So just weeks after Stephen Matuszak and Carson Weber began work as the new directors of catechesis and evangelization respectively, they hit the ground running.

During the month of October, both joined Kathy Conner, administrator of the Department of Evangelization and Catechesis, in attending a series of cluster meetings with directors of religious education and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adult coordinators in parishes throughout the diocese.

Weber and Matuszak were also to be introduced this fall at meetings of each of the deaneries in the diocese.

Conner said she is looking forward to working collaboratively with the two new staff members to effectively answer a call to action that was mandated at the Diocesan Synod.

“Truly the spirit of this department is evident in the number one pastoral initiative, evangelization,” she said. “People have been crying out for adult catechesis, for learning their faith and for programs that would provide that.”

For Matuszak, who will serve as the department’s lay theologian, a primary responsibility will be providing oversight for the diocese’s Lay Formation Institute and newly-formed Scripture Institute.

A dedication to providing opportunities for adults to become more knowledgeable about the Catholic faith and receive training to share that knowledge with their faith communities is reflected in Matuszak’s educational and professional experiences.

He earned a master’s degree in theology from the University of Dallas and a licentiate in sacred theology at the John Paul II Institute at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Matuszak will complete his doctorate in sacred theology at the John Paul II Institute next May.

His resume includes serving as director of religious education from 1989 to 2001 in the Dioceses of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, then for five years as dean of students at the College of St. Thomas More in Fort Worth.

For the past two years, he has served as academic dean and a theology teacher at Our Lady of Grace High School in Roanoke, Texas.

“Adult catechesis is my passion,” said Matuszak, who has made expansion of the Lay Formation Institute a top priority. The institute recently graduated its first class of 60 people, 50 who attended classes in Sacramento, and 10 who attended classes in Redding.

The goal is to duplicate lay formation institutes throughout the diocese, to include Vallejo and Yuba City locations.

Matuszak is especially enthusiastic about the Scripture Institute classes which began Oct. 2.

“The neat thing about it is there are 18 sessions so a person can walk through the Bible in one year,” he said. “It is timeless in a spiritual sense….and is one of the greatest books ever written from the literary perspective.”

Matuszak will also oversee the formation and ongoing education for master catechists and catechists seeking basic certification and will work with the Catholic School Department in reviewing theology curriculum, religion standards and textbook compliance.

Weber’s responsibilities as director of evangelization are equally vital to a growing diocese which includes more than 550,000 Catholics.

He is tasked to work with the office of worship in implementing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and directing outreach to inactive Catholics as well as collaborating with the diocesan youth coordinator to evangelize and energize youth and young adults.

Bishop William K. Weigand “really wants us to be able to use the new media to reach people,” Weber said. “We don’t want to give up any great opportunities out there.”

That he is well prepared for this mission is evident in work, education and life experiences.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration, specializing in information systems at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, Weber completed his master’s degree in theology and Christian ministry at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

After serving for two years as the telephone, mail, and e-mail theological correspondent at St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology in Steubenville, Ohio, Weber worked for the past three years as the director of adult faith formation and evangelization at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Brenham, Texas.

It was while attending Texas A&M, Weber said, he felt the call “to learn and grow deeper in my faith.”

“The priests there were very evangelical and tried to reach college students (one fourth of the student body was Catholic) where they were at,” Weber said. “I really began to fall in love with Jesus and all he had given us in the church.”

While serving as director of adult faith formation and evangelization at St. Mary Parish, renewing the parish community through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults was a major focus of his ministry.

Weber put his technology skills to work creating a podcast featuring a 30-week Bible study course heard by hundreds of people.

“People just got on fire for the faith,” said Weber, who also used visually rich Power Point presentations to reach fallen-away Catholics and non-Catholics.

“I think people out there are really hungry for the Bible,” he said. “God’s word converts the heart.”

Weber also plans to utilize technology to connect with youth.

“We can talk about issues like what the faith has to do with dating, their aspirations in life,” he said. “We have a hard wire right to their brain.”

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