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Meet Our WritersSean Ater Sean Ater lives in Milford with his wife Monica and three young children. Sean attends Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and is an Assistant Director in the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He is a Dayton native, a graduate of the University of Dayton, and enjoys hiking, camping, and hanging out with his family. Emily Besl Emily Besl lives in East Hyde Park with her husband of 25 years. She has two daughters. Emily and her family are members of St. Mary Church, Hyde Park, where she worked as a pastoral associate directing the catechumenate for fourteen years. For fun, she loves to curl up with a good book or spend time with her family. Emily Bissonnette Emily Bissonnette, a Cincinnati native, serves as Theology of the Body Education Coordinator at Ruah Woods. She received her Master’s in Theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and spreads the good news of the faith, authentic femininity and Theology of the Body through writing, speaking and media appearances. In particular, she enjoys working with the youth through the Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life program. Emily is a St. Gertrude’s parishioner and is engaged to be married this summer. She blogs at Unshakeable Hope. Mary Anne Bressler Mary Anne Bressler has lived in Oakley for the past 31 years. She has been a member of St. Mary Church for more than 40 years and has been on staff full-time for over five years as a pastoral associate. Mary Anne coordinates religious education programs from infant baptism through adult faith formation. She has four grown children, two granddaughters and two dogs. Mary Anne teaches a theology class at Xavier University and is involved with a number of local organizations, including ProKids, the Peaslee Neighborhood Center and Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism. She is an avid reader and works out almost daily. Brad Bursa Brad Bursa is the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Gertrude Parish in Cincinnati, OH. He received a BA in English and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he is currently enrolled in the Theology MA program. Following graduation in 2008, Brad spent a year teaching English at Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver. Joshua Danis Joshus Danis lives near Dayton with his wife, Hollie, and their two beautiful children. He works for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as the Northern Coordinator of the Family and Respect Life office. Joshua also serves as the Coordinator of Religious Education at St. Paul in Yellow Springs. He graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and he enjoys mountain biking, football, reading, spiritual conversations and making homemade popcorn with his wife. Joshua and Hollie also blog at Becoming a Domestic Church. Dr. Mike Gable Dr. Mike and his wife Kathy Gable are originally from Cincinnati and now have 4 sons and 5 grandchildren. In the 1980s, they served with Maryknoll Missionaries at the Justice and Peace Office at Maryknoll, New York and later as lay missionaries in Bolivia and Venezuela. Before becoming the director of the Mission Office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 2000, Mike served as Pastoral Associate at St. Michael’s in Sharonville, Ohio and as a DRE in parishes around New Albany, Indiana. Mike holds master degrees in Religious Education and Theology and a doctorate in Missiology. He enjoys teaching at the seminary and Xavier University as well as promoting lay missionary work and organizing trips to build parish twinning relationships. Colleen Gerke Colleen Gerke is the wife of Deacon John Gerke for over 30 years and has five young adult children and one grandchild. She is a Secular Franciscan and member of St. Clement Franciscan Parish in the Village of St. Bernard. She began her profession career as an educator with youth having special needs for Kenton County KY and Oak Hills Schools and was a Director of Faith Formation for 15 years before being the director of the Family and Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Deacon John Gerke Deacon John Gerke is a deacon of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati assigned to St. Clement a parish staffed by the Franciscans, located in St. Bernard Ohio. John is a secular Franciscan and is the local minister of his fraternity. He has been married to Colleen Gerke for 31 years. John is the father of five children and is owner of Gerke Electric. Together with Colleen he loves to watch old movies and to go canoeing as often as their busy life allows. Fr. David J. Endres Fr. David J. Endres is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, ordained in 2009. He is assistant professor of church history and historical theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary/Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati. In addition to teaching, he is weekend celebrant at St. Thomas More Church, Withamsville. He holds a doctoral degree from the School of Theology at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Steve Feldmann Steve Feldmann lives in West Chester with his wife Kate and four children (two of whom are foster sons). They are parishioners of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Liberty Township. Steve is the Director of Agency Advancement for Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio. He grew up in Cincinnati and holds undergraduate degrees from Thomas More College and graduate degrees from University of Cincinnati and University of Kentucky. Steve is a youth league coach and third-degree Knight of Columbus. He serves on the Board of Advisors for St. Joseph Orphanage and on the part-time faculty at Miami University Regional Campuses. Marla Gipson, C.P.P.S. Sister Marla Gipson C.PP.S. is a Sister of the Precious Blood. She recently moved to Minster, Ohio to live with three other Sisters as a local community. They are a community of prayer and are very intentional about holding to a disciplined schedule of prayer and of an ever-deepening quality and sacredness of communal prayer. On the flip sign of the same coin, they are intentional about mission and ministry as it flows from a foundation rooted in prayer. Currently, Sr. Marla ministers part-time as a Religious Education Consultant and as a Course Instructor for catechist certification in the Northern Region of the Cincinnati Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. She has a B.A degree in Sociology from Ohio State University and a M.A. degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dayton. Fr. Satish Joseph Fr. Satish Joseph is the associate pastor at Immaculate Conception and St. Helen parishes in Dayton. He has a Masters degree in Communication and doctoral degree in Theology. His Rock Mass is a popular celebration in Dayton every Sunday evening. He is also the founder Ite Missa Est ministries. Apart from serving at the two parishes, he conducts retreats, seminar and parish missions. You can find his free iPhone and droid apps by typing in itemissaest or ite missa est. Sr. Leslie Keener, CDP Sr. Leslie Keener, CPD is a Cincinnati native and a Sister of Divine Providence of Kentucky. She has worked as a campus minister at the University of Cincinnati through St. Monica-St. George Parish Newman Center since 2005, and, additionally, is involved in other young adult groups, such as the 20/30 Club at SMSG and Cincinnati Theology on Tap @ Clifton. Sr. Leslie enjoys discussion on matters of faith, spirituality, and justice, and is passionate about ministry to and with young adults. Basically, she is your typical young nun with a passion for spirituality, crafts, and hip hop dance. Dan Kroger , OFM, Ph.D. Dan Kroger is a native of Cincinnati, from St. Catharine Parish, Westwood. He became a Franciscan in 1966 and was ordained in 1973. He taught at Roger Bacon High School and served in rural parishes in the Philippines. Dan earned a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics at Notre Dame. He taught at De La Salle University, Manila, until assigned to his present post as CEO at Franciscan Media in late 2006. Amy S. McEntee Amy S. McEntee is an assistant director in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. She also serves as the chairperson of the Executive Board for the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association. Amy has professional ministry experience in faith formation for children, youth and adults. In addition to her professional interests, Amy is an amateur photographer, avid reader, and reluctant runner. She loves to travel and can often be found in art museums, bookstores and coffee shops. Amy lives with her husband, Patrick, in Dayton, Ohio, where they are members of St. Helen parish. RC Nzingha RC Nzingha lives in the community of Pleasant Ridge with her husband and youngest son. RC also has two adult sons. She attends Resurrection Parish in Bond Hill, and is the VP of the Board of Directors of the Over-the-Rhine and Walnut Hills Soup Kitchens. Joe Ollier Joe Ollier lives in Beavercreek with his wife, Mary, and their four children. A Cincinnati native, Joe is a graduate of St. Xavier High School and the University of Dayton. A 20 year youth ministry veteran, he has been a Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Ascension Parish in Kettering since 2008. Joe is a big UD Flyers and Reds fan, and he loves spending time with his family and friends – especially on those hot summer Sundays at their local pool. Andrea M. Parker Andrea M. Parker is an associate director for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, a position she has held since 1998. Prior to coming to the Archdiocese, Andrea served for sixteen years in several Connecticut parishes and schools as a Director of Religious Education, Director of Youth Ministry, high school religion teacher, and music minister. She has expertise in adolescent faith formation and young adult ministry. Before switching to Religious Studies in college, Andrea was an art student and continues her artistic pursuits through painting, watercolor, pen and ink, and oil pastels—and uses these media in her daily prayer. On any given Saturday, you’ll likely find Andrea and David, her husband, at local art museums, on the hiking trails, or on the hunt for the best New York-style pizza in Ohio Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk As Archbishop of Cincinnati from Dec. 20, 1982, the Most Rev. Daniel E. Pilarczyk was upon his retirement in 2009 the longest-tenured archbishop in the United States. He was its longest-serving active bishop, in recognition of which he was chosen to ask a question of Pope Benedict XVI during his May 2008 pastoral visit to the U.S Archbishop Pilarczyk is the author of almost two dozen books and booklets, the royalties from which he has donated to the Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. “A theologian and classicist viewed by many as the U.S. hierarchy’s smartest bulb, there’s seemingly not a national post Pilarczyk hasn’t held,” commentator Rocco Palmo wrote on his Catholic blog “Whispers in the Loggia” in December 2007. “Atop the list: board-chair of the Catholic University of America, chair of ICEL (International Committee on English in the Liturgy), chair of the bishops’ committees on Doctrine, Liturgy and Priorities and Plans – and and, of course, vice-president and president of the episcopal conference.” Palmo later (September 2008) wrote that the archbishop is “regarded by many of his confreres as the leading intellect among the US bishops.” Emily Reis Emily Reis lives on a farm in greater Cincinnati with her husband Patrick and three small children. She is a graduate of Franciscan University, where she earned a degree in Theology and Catechetics. Sue Sack Sue Sack is the Director of Adult Faith Formation for the northwest Dayton parishes of Precious Blood and St. Rita. Sue has taught numerous subjects to people of all ages, but really enjoys the challenge of pastoral ministry. She is presently a Doctoral Candidate in Theology at UD, working on her dissertation. Sue has been married to her husband Larry for over 30 years; with four terrific young adult sons. Her small farm is a menagerie, she runs a community garden, and she loves to bake, paint and camp. Fr. Kyle Schnippel A native of Botkins Ohio, Fr. Kyle Schnippel attended the local public schools with his five siblings. After spending a year at Ohio State University, he enrolled at the Pontifical College Josephinum to pursue studies for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. After graduation with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Classics, Father enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, the major seminary for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Upon his 2004 ordination to the priesthood, Father’s first assignment was to the faculty at Elder High School and resident associate at Our Lady of the Visitation. After two years, he was appointed as Vocation Director for the Diocese where he works to recruit qualified young men for the priesthood, as well as a general promotion of the priesthood and religious life among the faithful. Lindsey Simmons Lindsey Simmons is the publicity, social and digital media manager at Franciscan Media—the largest English-language Franciscan communications company in the world, located in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati. She is a parishioner at St. Gertrude Parish and she occasionally attends the traditional Latin Mass. An animal lover, she has a dog and cat. She will be getting married in fall 2012 and she met her fiancé online at Ave Maria Singles. Dan Thomas Dan Thomas recently retired from parish ministry; serving as Director of Religious Education for 30 years at five parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Dan has been married for 35 years to Eileen and has two adult sons, David and Ryan. He has a BA in history and two MAs from the University of Dayton, in history and Pastoral Ministry. Dan writes a monthly column for Catechist magazine and book reviews for Catechetical Leadership magazine. He enjoys playing tennis and is an avid reader of books on diverse topics. Bill Tonnis Bill Tonnis is single and lives in Monfort Heights. While he attends St.Monica St. George, he is the Director of Youth & Outreach Ministries at Our Lady of the Visitation Parish. Bill is also a singer/songwriter with a music ministry found at www.BillTonnisMusic.com. A life-long Cincinnatian, he grew up in Delhi, graduated from Elder High School, Xavier University and then worked over 20 years as a radio newscaster at 700WLW. Bill received a Masters degree in Religious & Pastoral Studies from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 2004. He enjoys music, writing songs, reading and a good laugh. Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, is a Marianist Sister in Dayton, Ohio. Originally from Texas, she moved to Dayton in 2008 and live in community with six other Marianist Sisters. Sr Nicole is an active part of the larger Marianist Family, which includes Sisters, Brothers, Priests, and Lay Marianists. Currently, she is in ministry at Chaminade Julienne High School as a religion teacher and assistant in both the Office of Academics and the Office of Ministry and Service. In her free time she enjoys hiking, running, reading, and spending time with friends. Fr. Rob Waller After 63 years of life, 37 years as a priest and 23 years as a pastor, Fr. Rob’s hope is deeply rooted with the people of St. Andrew parish and with his Palestinian Christian friends in the Holy Land. The little town of Milford and the little town of Bethlehem are worlds apart, but are one on his mind and in his heart. You can read about Fr. Rob’s two loves on his blog, With Open Doors. Deacon Royce Winters Deacon Royce Winters and his wife Rita have been married for 36 years. They have 3 adult children with the youngest being a senior at Purcell Marian High School; and 2 grandchildren. The entire Winters’ family attends the Church of the Resurrection in Bond Hill. Deacon Royce was born in Temple, Texas and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio at the beginning of his freshman year in high school. He was ordained to the Diaconate by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on September 28, 1998. and has been the director of African American Catholic Ministries since October 2005. Deacon Royce is retired from the Cincinnati Police Division after 26 years of service, as a Police Specialist. The last fifteen years of service as a Polygraph Examiner and S.W.A.T. Negotiator. He enjoys studying Scripture and playing golf. Bob Wurzelbacher Bob Wurzelbacher is associate director for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Bob has a background not only in youth ministry, but also hospital ministry, campus ministry, spiritual direction, liturgy and information science. Before joining the OYYAM staff Bob served as the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Gertrude Parish in Madeira, and is currently an online course facilitator for the VLCFF of the University of Dayton as well as liturgist/musician at Our Lady of the Rosary Pairsh in Greenhills. Bob lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Cindy, and two young daughters. |