Cathy Kusman, Director of Youth/Confirmation

I grew up outside of Kansas City, Missouri in a small farm town called Richmond, Missouri, where all my immediate family still reside. I am a hairdresser by trade since I was 18 years old. Along with currently owning my own photography studio. But, I have spent my adult life active in youth ministry. I am a serious crafter - I love to take pictures scrapbook, rubber stamp and paint. All these things never leave enough time for reading a good book! Jeff and I were married in 1981. We have one daughter, Carin, who is an elementary teacher.. We also have 3 grown foster children with 4 teenage grandchildren, & many exchange students!

I have been in youth ministry since 1982. Jeff and I started out in Houston, Texas, as the Athletic Directors (providing a monthly team event for the youth program) for 3 years.

Moving to Seattle, Washington, I got involved in youth ministry once again, working with the middle school program, creating a '5-6 club' because in Seattle, youth group doesn't start until 7th grade as they are Junior High then. I moved up to the Junior high program after 2 years with the same group of teens.

From this point on I was director of Fund Raising for Summer Missions for the St. Jude Youth programs Junior High through High School

I got involved in CFM (Christian Family Movement) which is a 50+ year old organization in the Catholic Church. In 1992 Jeff and I became the CFM Directors at our parish. This involved running yearly family camp and monthly groups for 45+ couples, i.e., groups: new parents, newly married, dinner groups, parents with teenagers, neighborhood groups & a teen Bible Study group.

When we moved to Colorado Springs in 1999, I became the Youth Director at St. Gabriel, running monthly MS youth activities, and the HS Confirmation program for 1 1/2 years, before coming 'home' to OLP!

I joined the staff at Our Lady of the Pines in June 2001 Being the director of Youth Ministry is a job I love and am thankful for all the young people that walk through my life & leave their footprints on my heart!

Cathy Kusman: 719-495-2351, X 15 (office) • 719-599-8812 (home) • CathyKusman@msn.com