CORE Members:

Music Minister & Communications

Pamela Griffin

Pam Griffin's Bio:  Born and raised Catholic, I have
been active in the Church music ministry since the age of 12 as both an
organist / pianist and a vocalist.  My involvement in music kept me an
active Catholic; however as I entered high school and then college the more
complicated questions I had about faith and my religion seemed to go
unanswered.  This uncertainty led me often to question my Catholic roots. 
As an adult my husband Mike's involvement in Life Teen brought me to a
"place" where my questions were answered and my faith grew as did my
understanding of God and the Catholic Church.  My greatest passion is
marriage and family as the cornerstone of society and my vocation of
marriage and family is well supported by the activities and teachings of
Life Teen.  I look forward to enhancing the spiritual experience of mass
through some amazing music!

CORE

Joey Fichtl

Hello!  Well, my name is Joey (Wigington) Fichtl (Yep, I’m a girl- a common misconception with a boy’s name I know).  I grew up not too far from Fremont, that in being Schuyler, NE.  I was born Catholic, but it was not until my participation in the Life Teen program did my spiritual awakening begin.  It was through the Life Teen program at St. Mary’s Parish that I began to break away from the dreaded idea of “having to learn this or that,” to the realization that God has a desire for ME (little old me from a small town in the middle of the country) to build a relationship with HIM!  He was and is calling ME!  Therefore, I am listening again the call and hoping to help lead others to his calling.  On a more personal note, I am married to my husband, Jared, and we have three children.  I also am a RN at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.  We are excited to have such an awesome program like Life Teen beginning in our parish.  What a blessing and fabulous adventure!  Let’s discover God’s amazing love together. Rock on! Peace, Joey

Father Owen Korte(Founding Priest)

Father Owen Korte was born in Schuyler Nebraska on July 28, 1954.  I grew up on a farm north of Clarkson and went to country school for two years.  Then in second grade I started at the new Bishop Neumann Grade School in Clarkson.  I went to St. John Vianney HS Seminary and Mount Michael HS from 1968 to 1972.  I graduated with a BA in Philosophy at St. Thomas College in St. Paul, MN in 1976.  I then attended Catholic University in Washington DC getting my MA in Theology in 1978.  I taught religion for a year at Gross HS in Omaha and then returned to CUA and DC to get a MS degree in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola College in Baltimore.  I was ordained in 1981.  I have been stationed at Mary Our Queen Parish in Omaha, St. Patrick's Church and St. Mary's School in O'Neill, Sacred Heart-St. James Parishes in Wynot, St. Boniface Parish and Pope John XXIII HS in Elgin and now in my 12th year at St. Patrick's Parish and Archbishop Bergan Catholic School.