A Staff Profile of Deacon Byron and articles on Fair Trade and Children of God this week'
Fair Trade
coffee and chocolate are on sale in the Gathering Space on the first full weekend of every month. Proceeds are used to support the Children of God ministry as well as Catholic Relief Services. Both ministries provide very important services to the needy and help us to communicate our love and care. And they taste good, too!
Children of God
is a ministry that helps educate young Guatemalan girls that otherwise would not have access to schools. The ministry has become very successful and many of the graduates have returned to their villages to become the very, first teachers there.For information contact Kathleen DeRubio at katmcd8@gmail.com or 919.656.1512.
(Above) Ken Smith, WRAL TV Anchor and OLL parishioner, signing up for Children of God information (at the Walk your Faith ministry fair).
Priority one. “Evangelization: Open wide the doors to Christ through
missionary discipleship and personal encounter.”
(2017-2020 US Conference of Catholic Bishops STRATEGIC PLAN)
Staff Profile: Deacon Byron Champagne
(below) was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in September 6 2006 and was assigned to St Peter Catholic Church in Jupiter Fl.
His Ministries of service included: Food for Families—Bereavement-- Hospital and Hospice Care- --Substance Abuse and Addiction —Adult Faith Formation and Catechesis—St Vincent De Paul—Spiritual Director and Leadership for RCIA—Life Teen Youth and Confirmation--. Stewardship Council—Baptism Prep—Tribunal Advocate—Social Action El-Sol community center.
His responsibilities included: Baptisms, Marriage (outside) of Mass, funeral vigils, graveside services, proclaiming and preaching the word of God.
Deacon Byron’s current position as the Youth Minister for Our Lady Of Lourdes includes: advocating for the role and responding to the needs of the youth and the young people at OLL with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and efforts of a supportive Pastor, parish community, parents and a committed core team of volunteers.
His goals and responsibilities as a Youth Minister include:
- leading teens closer to Christ,
- teaching about the Mass and the Eucharist in a dynamic way,
- providing an experience of being loved & accepted within the community,
- fostering a personal Eucharist-centered and prayerful relationship with Jesus Christ
- and living out the Gospel message in their daily lives.
Byron graduated in the Masters of Theology Diaconal Formation certificate program at St Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach Fl in 2006.
Byron comes from a business background in the financial services marketplace, building relationships, guiding and assisting individuals with personal everyday money management needs.
Byron and his wife Linda have four children and four grandchildren.
