An Initiative of the Rochester Parishes Seeking to Connect Young Adults to Christ and His Church
Our Team
Rochester Catholic is an initative of the Rochester parishes seeking to connect young adults to Christ and His Church. Our staff is a mixture of paid and volunteer coordinators representing all the parishes in the city. Contact any one of them for more information about getting involved in a parish and to see what's going on for young adults in the local Catholic Church.
Erica Stiller is a Rochester native and a graduate of Winona State University. Erica applies her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management to her work as Parish Administrator at Church of the Resurrection in Rochester, MN. In her lifetime, Erica has grown as a woman of adventure, the fine arts, and faith. Through the discipleship of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), Erica fell in love with Christ, His Church and His mission. Erica believes that faith is one of the most defining components of strong friendships. She empowers others to welcome Christ’s love into their lives and become familiar with Him in a faith based on friendship. Erica credits her faith for leading her to a mission as a servant leader. As a member of the RCYA Core Team, she serves the needs of Rochester Catholic Young Adults and is a liaison to the parish mission to serve the
faithful.
Dana Petricka received her undergrad and masters in Architecture at North Dakota State University. Through experiencing a conversion to a deeper relationship with Jesus and asking Him what He wanted her to do in her life, she decided to serve as a missionary with FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students for three years on the campuses of Eastern Illinois University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Prior to moving back home to Minnesota, she worked as the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Columbus, Indiana for two years. She loves her job, her family and friends, and most importantly Jesus. She also enjoys her rare nights off upon which she likes to cook, clean, and go for a run.
Brian is an Illinois native who came to Minnesota his sophomore year of college and never left! He finished his philosophy degree and continued studying historical theology in the MAT program at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity. He currently serves St. Mary's University in Winona, MN as their campus minister. You might find him playing music around town, or geeking out about Church history over a cup of coffee. Brian is married to one of Rochester Catholic School's finest, Michelle, and they have two sons, James and Leo.
Zach is originally from the Twin Cities, but like many left town for college. In his second year at the University of Minnesota Duluth he met somebody who loves Jesus more than anything or anybody and the encounter changed his life. The following year he transferred to the University of Saint Thomas for it's Catholic Studies program and is currently putting that experience to work as the Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry at Pax Christi in Northwest Rochester. Zach is married to Suzanne, a pediatric nurse at St. Mary's, and they have two energetic and crazy, but beautiful, little girls named Sydney and Juliette. Zach loves to read, throw a Frisbee, and sit around campfires on cool fall nights. Steer clear of Zach whenever the Wild, Twins, or Patriots lose.
Alecia graduated from the University of Minnesota Rochester in 2018 with a health sciences degree, and now works in an HIV research lab at the Mayo Clinic. She is interested in creating inclusive environments and making the Catholic faith accessible to everyone. Her experience growing up in a small town made her appreciate the close-knit family feel of St. Pius X, and she is excited to promote a greater young adult presence in the parish and Rochester community. Some of Alecia's favorite pastimes include running, procrastinating, and game nights with friends.
After growing up in Omaha, Nebraska and wandering around the Midwest for school, Philip arrived in Rochester to serve at St. John’s. He’s grateful for the opportunity to share with people the faith that has been so formative in his life. He enjoys listening to people’s questions about God, the Church, and life as a whole. Philip is curious about what drives and sustains people and has worked with interfaith organizations, with communities striving for the common good, and in groups that seek ways for all people’s voices to be heard. He graduated from St. Olaf College, majoring in religion and ethnic studies, and recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Master of Divinity program. Philip is joyfully married to his wife, Lisa. They enjoy exploring the outdoors all seasons of the year.