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Oct. 26, 2006
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Guided by spirit, youth minister connects with teens |
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Name: Barb Abler
Age: 54
Occupation: Director of youth ministry, Tosa Trio of Parishes
Parish: “I really belong to them all in the Tosa Trio, but technically, Christ King”
Book recently read: “Rediscovering Catholicism,” by Matthew Kelly
Favorite movie: “The Passion of the Christ”
Favorite quotation: “Accept me where I’m at, but please don’t leave me there.”
Mary Ellen Paulson (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero) |
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Spend a little time with Barb Abler and the concept of walking by faith and not by sight takes shape in living color.
The director of youth ministry for the the “Tosa Trio” of parishes (Christ King, St. Pius X and St. Bernard in Wauwatosa), Abler’s schedule would seem enough to stress anyone, yet her demeanor remains upbeat and downright joyful.
“With three different parishes, it can be very challenging and stressful to get consensus. You have to keep your eyes on Jesus, and I find I can stay more positive when I remind myself to keep that focus,” she explained.
Abler initiated a teen Mass on Sunday evenings prior to religious formation classes, offering the opportunity for them to serve in liturgical ministries. Teens are also encouraged to serve twice each month in their home parishes.
She coordinates the confirmation preparation process for teens, including retreats and service experience. A yearly summer outreach program, including the Appalachia Project and the Lakota Mission Bible School in South Dakota, is part of her responsibilities.
What keeps Abler going, with seemingly unflagging energy, is her faith, which she says began its formation as a girl, with her grandfather Herman Abler as its model.
“He was always so devoted to the church, and I remember he always had a cross above his nightstand in his bedroom,” she recalled.
However, her parents’ divorce – and her own divorce in 1988 – caused her to question “why God would bring such pain – I didn’t understand it.” Now, she says, it has helped her in her ministry to working with parents and teens in broken families. Her own experience provides an understanding and empathy for them, she said.
Abler had a “spiritual explosion” during the 1980s while living in Florida with her husband and two daughters, Laurie and Amy.
“I was exposed to charismatic prayer, and went through a program at our parish called ‘Christ Renews His Parish,’” she explained. “It was a program with a focus of building community within the parish.”
As a result, she volunteered at her daughters’ elementary school by helping in the classroom.
“The director of religious education kept asking me if I would like working with the middle schoolers, and I just felt that would be beyond me,” Abler recalled. “She persisted, however, and I thought I’d give it a try, working with them on confirmation, and I really enjoyed it.”
Upon her family’s return to Wisconsin in 1988, Abler volunteered in the eighth grade religious formation program at Christ King. Her involvement grew over the next few years as the program grew to first include St. Pius X, then St. Bernard. Abler also began to take classes in scripture at the Center for Ministry Development and eyed a certificate program for youth ministry.
She also decided to take a two-day-a-week, part-time position with St. Joseph Parish, Grafton in their youth ministry office in the late 1990s.
Abler was also working around a home daycare business, a catering venture, and helping care for her grandmother. Despite it all, she took strength and inspiration from her ministry.
“There were the moments of insight you saw in teens that was amazing. That was where you see God working through people. Now, I see it through Sunday evening Mass, where the kids come in rushed and tired, but when they get into their classes, their teachers see the difference in them,” she explained.
Abler considered a move back to Florida in 1999, but she said God had other plans for her. Her daughter Amy wanted to remain in Wisconsin, and her decision to leave St. Joseph left her available for the open position of director of youth ministry for the Tosa Trio. Abler applied and found her calling in her backyard.
Abler’s spirit of faith led to her “Woman of Faith” award from the Sisters of the Divine Savior this September.
“I have watched her work with these young people over the years, and she has shared with them her deep faith life,” said Sr. Bernadette Kline, who nominated Abler for the award. “I am impressed with her willingness to allow the spirit to guide her.”
Abler’s initial reaction was characteristically modest.
“When I was told about it, my first reaction was, ‘no, I don’t deserve that; that should go to someone who’s built a center,’” she said. “Then as I thought about it, I realized that I do rely on Jesus, and I saw the award as an affirmation of that.”
Abler is challenged and strengthened in her faith by her unique position of bringing three parishes together.
“I leave it to God, and remind myself, sometimes often, that I need to keep my eyes on Jesus. God knows much better what is best than I do, and you just have to put it all in his hands,” she said. |
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