholic leadership in our Church.” 

The Echo Students: A Commitment to Serve 

The current group of ECHO students began their placements in August 2023 or 2024 and will graduate with their Master’s degrees in May 2025 or 2026. These recent college graduates are not only developing their knowledge and faith but also immersing themselves in the daily life and mission of the Church. 

Here are the Echo teachers serving in the Archdiocese of Newark until May 2025: 

The following ECHO parish apprentices will serve the Archdiocese of Newark until May 2026:

Each of these students has a unique story that brought them to the ECHO program, but they all share a deep desire to grow in faith and serve the Church. For Clare Shrake, a graduate of the University of Dallas, the program was a way to deepen her theological understanding and actively serve in a parish setting.  

“I didn’t feel comfortable just walking into a church and asking for work,” Shrake explained. Today, she is thriving as an apprentice at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ridgewood. 

For Emma McAllen, the desire for a career rooted in both professional and spiritual fulfillment led her to ECHO. A graduate of St. Mary’s College with a nursing degree, McAllen wanted to pursue a career that was also a vocation. “I didn’t feel I had enough spiritual formation or spiritual stamina as a nurse,” she shared. Now serving at the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, McAllen is finding the spiritual foundation she was seeking. 

A Future of Hope 

Tim Pisacich, Associate Director of ECHO, highlighted the program’s importance in revitalizing parish life. He praised the students for their courage in saying “yes” to the program without knowing where their journey would take them. He also expressed deep gratitude to the mentors who guide these young leaders. 

As the Archdiocese of Newark and the McGrath Institute for Church Life continue to work together, there is hope that this partnership will raise a new generation of vibrant, faith-filled Church leaders. 

For more information about the ECHO Graduate Service Program, click here. 

Featured Image: A heartwarming celebration honors graduate students from the University of Notre Dame’s ECHO Graduate Service Program during a special luncheon at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in September 2024. (Bottom row: Bishop Gregory Studerus, Bishop Manuel Cruz, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Bishop Michael Saporito, Bishop Elias Lorenzo, and Father Stephen Fichter, Episcopal Vicar of Education; Top row: Echo students Timothy O’Donnell, Megan Ebner, Emma McAllen, Anne Cerjak, Hannah Schmitz, Clare Shrake, and James Hentz, and Associate Director of ECHO, Tim Pisacich.)