[News Archive]

Brian McCrohan, new Pastoral Associate at
St. Katharine Drexel

by Judy Williams

Brian McCrohan has joined the staff of Saint Katharine Drexel parish in Frederick as Pastoral Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministry. 

Brian is the young parish's first youth minister.  His work will include ministry to both middle and high school youth, as well as young adults. Working from a clean slate, Brian is currently planning and implementing preparation program for the sacrament of Confirmation; middle and high school catechesis; middle and high school youth groups; young adult ministry; and Rite of Christian Initiation for Children.

Once the catechetical programs are in place, Brian looks forward to meeting with teens and their parents and discovering what types of social and service oriented events will best meet their needs.

A native of Gaithersburg, Brian grew up as a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish where he was active in youth ministry.  He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia, where he participated in the campus ministry's prayer and worship group.   Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Brian served as mental health counselor with the Jesuit Volunteer Corp in Washington state for a year.  He then enrolled at Boston College where he earned two masters degrees; one in pastoral ministry and the other in counseling psychology.  While working on his masters degrees, Brian also served as pastoral associate at St. Mary parish in Winchester, MA where he worked in the areas of youth ministry, religious education, liturgical ministry, and pastoral care.

Brian and his wife, Lisa, live in Frederick and are members of St. Katharine Drexel.

Brian has successfully blended his backgrounds in psychology and ministry.  His counseling experience helps him be a more sensitive youth minister.  As he reflects on his experiences thus far, and looks forward to his ministry at St. Katherine Drexel, Brian tries to navigate his course according to Paul’s words,

The commandments… are summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.  (Romans 13:9-10)

The CEM Center welcomes Brian to ministry in Central Maryland!