2 minute read
Meet Jessica Petter, Our New Director of Evangelization & Formation
Jessica Petter has a heavenly team behind her in her new position of Director of Evangelization and Formation — St. John Paul II; St. Francis of Assisi; St. Anthony of Padua and St. John Bosco. All of these saints are important to her faith journey and her work. Jessica is happy to bring this team with her in her new position at St. Francis Xavier. For Jessica, this is coming home, as she was born and raised in Eureka Springs, Ark.
“I am so excited to be living a bit closer to home and to be working in a parish again,” Jessica says. “I am excited to be working with people instead of programs.”
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Most recently, Jessica served as the Assistant Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Wheeling- Charleston in West Virginia. Before that, she was the Lifeteen Youth Director at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Bentonville, Ark. Previously, Jessica had done some consulting work for our parish. She is so excited to be helping further our work in evangelization.
“I want to evangelize those who belong to our parish and those who don’t,” Jessica says. “Let’s find the one who has wandered away and bring them back.”
Most of all, she is excited to work with teens and youth.
“I love youth ministry so much,” she says. “They are our hope and future.”
Jessica studied theology, catechetics, and youth ministry at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.
“I didn’t start college until I was 25,” she says. “I didn’t know what to do with my life. I was off seeing the world, and I was away from my faith for a long time. But I really felt a call to come home to the Catholic Church. I’ve been here ever since.”
In her short time here, Jessica has been so inspired by the faith of St. Francis Xavier parishioners. She is so impressed by the daily Mass attendance, especially by teenagers. Jessica will primarily be working with post-high school students and young adults. She will also be working on various programs to help form parishioners. She is particularly looking forward to the upcoming speaker series on Mary, which will include a Marian consecration.
“I am super excited because Mary is my best friend,” Jessica says. “I am so excited to help lead the faithful to a closer relationship to the Lord.”
Knowing that she is working in a position to which she has been called, Jessica has so much faith and excitement in having the opportunity to serve in this way.
“God has given me the strength to do this work,” she says. “I have never looked back. This is what God is asking me to do, and everything has to be toward that.”
Jessica looks forward to meeting more parishioners and continuing the good work happening at St. Francis Xavier.
“My goal is to go to heaven and take as many people as I can with me,” she says.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys visiting craft fairs and traveling to Walt Disney World and national parks. She also loves to be outside kayaking, hiking, and more.
Jessica Petter looks forward to meeting more parishioners and continuing the good work happening at St. Francis Xavier.
In her short time here, Jessica Petter has been so inspired by the faith of St. Francis Xavier parishioners.
Knowing that she is working in a position to which she has been called, Jessica Petter has so much faith and excitement in having the opportunity to serve here at St. Francis Xavier.
