JENNY SNARSKI
CATHOLIC HERALD STAFF JSNARSKI@CATHOLICDOS.ORG
T
henewlyformedice of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship - introduced in early spring 2021 under the direction of Chris Hurtubise - has also brought a new employee to the diocesan staff. Although Loree Nauertz is a familiar name and face in youth and family ministry around the diocese, she discerned prayer- fully before accepting the role of associate director. I'm a wife and mom first, Nauertz acknowledged. Even knowing her gifts and talents are God-given, she confessed pointedly asking God in prayer if the job was how he was calling her to use them. Having discerned other opportunities throughout the years she has raised and homes- chooled her six children - while volunteering in numerous ca- pacities at her Spooner parish of St. Francis de Sales - she knew what it felt like to not have peace through discernment. This time there was, Nauertz added, and she took that experience to her spiritual director. Loree married her husband, Al, a high school science teacher, after graduating with a teaching degree from UW-Stout 25 years ago. Once their first son was born, she redirected her educat- ing towards the familys growing family of boys. Nauertz home- schooled their six sons through- out most of their elementary school years, connecting also with a virtual charter school in Hayward (HACIL). All six of her sons attended St. Francis de Sales School for middle school and went on to Spooner High School. I am very grateful for these opportunities, for they have allowed me to meet a variety of people and have given me a unique perspective on education and family life, she said. God has blessed my time here in the diocese allowing me to be involved in youth ministry, religious education for adults and teens, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, theology of the body, and Natural Family Planning, Nauertz continued. I have learned so much from peo- ple's willingness to share with me the joys and struggles of life. Family life can be so reward- ing and so challenging all at the same time! St. Pope John Paul II, a hero of mine, once said, 'The future of humanity passes by way of the family.' Even with her strong convic- tion of the necessity of family and youth ministry, Nauertz admits the answer God seemed to be giving her to step into the new role wasn't necessarily what she wanted to hear. The Nauertzs' oldest son, Mark, was married this August, bringing their first daughter-in- law into the family. With Mark inishing his degree at Bismark's University of Mary and sec- ond-oldest son John studying at the same university, there are still four boys at home. Andrew is a senior at Spooner High School and involved in many things, from acting a lead role in the fall senior play to filling key positions on the football team. James is a high school freshman; middle-schooler Luke continues to homeschool, and the youngest, Joseph, just start- ed fourth grade at the parish school. Things are going really well and I'm comfortable, she had told God in her prayer. She assured God it wasnt that she didn't trust him - rather, I don't know that I trust myself. Taking this all to her spiri- tual director, Nauertz's clear, direct answer from God was confirmed, accompanied by the reminder that he doesn't call you for comfort. She moved forward as a willing vessel, but also with a clear sense of not wanting to lose sight of her pri- mary vocation while she's trying to evangelize others. With this in mind, I am look- ing forward to working with the faithful people of our diocese to support marriages and families, she said. Nauertz was a little over- whelmed at the mile-long job description for the associate director of Evangelization & Missionary Discipleship. The primary function is summarized as follows: To implement evangelization and missionary discipleship in the areas of marriage preparation and family life through support to parishes as well as direct min- istry to the faithful of the diocese through events and programs. Nauertz's primary responsi- bilities will be threefold: First, moving marriage preparation from maintenance to mission. This includes assessing what is taking place, researching mission-oriented models of marriage prep, offering training and working with Dcn. Greg and Elaine Ricci to offer FOCCUS training. Second, she will be coordi- nating Natural Family Plan- ning awareness and education, which includes gauging current offerings in parishes, providing resources to pastors and work- ingwithotherdiocesanicesto broaden scope of implementa- tion in marriage preparation and married couples. Third, she will coordinate diocesan-level planning for adult evangelization and missionary discipleship. Under this falls organizing the annual mens and women's retreats and a diocesan family camp, as well as creating and maintaining a database of family ministry contacts and gathering and sharing infor- mation for ministries to fam- ily crisis situations - divorce, addictions, etc. After the surprise, excitement and discernment process of ac- cepting the role, Nauertz shared that her reaction was, O.M. Goodness - this is exciting! To be able to work with couples and connect with so many people around the diocese that are try- ing to help marriages, and help couples and help families. This is what I've been talking about since I came to this diocese! Much has changed since she arrived to Spooner more than two decades ago, but Nauertz - raised in the Diocese of La Crosse - believes that parallel to the cultural chaos is the impor- tance of family as the foundation of society. Having personally experi- enced the divorce of her parents, the tragic loss of a sibling, the highs and lows of family and friends health and relation- ship-related challenges, Nauertz irmshowmuchofthebro- kenness and confusion within families can stem from so many adults not dealing with their own life wounds and childhood hurts. If we don't deal with them, they're going to come out at some point, Nauertz said. It canbeincrediblydicult,butat least less complicated if you can do it while you're young. Nauertzirmedthathealing can be found in later decades, but that the variables of mar- riage and family life can compli- cate the process. She hopes to help parishes enter into people's lives and bring Christ into their personal situations, so they can give that experience to their own children. What excites her most about making disciples is, The focus on being a disciple of Christ and following him so that we can lead others to him. You have to learn how to follow Christ first; then we can lead others to him. Recounting some challenges in her own marriage, Nauertz clarified two co-existing reali- ties: It doesn't take major issues or addictions to shake a couple and family - but the shaking doesn't always lead to breaking. Just the daily grind of life can be like a pressure cooker, especially taking a destructive toll when carrying heavy loads alone. During a time of particular struggle, Nauertz revealed her troubles to a close friend. She described how it made all the difference in the world. Once the couple had gotten through their rough patch, she began opening up about it with others. That was when the flood- gates poured open as far as people sharing with me all of their struggles, she said. It was through this experience that she learned the most valuable advice
Nov. 11, 2021
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New marriage ministry hire is "wife and mom first"
Loree Nauertz , hired this summer as the associate director of the Office of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, also acquired the new role of mother-in-law in August. She and husband Al are pictured with their son, Mark, and his bride, Rachel, accompanied by their other sons John, Andrew, James, Luke and Joseph. (Photo credit: Joey Trcka, Joey Trcka Photography)
See NAUERTZ, Page 5
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