Biography's

Retreat Home Photos Other Video Biography's Youth Ministry Antiochian Village

 

Jamie Dillion, Keynote Speaker

Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to play the guitar. It wasn’t until I was in grade school when my grandmother took me to prayer meeting though, that I became passionate about it. I walked out of there thinking, “I want to do that! I want make people feel the way that they made me feel.” I started playing at my parish shortly thereafter and haven’t stopped yet! In the mean time though, I went to college and got a degree in Respiratory Therapy. I worked my way up to be an assistant department head while in graduate school. When I earned my graduate degree in Community Health Administration I moved over to the Education Department. I had also started my own consulting business. I did a lot of public speaking in those days. Things were going really well in my career, but I wasn’t happy. I felt like God was getting me ready for something bigger. . . something with youth. So I did what any good Catholic would do, I prayed for guidance. When I saw the ad in our parish bulletin for a youth minister, I knew that was it!

To shorten this story a little bit, I got the job and then the music and the ministry just started to roll into each other. I started playing at deanery events, then diocesan, regional and eventually national. I guess if you have read this far, you might want to know what kinds of BIG things or accomplishments I may have to my credit. Well, alone, I actually don’t have any, but when God has been in the driver’s seat I have been a member of the Award Winning Catholic Artists for Relief, I was the only female American Musician to lead catechetical sessions and perform at World Youth Day XX, I had a song that I had written be nominated for Christian Song of the Year by a National Web Based Company and was a semifinalist in the National Christian Talent Search Competition 2002. I have performed and/or presented at: NCYC 2005, NCCYM 2004, NCCYM 2002 (showcased as an Emerging Artist), NCYC 2001 and NCCYM 2000. I have worked with parishes and dioceses all over the United States, but when I am not doing that, I still work part time at my parish, attend graduate school (religious education) at Duquense University and spend as much time as possible with my husband and our two children, which goes to show that ‘with God all things are possible!’

 

Father Doug Dorula

He is a 1986 graduate of Laurel Highlands Sr. High School. A 1990 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast-Cable and a minor degree in political science. He worked in radio advertising and on air work at radio stations in Uniontown, Connellsville, Waynesburg and State College. He also worked in newspaper advertising for the Uniontown Herald Standard and The Daily Courier in Connellsville. In 1995, he was accepted to study at St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe. He graduated in 2000 with a Master of Divinity degree, was ordained a transitional deacon in 2001 and a priest of the Diocese of Greensburg on June 1, 2002. He has served as parochial vicar at St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Indiana, St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana, Church of the Resurrection, northern Indiana County, Catholic Chaplain at Indiana Regional Medical Center and is currently parochial vicar at St. Barbara Parish, Harrison City.

 

Father George Saletrik

More information coming soon!

 

 

Father Bob Lubic

For more information about Father Bob, his journey of faith, or his vocation story we invite you to visit his website at: www.thepunkpriest.com.

 

 

Father William Lechnar

Father William J. Lechnar, a native of Uniontown, currently serves as the director of the Office for Planning. A graduate of Geibel Catholic Middle-High School, Connellsville and California University of Pennsylvania, Father Lechnar was ordained to the priesthood in 1997. Before entering the seminary, he was employed by Garbart Engineering, Inc., and Bell of Pennsylvania, both in Uniontown.

Father Lechnar completed his master's degree in geography and regional planning from California University of Pennsylvania in May 2000. In June 2000, he was appointed coordinator of diocesan planning. The following year, he was named diocesan associate director of the Office of Pastoral Life and Planning. By July 2004, Father Lechnar was appointed diocesan consultant for planning, until the establishment of the Office for Planning when he was named director January 19, 2007.

Additionally, Father Lechnar has served as parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin, and Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish, Greensburg. In August 2005, he became pastor of St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana.

 

Christina Smith

            Christina is the new Director of Youth/Young Adult Ministry and Adult Initiation at the Diocese of Greensburg. She formerly worked as the Youth Minister at St. John the Baptist Parish, in Plum Boro, PA for seven years. Christina assumed her role in the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation on Monday, January 5, 2009. Christie has long-standing experience in planning diocesan events, trips and pilgrimages to national and international events. We welcome Christina to the diocese and look forward to her participation in this retreat!