A youthful calling

Torus Tammer

Martina Palmer doesn’t look old enough to be a youth minister. But the

perky 30-year-old has been tending the young flocks at Sts. Simon and

Jude Catholic Church since the day she saw the church’s ad asking for

help.

“I fell in love with it because of all these kids that looked pretty

cool,” Palmer said. “And they had this love or spirit inside them that

was just like mine.”

Palmer, who once earned her pay as an account manager with National Van

Lines, said life seemed a touch stale. She didn’t necessarily love her

job, but she was good at it.

A lifelong Catholic, Palmer gradually began investing more and more time

at church and eventually stumbled across an advertisement for a new youth

minister. It was her then-boyfriend and now-husband, John, who encouraged

Palmer to give it a shot. So she did.

Sherrie Oldham was director of religious education when she interviewed

Palmer for the job.

“Well, she got under my skin... actually, but I saw something in Martina

that she probably doesn’t even see herself,” Oldham said. “It was a

fearlessness, an ability to endear herself to everyone.”

Palmer wanted the job, and it was evident because she was willing to take

a pay cut -- but not before she negotiated the church’s original offer up

a few notches. She followed her instincts and came to realize that she

was exactly where she wanted to be.

“My heart reacted to this place, and plus I have a passion for working

and being around kids -- I love being able to relate to them and watch

them grow,” Palmer said.

And the proof is in the pudding when it comes to Palmer’s work. Not only

does she have the same youthful appearance of those she guides, but she

has love, respect and attention. Brianne Murphy has been a member of the

youth group for several years -- 2 1/2 of which have been under Palmer’s

direction.

“She was, like, totally awesome because she would talk to me as if she

was my age, but at the same time, she was also authoritative,” said

Murphy.

Palmer exerts effort on a daily basis, working with and giving full

attention to her kids. Her plate is full with the youth program she runs,

called Teen Life, for which she is the ultimate surrogate -- covering all

bases from friend to teacher.

“Martina has this desire to constantly call forth the kids’

spirituality,” Oldham said. “Her primary goal continues to be helping

them see how God is involved in their everyday lives.”