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September 10, 2020CHANDLER – Kendra Miller from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Chandler was named the 2020 Archbishop Paul S. Coakley Religious Educator of the Year during the Catechetical Conference held virtually Aug. 29 at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Oklahoma City.
Miller has served as an elementary school teacher for 27 years and has volunteered as a religious education catechist at her parish for 13 years. She also serves her parish as a lector, Vacation Bible School coordinator, parish Fall Festival organizer, parish council member and with the community food pantry.
Catechists are nominated by clergy and ministry leaders. Miller’s pastor, Father Timothy Ruckel stated, “I have seen how God has worked in Kendra’s life, which in turn helps her to make a lasting impact on the lives and hearts of the students and the overall parish.”
In Miller’s nomination letter she is described as, “a great model of a genuine catechist who is concerned not just with the knowledge of faith, but in nurturing relationships with Christ and others. She respects her students and their parents wherever they are along their faith journey.”
Miller’s nominator also said she has a strong sense of community, models what it means to be a servant leader and, whatever she does, she does so with a joyful heart.
The other two finalist were Alicia Rios of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman and Chase Hohnke of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in El Reno.
The Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma bestows the award every year for “outstanding leadership in Catholic education.” This year the Catechetical Conference featured Archbishop Coakley and Deacon Keith Strohm from M3 Ministries.
Both Archbishop Coakley and Deacon Strohm’s addresses can be viewed online at www.archokc.org/catechetical-conference.
Photo: Kendra Miller and Archbishop Coakley. Photo Fran Kozakowski/Sooner Catholic.
