Special to The Message
After an extensive search process, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel has appointed Megan Knies as the Director of the Office of Family and Life for the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, filling the position recently vacated by Eric Girten who accepted the role of diocesan Vice-Chancellor. Megan assumed her duties June 17.
Bishop Siegel said, “I am happy to welcome Megan to the Diocesan staff. Her experience with various Church ministries and organizations over the years along with her professional training will serve her well in her new position. I trust that under her leadership, the Office of Family and Life will build on the excellent work done by Eric Girten over the past six years.”
Megan most recently served in private practice in licensed social work, counseling and therapy.
She holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work, both from the University of Southern Indiana, and she’s a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Before establishing her private practice, Megan devoted more than nine years to serving as Case Manager, Vibrant Living Program Coordinator and Residential Therapist with agencies in Evansville and southwestern Indiana.
Diocesan Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Dean Happe said, “We are extremely pleased and blessed to have someone of Megan's experience, commitment and passion for our diocese serve in this role. I look forward to working with her as she continues to build and strengthen our ministry in such an important area of family and life matters, working in partnership with our parishes to serve the people of our diocese.”
As the Director of the Office of Family and Life, Megan will assist Bishop Siegel in the development and delivery of ministry in the areas of marriage preparation, support and enrichment; Catholic family support and enrichment; coordinate and promote diocesan efforts to defend the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death; and advocate for Catholic Social teaching. Megan will work with other diocesan leaders, parish pastors, staff and volunteers, and other appropriate community organizations to identify ministry needs within the Diocese and subsequently assist the Bishop in meeting those needs.
Megan is the inaugural president of the Columbiettes in Evansville, a Catholic Women’s organization affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and she has been active for many years in the Teens Encounter Christ movement.
Megan and her husband, Alex, and their four children, Carol Jane, Lewis, Nick and Theo are members of Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville.
Megan said, “I am thrilled to work in this ministry, and I am thankful to Bishop Siegel, Dean Happe and those on the interview committee for giving me this opportunity. I am blessed that God has provided me with this opportunity and people around me who give me the support necessary to take on this role. I have always believed that faith is something one actively lives in their day-to-day life and an individual’s faith is grown stronger in the family. My own family has been such a blessing for my personal faith journey, and I hope to continue to explore and expand in my faith. I hope to continue to dive into seeing the ways that we can support marriages, families and life within the Diocese of Evansville. I hope that our churches continue to be a source of encouragement and support to all families in all the highs and lows that life brings from the early stages of conceptions to the final stages of life and every milestone along the way.”