Dolly Pointner

Biography
Dolly Pointner is a wife and mother from the suburbs of Chicago. She is a true convert who was baptized as a young adult and became Catholic over 20 years ago. She is passionate about helping parents realize the love they have for their children pales in comparison to the Love the Holy Trinity has for them. She believes this is a crucial step in allowing parents to claim their role as primary catechist to their children. Dolly has been working on her Masters of Catechetics and Evangelization from Franciscan University of Steubenville one class at a time and hopes to finish before her youngest finishes college! Her small home parish is St. Irene in the Diocese of Joliet but Dolly works at Mary, Seat of Wisdom in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is used to rolling up her sleeves with small parishes and juggling the demands of a parish with a large school and hundreds of families who desire faith formation for their children attending public schools. 

Parish and Diocese
Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Archdiocese of Chicago

Program Size

Language
English

Content Type
Physical + Digital

Resources Used
Claim, Seek, Root, Mend, and Nourish and has implemented the methodology of FFLCM in custom pathways, including preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Favorite thing about using Pathways
She has seen the most fruit in families that she has had the joy of walking with through multiple pathways and loves the flexibility of Mend and Nourish for preparing families who have lost touch with their faith and have multiple children of various ages for whom they desire to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation.

Steven Serafin

Biography
I am the Pastoral Associate of St. Bartholomew’s in Scotch Plains, NJ where I over see a new initiative called the Emmaus Coalition of Life Long Formation and our New Family Faith Formation Program. I have been married to my wife Tricia for six years and we have a two year old daughter Martha. I graduated from Catholic University with a Doctor in Ministry, received a Masters in Theology focusing on Evangelization and Catechesis from The University of Notre Dame’s Echo program and a B.A from Catholic University with a minor in Finance and Management. My treatise focused on accompanying newlyweds beyond the sacrament. I have served in a number of ministerial positions: Associate Director for Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Newark, Director of Faith Formation, Campus Minister, and Teacher. Along with my team, I am developing a lifelong model for parish accompaniment and initiating a new approach to family formation.

Parish and Diocese
St. Bartholomew the Apostle, Archdiocese of Newark

Program Size
550 families, 1200 children
Ages 3-18

Language
English

Content Type
Physical + Digital

Resources Used
Root, Mend, Nourish, Wonder, Martha

Favorite thing about using Pathways
Pathways truly meets our families where they are at on the Journey of Faith and accompanies them through easily accessible and beautifully made resources. Each resource truly makes tangible the joy of having a personal relationship with God and fosters faith base conversations in the home.

Brenda Mendoza

Biography
I am the Director of Religious Education Program for grades K – 12th. I have been directing at this Parish for the past 3 years and a catechist for 20 years throughout the state of Nevada.

Parish and Diocese
St. Teresa of Avila, Diocese of Reno

Program Size
180 Families, 240 Children

Language
English and Spanish

Content Type
Physical + Digital

Resources Used
Seek, Root, Mend, Nourish and Zeal

Favorite thing about using Pathways
My favorite thing using Pathways is hearing the Families’ testimonials about how they enjoy doing the Program at home. How they are getting to know more about each other and Jesus together.

Dana Robles

Biography
Life-long Catholic, married to Dave for 36 years, mother of 5 and grandma to 11. Gardner, Camper and Home schooling Mom, now support for the grandkids. Past ministries ~ Sanctity of Life Parish Coordinator, Restorative Justice Minister to incarcerated boys, Catechist (all grades) for 40 years. Current ministry ~ Coordinator of Catechetical Ministry which includes preparing children for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. 

Parish and Diocese
St Thomas the Apostle, Diocese of San Bernardino

Program Size

70 Families, 150 Children
Grades K thru 8

Language
Spanish and English
We have a very small part of the Hispanic community involved in the Pathways program, however I am not bilingual.

Content Type
Physical

Resources Used
Root, Mend, Nourish, and Mercy

Favorite thing about using Pathways
My favorite thing about Pathways: How will I choose one? I love the reaction of the family as they open the box with anticipation and ask, "is this for us to keep?". I love the response I have received from the Catechists as they participate with their own family and come to embrace the idea of family catechesis. Most of all I love the opportunity this program has given our parish to create a partnership between the "Mentor Catechist" and the "Parent Catechist"! This IS the way the Holy Spirit will have the strongest affect in our children's lives; relationship and experience with the parish (community) church and the domestic church.

Meredith Smith

Biography
I am the Director of Faith Formation at St. Agnes and St. Camillus Parishes in Arlington, Ma. A native of northern Virginia, I have been actively involved in parish life since joining my parish children’s choir in 1st grade. I have been in ministry for over 15 years and have served in parishes in the (Arch)Dioceses of Arlington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Rome, and currently Boston. I graduated from Immaculata University with a BA in Music, BM in Music Therapy, and Certificate in Theology. I also received a STB from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy. I have a passion for walking with families on their faith journey. I am also a thrifting, crocheting, LEGO, and travel enthusiast.

Parish and Diocese
Catholic Parishes of Arlington, St. Agnes & St. Camillus, Archdiocese of Boston

Program Size
165 families, 250 children
Ages 3 - 18

Language 
English

Content Type
Physical + Digital

Resources Used
Seek, Root, Mend, Nourish, Zeal for Children, Zeal for Teens, Wonder, Martha, Claim

Favorite thing about using Pathways
My favorite thing about Pathways is that it is a suite of resources that we can utilize to truly meet families where they are and help them grow in their relationships with each other and with God. It gives us the flexibility to create a unique Pathway for each family and helps us to more effectively and better serve our community.