After serving his country for four years in the Airborne Infantry in Panama, Sergeant Troy Hinkel returned to his home in Denver, Colorado to attend the University of Colorado.  While studying English and Communications, he rediscovered his faith. Four years later, he discerned his vocation to marriage to his lovely wife, Laura. Hungry for more knowledge about his faith, he and Laura moved to Steubenville, Ohio where he earned a Masters of Arts degree in Theology at Franciscan University, graduating with honors in 1994.

 Troy then began serving as Director of religious education at St Mary’s of Greeley where he spent three years teaching, learning and growing. He organized the first Catholic Men’s conference called Covenant Keepers at that parish and also started the Lords Day ministry; a family ministry uniting families to reflect on the Gospel for the week.

 

Troy went on to work in various parish ministerial roles for an additional two years, gaining speaking and teaching experience, as well as publishing articles in Catholic journals such as Lay Witness and The Catholic Faith.

 

In 1999, Troy and his growing family moved to Lawrence, Kansas to teach theology classes at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, University of Kansas.  He was given the task of Director of the Young Catholic Scholars program at St Lawrence, raising up leaders for the church; a good number of those in his program went on to join religious communities or attend seminary.  While teaching and directing the YCS program for nine years, Troy was able to complete his coursework towards a Ph.D. in Modern European history, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate, having successfully completed a research trip to France in July of 2008.

 

Troy became an Instructor for School of Faith in 2006 and he now devotes full-time to teaching as well as being a spiritual director/mentor to Catholic school teachers and adults in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas.   Troy and Laura are also co-founders of a new Catholic lay movement with the Apostles of the Interior Life called “Collaborators of Your Joy”. 

 

Troy and Laura have six children and are very involved in homeschooling. Their oldest son, Thomas, attends St James Academy.