By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
Sometimes, decisions are not in your hands. Jessica Melchert can attest to that after she tried “saying no a couple times” to a ministry invitation in the summer of 2023.
Melchert was asked to serve as the religious education coordinator at her parish, St. Sebastian in Isaar. She had been involved in the program for three years as a catechist, teaching reconciliation and first Communion preparation, but taking on more was not in her plans, particularly with her busy family life.
“Would it be taking on too much? Did I have the right tools to coordinate and do the things the way they should be done within a catechesis program?”
she asked herself.
Melchert and her husband of 15 years, Aaron, live on the family farm in Isaar with their three children. Her husband is the fourth generation of his family on the homestead.
Through prayer and discernment, and with “the support of our other catechists and teachers and aides and families within our program,” she decided to say yes.
“It was the Holy Spirit coming in,” said Melchert. “You try to say no, but it’s what God wants and through God what you’re able to do.”
The religious education program at St. Sebastian, served by seven catechists, has grown from fewer than 30 to 42 students from 21 families. This year marked the first for kindergarten students in the program. Religious education follows the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Sebastian.
“We give the kids food because we know that with (the) Communion fast, sitting through Mass and two hours after that, it’s long,” said Melchert. “It’s beautiful (starting with the families at Mass).”
Melchert moved from teaching second grade to ninth grade and confirmation students in the program. She said that she requires her students to ask questions at each class. Moving forward, Melchert said the plan is to “start offering more parent retreats and involvement” so the “parents understand what the child is learning.”
Kately Javier, evangelizing catechesis director for the Diocese of Green Bay, has supported Melchert in her role as a religious education coordinator. They first connected through the orientation and onboarding process for new catechetical leaders.
The diocesan Office of Evangelizing Catechesis is supported by the Bishop’s Appeal. The 2025 Bishop’s Appeal video shares many ways the ministries of the Diocese are Bringing Hope to the World, including the story of Melchert’s “yes” to serve as religious education coordinator.
“It was beautiful to see her excited and ready to jump in with lots of questions like many of our leaders,” said Javier. “I was able to journey with Jessica and our other catechetical leaders on a quarterly basis.”
Javier led a retreat for catechists and a parent kickoff at St. Sebastian.
“It’s built a beautiful relationship to support one another, to be a resource for whatever the parish needs,” said Javier. “It’s exciting to be here on a Sunday morning and see the commitment of the families and the catechists. We know we want to grow this. We know we want the parish to thrive.”
“It’s a small rural parish, but if we invest in our leaders, if we invest in our catechists, if we invest in our parents and our young people, (their faith) grows,” said Javier. “The people are ready, and they’re hungry. We just have to go out and feed (them). The Lord supplies that in beautiful ways.”
Melchert said that her faith has grown through her new role at the parish.
“If I wouldn’t have said ‘yes,’ I wouldn’t be diving as deep into Scripture,” she said. “There are a lot of programs the diocese offers to help enrich our formation, to help us with our faith. My faith has also grown through the challenges in my life.”
Melchert, who grew up in Seymour, was a licensed athletic trainer. She moved from that career to a stay-at-home mom to serve the needs of her children.
“We found out that my two oldest children were deaf, so they got cochlear implants,” she said. “That required a lot of appointments, working with them, learning sign language because that’s how my son communicated, doing auditory training, meeting with the deaf/hard-of-hearing teacher, working on speech therapy.”
The family moved to the farm and became members of St. Sebastian Parish in 2017.
“After we bought the farm, we had a third child,” said Melchert. “I was lucky enough to stay home with her. It wasn’t my intention to go back to work when I got the call to be a part-time religion teacher.”
Once again, she initially said no before prayer and discernment. But once again, she decided to accept God’s call, and on Jan. 2, 2024, Melchert, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh grad, began teaching middle school religion at Father Allouez Catholic School in Allouez. She also now teaches health at the school and serves as the supportive consultant/intervention teacher where she works with students who need assistance in particular classes.
Just as Melchert has received training for faith formation, the Office of Catholic Schools has provided tools and resources in her role at Father Allouez Catholic School. All of this is funded through the Bishop’s Appeal.
“I’ve worked with high school kids and college kids through sports. I’ve always had a good connection with students,” she said. “A lot of my teaching is more geared towards the students that struggle.”
Catholic education is important to Melchert’s family, she said. Her mother, Lillian Theroux, now retired, was a physical education and health teacher at Father Allouez School.
The Melchert children attend Father Allouez School.
“I attended Catholic school growing up, St. John the Baptist School in Seymour. They closed 12 or 13 years ago,” said Melchert. “Going to Green Bay, that longer drive is proof that I want Catholic education for my kids. I want them to have that beautiful ability to learn what faith is.”
Her youngest child is at the elementary campus, located at St. Matthew Parish. Her two older children are with her at the middle school campus, located at Resurrection Parish.
“They love me being there,” she said, adding that it’s been a blessing. “We do the rosary on the way in. If I’m not doing that, I’m listening to the Bible.”
Melchert, who also gives back as a soccer coach and as a member of the school board for Seymour Community Schools, said that life on the farm brings her closer to God’s creation.
“My husband does most of the farming. If needed, I will bale hay, drive a tractor or run a skid steer. Mostly, I work in our large garden,” she said. “I like to be connected to nature and God’s greatness for everything we need for planting. We can provide for what we need because God gives us what we need.”
Melchert said that her life will continue to be about “God first, family second and work third.”
When challenges arise, she said she relies on her faith.
My life has not been perfect. There have been moments when I’ve asked God, ‘Why?’” said Melchert. “Giving witness, ‘Thank you for giving me this challenge because it’s brought me closer to you.’ God allows faith to be tested and how we respond is really a testament to the strength of our faith.
Does Jessica inspire you? Watch the latest episode on On Mission Meetup now on YouTube featuring Jessica Melchert, hosted by Kately Javier.