The Other Side

We're hiring a new DRE to replace my mentor, the parish saint. She's the only DRE they've ever had (going on 28 years) and built the program from scratch.

I'm a member of the search committee. My invitation was scrawled on the first of a slew of resumes I discovered in my mailbox: "Here's the info-- but you're not voting." Despite that initial welcome, I slithered onto the interview panel and have since spent three full days in interviews.

It's been so helpful to be on the other side. The first time I saw the search committee (friends and coworkers) in interview mode I thought, "If I were the person on the hot seat I would think everyone was mean and hated me. But I know these people. And they're normally nothing like this." As I've undergone my own interviews since this process, I've tried to remember that each person in the room is just a regular person who doesn't intuitively hate me (even if it seems like it).

Another thing I noticed was that we might all go on as if we really liked the candidate, and even talk to her in a way that suggested she was going to be hired, when, really, everyone in the room knew from ten minutes in that she was absolutely the wrong fit! At the end of those interviews I often wondered why we let it go on so long. I'm still not sure. Since then I've decided not to make myself crazy (when I'm on the other side) trying to read what I think are the committee's cues.

I learned that the elite candidates were specific. They could list their top three ministerial qualities without hesitation. They clearly articulated their weaknesses. ALL of their answers included particular examples from previous experience. They could apply seemingly unrelated experiences and skills to answer questions that were a bit outside their background.

So, my advice: apply to join a search search committee, and then apply for jobs.

Just When You Thought My Modeling Career was Over

How can you not want St. Peter T-shirts after this?

But the real models are

Anna and her twin nephews Daniel (left) and Cameron (right)!!!! They like me; they really like me!

On being Darth Vader

"The circle is now complete; when I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the Master."


My Echo mentor is becoming the DRE next year, a job which I've been struggling to manage since returning to work in August. We have a series of meetings scheduled between Wednesday and the end of May (when I leave) wherein I will tell her how to be DRE (well, DFF) at the Cathedral.

As I type out instructions, lists of names and numbers, master calendars and suggestions for the future, the irony is too apparent. There were so many times over the last year when I said to myself, "my goodness! I How wish I had a mentor-figure to tell me how to do what I'm trying to do!" And now I'm becoming that person for the person who was supposed be that figure all along and was simply unable to given her lack of experience and training in position.

God sure does have a sense of humor.

Happy Easter everyone!

I hope your Triduum was awesome and your Easter is going strong.  Next month is our last month in our parish.  Weird.