Denise Utter is the Director of Faith Formation at St. Jude Catholic Community in New Lenox, IL, and is also employed as the Whole Parish Faith Formation Consultant to the Diocese of Joliet. She has embraced her vocation in the field of education and ministry for over 20 years. In her work at the parish and diocesan level, she has received experience that shapes her work as a contributing author for Fashioning Faith and as a National Speaker for Our Sunday Visitor. Denise is pursuing a Masters of Arts in Pastoral Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Her passion lies in empowering catechetical leaders to envision dynamic, systematic and intentional faith formation, focused on the life of the parish. Denise and her husband, Rob, have three children who are also involved in ministry as high school and college students.