By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent
Love of children motivates Stefancin's ministry
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Audrey Stefancin is director of religious education at Holy Rosary Parish in Medford. She said one of the challenges of her job is keeping students involved in the church after they are confirmed. (Catholic Herald photo by Sallie Bachar) |
MEDFORD -- Audrey Stefancin of Holy Rosary Parish in Medford is one of two people who received the Gloria Lang Award for Outstanding Support in Ministry at the annual Fall Institute held at Rice Lake recently. The other winner, Lee Wilke, is from Holy Family Parish in Woodruff.
The award was especially significant for Stefancin, who is the director of religious education at Holy Rosary. The nomination was a complete surprise. "I was shocked, but it was heartwarming because I knew Gloria," said Stefancin. "Gloria Lang had outstanding leadership qualities, and everyone looked up to her."
Stefancin has directed the religious education program for pre-school through grade six at Medford since 1999. This year she is helping to oversee the entire program of 500 students through 12th grade.
Stefancin also coordinates the vacation Bible school and the sacramental preparation programs for baptism, Eucharist, reconciliation, and now confirmation. In addition, she provides assistance and training to the many teachers and volunteers in the religious education program. "We have wonderful, dedicated people and are very fortunate to have our volunteers," she said. There are over 40, with two for each class up to sixth grade, and more per class for the upper grades. Although recruiting volunteers is important, Stefancin believes that retaining them is even more important.
Getting the 12th graders to come back after being confirmed is a challenge for Holy Rosary, as it is for most parishes. The church is trying to attract these students through fun-filled activities and a special mission trip for them this coming summer. "We found it very interesting," said Stefancin, "that these students want to be able to defend their faith at school." This part of the program is aimed at helping equip them for that.
Stefancin's initial career plans were to enter the field of special education and work with special needs children. A serious automobile accident changed all that, however. After the accident, Fr. George Votruba, then pastor of St. Mary Parish in Rhinelander, talked her into volunteer work at St. Mary, and it wasn't long before volunteering became a way of life for Stefancin.
She worked at St. Mary from 1977 to 1984, first as a volunteer, then as secretary and bookkeeper. She went back to school and completed her education at Cardinal Stritch and St. Norbert Colleges and was then hired by St. Joseph Parish in Rhinelander as DRE.
Shortly before her marriage to Deacon Joe Stefancin, she turned in her letter of resignation at St. Joseph, which the parish refused. Instead, the parish offered both her and her husband a job as a pastoral associate team.
In 1995 they moved to Minnesota so Joe could work on his master's degree at St. John's University in Collegeville , and then moved to Medford in 1999 where Holy Rosary hired Audrey as the DRE and Joe as deacon.
They adopted both of their children, a son in 1992 and a daughter in 1999, and Stefancin said they are the greatest blessing in her life. "Because of them, I have become an active pro-life advocate and adoption supporter," she said.
Reflecting on all the difficulties in the church today, she stressed the need to look at the positive side. "If we make a difference in the life of only one child, if we can protect and help one child, we have done our job."
The heart of Stefancin's ministry is the children. She is guided by her favorite scripture verse in Luke 18:16, "... let the little children come to me." She said, "I have always loved children and what better place for them to come than to church. My door is always open, and I am always here.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005