Our Reconnect Team
Jennifer Sagel
Catholic Meditation
Jennifer is Coordinator of Evangelization at St. Patrick Parish in Dixon, Illinois, though her pastor prefers the term “Director of Spiritual Explosions and Pyrotechnics,” which better captures the breadth of her projects and passions. She lives in Dixon with her husband, Joey, and their children Cecilia, Gianna, Max, and Anthony.
Fr. Gary Caster
The Little Way of Spiritual Childhood
Fr. Caster was ordained in 1992 and is a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. He has worked as a high school chaplain, religion teacher, director of campus ministries, and parish mission and retreat leader. He is the author of several books, including, Prayer Everywhere, the Spiritual Life Made Simple, Joseph, the man who raised Jesus, The Little Way of Advent and The Little Way of Lent. He currently serves as the Parochial Vicar for the Ottawa Catholic Community.
Fr. Nick Junker
Experiencing the Mass Anew
Fr. Junker is the Vocation Director of the Diocese of Belleville and Sacramental Minister at Holy Trinity Parish in Fairview Heights, IL and St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville, IL. Fr. Nick is very active in retreat ministry and has served as a Spiritual Director on Luke 18, Quest, Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), Harvest, Awakenings, and Cursillo weekends.
Forest Barnette
Quarantine and the Communion of Saints
Forest Barnette is a newlywed hunkered down with her husband Wes in Denver, Colorado. She’s passionate about Tolkien, twizzlers, theology and, most recently, The Tiger King. Forest studied theology at Xavier University and has worked in media, marketing, and natural family planning.
Fr. Keith Romke
A Foundation to Build Lives Upon: St. Ignatius’ First Principle and Foundation
Fr. Romke is the Pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Dixon, IL. He has also served as the Diocesan Vocation Director for the Diocese of Rockford and as an associate pastor at St. Bridget Parish in Loves Park and Holy Cross Parish in Batavia since being ordained in 2011. Father Romke loves sharing his joy and confidence on God’s plan for our lives which is simply a plan to love us always and to assure us that our identity is rooted in this never-changing, unending love.
Katie Robben
Law and Love
Katie Robben lives in Cincinnati, Ohio where she works as Operations Manager for Romero Academy at Resurrection. She is also a co-director of Let Us Move Mountains, a Catholic nonprofit organization that partners with schools and organizations in Uganda, East Africa. Katie is currently completing a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration at the University of Notre Dame.
Fr. Steven Beatty
This Day is the Lord’s
Fr. Beatty serves the parishes of St. Kateri in Ridgway, IL, St. Mary in Eldorado, St. Mary in Harrisburg, and St. Joseph in Elizabethtown, and is Chaplain at Camp Ondessonk.
St. Kateri Parish 