Chase Hawkins, M.Div.

Chase is the Program Director for youth ministries in the Pathways to Communion initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. In his role, Chase serves as a liaison, resource, mentor, and advocate for leaders of the five youth ministry organizations in the Pathways to Communion cohort.

Chase obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology with secondary degrees in Philosophy and Communication Studies from Marquette University, where he also worked in Campus Ministry as Liturgy Assistant. Chase spent four summers as a Life Teen summer missionary, helping create an environment for teens to encounter Christ in the Church through relational ministry, mentoring, and behind-the-scenes programming. He then joined the Master of Divinity program at the University of Notre Dame where, in addition to studying theology for lay professional ministry, Chase was involved in a variety of ministry experiences on campus and in South Bend, including hospital chaplaincy, middle school youth ministry, and liturgical formation for Notre Dame students. His passion for youth ministry brought him to the Church of St. Mary in Lake Forest, IL, as the Director of Youth Ministry and Coordinator of Liturgical Evangelization. In his role at the parish, Chase helped revive youth ministry by inviting teens to deepen their relationship with God through regular youth group gatherings, sacramental formation, retreats, and summer service trips.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Chase is committed to preaching the good news of Graeter’s ice cream and Skyline Chili while cheering for the Bengals and Reds. He also enjoys reading, watching movies, and riding his bike. Most of all, Chase loves to laugh and adventure with his wife, Amelle, who is a resident family medicine physician in South Bend.