Dr. Bob McCarty
Executive Director of the NFCYM and 38 year youth ministry veteran, international speaker, and author.
Education and Professional Experience
Bob has his BS in sociology and theology from St. Joseph’s University and his MA in religious education from LaSalle University. Bob received his doctorate of ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana in May 1998.
Bob has been in professional youth ministry since 1973, serving in parish, diocesan, and community programs. Prior to coming to the NFCYM, Bob ministered in the Archdioceses of Philadelphia and Baltimore. He continues to author resources for Catholic youth ministry and to provide training programs and presentations on ministry issues internationally. His recent books are Thriving in Youth Ministry and The Vision of Catholic Youth Ministry: Fundamentals, Theory and Practice through Saint Mary’s Press and his newest book is Be A Champion for Youth: Standing With, By and For Young People, co-authored with his wife, Maggie.
Bob has been involved with the NFCYM since 1986 when he was the (then) Region 14 coordinator. He served on the NFCYM Board of Directors for five years, and as chair of the board for two years.
Personal
Bob is married to Maggie, who, coincidently, was the first executive director of the NFCYM. Bob has a daughter, Shannon, who reminds him that she is the light of his life! And Bob and Maggie are new grandparents—welcoming Thomas Elias Kelley on August 6, 2008. Bob and Maggie also do volunteer youth ministry at their parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton, Maryland.
Mike Patin
International youth ministry speaker and trainer with over 27 years of youth ministry experience.
Education and Professional Experience
Mike Patin uses energy, humor and stories to affirm the goodness of God’s presence among us while inviting others (and himself) to take the “next step” in our journey with God.
Mike has had the privilege of speaking in over 115 dioceses in the U.s. and Canada, to groups ranging from 10 to 10,000. He has addressed youth, adult and intergenerational (family) audiences in diocesan, regional, national and international settings. He has led youth and adult retreats, parish missions, leadership institutes, and in-services. Audiences have been as diverse as clergy, school faculties, businesses, athletic teams and hospital staffs.
Mike has worked with teenagers and adults in a variety of settings since 1984. He has experience in the high school setting (six years), and thirteen years in diocesan youth ministry (CYO/Youth Ministry Office for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1990-2003). Since 2003, he has worked full time as a speaker and “faith horticulturist.”
Mike holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans. He also has received a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center for Ministry Development and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Pastoral Life and Administration from Loyola University.
Mike is a trained facilitator for Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Notre Dame Graduate School of Theology in New Orleans, as well as the National Center for Catholic Youth Sports. He has been a trainer for the Center for Ministry Development’s YouthLeader program. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. He served as a consultant/assistant coach to Loyola University (New Orleans) women’s basketball team (2003-2005) and served as editor for the Our Life section of DisciplesNow, a website for Catholic teens (2003-2006). Mike is a member of NACYML (National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders).
In 2006, he received the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award.
Personal
Mike Patin lives in Lafayette, LA, with his wife, Marlene, and his daughter, Megan.
Ela Milewska
Associate Staff member of Cultivation Ministries, Project Coordinator for the National Initiative for Adolescent Catechesis.
Education and Professional Experience
A native of North Carolina, Ela Milewska joined Cultivation Ministries in June of 1999. Before joining Cultivation, she was the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Raleigh, NC. Ela also served as the youth minister for a 3000 family parish for four years. Her first full-time parish ministry was as the Director of Religious Education for a small parish in West Virginia. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has a Master of Arts in Religion and Religious Education from Fordham University in New York. She is currently working on a doctorate at Catholic University, in Washington DC.
Ela is a popular national speaker and trainer in Catholic youth ministry. She has presented in dozens of dioceses, serving thousands of youth ministers. She currently serves in a full-time capacity as Project Coordinator for (NIAC), the National Initiative for Adolescent Catechesis.
Personal
Ela is an avid Carolina basketball fan, spends most of her free-time vacuuming her dog, Josie Bean’s, hair and if you really want to impress her, try calling her by her legal name, Elzbieta. It is the Polish version of Elizabeth.
Frank Mercadante
Executive Director of Cultivation Ministries, author of four books, international speaker, and 29 year youth ministry veteran.
Education and Professional Experience
Frank Mercadante is the founder and Executive Director of Cultivation Ministries, a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1990 for the purpose of cultivating team-based, comprehensive, and disciple making Catholic youth ministries by training, resourcing and supporting adult and teen leaders. Cultivation Ministries has served over eighty dioceses, hundreds of parishes, and thousands of youth ministers internationally.
Mercadante is a graduate of Wheaton College, where he received his a B.A. in Christian Education. In addition, he has a master’s in pastoral studies from Loyola University, Chicago, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Youth Ministry from the Center for Ministry Development.
Mercadante was Director of Youth Ministry at St. John Neumann in St. Charles, IL, for ten years, recognized at that time as one of the most successful youth ministry programs in the country. Rev. Patrick Brennan featured Mercadante’s work in youth evangelization in the book Parishes that Excel.
Mercadante has designed and written extensive youth ministry training materials used to help train and equip adult and student leaders internationally. He authored Growing Teen Disciples (Ave Maria Press 1998/St. Mary’s Press 2002), as well as Disciples in Mission Small Group Leader’s Guide for Teens, a series of small group materials for youth (Paulist National Evangelization Association, 1999). Additionally, Frank authored Positively Dangerous. Live Loud, Be Real, and Change Your World (St. Mary’s Press, 2003), and Making It Real. A Practical Resource for Teen-Friendly Youth Evangelization. (St. Mary’s Press, Dec 2004). He is currently working on a new book entitled, Engaging Millennials: A New Vision for Reaching Catholic Teens (Our Sunday Visitor, Fall 2011).
Frank is the 2008 recipient of the National Youth Ministry Award in Training from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. Frank is a member of NACYML (National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders).
Personal
Frank has been married to Diane for thirty years and have six children (Sarah, Michael, Rebekah, Angela, Deborah, and Daniel). The Mercadante’s live in St. Charles, Illinois
Kimberly McMillan
Kim began in youth ministry as a volunteer helping out at retreats and teen events. Since those early days Kim has eagerly sought knowledge and experience through peer support groups, seminars, and formal education opportunities.
In addition to her 20 years of parish experience, Kim has a certificate from the Center for Ministry Development in Youth Ministry Studies and has completed the Archdiocese of Chicago’s certification requirements for youth ministry. Kim became the first parish youth minister certified in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Kim is a charter member and past chair of the Association for the Advancement of Youth Ministers (AACYM). Kim is also the Youth Minister Representative for Certification Commission in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Kim facilitates Confirmation retreats and speaks to youth ministry groups. While parish ministry remains the focus of Kim’s time and attention she loves to share her passion and experience in ministry with others.
Kim and her husband Kevin are extremely proud of their sons, Justin, Brandon and Jordon. The McMillan Family currently resides in Franklin Park.
