PROJECT CONSULTANTS

About Our Consultants

Dr. Kathie Amidei

Kathie is parish pastoral associate, a catechetical consultant, and a national speaker. She was formerly the Associate Director of Catechesis for the Milwaukee Archdiocese and served several parishes as a teacher and a director of religious education. She is the author of Forming Families: A Faith Resource on Catholic Identity. She has a degree in education, a master’s in theology and a Doctorate in Education and Leadership. Her dissertation, Generation to Generation, focused on factors in the family and faith community that impact faith development. She received the Vatican II Award for Service in Education from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Kathie is a wife, a mother, and a grandmother.

Jane Angha

Jane is the founder and dreamer behind Ministry Blueprints. With years of director, coordinator, and mentorship experience in parish, diocesan, and non-profit ministry, she brings to the work of hospitality a broad knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of faith communities and a passion for them to be places of welcome and belonging. Jane holds a BS in Education and Religious Studies and a Master of Theology. She is a national conference speaker and moderator, retreat leader, writer and currently part of NCCL and NFCYM project teams.

Angel Barrera

Angel is the Director for the Office of Parish Engagement in the Diocese of Brownsville and has over twenty years of experience in serving the Church and forming ministry leaders. He also serves as a Leadership Consultant with the Catholic Leadership Institute and formerly served as a Project Coordinator for Youth Ministry Services at the Center for Ministry Development. Angel holds a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. He and his wife, Ashley, are the proud parents of six children and live in Mission, TX.

Deacon Warlito J. Borja, PhD, SThD

Deacon Warlito is a married Filipino-Belgian Theologian who is currently serving in the Archdiocese of Brussels-Mechelen, Belgium and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA; He is also the Director of Catholic Religious Education at the Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base in Germany. Aside from facilitating courses with the VLCFF-University of Dayton, Ohio, he is also an International Examiner of the International Baccalaureate (IB) for World Religions, Philosophy and Theory of Knowledge (Geneva, Switzerland). Moreover, he is an International Board Member and Referee for Lux Veritatis: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, Philippines and Scientia: The International Journal of Liberal Arts of San Beda University, Philippines. In 2018, he was awarded a Plaque of Recognition – Humanitarian Service Excellence Award, by the Asian Community Social Response (ACSR) and a Plaque of Recognition – Outstanding Premier Male Philosopher and Theologian, by the Asian Achiever International. Deacon Borja served as the Council of International SchooIs (CIS) Coordinator, IGCSE and Exams Coordinator at the International School of Belgium where he also taught Philosophy and Theory of Knowledge (2017-2019). He founded and co-founded Lay Church Organizations in Belgium (Catholic Community of Leuven and Catholic Charismatic Community of Brussels).

Paulette Chapman

Paulette serves as a catechetical and ministry consultant, speaker, and retreat leader. She has over 35 years of experience at the parish and diocesan level in lifelong faith formation, catechumenal ministry, and resource curation and development, as well as ministry training and leadership. Paulette holds a BA in Theology from Briar Cliff University and an MA in Systematic Theology from the University of Notre Dame. She has written for Pastoral Liturgy magazine and the Center for Ministry Development and is the author of a diocesan handbook for parish catechetical leaders. Paulette is committed to fostering lifelong formation in faith, calling forth the gifts of all to build up the Reign of God. She and her husband, Tom, live in Urbandale, IA and have three adult children.

Lorrie Lane Dyer, PhD

Lorrie is the Catholic Religious Education Coordinator and former Pastoral Life Coordinator serving military members and their families since 2007.  She has facilitated numerous faith formation courses for the Virtual Learning Community of Faith Formation, University of Dayton, and facilitated online, on ground and virtual Catechetical Methodology Catechist Certification classes for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Additionally, Lorrie is an adjunct instructor for the Master of Leadership Development program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Lorrie has a Doctorate in Philosophy in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Leadership Development, a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, with a minor in Creative Writing, and a Certificate of Catechesis Level I and a Certificate of Catechesis Level II.

Carla Ferrando-Bowling

Carla is the Family Life Director for the Diocese of Green Bay. She has a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Life with the University of Navarra-Spain and a Certification in Marriage and Family Life with San Pablo University of Arequipa-Peru. Carla has more than 20 years serving the Hispanic ministry. She is the Chair of the Federation of Catholic Family Life Association. She is a multilingual presenter. Carla is married to her husband Shahn for 18 years.

Kelly Henderschedt

Kelly has spent time as an educator, catechist, and parish director of faith formation. She now serves as the Archdiocesan Director of Faith Formation in Hartford. Kelly’s areas of focus include family catechesis, parent formation, evangelization, and lifelong faith formation. For the past 18 years, she has enjoyed leading retreat experiences for adults, teens, and children. Kelly has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in Religious Education from Fordham University. Kelly and her husband live in rural Connecticut and are proud parents of four young adult children. In her spare time Kelly enjoys gardening, cooking, and taking care of her backyard chickens.

Diane Kledzik

Diane began working for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1998 and currently serves as the Director for Marriage and Family Life, including Small Christian Communities. Her prior ministry work consists of serving as the Diocesan Leader for Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation and in Youth Ministry on the parish and diocesan levels. Diane has a Certificate in Youth Ministry and an Advanced Studies in Ministry Certificate from the Center for Ministry Development and holds a BA in Human Resources and a minor in Religious Studies from Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, and an MA in Pastoral Ministry from St. Thomas University in Miami, FL.  She has served her parish as catechist on the Infant Baptism Team for over 20 years, is a member of the parish leadership team, was a member of the Youth Ministry Core Team and Evangelization Team, served two years as the PTO President at the Catholic elementary school that she and her sons attended, and was an inaugural member of the Parent and Family Advisory Council at the University of West Florida. 

Jim Merhaut, M.S.Ed., P.C.C.

Jim is an award-winning author, national motivational speaker, internationally-known leadership trainer, and ICF-Certified Coach. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education from Duquesne University with an emphasis in adult formation. Jim has authored and co-authored several books and published dozens of articles and essays on leadership and relationships. Jim has served as a coach for two of Vibrant Faith Inc. Lilly Endowment grant-funded projects on Calling and Vocation, and on Thriving Congregations. Jim’s website is www.coachingtoconnect.com.

Jayne Ragasa Mondoy

Jayne began her ministry in the field of Catholic catechetical leadership in the year 2000 upon earning a master’s degree in pastoral leadership from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She served as director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Honolulu for eighteen years. Prior to this appointment she was the Dean of Academics for secondary education and a teacher in the Hawaii Catholic Schools system.  Jayne is a national speaker and author of two books: Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage, and Retain Successful Catechists (Loyola Press, 2017) and Planning for Restored Order (Twenty-Third Publications, 2021), is a regular contributor to “The Catechist Journey” blog hosted by Loyola Press, and is a course designer and facilitator for the University of Dayton Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation. She has served on the advisory committee for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs, the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs and as treasurer and vice-president for the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders.

Ashley Morris

Ashley is the Director of Black Catholic Affairs of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Office of Intercultural Ministries, having served prior as Associate Director of the same office. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Media Arts, Concentrating in Radio, TV and Film and a Masters of Pastoral Theology. Ashley also serves as a consultant on subcommittees and working groups for the USCCB and project teams with the NFCYM.

Bertha Peralta-Rodriguez

Bertha is the Director of Ministry Formation at the Department of Youth Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of New York. She has been a catechist and youth minister for close to 30 years, has worked in the areas of higher education and mental health, and has been involved in diocesan leadership/faith formation programs for 15 years. Bertha has a M.Ed. from Fordham University. She has been married for 17 years and is a mom to a 15 year old daughter. She is passionate about thinking of creative ways of reaching and evangelizing the young and their families!

Patrice Spirou

Patrice is Ministry Lead for Family Catechesis and Curriculum in the Office of Evangelization & Discipleship at the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In her role, she accompanies ministry leaders encouraging, empowering, and equipping them to answer God’s call to bear fruit that will last. Patrice is a passionate advocate of family centered approaches to faith formation. Prior to serving at the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Patrice taught High School theology, was a parish DRE/PCL, and has taught in Colleges of Education both in Illinois and Georgia. She holds a B.A. in Theology and a M.A. in Teaching.

Denise Utter

Denise is a speaker, coach, and writer. She loves working with church leaders and their teams exploring new possibilities in faith formation and parish engagement. Her experience at both parish and diocesan levels shapes her work as a coach/consultant and master teacher at Vibrant Faith, where for the last few years she has focused on the theme of calling, the call of parenthood, faith formation for a new generation, and methods of becoming a storytelling community. Denise is the author of Engage Every Family: A Parish Guide to Integrated Faith Formation and Faith Talks, Prayers, and Easy Activities for Raising Catholic Kids (both from Twenty-Third Publications). Previous publications include articles for Catechetical Leader, Catechist Magazine, and Take Out: Our Faith on the Go! (OSV). She has written online curriculum for Our Sunday Visitor, Center for Ministry Development, and the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is also a partner at Strong Catholic Family Faith (www.catholicfamilyfaith.org). Denise has embraced her vocation in the field of education and ministry for over 30 years, having a B.S. in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Denise lives in Chicago with Rob, her husband of over thirty years; they have three adult children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and a beautiful two-year old grandson.