Jennifer Draeger, the new coordinator of religious education in St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, has a clear mission this year: to share the faith with families of her catechists.

Draeger has experience working in youth ministry and conducting Confirmation preparation programs in the Archdiocese of Newark. She also spent a period of discernment with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tenn.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in public and community service from Providence College, Providence, R.I. where she minored in theology and Spanish. Draeger is working toward a master’s degree in theology in Seton Hall University, South Orange.

Draeger lives with her parents, Bob and Catherine, and sister, Kristen. In addition to seeing Pope Francis during World Youth Day 2013 in Rio, and planning to travel to the event next year in Krakow, Draeger and her family, parishioners in St. Veronica, Howell, plan to attend the Papal Mass later this month in Philadelphia.

The young woman believes in entire family catechesis and will use the Papal visit as a teaching tool for the 1,700 students and 80 teachers in the program.

“It will be a good opportunity for them to understand the reality of the universal Church,” she noted, “that it is much bigger than they are, and it is he, the Pope, who unifies us. It’s a teachable moment.

“It will help share the faith with families. Parents are in need of the tools to share the faith with their children,” Draeger continued. “The Church needs whole family formation, and we need the support from the parents.”