Martin Ahrndt, Christ Our Hope's Director of Faith Formation
Hi! I am Martin Ahrndt, your Director of Faith Formation (DFF) for Christ Our Hope.
As DFF I am primarily here to be a support to families, especially to parents as the first teachers and evangelizers of our Catholic faith to their children. I strive to help all parishioners to have ongoing encounters with Christ and to help them grow their relationship with Christ. One way I do that is that I am responsible for most of the Faith Formation programs offered to parishioners of all ages, birth to death. This includes organizing the Journey with Christ sessions, which itself is no small task, and ensuring that our faith formation programs meet the archdiocese policies, requirements, and mission to catechize individuals of all ages and mental ability. I also oversee the sacramental preparation programs for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation for students, also the Signs of Christ, and HerStory in Christ programs, NCYC and Totus Tuus. I work hard to provide adults with resources and opportunities to help form their children, neighbors and friends to come to have ongoing encounters with Christ. I also work hard to provide youth with experiences of seeing Christ in others and growing in their knowledge of the Catholic faith. I have especially enjoyed the times I am able to teach classes and working with students during Totus Tuus, and NCYC.
A little about myself, My wife Laurie (Humpal) and I live in Protivin with our young twins Arabella and Xavier. I grew up in Monticello, Iowa with my parents and twin sister. I attended Sacred Heart elementary school and graduated with honors from Monticello High School. From there I entered Loras College and St. Pius X Seminary. After much discernment I left the seminary program and graduated with honors from Loars with a BA in History and Secondary Education in 2003. After graduating college I taught high schools social studies. In 2006 I married the love of my life and in 2008 we moved to her home town of Protivin. I began my career as DFF for the Christ Our Hope Faith Formation Office in March 2009. I was pleased in August of 2009 to return to Loras only as a graduate student and graduated with my Masters in Ministry/Theology in May 2014.
Another question people often ask is what exactly I do as a DFF? I admit that when I first interviewed for the position I wondered how I would fill forty hours a week. I have come to find that I am so busy the days just fly by. It is hard to realize just how time consuming various aspects of a career are, until you are working in it. Primarily this is an administrative position, similar to that of a school principal. We are unique in that our main gathered faith formation program is not designed just for school age students, but for all ages. To do otherwise would be doing a disservice to you the parishioners who trust us to help you in your own and your children’s faith formation. As an administrator I do a lot of required paperwork as a liaison between the cluster faith formation office and Archdiocese Office of Faith Formation. I also recruit and provide training to ensure high quality catechists, and youth liturgist. Also, I am the executive director for the COH Faith Formation Commission, and I work closely with the cluster staff, Trinity Catholic School, and surrounding parishes, as well as communicating daily with parishioners.
Even though this career has not been exactly what I expected, I truly believe that this is what God has called me to do. Every day is different with new challenges and experiences. Despite this, or maybe because of it, I love being your director of faith formation, and look forward to continuing to work with the parishioners of Christ Our Hope for many years to come. If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me.
As DFF I am primarily here to be a support to families, especially to parents as the first teachers and evangelizers of our Catholic faith to their children. I strive to help all parishioners to have ongoing encounters with Christ and to help them grow their relationship with Christ. One way I do that is that I am responsible for most of the Faith Formation programs offered to parishioners of all ages, birth to death. This includes organizing the Journey with Christ sessions, which itself is no small task, and ensuring that our faith formation programs meet the archdiocese policies, requirements, and mission to catechize individuals of all ages and mental ability. I also oversee the sacramental preparation programs for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation for students, also the Signs of Christ, and HerStory in Christ programs, NCYC and Totus Tuus. I work hard to provide adults with resources and opportunities to help form their children, neighbors and friends to come to have ongoing encounters with Christ. I also work hard to provide youth with experiences of seeing Christ in others and growing in their knowledge of the Catholic faith. I have especially enjoyed the times I am able to teach classes and working with students during Totus Tuus, and NCYC.
A little about myself, My wife Laurie (Humpal) and I live in Protivin with our young twins Arabella and Xavier. I grew up in Monticello, Iowa with my parents and twin sister. I attended Sacred Heart elementary school and graduated with honors from Monticello High School. From there I entered Loras College and St. Pius X Seminary. After much discernment I left the seminary program and graduated with honors from Loars with a BA in History and Secondary Education in 2003. After graduating college I taught high schools social studies. In 2006 I married the love of my life and in 2008 we moved to her home town of Protivin. I began my career as DFF for the Christ Our Hope Faith Formation Office in March 2009. I was pleased in August of 2009 to return to Loras only as a graduate student and graduated with my Masters in Ministry/Theology in May 2014.
Another question people often ask is what exactly I do as a DFF? I admit that when I first interviewed for the position I wondered how I would fill forty hours a week. I have come to find that I am so busy the days just fly by. It is hard to realize just how time consuming various aspects of a career are, until you are working in it. Primarily this is an administrative position, similar to that of a school principal. We are unique in that our main gathered faith formation program is not designed just for school age students, but for all ages. To do otherwise would be doing a disservice to you the parishioners who trust us to help you in your own and your children’s faith formation. As an administrator I do a lot of required paperwork as a liaison between the cluster faith formation office and Archdiocese Office of Faith Formation. I also recruit and provide training to ensure high quality catechists, and youth liturgist. Also, I am the executive director for the COH Faith Formation Commission, and I work closely with the cluster staff, Trinity Catholic School, and surrounding parishes, as well as communicating daily with parishioners.
Even though this career has not been exactly what I expected, I truly believe that this is what God has called me to do. Every day is different with new challenges and experiences. Despite this, or maybe because of it, I love being your director of faith formation, and look forward to continuing to work with the parishioners of Christ Our Hope for many years to come. If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me.
