The Office of Pastoral Formation builds up parishes, missions, and schools in the many areas of direct ministry and service they offer to the People of God. To help accomplish this goal, this office:
Theresa J. Meuer has a strong love for Christ and his Church and a heart that beats especially strong for service of youth and all vocations. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Tim, for 11 years (with 6 “Bonus Years” of dating,) and they work as a team in all aspects of life. Though they don’t yet have any biological babies, they claim hundreds of spiritual children through their nine years of devotion to youth ministry in Wyoming. When they are not immersed in ministry, you will often find them hiking, playing board games, or exercising.
Theresa has served as the director of Youth Ministry at St. Matthew’s in Gillette for the past four years and has delighted in setting the bar high for young people and watching them reach it. “The youth of today are incredible,” she says. “I think the biggest reason they don’t exceed expectations is that no one challenges them. Our youth are far more holy, capable, hungry to learn, and faithful than we all realize. Call them higher and they will step up.”
Growing in knowledge has always been important to Theresa. You’ll often find her tearing through books to learn and grow, and she will complete her education to be a Certified Spiritual Director in 2022.
Joe Wotawa completed his Bachelor of Arts at Saint Louis University and holds a Master of Divinity from Santa Clara University. During his studies, Joe grew closer to Christ and the Church through an immersion into Ignatian Spirituality, which still guides his prayer and service in the Church.
Before joining the Diocese of Cheyenne, Joe served the Church as a Theology and English teacher at a Catholic High School, where he also served as a Campus Minister and as Assistant Director of Service. He has also served in parish faith formation ministry, retreat ministry, multicultural ministry, social outreach, and school governance.
Joe is grateful to serve the Church in Wyoming and to work with committed Catholics from across the state. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, writing, running, and playing soccer. Joe lives with his wife, Sandra, in Laramie, where they are parishioners at St. Paul's Newman Center.