Archdiocese welcomes new leader of evangelization and discipleship

By Natalie Hoefer

The archdiocese has hired Anita Bardo as its new coordinator of evangelization and discipleship.

The member of St. Rita Parish in Indianapolis brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion to the role. She is currently her parish’s director of faith formation, a role in which she has served for 12 years, and has led youth ministry for St. Rita and the Indianapolis East Deanery for 22 years.

“Through these two ministries, I find myself evangelizing to youths, families, parishioners and those that are not members of our parish community,” says Bardo. “We are all called to spread the Good News to each other. You never know who may convert or who may want to talk to you more about their own faith journey.

“But while we are all called to evangelize, we must first discern in prayer on what we want our Christian life to be, and then be able to share those experiences and visions with our neighbors.”

For Bardo, leadership is more than directing and delegating—it’s a way of life.

“Leadership for me is to be more Christ-like in my efforts to evangelize,” she says. “We are called to guide others in their faith, in their roles of being a disciple of Christ,” including practicing Catholics, those who have stepped away from the faith and those of no faith, to bring them together “for one goal, and that is to inspire one another to live out the true meaning of being a disciple of Christ.”

Bardo says her new role with the archdiocese is an answer to prayer—three months of prayer, in fact.

After working for 32 years in the mortgage industry and 22 years for the same employer, she was laid off on Aug. 3 last year.

“Wow, was that a surprise,” Bardo admits, then adds, “But God knew what I needed”—she had been discerning for some time whether God might be calling her elsewhere.

In the midst of prayer and discernment, she reached out to a friend who mentioned that the archdiocese’s coordinator of evangelization and discipleship position was open.

“I believe that opportunities don’t just happen,” says Bardo. “We create them with the help of God, beautiful people of faith, family and being able to say, ‘Yes, Lord, use me.’ ”

She was hired for the position in December.

“It’s where I am supposed to be and the plan God had already had in place,” she says.

In her new role, Bardo will reach out to the archdiocese’s 126 parishes to offer help and guidance with their evangelization and discipleship efforts.

She says her hope is to connect with these faith communities “and ask the question, ‘Are we open for change in how we share with one another our own journeys of faith?’ hoping this … gives an opportunity for the faithful to step outside their comfort zones and allow God and the Holy Spirit to move them.”

Bardo, a lifelong Catholic, is grateful her parents started her off “on a good foot,” raising her to know “the importance of church, quiet time and praying.”

She admits there might have been times when her quiet time and prayer might have been a challenge as she and her husband Marvin raised four daughters, now ranging in age from 18-33. And now they have four grandsons to enjoy, ranging in age from 5 to just 3 months old.

Bardo’s favorite saint is the namesake of her parish, St. Rita, known as the “saint of the impossible.”

But for now, she finds joy in the possible as she begins her new role.

“I enjoy waking up daily and smiling because I can work on goals set for myself and for our office,” says Bardo. “To be able to work and pray together with those you work with, to attend daily Mass, adoration, pray the rosary with others—at work! Does it get any better than this?”
 

(To learn more about the Office of Evangelization’s parish evangelization and discipleship efforts or the Totus Tuus summer Catholic youth summer camp, contact Anita Bardo at 317-236-1466 or abardo@archindy.org, or go to evangelizeindy.com.) †