Fr. Yamato Icochea has appointed Christine Lemmer as Sacred Heart Pastorate’s Director of Discipleship and Evangelization, effective May 1, 2026.
Chris earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and Communication Arts with a minor in Spanish and Master’s in Pastoral Ministry at Mt. Marty College in 1986 and1999, respectively, before serving 13 years as Secretary and Director of Religious Education at her hometown parish of St. Bernard in Redfield. She moved to Mitchell in 2000 to serve the Holy Family and Holy Spirit parishes as Director of Religious Education, directly overseeing the children’s, youth and adult Faith Formation programs.
In addition to her formal education, Chris earned her Director of Religious Education certificate in the St. John Bosco Conference at Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio. She as commissioned as a Master Catechist in 2000 by Bishop Robert Carlson and Level 1 certified for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in 2017.
In her tenure at Mitchell, Chris has directed the K-12 and adult Faith Formation programs; provided sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation; provided Order of Christian Initiation (previously Rite of Christian Initiation) classes; implemented Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; and coordinated speakers for area pre-marriage classes. Chris has joyfully served under four popes, four bishops and 18 parish priests in her 39 years of ministry.
“I am pleased that Chris has agreed to move into this more supervisory role,” Fr. Yamato said. “Her experience working directly with the youth, adults and volunteers of our parishes, as well as her educational and professional endeavors prior to moving to Mitchell, provide great wisdom in planning for the future of our pastorate," Fr. Yamato said.
In her new role, Chris will focus on strategic planning for the pastorate’s discipleship and evangelization efforts, overseeing the K-6 Faith Formation Coordinator, 7-12 Religious Education Coordinator and Semper Youth Ministry Coordinator, in coordination with Fr. Yamato and Fr. Juan Carlos Villavicencio.
Chris will continue to work directly with the CGS and OCIA programs.
Chris said she is excited for this new chapter in her ministry, saying “there is always something more to learn when you’re working for the Church.”
Her appointment brings the pastorate into full compliance with Bishop Donald DeGrood’s Set Ablaze initiative, announced in 2023, which directs each pastorate to employ four key positions in order to unleash the fire of the Holy Spirit within parishes across the diocese. Sacred Heart Pastorate’s team includes the following:
- Business Manager Tonya Meaney
- Communications Director Wendy Royston
- Director of Discipleship and Evangelization Chris Lemmer
- Facilities Manager Mike Hayes