Diocese of Scranton
Katherine Santarpia
Echo Class:
Echo 20 Parish Apprentice
Echo Placement:
Diocese of Scranton
St. Ignatius of Holy Family Parishes
Hometown:
Staten Island, New York
Undergraduate Institution & Area(s) of Study:
Bryn Mawr College, 2022
Spanish and Political Science; Psychology (minor)
What attracted you to Echo and helped you decide to join the program?
I was in the position of desiring to serve the Church yet having no means of knowing how. Echo invites us not just to do but to become; it challenges us to grow through simultaneous service, study, community, and formation. I’m grateful to learn by leading and lead by learning, and, above all, to learn and lead in love.
What advice would you give to Echo applicants?
I battled throughout the whole application process. But every time I wanted to give it up, I instead gave it (clumsily, clinging-ly) to God. My prayer for you is to feel the freedom to try and let Him handle the rest. Do your best to be open and intentional. If Echo is where you need to be, He’ll get you there.
Seán Savage
Echo Class:
Echo 20 Parish Apprentice
Echo Placement:
Diocese of Scranton
St. Jude Catholic Church
Hometown:
Drogheda, Ireland
Undergraduate Institution & Area(s) of Study:
The Catholic University of America, 2023
Business Management, Theology (minor)
What have you enjoyed most about your Echo experience thus far?
The community of faith has been beautiful. The fact that you are on this journey with others who you can talk to about your daily experiences, pray with, and develop ideas with is beautiful. There is a great level of diversity too which pushes us to think outside of our own experiences of Church and learn about others. All in all it feels like a family.
What do you hope to do after Echo?
After Echo I would love to use my business degree to work and create a consulting company for Catholic parishes. I hope to help parishes run more smoothly from an administrative angle so that the pastor can focus his attention on being a better shepherd to his flock.
Courtney Schmidt
Echo Class:
Echo 20 Apprentice Campus Minister
Echo Placement:
Diocese of Scranton
King’s College
Hometown:
Lake Forest, Illinois
Undergraduate Institution & Area(s) of Study:
Creighton University, 2023
Psychology, Classical Languages, Biology (minor), Theology (minor)
What are your favorite hobbies and activities outside of your ministry/teaching work?
I enjoy hobby jogging, baking and reading. I'm a water bug so over the summers you can usually find me in the water swimming!
What have you enjoyed most about your Echo experience thus far?
I have loved getting to serve in college campus ministry. The diversity of my day to day life always keeps me on my toes. Getting to plan retreats, work on small group faith formation, and encounter students all across campus does not feel like a job and brings new gifts every single day.