New Indianapolis archdiocesan communications director excited to 'blend' her faith, profession

INDIANAPOLIS (OSV NEWS) -- Sally Krause sensed God had her on a journey. She didn't know the destination until she accepted the position of director of communications for the archdiocese in mid-October.

"Looking back, I can see that he was preparing me for this next step and giving me the courage and confidence to move outside of the familiar place I'd been in for 25 years," said Krause, who started her role as archdiocesan director of communications Nov. 4.

That "familiar place" was Indiana University Indianapolis. She began there in 1999 as a development writer for the IU School of Medicine then switched to the IU School of Nursing in 2004, where her most recent role was as director of communications.

"We are excited to have Sally join our archdiocesan staff as director of communications," said Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. "In addition to an evident devotion and commitment to the Catholic faith, she brings an array of gifts, skills and experience to enhance and develop archdiocesan communications in various ways."

Krause sees her new position with the archdiocese as more than a job.

"It feels like home, like the place I'm supposed to be," said the member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Indianapolis. "It is 1,000% a calling and a path that God led me here. There's no doubt about it," she told The Criterion, the archdiocesan newspaper.
Krause's eyes light up with enthusiasm for her new role.

"I'm very excited to be part of this team," Krause said. "I love working in a team environment -- it's where I thrive.

"And I love the opportunity to blend my faith and my profession and use my gifts in that space. That's probably the main thing that attracted me to the job."

She describes her new role as having three primary areas of responsibility. One of those areas is considering the different means by which the archdiocese communicates in light of the earlier survey results.

"The Criterion is a valuable and key method of communication for the archdiocese," Krause said. "But as you look around, what other pieces might need to be present? My job is to work with the folks here and see what kinds of communication tools and plans we can put in place to expand and build upon what's already here -- which is a great, solid foundation to jump off of and grow."

Another task involves public relations, "being in spaces to be able to communicate on behalf of the entire archdiocese," she said.
The third primary area is in promoting a unified voice in archdiocesan communications.

"It's important to speak in all areas as one voice and to unify that voice more sharply," said Krause. "There is a unification already present, and the more tools we have in place and the more we can talk to each other, the stronger that will be."

She calls herself a "cautious adopter" of new technology.

"I like to see if a new tool or technology is going to have legs, so to speak, and stick around," said Krause. "I don't want to steer an organization down a path that's not going to be available for very long, and I'm always very cautious about the impact of that technology on an organization -- is it going to serve us well?

"But I also don't want to miss out on where things are going. I always stay in touch with people younger than me, honestly, because they usually have their thumb on what's going on."

Krause said she has "always been drawn to communications -- the storytelling, the learning about people, their journeys."

She was raised in a strong Catholic family in South Bend. She studied English for two years at IU South Bend, then completed her degree in 1992 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. She later earned a master's degree in library and information science from IU Indianapolis in 2003.

After graduating from Purdue, Krause moved to Atlanta, where her parents were living at the time. She gained experience in promotions and public relations, but moved back to Indianapolis in 1995 and shortly afterward met her now-husband, John Krause.

They married in 2000 at St. Monica Church in Indianapolis, her parish at the time.

"God led me to marry the absolute perfect person for me," said Krause. "He's kind, supportive and the smartest person I know. We have the words "A Gift from God" engraved in our wedding bands, and I am grateful for John every single day."

The couple moved to the east side of Indianapolis, with Our Lady of Lourdes "literally at the end of our street," Krause noted.

Their two sons -- Charlie, 21, and Max, 19 -- are now in college. Both graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes School and Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis.

"I cannot stress enough how happy I am to be part of this team. I am incredibly respectful of and amazed by all the great things that have been going on before I got here, and I'm blessed to be a part of the journey to see where we can go next."