Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
July 10, 2002
Archdiocese gets new young adult ministry leader
By Alwen Bledsoe
When Peter Braam moved to Denver two years ago, it was with an overwhelming sense of God's grace and leading. Now the energetic and articulate 31-year-old is taking on the job of coordinating young adult ministry for English-speakers in the Archdiocese of Denver, a task for which he seems perfectly fitted.
Braam moved to Denver to get a job in software development, he said, adding, "I quickly realized God had other plans."
Nonetheless, it was imminently clear to Braam that Denver was exactly where he was supposed to be.
"I just think it was a miracle that I ended up here," he said. "It was so clear once I got here that I should be here."
It was the power of the Church in Denver that convinced him.
"The Archdiocese of Denver has a very unique outpouring of grace by the Holy Spirit," he explained. "I've been in a lot of places all over the country, and I've never seen anything quite as moving and powerful as the state of the Church here and the amount of grace God pours out on it."
When Braam first saw the John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization, home of his future office, he got goose bumps, he said. He remembered Pope John Paul II's prediction during World Youth Day in 1993 that Denver would be an important part of the new evangelization.
"It was just so buzzing with potential and the Holy Spirit," Braam said. "It made my heart jump. I just got a lot of hope for Denver and the Church here."
Now Braam hopes to use his new position to evangelize young adults in Colorado. Along with working with already-existing young adult groups and establishing new groups, Braam plans to focus extensively on out-reach activities.
"I think we would fail if we only ministered to our own needs," he explained. "I think we need to be growing a lot. I think there's a lot, probably a majority of people in this age group (18-40), are marginalized or have fallen away. There are a lot of great ways to try to reach out and bring them back. I'd like to organize some big outreach events. I think it's appropriate for the archdiocesan office to lead in that type of an effort as an example to other young adult groups."
Braam has been updating the archdiocese's data base and trying to recruit volunteers to serve as a "steering committee" to plan archdiocesan activities such as picnics, soft-ball tournaments, Theology on Tap, and an upcoming fall retreat.
Organizing active young adult groups is hardly new fare for Braam, founder of the Frassati Society of Denver, a Catholic young adult outdoor club.
His success with that organization as well as the many hours he's spent volunteering with other young adult groups recommended him for the job, said Marco Roman, secretary for evangelization and catechesis for the archdiocese.
"His initiative and creativity in founding that society speaks well of his love and desire to serve young adults," Roman said.
And Braam's love for his Catholic faith is equally tangible.
"I believe from the bottom of my heart when Jesus told Peter that he was the rock and upon this rock he would build his church, he established a Christian Church, and I believe the Catholic Church is the universal Church of Christ that really does umbrella all other churches," he said, later adding, "I'm sure not anywhere near sainthood, but I really want to make Christ the most important thing in my life and do what I believe he's telling me to do."
Braam joined the Archdiocese of Denver in mid-June.
"He's got a lot of enthusiasm and he's excited to get the ball moving here, and he's expressed to me his deep faith and commitment to the Church for certain," Roman said. "I'm excited about the possibilities that will flow from his office at his direction and initiative."
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