[News Archive]

Linda Snyder, Joins Youth Ministry staff at St. Ann, Hagerstown

by Judy Williams

Linda Snyder, Assistant to the Director of Religious Education at St. Ann's parish in Hagerstown, is now an employee of the parish in which she grew-up, volunteered and has raised her children, working as Youth Alive minister and helping to enhance religious education programs for grades K-8. 

Prior to starting her new job this summer, Linda was a temporary youth minister at the parish during the mid-1990's.  After the birth of Linda's first child, Sr. Dorothy Malone, the parish's Director of Religious Education at that time, invited her to become a 3rd grade catechist.  At first terrified at the thought of standing up in front of classroom, working with the children grew on her and Linda remained a catechist for the next 20 years.  She was also was active with the parish confirmation program.  Recently Linda began looking for new challenges and prayed for guidance.  Her prayers were answered when she found herself in her present position.

One of her favorite projects in her new job has been the creation of a newsletter, "Echo the Good News of God," written by and for the religious education students.  Kids write articles about anything - projects they've been working on, original poetry, and even their own personal faith testimonies.  They turn their articles in to Linda, who compiles them all into a newsletter which is distributed among all the religious education students.

Linda also works with the parish Youth Alive program.  Meeting once a month, youth gather for a Mass in which they are active participants as ushers, lectors, musicians, etc.  When Mass has ended, the youth remain for an organized event.  Recently the youth participated in a "Haitian Luau."  While enjoying the social atmosphere, the students also organized contributions of clothing, sandals, etc. for St. Ann's sister parish in Haiti, St. Claire.  The youth have also created posters to raise community awareness about the needed school supplies in Haiti and at end of this month will be collecting educational supplies, like paper, chalk, rulers and pencils that will be sent to Haiti.

A native of Hagerstown, Linda attended St. Maria Goretti high school.  She and her husband, Timothy, have two sons, Tyler, 22; and Christian, 14.  As a member of St. Ann's parish, Linda also serves as Eucharistic minister. 

Reflecting on her years of parish ministry and all whom she has encountered,  Linda finds Jesus' words about the many branches on the vine especially meaningful...

John 15:5

The CEM Center welcomes Linda new her new position in Central Maryland ministry!