Four years ago, Paul Koopman joined our parish as a full-time youth minister to work with our parish teens and lead them to a deeper experience of their faith. In May, Paul will be moving on to minister to the youth of another parish.
Paul joined our parish staff in September 2012 after four years as the youth minister at St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton. He was eager to get to know the youth of our parish and encourage them to become more active in our Life Teen program, as well as retreats, service projects, mission trips, worship nights and more. The last three years, he has coordinated our parish Confirmation program, helping some 300 young people receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and grow in their understanding of the faith. Paul also teaches in our day school.
Over the years, Paul has introduced our parish teens to Catholic Heart Work Camp, traveling to Indiana and Pittsburgh to complete service projects alongside Catholics from other parts of the country. He has led retreats twice each year and escorted to groups to the Franciscan University of Steubenville summer conferences and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Most Sunday and many Wednesday evenings, he is deep in the unique combination of silliness, reverence, friendship and – always – food that characterizes the Life Teen ministry.
A native of Parma, Paul lives in Strongsville with his wife Meredith and their five children. He will continue to lead our youth ministry through the winter and spring, leading weekly Life Nights and the spring retreat, March 11-13 at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville. (More information about the program can be found at www.sfxlifeteen.com.)
Father Tony will be meeting with groups of teens, parents and Life Teen Core members to discern next steps for our St. Francis Xavier Parish youth ministry.
We thank Paul for his service, wish him well and ask God’s blessings on him as he continues his ministry to the young people of our diocese.