Name: Diane Phelps
Position: Director of Youth Ministry
Parish: Saint Ann Catholic Church
Office Phone: 703-528-6276
Email: dphelps@stann.org

History/Resume

In current position since: 1/20/2014
Active in Youth Ministry since: 5/1/2008

Youth Ministry program includes: Saint Ann's Invictus Youth Ministries encompasses a great many youth groupings. While we do have a few large events for all the youth in our parish, our regular activities are grouped by age with 6th-8th graders in Middle School Invictus and 9th-12th graders in High School Invictus. Middle School Invictus meets on Fridays twice a month, alternating between an activity night and movie night. Dinner is always served. Middle School Invictus also participates in our monthly Service Saturday projects. High School Invictus offers a meeting every Sunday after our parish's 11:00AM Mass, where lunch is served and opportunities for fellowship and catechesis are offered. Monday evenings we offer Open Gym, where all high schoolers are welcome to time in our school’s gym to play basketball, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, simply hang out, or even do homework together. Wednesday evenings we offer both Apologetics, a discussion driven grouping where current events and philosophical and theological ideas are examined, and d.Group (discipleship group), where we all share the on-goings of our everyday lives, ask for prayers for personal intentions, and pray together. Each month we also offer a service opportunity through our Service Saturday grouping, where we serve at different places each month to expose the teens to the various ways we can respond to our common call to mercy. Both age groups participate separately in quarterly off-site social outings - such as rock climbing, trampoline gyms, paintball, etc., and overnight Lock-Ins. High School Invictus also offers opportunities for weekend long retreats, WorkCamp, the March for Life, and other various off-campus trips. Saint Ann’s is proud to have a long and strong tradition of participation in CYO sports, including, but not limited to, basketball, track, tennis, and volleyball. For more information please contact Nick Lucchesi at stannathletics@gmail.com. Saint Ann’s is also proud to be the home of Boy Scout Troop 624, and Girl Scout Troops of all ages. For more information please contact Ted Knight, tnight@erols.com, with regards to Boy Scouts, and Lauren Machion, lkmachion@gmail.com, with regards to Girl Scouts.

Favorites

Favorite Food(s): Anything grilled outside

Favorite Band: Mumford and Sons

Favorite Pastime: Beach, River, anything around water

Favorite Saint: St. Gemma Galgani, St. Augustine, St. John Bosco, St. Thomas More

Favorite Scripture: John 6:67-68

Favorite Book: Anne of Green Gables

Why I work in Youth Ministry: God has lead me to and affirmed this ministry in my life so many different ways: My former youth minister, was and continues to be a tremendous model of what it means to live a ministry, and not simply serve in a ministry. Her influence and role in God's plan to reveal his vocation for my life is an immense reason why I'm a youth minister. The youth I've worked with thus far have greatly inspired me, and taught me so much about love and God's grace. Getting to watch them grow over the past years, and fall more deeply in love with Christ excites and inspires me every day to continue in this vocation. God has blessed me with the ability to read people and empathize with theirs hearts. This allows me to communicate certain truths to young people that today's society has convinced us don't exist. Young people need to know that they are important, are good, and are loved. So, basically, I'm a youth minister because getting to participate in God's plan to draw his children to Him is pretty much the most boss thing ever! ;)

About Me: I am a born and bred Southern lady! I was born and raised in Auburn, Alabama. I went on to attend Auburn University, where I studied history. Growing up in the South meant often having to defend my faith, which has led to my tremendous passion for apologetics. Growing up in the South also led to my intense love of football. WAR EAGLE!!! The South runs deep on my father's side of the family, with my great-grandparents even owning a cotton farm. But, on my mother's side I am 100% Peruvian. I grew up bi-lingual, and feel incredibly blessed to be fluent in Spanish. I have a great passion for traveling and mission work. God has been kind enough to allow me to participate in various missions in Mexico, Uganda, and, most recently, in Peru, where I lived for two years. I am now serving here in Arlington, and am so excited to be a part of this diocese!

Birthdate: September 4