Jacob Doran

Biography
I am the Director of Youth Evangelization and Catechesis at St. Brendan the Navigator in Hilliard, Ohio. I graduated from Ohio Dominican University in 2010 with a degree and license in English Language Arts for grades 7-12. After graduation, I served as mission leader for one year with SPO at The Ohio State University. After teaching for nine years and completing my Masters in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary, I transitioned in 2021 into my current role directing family faith formation, youth sacramental preparation, and middle and high youth ministry. I have been married 14 years and have 3 children, ages 13, 12, and 8.

Parish and Diocese
St. Brendan the Navigator, Diocese of Columbus

Program Size
150 families, 250 children
Grades 1 through 8

Language
English

Content Type
Physical

Resources Used
Seek, Root, Mend, Nourish, Zeal, Mercy, Sent, Quest, Witness, Made, Wonder, Martha

Favorite thing about Pathways 
Parents have told me that it has helped them to “knock the rust off” their own Catholic education. They are learning and being formed as Catholics alongside their children!

Dolly Pointner

Biography
I am a wife and mother from the suburbs of Chicago. I am a true convert who was baptized as a young adult and became Catholic over 20 years ago. I am passionate about helping parents realize the love they have for their children pales in comparison to the Love the Holy Trinity has for them. I believe this is a crucial step in allowing parents to claim their role as primary catechist to their children. I have been working on my Masters of Catechetics and Evangelization from Franciscan University of Steubenville one class at a time and hope to finish before me youngest finishes college! My small home parish is St. Irene in the Diocese of Joliet, but I work at Mary, Seat of Wisdom in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I am used to rolling up my 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
I have seen the most fruit in families that I have had the joy of walking with through multiple pathways, and I love 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.

Brenda Mendoza

Biography
I am the Family Faith Formation Director at my parish in Nevada. I have been directing at this Parish for the past 7 years and a catechist for 25 years throughout the state of Nevada. I have completed a Parish Leader and Catechist certification program through the Franciscan University - Catechetical Institute. I am a certified Youth Minister and I have attended many Youth Ministry Conferences across the country. I am a mother a three wonderful boys whom I have had the pleasure to catechized through all their sacraments. I enjoy Family Catechesis and I am here to help you enjoy it as much as I do!

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

Program Size
300 Families, 280 Children

Language
English and Spanish

Content Type
Physical + Digital

Resources Used
Seek, Root, Mend, Nourish and Zeal

Martha

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.

Christie McGee

Biography
I am the Director of Family Faith Formation at St. Joseph Catholic Church in the Diocese of Dallas. I have served in parish ministry for over a decade across multiple formation roles, including Adult Formation, Children’s Formation, and Children & Family Ministry. In my current role, our team ministers to families with children ranging from birth through 8th grade, supporting sacramental preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation.

In addition to parish ministry, I am a volunteer contributing author at Catholic-Link, where I enjoy reflecting on the lived experience of faith and family. My greatest joys outside of ministry are my life as a wife of 28 years to Jamie, mom to our two grown children, and soon-to-be “Cici” to our grandson arriving in July 2026.

Parish and Diocese
St. Joseph Catholic Church / Diocese of Dallas, TX

Program Size

125 infant baptisms (yearly) + 480 children (K-8th grade)

Language
English & Spanish

Content Type
Physical + Digital

Resources Used
Claim, Seek, Root, Mend, Nourish, and Zeal, Quest, Witness, Made, Mercy, and Beside. 

Favorite thing about using Pathways
What I love most about Pathways is the way it positions us as true partners with parents. The resources help build community among families, equip parents for meaningful faith conversations at home, and offer a consistent reminder that they are not alone. Pathways affirms the beautiful truth that God provides parents with the graces they need to form their children, and we are blessed to accompany them on that journey.

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.

Scott Morin

Biography
I am the Director of Evangelization for the St. Agnes and St. Camillus parish collaborative in Arlington, MA. My ministry journey began with a high school conversion back to the Catholic faith, leading me to volunteer with Young Life after college. Since 1992, I have served the Archdiocese of Boston, spending 26 years as a Youth Ministry Coordinator. To ground my field experience, I studied Theology and Pastoral Ministry at Merrimack College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and St. Joseph's College. In 2018, I transitioned to my current role in Arlington, where I use my youth ministry background to build a culture of missionary discipleship for families. Outside of parish life, I love spending time with family and friends, watching classic films, and thrifting.

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 part of using Pathways is collaborating with our Companions to connect with parents. It gives parents a beautiful opportunity to move beyond the faith they learned about as children and encounter Christ in a deeply personal, incarnational way.