Father Adam Streitenberger has been appointed the vicar for evangelization and Dr. Marlon De La Torre is joining the diocese as the new senior director of evangelization, Bishop Earl Fernandes recently announced.
Father Streitenberger will continue guiding the implementation of the vision for the New Evangelization and the diocesan priorities of evangelization. This includes collaboration with the diocese’s Office of Evangelization, the Office of Catholic Schools and other offices and parishes to emphasize evangelization and missionary disciple formation.
“I look forward to assisting Bishop Fernandes in this new role in implementing his vision for evangelization in the Diocese of Columbus,” Father Streitenberger said.
De La Torre, who holds master of arts, master of education and doctor of philosophy degrees, is an author, frequent radio and television guest and a graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville.
De La Torre has an extensive professional catechetical background spanning more than two decades. Most recently, he served as executive director for evangelization and missionary discipleship for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
“Father Adam Streitenberger will have an excellent counterpart with Dr. De La Torre,” Bishop Fernandes said. “This will be a great example of clergy and laity working together in the mission of evangelization.”
De La Torre has served as the diocesan director for evangelization and catechesis, chief lay theologian and canonical censor for the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas; adjunct professor of catechetics for Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas; and chief professor of catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Worth deaconate program.
De La Torre has also served as executive coordinator of the pastoral provision in conjunction with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Vatican) and the Diocese of Fort Worth, diocesan chair and host of the National Hispanic Encounter (Encuentro) conference, adjunct professor of catechetics for Catholic Distance University and an instructor and writer for the Augustine Institute’s Symbolon RCIA and adult education programs.
“Marlon is a tireless and devoted apostle of Jesus Christ,” said Matt Schlater, chief operating officer for the Columbus diocese. “Both his life and his work bespeak a clear and intentional desire to be on the front lines of the Catholic Church, working to respond to the divine commission of spreading the Gospel.
“His work at the parish, school and diocesan level prepare him to help the diocese take full advantage of the incredible momentum that the Holy Spirit has initiated in our community.”
De La Torre and his wife, Amy, have been married for more than 26 years and have 15 children: Miguel, 23; Gabriella, 21; Maria, 17; Gianna, 8; and 11 souls in heaven.
“My wife, Amy, and I are blessed with the opportunity to ‘come home’ to the state of Ohio and call Columbus home,” De La Torre said. “Amy was born and raised in Youngstown, our oldest was born in Warren and our three oldest children currently attend Franciscan University.”
The priorities for evangelization were outlined in the Evangelization Planning Process that began under Bishop Robert Brennan and are supported by Bishop Fernandes.
One of the initiatives of the Evangelization Planning Process is the parish missionary disciple formation toolkit. Father Streitenberger will continue to support Elizabeth Christy, the associate director of missionary disciple formation for the Columbus diocese, to refine this toolkit for the work of formation in diocesan parishes.
“Dr. De La Torre will be integral in the process of advancing the evangelization strategic plan that Father Adam Streitenberger was so pivotal in creating with several community leaders from our diverse 23-county landscape,” Schlater said.
The Evangelization Planning Process looked at promoting evangelization in parish life, in Catholic schools and at 25 universities through lay apostolates and innovative approaches to evangelizing young adults.
Father Streitenberger will continue this promotion throughout the diocese in these areas to forward the New Evangelization, which includes the implementation of Bishop Fernandes’ vision for the Columbus St. Thomas More Newman Center, which is adjacent to Ohio State University, where he remains as chaplain and executive director.
“Father Adam is an outstanding evangelist, as can be seen by his excellent work with students at the St. Thomas More Newman Center,” Bishop Fernandes said. “There he will intensify his efforts and continue to cast a vision for sharing the Good News in the Diocese of Columbus.”
