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YOUNG ADULT
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

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Mission & Purpose

The Mission of the Young Adult Leadership Council for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is bidirectional in nature:

  • 1: Contemplation - Serves as an advisory board and synodal listening body for the Archbishop and the Office for Ministry with Young Adults (OMYA)
  • 2: Action - Acts as a task force for young adult ministry in implementing the mission and vision of the Office for Ministry with Young Adults (OMYA)

Primary Objectives:

Contemplation: serve as an advisory board and synodal bod

  • routinely evaluates and provides feedback to the Archbishop and the Office for Ministry with Young Adults (OMYA) regarding the current state of young adult ministry at both the archdiocesan and regional level
  • discusses the concerns of regional young adult ministry leaders to better understand the obstructions to effective ministry
  • actively listens to young adults that are actively involved or uninvolved with the Catholic church to understand opportunities for evangelization and renewal in Jesus Christ within our modern culture
  • seeks out the voice of the Holy Spirit regularly, while leading and ministering to young adults

Action: act as a task force for amplifying the vision of OMYA

  • facilitates leadership and professional development of young adult leaders
  • provides for the ongoing spiritual formation of young adult leaders
  • implements changes and initiatives mandated by the Archbishop that broaden young adult ministry
  • amplify the reach of the mission and vision of OMYA
  • forms subcommittees that address the concerns and desires of young adult ministry leaders and members

Organizational Structure

Archdiocesan Council Bi-Monthly Meetings (1 Year Term)

  • (2) Director & Associate Director of OMYA
  • (10) Two appointed representatives from each of the Regional Young Adult Leadership Councils of the five counties
  • (1) Representative of YCP
  • (1) Representative of the Neuman Centers
  • (1) Representative of SCHEAP
  • (2) Experienced Young Adult Ministers
  • (1) Director of the Office for the New Evangelization (when available)
  • (1) Director/Associate Director of the Office for Ministry with Youth (when available)
  • (1) Pastoral Representative (when available)

5 Regional Councils – Bi-Monthly Meetings

  • (2) Director & Associate Director of OMYA
  • (TBD) One appointed representative from each of the Young Adult Ministries within the county
  • (TBD) Optional representatives of University Campus Ministries
  • (TBD) Pastors or Optional representatives of selected parishes

Interested in getting involved in the Young Adult Leadership Council

Section 4) Interested in getting involved in the Young Adult Leadership Council at the Regional or Archdiocesan Level? You can reach out to us at PhillyOMYA@archphila.org or subscribe to our young adult ministry leaders flocknote for monthly updates here.  

Spiritual Formation & Growth

Prayer & Sacraments

  • Prayerful Meetings
  • Integration of Sacraments
  • Opportunities for Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Formation

  • Advanced spiritual formation program, free of charge
  • Relevant formation and spiritual deepening integrated into meetings

Retreat & Leadership Development

  • Two Leadership Zoom Meetings: spiritual formation, leadership development, and community building
  • One Youth and Youth Adult Ministers Retreat
  • One Professional Development Workshop

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Fr. Stephen DeLacy

Fr. Stephen DeLacy

Vicar for the Office for Faith Formation of Youth and Young Adults (OFFYYA)

Father DeLacy was born in Delaware County and attended St. George grade school and was involved with the CYO and then Msgr. Bonner High School, where he played soccer and basketball. He attended West Chester University for a degree in accounting and was associated with the Neumann Center, coached CYO Volleyball (where he won two championships but should have won three), and became the Youth Minister. After graduation, he worked for a year and taught CCD. Despite his great efforts to fight and resist God’s plan, he responded to God’s call to enter the St. Charles Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 2004 and was assigned to SS. Peter and Paul Parish while also leading retreats for the Malvern Retreat House and for Rachel’s Vineyard. He then served as the School Minister at Archbishop Carroll High School and Pope John Paul II High School. He was then appointed as the Vocation Director for the Diocesan Priesthood for eight years. In 2021, Archbishop Perez made him his Vicar for Faith Formation with Youth and Young Adults.

Fun facts about Father Delacy are that he has gained outstanding proficiency in conducting ice breakers and playing Beer Pong (with water). Father does not enjoy musical talent. You may contact Fr. DeLacy at fr.sdelacy@archphila.org or 215-587-3979.

Andrea Mueller

Andrea Mueller

OMYA Associate Director

Ms. Andrea Mueller was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and raised in Clifton, Virginia. She is one of five children. In 2017, she returned to Pennsylvania to attend Saint Joseph’s University (SJU).

Ms. Mueller graduated from SJU in 2021 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She minored in Spanish and English. In 2022, she received a Master of Science degree in Experimental Psychology, with a focus in social psychology research, from SJU.
Ms. Mueller was appointed to various leadership and academic roles during her time at SJU, including Student Senate Campus Ministry Chair, Writing Center Tutor, and Psychology Graduate Assistant. She also served in various young adult ministry and service-related roles that helped her establish a passion for serving the broader community of Philadelphia and the Church. She was a youth minister at a local parish, coordinated weekly service opportunities, and led the Philadelphia Service Immersion Program for undergraduate students.

After graduating, Ms. Mueller worked as a management consultant at PwC within its People Analytics practice, serving a variety of clients across continents and industries. She gained experience in assessing employee feedback via surveys and research best practices, to improve employees’ experience at work and increase organizational effectiveness.

Ms. Mueller currently serves as the Director of Fellowship and Service for the Philadelphia Chapter of Young Catholic Professionals and is a member of Saint Patrick Parish located in Rittenhouse Square.In her free time, Ms. Mueller enjoys exploring the broader Philadelphia area, soaking in art of all kinds, attending Mass, running long distances, and meeting new people.

Fr. Timothy Tarnacki

OMYA Director

Reverend Timothy Tarnacki, O.S.P.P.E. is a priest of the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit, also known as Pauline Fathers and Brothers. He was born in Poland and immigrated with his family to the United States at the age of 12.  He grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, and joined the Paulines by starting his postulancy after graduating high school in 2008.

Father Tarnacki attended the Pauline Seminary and the Pontifical University of Saint John Paul II in Krakow, Poland. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Theology, specializing in Biblical Exegesis. He made his final religious vows in 2015 at the Marian Shrine in Czestochowa, Poland. Most Reverend Andrzej Zglejszewski, Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, ordained him to the priesthood in 2016 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown (Bucks County).

Following ordination, Father Tarnacki began ministering at the Shrine. Since that time, he has been particularly involved with the Shrine’s youth and young adult ministry, being the co-founder of Czestochowa Young Adults (CYA) Group. He has also served in various capacities including Shrine media coordinator; chaplain and theology teacher for the Shrine’s homeschooling community; coordinator of lector and altar servers’ groups; and more.

Here are some interesting facts about Fr. Timothy:

1). St. John Paul II is his favorite saint and his vocation story is closely linked to JP2’s death!

2). Timothy is actually his religious name that he chose, being inspired by the two Letters of St. Paul to St. Timothy.

3). He loves playing sports, running, traveling and hiking in the mountains (the highest peak that he climbed so far was 14,278′).

You can reach Fr, Timothy at fr.ttarnacki@archphila.org or 215-587-4544.

LOGO SYMBOL EXPLANATION

Eucharistic Host with Rays: The Eucharistic symbol in this logo emphasizes that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, no. 11). The Eucharist gathers the young adult community together and is truly in the center of it. “In the many transitions that young people face, they should be able to find a ‘home’ wherever Mass is celebrated (USCCB, Listen, Teach, Send). By pointing young people toward the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and inviting them to active participation in a Eucharistic community, we offer young people an encounter with the Lord who is always present, mercifully understanding, and the source of all healing. (USCCB, Listen, Teach, Send)

Open Hands: Open hands are a symbol of prayer and openness to receive God’s grace. Hands that are lifted are a common Biblical image of prayer, “I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name” (Psalm 63:5). The open hands in gesture of prayer are a reminder for young adults that prayer is the foundation of a life of discipleship. As Pope Francis addressed the young people, he said to them: “Hope is nurtured by prayer. Prayer preserves and renews hope. It helps fan the spark of hope into flame.” Open hands are also a symbol of good works, especially done in service to others, as Jesus reminded us: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Shield Outline: The shield is often used in Christian iconography to represent faith. Portraying faith as a shield is a reminder that amidst spiritual and worldly battles, young adults can find their identity, belonging and strength in their relationship with the Lord, “the Lord is my strength and my shield” (Psalm 28:7). This symbol of a shield also invites young adults, as St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, to “hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). By holding faith as a shield, young adults are reminded: “Please, do not leave it to others to be protagonists of change. You are the ones who hold the future!” (Francis, Christus Vivit, no. 174)

Dove: The open hands also resemble the shape of a dove. A descending dove is a common symbol of the Holy Spirit, as we learn in the Gospel of Matthew, that as Jesus was baptized, “the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon him” (Matthew 3:16). The Holy Spirit gathers young adults together in the Church and leads them on a mission, to become sent forth as missionary disciples. "Christ draws near to young people in order to listen to them, teach them, and send them forth, filled with the Holy Spirit to” (USCCB, Listen, Teach, Send) In this way, they can become, “protagonists of the revolution of charity and service.” (Francis, Christus Vivit, no. 174)