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Is there in ECHO in here, or what?
No worries, you aren’t the only one who has heard about it. Over the last four years there have been many. The University of Notre Dame has a program called Echo: Faith Formation Leadership Program that offers a Masters of Theology.
“Echo is a dynamic two-year experience of service and apprenticeship that prepares leaders in faith formation. Participants in Echo have the opportunity to engage in on-going academic, professional-ministerial, communal, and spiritual formation while serving at a parish in a partner diocese of the University of Notre Dame.” - Center for Catechetical Initiatives
Fortunately, The Diocese of Fort Worth has been a partner diocese since ECHO 1, the very first group in 2004. ECHO 5 arrived earlier this year and lives in a house in Northeast Ft. Worth near W Lp 820 and I-30. The house was offered early on to the ECHO program by a family within the diocese. The three lovely ladies taking advantage of this amazing opportunity as apprentices of ECHO 5 are Paola Quintero at St. Michael’s, Lisa Frank with St. Andrew’s, and Angela Harris at St. Vincent de Paul. These ladies, also known as the “ECHO girls”, work hard with their parishes during the school year and then head back to South Bend, Indiana to continue the masters program in the summers. It is a big step to apply for such a program and the applicants must make a big commitment.
“For me it has been one of the best experiences of my life, but also the most difficult. It was hard to leave my friends and family in the Midwest and make the long journey to Texas.” – Lisa Frank
“I am really looking forward to spending the next two years with you! It will be so enriching to work with the knowledgeable staff of St. Vincent’s as well as interact with the whole parish community! What a blessing from God!” – Angela Harris
The Young Adult Ministry has an awesome benefit from the ECHO program. Why? The ECHO students are young adults. They bring a great deal of diversity to our own young adult community to share with us all. Both the ECHO program and the diocesan young adult ministry are fresh and can be prosperous together. These “ECHO girls” can be great examples for us all in growing our individual faith through multiple outlets in our daily life as leaders and examples in work, school, and actively within our home parishes. As long as I’ve known the “ECHO girls” they have been great friends and wonderful resources to young adults throughout the diocese.
If you get a chance to meet with these ladies you will understand what kind of person it takes to make such a life decision. Hopefully, they can take their experiences here with them when their time in the diocese is over and share the good news.
Tags: Angela Harris, ECHO, Lisa Frank, St. Andrew, St. Michael, St. Vincent De Paul