LEADERSHIP & INSTRUCTORS

NCCL Certificate Program Coordinators

Lori Dahlhoff, Ed.D.

Coordinator, Certificate in the Practice of Catechesis; Coordinator, Welcome to Catechesis Program

Lori is an experienced leader, educator and consultant with a demonstrated history of working in non-profit organization management. She is the former director of lifelong faith formation for the Diocese of Portland (ME). She is skilled in administration, strategic planning, catechesis, volunteer management, curriculum development, and spiritual direction. She has a M.A. in pastoral ministry with focus on catechesis, liturgy, and pastoral leadership from Saint John’s University School of Theology and Seminary, and an Ed.D. in education from Hamline University School of Education with a focus in leadership, spiritual aspects of teaching and learning along with constructive conflict response during major organizational change. She recently completed a Post-Master's Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Boston College. Lori and her husband live in south-central Minnesota. They enjoy time with their adult son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren and the adventures of gardening and maintaining a century-old house.

Faculty

Courses are taught by faculty chosen by NCCL who bring a deep knowledge of catechesis and years of educating leaders for catechetical ministry...

Jane Fiorello Angha

Jane is the founder and dreamer behind Ministry Blueprints. With years of director, coordinator, and mentorship experience in parish, diocesan, and non-profit ministry, she brings to the work of hospitality a broad knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of faith communities and a passion for them to be places of welcome and belonging. She worked on the staff of the Diocese of Green Bay in young adult ministry. Jane holds a BS in Education and Religious Studies and a Master of Theology. She is a national conference speaker and moderator, retreat leader, writer and currently part of NCCL and NFCYM project teams.

Angel Barrera

Angel is the Director for the Office of Parish Engagement in the Diocese of Brownsville and has over twenty years of experience in serving the Church and forming ministry leaders. He also serves as a Leadership Consultant with the Catholic Leadership Institute and formerly served as a Project Coordinator for Youth Ministry Services at the Center for Ministry Development. Angel holds a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. He and his wife, Ashley, are the proud parents of six children and live in Mission, TX.

Dr. Lori Dahlhoff

Lori is an experienced leader, educator and consultant with a demonstrated history of working in non-profit organization management. She is the former director of lifelong faith formation for the Diocese of Portland (ME). She has a M.A. in pastoral ministry with focus on catechesis, liturgy, and pastoral leadership from Saint John’s University School of Theology and Seminary (Collegeville), and an Ed.D. In education from Hemline University School of Education with a focus in leadership, spiritual aspects of teaching and learning along with constructive conflict response during major organizational change. She recently completed a Post-Masters Certificate in Spiritual Formation at Boston College. Lori is the author of Reflections and Prayers to Nourish New Catholics.

Kelly Henderschedt

Kelly is the Archdiocesan Director of Faith Formation in Hartford, CT. She has served as an educator, catechist, and parish director of faith formation. Kelly’s areas of focus include family catechesis, parent formation, evangelization, and lifelong faith formation. For the past 18 years, she has enjoyed leading retreat experiences for adults, teens, and children. Kelly has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in Religious Education from Fordham University. Kelly and her husband live in rural Connecticut and are proud parents of four young adult children. In her spare time Kelly enjoys gardening, cooking, and taking care of her backyard chickens.

Mariette Martineau

Mariette is the former religious education and family life coordinator for Kenora Catholic Schools (Ontario, Canada). She has experience crea1ng resources for, and facilitating learning with children, youth, adults and intergenerational learning groups. An experienced trainer and coach, Mariette loves learning and supporting others to do the same. She currently serves as the Community Lead for three aging religious communities in Saskatoon, perhaps the final chapter of lifelong learning to be explored! She has authored Awe and Wonder Faith and Science, Roots and Community Faith and Social Studies and her most recent book is Enabled and Sent – theology and practical teaching ideas for Catholic school teachers.

Jim Merhaut

Jim is an award-winning author, national motivational speaker, internationally-known leadership trainer, and ICF-Certified Coach. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education from Duquesne University with an emphasis in adult formation. Jim has authored and co-authored several books and published dozens of articles and essays on leadership and relationships. Jim has served as a coach for two of Vibrant Faith Inc. Lilly Endowment grant-funded projects on Calling and Vocation, and on Thriving Congregations. Jim’s website is www.coachingtoconnect.com.

Giovanni O. Perez Campos

Giovanni is a seasoned parish, regional, and diocesan catechetical leader and spiritual director. He serves as the Associate Director of the Office of Religious Education at Archdiocese of Los Angeles, including coordinating catechist formation in Spanish.

John Roberto

John has been serving as the NCCL Executive Director since July 2022. John has spent a lifetime working in faith formation—teaching, writing, researching, consulting, and developing program resources. He founded Lifelong Faith in 2006 to continue his work in faith formation. John is also the founder of the Center for Ministry Development (1978) where he worked for 28 years. His publications include Lifelong Faith: Formation with All Ages and Generations (Church Publishing, 2022), Faith Formation with a New Generation (2018), Families at the Center of Faith Formation (2016), Seasons of Adult Faith Formation (2015), Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century (2015), Generations Together (2014), and Faith Formation 2020 (2010). He was the creator and project coordinator of the Generations of Faith Project, a five-year Lilly Endowment funded project (2001-2006) to develop intergenerational faith formation in Catholic parishes across the United States. John has a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University, graduate studies in sociology at Catholic University, and an honorary doctor of divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School.

Janet Schaeffler, OP

Brenda has worked in parish and archdiocesan ministry in faith formation. She is currently ministering as a retreat and adult faith formation consultant and presenter. The author of hundreds of articles and several publications including Deepening Faith: Adult Faith Formation in the Parish (Liturgical Press, 2016) , Let This Be the Time: Spiritual Essentials for Life's Second Act (Twenty-Third Publications, 2020), and Guided by the Directory for Catechesis: Transforming the Vision and Practice of Parish Catechesis (Twenty-Third Publications, 2024 along with LaVecchio and Roberto). Janet teaches online courses through Boston College and the University of Dayton.