Throughout the history of Youth Encounter in the Diocese of Marquette, the movement has been shepherded by a priest Spiritual Director.  Msgr. Tim Desrochers Fr. Jamie Ziminski, Fr. Brian Gerber, and Fr. Tim Ferguson all did a fine job guiding the movement through the years, along with the leadership of Barry and Yvonne Voss as weekend coordinators.

With the closing of Marygrove Retreat Center in July 2019,  Youth Encounter was in need of a new Spiritual Director to ensure the movement's continued success.  In May 2019, Bishop John Doerfler appointed Fr. Ryan Ford to succeed Fr. Tim Ferguson, who was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Escanaba.

Fr. Ryan has been the pastor of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Parishes in Ishpeming, MI since July 2018.  He has served as associate pastor of St. Peter Catedral in Marquette and St. Mary Mission, Big Bay, and of Holy Spirit and Resurrection Parishes, Menominee.  Before being appointed to Ishpeming, Fr. Ryan worked for three years as a spiritual director and instructor of undergraduate theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, while earning a post-graduate degree in theology.

Since being appointed Spiritual Director of Youth Encounter, Fr. Ryan has been working on assembling the group of adults who will complete the various tasks taht need to be done for the Youth Encounter weekends in November and March.  He appreciates all the effort so many priests and laypeople have put in over the years to foster the Youth Encounter movement, and is looking forward to the work that lies ahead!



To contact Fr. Ryan, send him an email at [email protected], or call at (906) 486-6212.