This program is called Echo, derived from the Greek word for catechesis.

On May 3, 2024, the four local apprentices of the Echo program visited the Pastoral Center to learn about the Diocese, meet the staff, and have lunch with Bishop Gregory Parkes.

These individuals and their assignments are Jacob Hopper at St. Mary Parish, Tampa; Marie Medoff at St. Lawrence Parish, Tampa; Zack Weiss at St. Timothy Parish, Lutz; and Nicole Patterson at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Dunedin. Each apprentice has a mentor at the parish they are assigned, a past Echo apprentice that meets with them monthly, and a Diocesan leader to accompany them.

Echo apprentices have community nights and regular communal prayer. They share housing and this has helped them to deepen their friendships beyond simply being roommates. They have grown in relationship to Christ by sharing their faith. They also take an online course for their theology degree.  The summer months are spent on the Notre Dame campus for further studies. This two-year program culminates with a capstone course and graduation.

“Echo requires you to live as many non-missionary peers live, but just live with missionary zeal,” explained Marie Medoff.

One of the current apprentices has never done formal ministry before. Another apprentice works at both a parish and a primarily Spanish-speaking mission within the diocese, despite not being bilingual.

“You can't just be a theologian that sits in a library. The faith is something that you ought to share. It's meant to be shared,” said Nicole Patterson.

To learn more about the Echo program, visit https://mcgrath.nd.edu/service-learning/echo-graduate-service-program/