OUR MISSION:

NCCL Project Coordinators & Consultants

Meet the leaders of our initiatives and programs...

Lori Dahlhoff

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.

Jim Merhaut

Coordinator of Project Consultants, Parents & Families at the Center of Faith Formation

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.

Bertha Peralta-Rodriguez

Coordinator, Certificate in the Practice of Catechesis for Hispanic Catechetical Leaders

Bertha is the Director of Ministry Formation at the Department of Youth Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of New York. She has been a catechist and youth minister for close to 30 years, has worked in the areas of higher education and mental health, and has been involved in diocesan leadership/faith formation programs for 15 years. Bertha has a M.Ed. from Fordham University. She has been married for 17 years and is a mom to a 15 year old daughter. She is passionate about thinking of creative ways of reaching and evangelizing the young and their families!

John Michael B. Reyes

Coordinator, Children and Catholic Worship Project

John Michael holds a master of divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (Berkeley, California) as well as graduate certificates in liturgical art and architecture, from St. John's School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota, and in facilitating the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, through the St. Raphaela Center in Haverford, Pennsylvania. A highly sought-after liturgy coordinator and cantor, his extensive professional background includes roles as an educator, hospital chaplain, retreat and spiritual director, and campus minister specializing in liturgy, sacramental formation, and adult faith formation. He is a team member for Team Initiation, and has contributed written works to Ave Maria Press, Liturgical Press, LTP, Paulist Press, and Twenty-Third Publications.

Denise Utter

Coordinator of Family Faith Formation

Denise is a speaker, coach, and writer. She loves working with church leaders and their teams exploring new possibilities in faith formation and parish engagement. Her experience at both parish and diocesan levels shapes her work as a coach/consultant and master teacher at Vibrant Faith, where for the last few years she has focused on the theme of calling, the call of parenthood, faith formation for a new generation, and methods of becoming a storytelling community. Denise is the author of Engage Every Family: A Parish Guide to Integrated Faith Formation and Faith Talks, Prayers, and Easy Activities for Raising Catholic Kids (both from Twenty-Third Publications). Previous publications include articles for Catechetical Leader, Catechist Magazine, and Take Out: Our Faith on the Go! (OSV). She has written online curriculum for Our Sunday Visitor, Center for Ministry Development, and the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is also a partner at Strong Catholic Family Faith (www.catholicfamilyfaith.org). Denise has embraced her vocation in the field of education and ministry for over 30 years, having a B.S. in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Denise lives in Chicago with Rob, her husband of over thirty years; they have three adult children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and a beautiful two-year old grandson.

Darius A. Villalobos

Cultural Consultant

Darius serves as a ministry consultant for local and national Catholic organizations with a special focus on intercultural ministry. He is a consultant to the Pathways toward a Thriving Parish Project and NCCL’s Parents and Families at the Center of Faith Formation Project.

He has served on the staff of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) as the Senior Project Manager for Diversity and Inclusion; and in a variety of ministry roles including youth ministry, young adult ministry, and catechesis in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is a graduate of DePaul University (B.A.) and Catholic Theological Union (MA intercultural ministry). He has served as a parish RCIA director, liturgical music minister, retreat director, catechist, and youth minister.

NCCL Board of Directors

The members of our dedicated leadership team...

Jose Amaya

Jose has worked as a Director of Faith Formation at Archdiocese for the Military Services since 2012. He has served as the Coordinator of Catechist Formation and Hispanic Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Washington; and as a parish director of religious education. Jose was project director for the Archdiocese’s Family Faith Assessment tool which brings catechetical conversations into the home in the form of question-and-answer games that parents can play with their children on laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Jose has an MDiv from Washington Theological Union.

Kathie Amidei, Ph.D.

Kathie serves as Pastoral Associate at St. Anthony on the Lake Parish in Wisconsin. She was formerly the Associate Director for Catechesis and Child Ministry for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. She has served in a number of parishes as a teacher and a director of religious education. She holds a Doctorate in Education and Leadership. Kathie is a national speaker and author of Forming Families: A Faith Resource on Catholic Identity (OSV, 2019).

Sister Ruth Bolarte IHM, D.Min.

Sister Ruth is a member of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, Pa. A native of Peru, she holds degrees in theology from Immaculata University and St. Charles Seminary in Pennsylvania. She graduated with a doctorate in ministry from the School of Theology and Religious Studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She has been involved in parish and diocesan ministry working in areas of adult faith and leadership formation, both national and internationally, within an intercultural context. She is, also, adjunct professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University and Pastoral Consultant for Renew International.

Therese Brown

Therese is the executive director of the Association of Catholic Publishers. Previously, she served as associate director of marketing at USCCB Publishing and associate director at the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry where she directed the National Catholic Youth Conference. During her time at the USCCB, she was project manager for the implementation of the Roman Missal in the U.S. with the Secretariat for Divine Worship and marketing specialist for three key USCCB titles, National Directory for Catechesis, U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults, and the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. She is an author of Graced Moments: Prayer Services for the Lives of Teens (World Library Pub.) and catechetical and teaching resources from Saint Mary’s Press. She holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and a master’s degree in youth and liturgy from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Sister Sandra De Masi, SSJ

Sister Sandra is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill-Philadelphia, PA. She has a BS in Education from Chestnut Hill College, an MA in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a DMin from Catholic University in Washington with a concentration in liturgical catechesis. Sister Sandra served for 13 years as the Director of the Office of Divine Worship in the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ and some 20 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions. During this time Sister served as a consultant for the ICEL subcommittee on the Christian Initiation of Older Children. Presently, she is a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy. Sister Sandra serves as pastoral associate for liturgy, OCIA, and catechesis at Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Short Hills, NJ.

Milissa Else

Milissa currently works for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey and serves as Assistant to the Chancellor for Pastoral Projects. Milissa and the Chancellor provide ongoing training and support for pastors, parish staff and Parish Pastoral Councils. Since 2021, their work has focused on the Synod on Synodality. Milissa also serves as a part-time Director of Religious Education in a parish. Previous to her work with the Archdiocese, Milissa spent nearly five years directing adult faith formation and managing small Christian communities. Milissa provided training to small group facilitators in 20 dioceses across the country. Prior to serving directly in parish ministry, Milissa was Vice President for a consulting firm. Through the consulting firm, Milissa served the Catholic Church for nearly 20 years in parishes, dioceses, and religious communities across the country.

Justin Huyck

Justin is Editor for Pastoral and Parish Resources at Liturgical Press. Previously, he served in parish ministry for 15 years in Ohio, Illinois, New York State, and Ontario (Canada), as well as Director of Department of Communications for the Diocese of Youngstown. His pastoral experience has encompassed liturgy, adult faith formation, youth and young adult ministries, Christian Initiation, and catechesis with children and families. Justin is the author of From Home to Home: Finding in Mobility and Baptism: Alive in Christ (Little Rock Scripture Study and Liturgical Press), and holds a B.A. in Government from Cornell University and an M.A. in Theology and Liturgy from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Justin previously served on NCCL’s Board, and before that as Chair of the Product Development Committee and on Representative Council.

Tracey Lamont, Ph.D.

Tracey is Director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry and Associate Professor of religious education and young adult ministry. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Religion and Religious Education from Fordham University and specializes in curriculum development, youth and young adult ministry, and religious education. Before joining Loyola, Tracey was a teacher, a parish youth and young adult minister, and Confirmation coordinator. She is a member of the Religious Education Association and has presented papers on young adult moral development and pedagogical practices in Catholic high schools. Tracey served as a committee member for the National Dialogue on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment from 2017-2019, and has been a member of the USCCB National Young Adult Advisory Team since 2017. She also serves as member of the board of directors for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults.

Erin McGeever

Erin has served as the Diocesan Director of Christian Formation in the Diocese of St. Augustine for the last 15 years. Prior to this position, she served 25 years in the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky in a variety of catechetical roles including: Catholic School Teacher, parish catechist, parish Director of Religious Education, in the Diocesan Office of Catechesis, and on the faculty at Thomas More University in the theology department. She holds undergraduate degrees in education and theology, both from Thomas More University, and an M.A. in theological studies from the University of Dayton and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Kentucky University.

Juan Carlos Moreno

Juan Carlos has worked in diocesan ministry for 13 years, most recently with the Diocese of Dallas as Director of the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis, and Family Life for the Diocese of Dallas. He has more than 30 years of experience working in various ministries including music ministry, campus ministry, and catechetical ministry. He is also an instructor for biblical, theological, and spiritual formation programs at institutions such as the University of Dallas, the University of St. Thomas, and the Passionist Center for Spirituality in Houston, TX. He holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies and another in Theological Studies, both from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX.

Brenda Noriega-flores, Ph.D.

Brenda directs the M.A. in Ministerial Leadership at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry, which aims to form executive leaders for faith-based nonprofit and ministerial organizations. In this role, she integrates curriculum design, partnership coordination, teaching, and the operational infrastructure required to sustain a program with integrity. Her scholarship in practical theology and religious education examines everyday lived spirituality and culturally sustaining pedagogies for leadership formation, especially in U.S. Latino/a communities. She brings nearly two decades of pastoral leadership and consulting nationally and internationally, including with the USCCB and the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Brenda’s missionary vocation begins at home with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, with whom she explores Boston and what it means to integrate theological depth, organizational wisdom, and a commitment to dignity, justice, and the common good.

Gary Pokorny

Gary served as Director of Catechesis and Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and in related archdiocesan roles, from 2007 to 2023. Prior to that, he served as Director of Lay Formation at Saint Francis Seminary, as a parish director of religious education and as a youth minister. He earned a Master of Divinity from Saint Francis School of Pastoral Ministry, and a Post-Master Certificate in Pastoral Theology from University of St. Mary of the Lake. Gary has been a member of NCCL since 2007, and served as chair of the Standards and Certification Committee and as NCCL representative to the Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers (2012-2021).

Elizabeth Potts, Ph.D.

Beth serves as the Associate Director of Diocesan Relations for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. She earned a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Virginia. She then spent 17 years training current and future teachers to teach learners with disabilities. As a special educator and an engaging and clear presenter, she has a wealth of experience helping people realize a host of realities about persons with disabilities including how their full participation in the Church and society benefits everyone. Potts is an active volunteer in her home parish in Kansas City, MO, where she is a long-time catechist and leads their mental health ministry, an area that has been a passion since her days working with learners with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the K-12 classroom.

Sister Janet Schaeffler, O.P.

Sister Janet 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) and Let This Be the Time: Spiritual Essentials for Life's Second Act (Twenty-Third Publications, 2020), Janet teaches online courses through Boston College and the University of Dayton.

Eneida Scoby

Eneida has served as the liaison for Sacramental life, Catechesis and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Phoenix in the Office of Evangelization, Discipleship and Spirituality since 2023. Prior to this role, Eneida worked at St. Patrick Parish in San Diego, CA, as the director of catechetical ministry and the coordinator of youth ministry for 11 years, where her experience encompassed adult faith formation (OCIA), youth and young adult ministries, sacramental preparation, catechesis for children and families, and catechist formation and training. At the Diocese of Phoenix, she served at St. Andrew Parish in religious education as well as in the infant baptism office. Eneida has certificates in catechetical and youth ministry. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and completed a master’s degree in tax accounting. Eneida grew up in Mexico. She and her husband Jeff are parents of a teenage son.