SJE’s four-member relational ministry team is a family who work together and pray together! “Amen to that,” says Katherine Lukas, pastoral associate of Discipleship, who loves intercessory prayer, helping people grow in their one-on-one discipleship with Jesus, and sharing those relationships on a personal level. “I get a lot of joy from it!” she says.
The relational ministry family is rounded out with Adam Ayers, pastoral associate of Youth and Worship, Josh Schultz, pastoral associate of Relational Ministry, and Brookelyn Skrezyna, pastoral associate of Service and Outreach and Parish Life.
Can you figure out which one of the following statements fits with each person?
-Who has been involved in acting?
-Who went skydiving in New Zealand?
-Who was classically trained in operatic singing?
-Who wants a crocodile or an alligator as a pet?
If you answered: Josh, Katherine, Brookelyn and Adam, respectively, you are correct!!!
Getting to know our Relational Ministry Team:
Katherine Lukas has been with the SJE team for the longest of all the Relational Ministry Team. She came to SJE in 2023, from a suburb of Detroit, Mich., where her parents still live. She and her brother were raised Catholic. Katherine attended Parochial school her entire life until college when she won a scholarship to play Division 1 volleyball at Valparaiso University where she completed two undergraduate degrees. She took graduate theology classes online, worked for another Catholic Parish, and then became a FOCUS missionary before coming to SJE.
In addition to overseeing the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), Katherine heads our Discovering Catholicism program, BE Fed, Connect Groups, young adults, women’s ministries and more.
Her favorite pastime is being active! “I love being outside, working out, playing sports, and doing it all with friends or other people! I still play in a coed volleyball league where I continue my passion and energy for the sport! My daily favorite pastime is attending Mass and visiting the adoration chapel.” She also enjoys getting coffee or ice cream with people or going for a nice walk at any of the parks in St. John.
Katherine, who married her best friend, Ian Lukas in December 2024, loves to travel. In addition to skydiving in New Zealand, she went Bungee jumping off the first original bridge, and has been on an African Safari. “I love traveling the world and hope to do more someday!”
Brooklyn Skrezyna grew up in the suburbs of Chicago in a Catholic household in Lockport. Her family prides itself in its Polish heritage and Catholic faith, and “we insert Polish traditions into every Holiday,” such as Wigilia – a traditional 12-course Christmas meal representing the 12 apostles and tribes of Israel. The middle of three children, she and her siblings were homeschooled. Her dad took them on many adventures and taught them cool things such as snowboarding while her mom was their rock and taught them the love of Jesus.
Thriving in her new role as the P.A. of Service and Outreach and Parish Life, Brookelyn is engaged in community outreach events, as well as coordinating parish activities. She loves leading our mission trips, retreats, and pilgrimages.
Brookelyn couldn't be more grateful for this SJE community. “Something I learned this past year was the real definition of patience and how God truly molds us when we go through difficult moments.”
Brookelyn’s favorite pastime is going to farmers markets on a nice Spring day. She will never say "no" to an invite to explore a new coffee shop! “Spending quality time with people and sitting with them while drinking a good cup of iced coffee is a win in my book!” Brookelyn, who was classically trained in singing and devoted a lot of time to operatic music, competed in a Vocal Competition in Chicago when she was 14 years old and learned a lot from that experience.
Adam Ayers grew up in Valparaiso Indiana with my parents and two older sisters. “Everyone in my family seeks to make Jesus known through the different relational jobs they have.” My father has been a high school math teacher for over 30 years and just recently started working as the youth minister at his Presbyterian Church. My mother is a preschool director at the Presbyterian Church and before that worked as a principal for an elementary school. My oldest sister is a math teacher at Valparaiso High School and my other sister is a nurse in Durango Colorado. From the time that I was in middle school I knew that I wanted to be a youth minister. By the grace of Christ, He brought me here!
In addition to coordinating all youth ministry initiatives, Adam provides music at weekend Masses and relational ministry events and is mission trip worship liaison.
As Peter tells us, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ." We are not called to be passive in our worship and relationship with God. One of the best ways you can do this is by diving deep into the Holy Scriptures and the history of the Church. Let's be disciples who make disciples together! While he loves being relational with people, I recharge best by doing things on my own. It could be doing something active like golf or hiking with my pup. It could be doing something restful such as reading a new theology book in a hammock or taking a nap.
His favorite animals are crocodiles and alligators. “I absolutely love them and would have one for a pet if I could. When I was in high school, I almost had the chance to do that through my zoology class. Maybe I'll take the youth group to Gatorland in Florida for a trip one of these days.”
Josh Schultz, who loves his new role, says his personal goal is “Through the Holy Spirit – bring people closer to Jesus.” This goal can be observed in his everyday organization of ALPHA and all his relational ministry duties.
He is always looking for new parish-wide relational growth opportunities as he heads men’s ministries, Rescue Project, and our new parishioner engagement – Next Step Sunday.
Josh grew up Baptist, but when he and his wife Meaghan enrolled their son Finn in SJE School, he signed a covenant that he would participate in Mass and raise his son in the faith. Josh – who took the covenant very seriously – was moved by the Holy Spirit and converted to Catholicism in 2021. Eventually, he “felt called to work here” after volunteering many hours a week and finding it incredibly fulfilling.
He was a psych nurse with more than 20 years of healthcare experience, and he has an acting background. He acted and did media in high school until about the age of 30. He worked in healthcare at night and acted between shifts. While he wasn't financially successful at acting, it was important for him to pursue. He had a series of several music theater contracts and acted for the Lyric Opera – not singing. Josh performed in other roles and loved improv theater. His favorite pastime is working out/lifting weights,
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