New grad steps into ministry as faith formation coordinator

Moving from college student to coordinator of a parish faith formation program, responsible for the education of 270 students, was not on Peter Shawn Derway's post-graduation agenda.

However, the 22-year-old new alumnus of Long Island University's C.W. Post campus recently took on that challenge at St. Mary/St. Paul's parish in Hudson Falls.

As he began his new job this past June, the Argyle resident told The Evangelist that he is slowly making the transition from being a student to running a program for students. Mr. Derway, a parishioner of St. Joseph's in Greenwich, said that his mother recommended he apply for the job.

"I'm glad she did," he added.

Clubbing

Mr. Derway had thought about a career working for the Church over the years, but it wasn't until his senior year at college that he became seriously interested in that possibility.

It all began when he served as president of his campus' Newman Club for Catholic students.

"When I was elected president, it was a 'club' atmosphere," he explained. "We met and participated in some social justice work, but it didn't really seem like a ministry group to me. Attendance at liturgies was sporadic; some of the members had to actually be coerced by their peers to attend.

"At one point, some of us attended a week-long campus ministry leadership institute at Notre Dame University. I met people there from other schools across the country that had a real energy to their faith; they were heavily involved in social justice issues and other ministries including active participation at liturgies.

"Their energy impressed me. I decided to try to change the attitude of our group, to activate the ministry."

Under his leadership, the Newman Club began to study some of the U.S. bishops' documents on human dignity, solidarity and options for the poor. They joined a regional multi-campus program that participated in retreats so they could collaborate with other students.

Then and now

Since graduation, Mr. Derway and his former executive board of students have continued to keep in touch. They meet regularly to collaborate on ideas and goals for young adults in the Church.

"We give each other input. It's great to have someone else's perspective," he noted.

Just before graduation, Mr. Derway served an internship at Catholic Charities' Caregivers program in Albany, writing a manual and helping to formulate a caregivers' program for the City of Schenectady. He said the internship allowed him to become aware of the need for continued services in the field of caregivers.

"I was a psychology major doing a social work internship. It was very educational," he noted.

The new coordinator said his weekly schedule is already filled. "Our K-sixth grade and seventh-10th grade students have formation classes every Monday evening. We also have monthly retreats for the middle-school students that last for three hours, and a family time program for whole community catechesis that meets the first Sunday of every month, October through May," he recited.

Add-ons

As the faith formation coordinator, Mr. Derway is an automatic member of the parish council. He has agreed to direct and train new altar servers and is the outreach coordinator to recent high-school graduates and college students.

"Busy? Yes, the schedule is very busy right now," he remarked.

Despite that, the coordinator has set additional goals for his ministry.

"It's important to me to make this ministry available to all age groups, especially young adults," he said. "I'm in the process of developing a program for young adults, something that will get them involved in parish life. I want to make the faith formation program a year-round experience for everyone, I've been thinking of a summer lecture series for next year.

"Faith formation is an ongoing process. It doesn't end when we graduate from school or when we mature. I want this program to include everyone," he said.

(As a Boy Scout, Mr. Derway earned the rank of Eagle Scout by researching and submitting the names of 330 deceased U.S. veterans, whose graves were not marked, as a service project. The soldiers are now among those honored each year for combat service during the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I and the War of 1812. Mr. Derway said that preparation for his new position as a faith formation coordinator has been a lifetime effort: He became an altar server at St. Joseph's parish in Greenwich at age seven and continued for 15 years, along with singing in the church's choir. "I've been a Eucharistic minister and lector for years; I did both of those ministries at St. Joseph's and in college," he noted, adding that he will continue to serve as a master of ceremonies and altar server for special liturgies. Additionally, Mr. Derway holds a certificate from the U.S. Coast Guard for work on a merchant seagoing vessel. He is currently attending St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany in pursuit of a graduate degree in Pastoral Studies.)

 (08/21/08)