Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
El Padre Mike Barth, S.T., nació en Berwick, Pensilvania, pero creció principalmente en Buffalo, Nueva York. Su camino al sacerdocio comenzó cuando era solo un niño. “Siempre que puedo recordar”, reflexiona, “quería servir a Dios y ser un misionero. Recuerdo haber estado en la escuela primaria y escuchar una charla sobre vocaciones. Esa charla me inspiró a escribir varias congregaciones misioneras que se anunciaban en The Catholic Messenger. Para sorpresa de mis padres, todos enviaron sacerdotes a mi casa para hablar conmigo. Fue uno de nuestros Siervos Misioneros, el Padre John McSpiritt, quien realmente me llamó la atención. Gracias a sus palabras inspiradoras, ingresé a nuestro seminario en 1966 y fui ordenado sacerdote misionero en 1979. Entre esos años, obtuve una licenciatura en Trabajo Social y una Maestría en Teología “.
En mayo de 2019, el P. Mike fue elegido para un segundo mandato de cuatro años como Custodio General (Superior General) de los Siervos Misioneros de la Santísima Trinidad. Este rol de liderazgo consiste en asegurar que la Congregación se mantenga fiel a la visión y el espíritu del Padre Judge. En 2014, fue nombrado director del Santuario de San José en Stirling, Nueva Jersey. Anteriormente, pastoreaba misiones en Cleveland, Ohio, y Camden, Mississippi. Además de servir en muchas organizaciones sin fines de lucro, el P. Mike se desempeñó como Vicario General de los Siervos Misioneros de la Santísima Trinidad desde 2003-2011.
Father Mike Barth, S.T., was born in Berwick, PA but grew up mostly in Buffalo, New York. His journey to priesthood began when he was just a boy. “As long as I can remember,” he reflects, “I wanted to serve God and be a missionary. I can remember being in elementary school and hearing a talk about vocations. That talk inspired me to write several missionary congregations who advertised in The Catholic Messenger. Much to my parents’ surprise, all sent priests to my home to speak with me. It was one of our Missionary Servants, Father John McSpiritt, who really caught my attention. Thanks to his inspired words, I entered our seminary in 1966 and was ordained a Missionary Servant priest in 1979. In between those years, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Theology.”
In May 2019, Fr. Mike was elected for a second four-year term as the General Custodian (Superior General) of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. This leadership role is to ensure that the Congregation stays true to the vision and spirit of Father Judge. In 2014, he was appointed director of the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling, New Jersey. Previously, he pastored missions in Cleveland, Ohio, and Camden, Mississippi. Besides serving on many nonprofit boards, Fr. Mike served as Vicar General of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity from 2003-2011.
El padre Jesús Ramírez nació en Guadalajara, Jalisco, México el 16 de enero de 1959. Es el mayor de 10, con cinco hermanos y cuatro hermanas. Tuvo varios trabajos antes de entrar a la congregación, incluyendo mesero, vendedor, obrero de fábrica, asistente de albañil y cajero.
El padre del padre Ramírez le enseñó los fundamentos de la oración y le dio un ejemplo de una vida de fe. Como adolescente y joven adulto, el padre Ramírez participó en actividades parroquiales, grupos juveniles y la catequesis. Esto le dio una buena idea de la vida eclesial comprometida que lo llevó a buscar a Dios y responderle de una manera cada vez más generosa.
Cuando cumplió veinticinco años, tuvo que tomar una decisión sobre qué hacer con los dones que había recibido. Entró a los Siervos Misioneros de la Santísima Trinidad en 1984. Profesó sus primeros votos como religioso el 8 de septiembre de 1988. Profesó votos perpetuos el 11 de septiembre de 1993, y fue ordenado sacerdote el 18 de junio de 1994.
Su primera misión como Siervo Misionero fue en la parroquia La Ascensión en Los Ángeles, California. Desde entonces ha servido en varios papeles incluyendo director del programa del noviciado durante cinco años antes de asumir el cargo de Custodio General de 15 de agosto de 2023.
Fr. Jesus Ramirez was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on January 16, 1959. He was the oldest of 10 children, having five brothers and four sisters. He worked in various jobs before joining the congregation, including waiter, salesman, factory laborer, mason assistant and bar cashier.
Fr. Ramirez’s father taught him the basics of prayer and also gave him an example of a life of faith. As a teenager and as a young adult, Fr. Ramirez participated in parish activities, youth groups and catechesis. This gave him a good taste of the committed, ecclesial life, which led him to seek God and respond to Him in an increasingly generous way.
When he turned twenty-five, he needed to make a decision about what to do with the gifts he had received. He entered with the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity in 1984. He professed his first vows as a religious on September 8, 1988. He made his perpetual vows on September 11, 1993, and was ordained as a priest on June 18, 1994.
His first assignment as a Missionary Servant was at the parish of La Ascensión in South Central Los Angeles, California. From there, he served in various capacities, including director of the Novitiate program for five years, before beginning his term as General Custodian on August 15, 2023.
El padre Enrique Arango, S.T. nació en la costa caribeña de Colombia. Debe su vocación a su abuela paterna quien lo llevaba a misa todos los domingos. Esta experiencia despertó en él el deseo de servir como monaguillo por más de diez años en su parroquia. También participó en las actividades misioneras de los jóvenes adultos. Al pasar el tiempo, maduró su deseo de servir a Dios y lo llevó a sentir el llamado a ser sacerdote. Gracias al padre Carlos Gordon, S.T., llegó a conocer la congregación y en el 2003 entró al seminario. Estudió filosofía en Medellín, Colombia y teología en Ciudad México. Fue ordenado al sacerdocio en 2012 y ha tenido la oportunidad de servir al pueblo de Dios en Coachella, California, Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica, Bainbridge, Georgia, Stirling, New Jersey y actualmente en la misión en Guamal, Magdalena en Colombia. Ahora a los 43 años, fue escogido para servir a su congregación de una manera especial como Consejero. Es orgulloso de poder seguir ofreciendo sus dones y talentos al Señor.
El padre Allen D. Rodríguez nació y creció en San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tiene un hermano, una hermana y tres hermosas sobrinas.
Padre Allen tiene una larga relación con los Siervos Misioneros de la Santísima Trinidad. La parroquia de su niñez – Santa María Madre de Dios en Canóvanas, Puerto Rico – fue administrada por los Siervos Misioneros. Mientras observaba y seguía la labor de sus primeros mentores, fue sembrada una semilla: la semilla del amor de Dios, especialmente hacia los pobres que están entre nosotros.
En 1996, tuvo el privilegio de ir a la República Dominicana donde trabajó como voluntario. Fue un evento que le cambió la vida. Se convenció de que Dios habla a través de sucesos y personas. Lo que nos toca hacer es escucharlo y ser sus instrumentos. El reto que todos tenemos es hacernos mejores oyentes. Por esta razón, decidió colocar su vida en las manos de Dios y en 1998 entró al seminario.
El padre Allen ha servido como miembro del Ministerio Hispano en la diócesis de Pensacola—Tallahasse; director del programa Misionero Valley en Coachella, California; director de vocaciones en Estados Unidos; y párroco de la Iglesia San Patricio en Loíza, Puerto Rico. Comenzó su labor como Tercer Consejero de los Siervos Misioneros el 15 de agosto de 2023.
El padre Raúl Ventura nació en la República Dominicana y creció en el Bronx, Nueva York. Creció rodeado por el amor de sus padres y sus tres hermanos y tres hermanas. Durante sus años de adolescente participó plenamente en su parroquia. Luego de graduarse de la Escuela Superior Samuel Gompers, se trasladó en el verano de 1995 a la región norte de Nueva York para estudiar en Saint Bonaventure University. De esta universidad se graduó con un bachillerato en filosofía y español.
Padre Raúl encontró que el carisma del Cenáculo Misionero de trabajar con los laicos era su llamado misionero. Después de la universidad, entró al programa pre-noviciado en Riverdale Park, Maryland. Profesó sus votos perpetuos el 10 de mayo de 2008 en Compton, California y fue ordenado al sacerdocio el 13 de junio de 2009 en el Santuario San José en Stirling, New Jersey.
Luego de su ordenación, el padre Raúl sirvió en varios cargos incluyendo miembro del equipo del Ministerio Hispano en Tallahassee, Florida; coordinador de misiones, párroco de la parroquia Sagrado Corazón en Camden y Santo Niño Jesús en Canton, Mississippi; sacerdote residente en el Santuario San José en Stirling y custodio de la comunidad de Siervos Misioneros. Comenzó su segundo término como Segundo Consejero de los Siervos Misioneros el 15 de agosto de 2023.
El padre Raúl disfruta caminatas por la naturaleza, visitas a librerías, ver películas de productores independientes y lecturas sobre ciencia y espiritualidad. Le gusta visitar su familia en Connecticut y compartir la vida y la fe con otros Siervos Misioneros.
El padre Francisco Gómez nació en 1954 en Zamora, Michoacán, México. Durante los años 60 sus padres, acompañados por sus cuatro hijos, caminaron por el laberinto de las oficinas de inmigración, y llegaron a Estados Unidos. Se establecieron en el Condado Orange en California.
El padre Francisco estudió en California State University en Fullerton, donde obtuvo su bachillerato en economía. Luego de la universidad, fue enviado por los Siervos Misioneros de la Santísima Trinidad a estudiar filosofía en Loyola University en Chicago. Vivió su año de noviciado en Stirling, New Jersey y se trasladó a Silver Spring, Maryland para estudiar teología en la Washington Theological Union. Fue ordenado en 1983. Él señala que en ese momento, “Se abrieron las anchas puertas del mundo de la misión y el ministerio.”
Sus muchas asignaciones incluyen las misiones en California, participación en el Consejo General, párroco de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad en Coachella, California; director de formación en la Casa de Estudios en Riverside, California, y líder del Comité Internacional de Desarrollo Vocacional (VDC) de los Siervos Misioneros. Comenzó su labor como Vicario General de los Siervos Misioneros el 15 de agosto de 2023.
El padre Francisco señala: “Una constante a través de mi vida es un sentido de gratitud por todo lo que he recibido y una persistente inconformidad con la sociedad que parece empeñada en negar y hacer del evangelio una propuesta imposible. Quizás al final de mi vida, habrá más del “ya” y menos del “todavía”.”
Born and raised in Puruaran, Michoacan, Mexico. Alma is the second and only girl of four children.
In 1995, Alma left Mexico and went to live in Toronto Canada. She lived in Canada for 2 years. In 1997, Alma went to live to the Unites States in Bedminster, New Jersey. From 2000 to 2010, she worked in the gift shop for the Shrine of St. Joseph.
Alma graduated with an Associates college degree from Union county college in 2005. In 2007, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Administration from Caldwell college.
In 2010, Alma moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, and worked in the Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Palm Beach. In 2012, She started her career at Chase Bank. In 2015, Alma moved to Columbus, Ohio and has continued her work at Chase Bank. In 2019, Alma got her second bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Alma enjoys beginning her day at 5’clock in the morning with a good work out in the gym. She loves to watch lifetime movies in her spare time.
Alma has been involved with the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity since 1997 when she met Fr. Dennis Berry, ST. Fr. Dennis invited her to be a part as Co-founder of the migrant ministry for the Diocese of Paterson in NJ. In 2019, Alma was invited by Fr. Michael Barth, ST. to be a part of Mission Partners.
Alma profoundly believes in Fr. Judge’s words that “every catholic should be an apostle”. Therefore, just like in 1997 where Alma helped to organize the beginning of the migrant ministry, she looks forward to bringing her apostolic zeal to mission partners. Alma believes that the migrant population in the United States is the future not only for the catholic church, but for the whole country.
Alma is ambitious two things for her participation in mission partners: first, to help the missionary servants with the preservation of the faith. Second, to create a foundation that would help the migrant young generation among the missionary servants’ missions in the United States to achieve a college degree.
Hugh Dempsey, KMOb, D.Ed., was raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania in Wyoming, PA. A town of 4000 where his Dad was Mayor and little went unnoticed. His parents’ close ties to the local parish and the Scranton Diocese provided a strong presence of religious men and women in his life.
Hugh and his wife Ruey moved to Western Pennsylvania where they were active in Pittsburgh’s philanthropic and cultural communities. His work to successfully help found and fund the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, led to his invitation in to Washington, DC in 2005 to replicate the effort.
Hugh has spent the greatest part of his professional life in the not-for- profit sector, creating grant funded programs in the areas of the public health, research sciences, theological research and evangelization and the arts.
A member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since 1992, Hugh has been actively involved with the Order’s world-wide humanitarian efforts on behalf of the poor and the sick. A confrere, John Butler introduced Hugh to Trinity Missions and Father Michael Barth. Hugh is drawn to the work that has been led by the Servants and has gone on steadily and quietly for 100 years.
My name is Br. John Skrodinsky, S.T. I am the only child of John Skrodinsky, Sr and Shirley Hildebrand, both from Johnstown, PA. I grew up in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and was active in sports and in my parish community.
I went to the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in 1989 to begin studying Elementary Education. I graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science in that field, but instead going on to be a teacher and coach – I focused my attention to listening to a call that I felt God had for me to be a Religious, a missionary. That is when I met the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity by way of Fr. Dennis Berry, who was serving as Vocation Director at that time. I applied after being impressed by the men, their down to earth nature, their love for God and for serving God’s people, especially the poor. By God’s grace, I was accepted into the Congregation.
I took my first vows as a Missionary Servant in 1997. My first assignment was to Hospitality House in Philadelphia, PA, with Br. Joseph Dudek, serving as a drug and alcohol counselor and as a case manager for the clients of the halfway house at this mission.
In 2001, I began evening sessions at Temple University Law School and graduated in December of 2006. I passed the NJ Bar Exam in May of 2007 and began work in my second assignment, Director of the Migrant Ministry in the Diocese of Paterson.
Tom Masterani was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, attending St. James elementary school in Sewickley and then high school at Father Judge Mission Seminary. After four years at the minor seminary in Monroe, VA (a year behind Father Mike), he spent one additional year in the S.T. formation program residing at the College house in Philadelphia and attending La Salle College (University) where he graduated in 1975 with a BA degree in English and Religion. Following graduation, he taught Religion in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for three years, first at Hallahan Girls High School in Center City and then at Father Judge High School in Northeast Philadelphia.
Tom moved to California in October of 1978 and has been a resident of Burbank since that time. After working as a construction estimator for seven years, he started his work as a real estate professional and has been an active real estate agent in Southern California for nearly forty years. He has worked in virtually every specialty within the field and teaches and consults as well as mentors new agents. He holds the professional designation of Certified International Property Specialist.
Tom has been married to his wife, Diane, for 18 years and they have a total of five (5) children and seven (7) grandchildren between them – and Max, a little Shih Tzu and the neighborhood ambassador. He is the oldest of three children, with two younger sisters still residing in Pennsylvania, one in the Southwestern part of the state and the other in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
He has been very involved in his community, serving over the years on the Boards of Directors of the Burbank Association of Realtors and the Northwest Glendale Lions Club, as Chairman of the Community Service Foundation, and as a former member of his church’s Finance Committee as well as a City of Burbank Blue Ribbon Committee. He has also been active for a number of years in local sports programs, coaching in both the youth and adult leagues. Softball was his avocation until just a few years ago, having had the opportunity to compete in softball tournaments throughout the United States.
Born in Berwick Pennsylvania with some early years in Stamford, CT but raised primarily in the Buffalo area. Tom is the second youngest in a family of five children, including Fr. Mike Barth. Tom stresses that he is the younger brother!
Tom attended Catholic grade school and high school at St. Josephs Collegiate, a Christian Brothers institution. He attended the University of Notre Dame majoring in Anthropology and Pre-Med, earned an M.A from the School of Social Service Administration at the U. of Chicago, and a PhD in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech.
Tom is a “pracademic,” serving for ten years in the federal government at Health & Human Services and EPA before becoming an academic where he has directed Masters of Public Administration programs at the University of Memphis, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and currently at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Tom is married to Sue since 1979, with two sons, Connor and Casey, and lives in Wilmington, NC.
Interests include reading, cinema, volunteering and following all Buffalo, North Carolina and Notre Dame sports teams. Go Bills, Tar Heels and Irish!
Over the years Tom has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the United Way and Family Promise of the Cape Fear Area and Disability IN: North Carolina.
Tom has grown up around the S.T.’s since Fr. Mike is his brother, and he welcomes the opportunity to bring his knowledge of and experience with nonprofit management and public administration to Mission Partners.
Father Enrique Arango, S.T., was born in Colombia, on the Caribbean coast. He owes his vocation to his paternal grandmother, who took him to Mass every Sunday. This experience awakened in him the desire to serve as an altar boy for more than 10 years in his parish, and he also participated in young adult missionary activities. As time went by, his desire to serve God matured and grew to such an extent that he felt a calling to become a priest. Thanks to Father Carlos Gordon, S.T., he got to know the congregation and in 2003, he entered the seminary. He studied philosophy in Medellín, Colombia and theology in Mexico City, Mexico. He was ordained a priest in 2012 and has had the opportunity to serve God’s people in Coachella, CA, Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica, Bainbridge, Georgia, Stirling, New Jersey, and currently in the mission in Guamal, Magdalena in Colombia. Now at 43 years of age, he was chosen to serve his congregation in a very special way as a Councilor and he is proud to continue offering his
gifts and talents to the Lord.
Born in Washington D.C., John is the middle of eight children, six brothers and two sisters.
John attended Catholic grade school and high school at St. Anthony’s, which was run by the Benedictine Sisters. He attended St. Michael College in Winooski Park, Vermont, an Edmundite institution, where he majored in Political Science. He went on to receive a Master of Education degree from Howard University and certification in Group Work and Group Psychotherapy from the Psychiatric Institute of Washington Center for Group Studies. John also completed course work towards a Master in Theology Studies degree at the Washington Theological Union.
John’s career has spanned secondary and higher education administration, fund development, management consulting, spiritual renewal and adult initiation, and individual and group psychotherapy. Formerly, John served as the Secretary for Development for the Archdiocese of Washington, Vice President for Advancement at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, President of Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C., and President & CEO of HRLC, Inc. Additionally, John consulted nationally on Evangelization and implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and as Retreat Director, Cantor and Director for Adult Initiation at his parish, St Augustine in Washington, D.C.
John is a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since 2001 and serves on several boards including The Order of Malta, The Nonprofit Alliance, Catholic Business Network of the District of Columbia, and the Kennedy Center Community Advisory Board.
John is married to Robin since 1993, has a daughter and two grand children and lives in Mitchellville, Maryland.
Interest includes golfing, biking, travel, and he plays acoustic guitar.
Father Allen D. Rodríguez was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has one brother, one sister and three beautiful nieces.
Fr. Allen has a long connection to the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. His childhood parish — Santa María Madre de Dios, in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico — was run by the Missionary Servants. As he observed and followed the daily work of his early mentors, a seed was sown: the seed of God’s love, especially for the poor among us.
In 1996, he had the privilege of going to the Dominican Republic, where he worked as a volunteer. It was a life-changing event for him, convincing him that God speaks and acts through people. The only thing we have to do is listen to Him and be His instruments. The challenge for all of us is to become better listeners. For this reason, he decided to put his life in God’s hands and entered the seminary in 1998.
Fr. Allen has served as a member of the Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahasse; Director of the Valley Missionary Program in Coachella California; Vocation Director for the United States; and Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Loiza, Puerto Rico. He began his term as 3rd Councilor for the Missionary Servants on August 15, 2023.
Fr. Raúl Ventura was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, New York. He grew up surrounded by the love of his parents and his three brothers and three sisters. During his teenage years, he was very much involved in his home parish. After graduating from Samuel Gompers High School, he moved to upstate New York in the summer of 1995 to attend Saint Bonaventure University. He graduated from that school with a BA in Philosophy and Spanish.
Fr. Raúl found that the Missionary Cenacle Charism of working with the laity spoke to his missionary calling. Right after college, he entered our pre-novitiate program in Riverdale Park, Maryland. He professed final vows on May 10, 2008, in Compton, California, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 2009, at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling, NJ.
After his ordination, Fr. Raúl served in many positions, including member of the Hispanic Ministry team in Tallahassee, Florida; Mission Coordinator; pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden and Holy Child Jesus in Canton, both in Mississippi; resident priest at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling; and Local Custodian to the Missionary Servant Community. He began his term as 2nd Councilor for the Missionary Servants on August 15, 2023.
Fr. Raúl enjoys walking in nature, visiting bookstores, watching independent films and reading about science and spirituality. He loves visiting his family in Connecticut and sharing life and faith with other Missionary Servants.
Father Francisco Gomez was born in 1954 in Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico. In the early 1960s, his parents, with four children in tow, journeyed through a labyrinth of immigration offices, made their way to the United States, and settled in Orange County, California.
Fr. Francisco attended California State University in Fullerton, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. After college, he was sent by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity to study Philosophy at Loyola University in Chicago. His Novitiate year was in Stirling, New Jersey, and then he moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, to study Theology at Washington Theological Union. He was ordained in 1983. At that point, he reflects, “The doors were then thrown wide open into the world of mission and ministry.”
His many assignments include our missions in California; membership on the Congregation’s General Council; Novice Master; pastor of Our Lady of Soledad in Coachella, CA; Formation Director at our House of Studies in Riverside, California; and leader of the international Vocation Development Committee (VDC) for the Missionary Servants. He began his term as Vicar General for the Missionary Servants on August 15, 2023.
Fr. Francisco reflects, “As a constant throughout my life, I point to a sense of gratitude for all that I have received and a persistent unconformity with a society that seems determined to deny and make the Gospel an impossible proposition. Perhaps at the end of my life, there will be a bit more of the already and less of the not yet.”
Guy was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1951. He is named after his father and is the oldest of nine. At the age of 12 his family moved to Orange, CA where they became members of the ST Mission, La Purisima. At that time the STs served migrant worker communities. He has 28 nephews and nieces and 25 great nephews and nieces.
He attended Loyola University in LA. When he began his formation with the Missionary Servants he attended Loyola, Chicago then received his MA in Ecclesiology at the Washington
Theological Union. He and Kevin O’Rourke are classmates. He professed vows in 1974 and was ordained in 1978
He has served in missions in Los Angeles, Compton, Coachella, CA; Tallahassee, FL. Lawtell, LA, Hoy Trinity, AL, Bainbridge, GA, Michoacan MX, San Jose Costa Rica.
His experience with Missionary Servant priests in Brothers since his childhood has impacted his life to serve the poor and immigrant communities.
Jerry McHugh is a lifelong Philadelphian who lives in the neighborhood where he was born and raised, where his family has lived for generations. He commuted to Philadelphia’s Jesuit University, St. Joseph’s, where he majored in theology. From there he entered Penn Law school, and upon graduation pursued a 30-year career as a trial lawyer in civil cases. In 2014, President Barrack Obama commissioned him as a federal judge, a position in which he continues to serve. In his study of theology, he pursued restorative justice, and shortly after graduation from law school began a long affiliation with the Missionary Servants. He worked with Brother Joseph Dudek , S.T. to found Hospitality House of Philadelphia, a residential reentry Center for those returning to the community from prison. Since then, he has worked to support the various apostolates of the Missionary Servants in many ways . In characteristic Philly-fashion, he married his high school sweetheart, and together they are blessed with four children and eight grandchildren.
Born and brought up in Deviyanandal, Tamil Nadu, South India. Fr. Aro is the youngest of four, one older sister and two older brothers. They all reside in Tamil Nadu.
Fr. Aro studied in public schools from primary to high school. He graduated from Arulanandar College, a Jesuit school of Arts and Science in Madurai, Tamil Nadu and majored in Philosophy. Also, attended Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA and earned a master’s degree in divinity and M.A. in Theology.
Fr. Aro has spent his formative years in ministry in Holy Trinity, Alabama and Stirling, New Jersey. He has also worked as a Missionary in Tanzania and Kenya in East Africa and the Philippines. Now, he goes to the Philippines for a Medical Mission with a group of medical teams from New Jersey every year. He worked as a chaplain at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, USA.
Fr. Aro has been a member of the Missionary Servants since profession of vows in 2011 and was ordained a priest on April 16, 2016 at the Shrine of St. Joseph, Stirling, New Jersey. He has served as an associate vocation director in the community for four years. Now, he is serving the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, a Native American community in Tucson, Arizona, USA. He is happy to be a part of the Mission Partners Team.
Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Roberto is the eldest brother among 8 children. He and his wife are blessed with 1 elder daughter followed by 4 sons.
Roberto emigrated to the United States at the age of 20 to the United States in hopes of finding his way through the world. There, he stayed with relatives in South Central, Los Angeles, which helped him with the beginning of his life in the United States. He began working in construction which lasted 3 years, and then practicing carpentry for another 2 years after.
Eventually, he found himself working at a taco stand in Los Angeles. Although Roberto does not have an extensive educational history, his hard work and determination was an exceptional substitute as he was able to save enough money to buy the taco stand he was working for.
He is part of a retreat program guided to serve individuals of all calibers as part of Our Lady of Victory Church in Compton, CA. He has taken up numerous roles in this retreat program from designated cook all the way up to Director.
Some of Roberto’s favorite activities include long-distance cycling, watching movies, and spending time with his family.
He found himself indebted to God for all the opportunities he was given, as well as for the energy required to fulfill them.
The Mission Partners have provided him with the blessed chance to learn from his newfound friendships and community.
First and foremost, I am a family man. My wife, Loretta, and our four grandchildren are pictured with me.
I was born and raised in New Jersey but spent much of my life outside of the Garden State. I lived in several states and resided overseas three times, seeing the world and getting a first-hand understanding of the differences in living conditions and opportunities.
Loretta was the first to discover the Missionary Servants at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Long Hill Township New Jersey. Its welcoming, compassionate environment drew her in, and I followed some time later. I was unaware at first that the Shrine was one of close to 40 “missions” in the Americas. That changed, however when Brother John and then Father Mike served as mission custodian at the Shrine.
While the religious-lay partnership can be traced back to the time of Father Judge, Father Mike committed himself to renewing and expanding the partnership. I was fortunate to partner with him and other laity to help build a foundation which has become a strong, vibrant group of men and women who serve in many capacities. I served four years as Chairperson of the Mission Partner Executive Committee. I remain on the Executive Committee and am proud of how my successor has continued to build purpose and expand membership.
My service to the Missionary Servants has branched out to other areas. I serve as chairperson of the Order’s investment committee, again working with a team of committed lay and religious. I also am active at the Shrine, working on a religious-lay committee to build a 21st century chapel to house a mosaic depicting the life of St. Joseph. The Shrine also has an investment advisory committee and strategic direction group, of which I have the pleasure to serve.
Marie Santana was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States at the age of eleven. Marie has spent most of her life between New Jersey and Florida. After a 30 year marriage, her husband Bob died of cancer. Marie has two sons and five grandchildren, who live in New Jersey and Florida. She has been part of the Shrine of St Joseph in Stirling, NJ since 1982. Marie took early retirement after 30 years of corporate experience working with AT&T International as Human Resources Vice President. She spent time living in St. Louis Mo, Washington, DC and Mexico City on corporate assignments.
She earned her Masters in Human Resources and Organization Development from American University in Washington, DC. Marie Santana graduated with a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the ‘An Croi Wisdom Institute’ -Dublin, Ireland. Following that she made the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life (19th Annotation) a nine month program, at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, NJ. Marie has created, composed and gives the Spiritual Exercises in an 8-Week Program format, which until now is offered only at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown, NJ in English. In 2018 she took the Ignatian Immersion Course (an intensive program on Ignatian spirituality, the life of St. Ignatius, and the Spiritual Exercises) at the International School of Ignatian Spirituality -Cova Manresa in Spain.
Currently Marie conducts retreats in English and Spanish at Loyola Jesuit Center as follows: Spiritual Exercises 8-Week Format; Spiritual Exercises in Spanish; Discernment/Decision Making Day of Prayer; Co-Director -Loyola Weekend Retreats, and gives Spiritual Direction in both English and Spanish. She in currently on the board of Trinity Mission Partners, Vocation of Business Leaders, and Ignatian Spirituality and Formation for Regional Spanish and English offerings.
Born in Temascalapa, México and raised in Mexico City. Fr. Arturo is the youngest child of five, three brothers and one sister.
Fr. Arturo attended a public school and a private College. He graduated from Law School, in Mexcio City and worked for an insurance company for 4 years. After that he joined the Missionary Servants in 2004, 25 years since he met the congregation at his home parish.
That year, Fr. Arturo began to study Philosophy in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Fr. Arturo did all his studies in Mexico City and finished his studies in Theology in the Intercontinental University in 2013. Fr. Arturo professed his perpetual vows in 2012, was ordained to the diaconate in the same year and he was ordained a priest in 2013.
Fr. Arturo has been serving as a Missionary Servant in some of their missions in USA and México. In 2012-2013 he served in Hispanic Ministry in our mission in Tallahassee, Florida and at the same time from 2012-2015 he served as coordinator of Hispanic Ministry in our mission in Bainbridge, Georgia. In 2015 Fr. Arturo was elected as The International Spiritual Guide of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate, the lay branch of the Missionary Cenacle Family and as well was assigned to coordinate the Valley Missionary Program in Coachella, California until 2018; that year Fr. Arturo was assigned to coordinate the new non-parochial mission in Mexico City.
Fr. Arturo’s interests include travel, reading, playing the guitar, walking in the forest, enjoying a good talk with a good cup of coffee. Fr. Arturo has been part of the Mission Partners project since the beginning, first as participant, then as member of the group.
Fr. Arturo considers significantly important the collaborative work with the laity at any level. Mission Partners is a new effort that is perfectly in tune with the spirituality and vision of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity.
Born and raised in Neiva, Huila, Colombia, South America, Fr. Rafael is the 6th oldest in a family of 10 children, all of them men – Mom was the queen of the house!
Fr. Rafael attended a public school and a Claretian College. After that, in 1996, he entered the Army – where heserved as a soldier for two years. Following the Army, he began to study Literature at a local public university wherehe studied for two years and left the university to join the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity Seminary inMedellin, Colombia.
In 2000, Fr. Rafael entered the seminary and began to study Philosophy in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Fr. Rafael lefthis country to enter the Novitiate program in Hidalgo, México in 2003. After the novitiate, he moved to Mexico City tobegin to study Theology in the Intercontinental University. Fr. Rafael finished his degree in Theology in 2007 andprofessed his perpetual vows. In 2008, Fr. Rafael was ordained to the diaconate and in the same year he was ordained a priest.
Fr. Rafael has been serving as a Missionary Servant in some of their missions in USA, México, and Colombia.In 2011, Fr. Rafael was elected to the general council as councilor. Fr. Rafael lived and served as general councilorfrom 2011-2015 in Washington, DC. Right after that, Fr. Rafael left the United States to serve as Director of the post-novitiate in Medellín, Colombia. In 2016, he began to study Canon Law at the Catholic University of America andtransfer to the Universidad Pontificia of Salamanca in Spain where he finished his studies in 2019. In 2019, he was elected to the general council again, but this time he was elected as the general Vicar of the congregation. Fr. Rafaelplans to move back to Washington DC soon where he will continue serving as general Vicar.
Fr. Rafael’s Interests include travel, walking in the forest, he enjoys the beauty of the sea, he loves reading andswimming in rivers.
Fr. Rafael has been part of the Mission Partners project since the beginning, first as participant, then as member of thegroup. Fr. Rafael really believes that Mission Partners are an important part of the Missionary Servant’s roots asCongregation. Fr. Rafael believes in the power of the laity as a powerful weapon to transform the world and to helpto avoid the injustice in society. Fr. Rafael really thinks that together we can collaborate to preserve people’s faith.“Mission Partners are a real inspiration to my faith as well as the movement of the Spirit of hope in action”, Fr. Rafaelmentions.
Paul was born in Chicago, the third of six children. He attended Catholic grade school and became familiar with the Missionary Servants when Fr. Louie Murphy S.T. visited his school. Fascinated by the idea of being a missionary in the United States, Paul entered Father Judge Seminary in Monroe, Virginia in 1962 as a high school freshman. Paul spent 11 years with the Missionary Servants; three of those years in temporary vows.
When Paul left the community in 1973, he returned to Chicago where he started working for the archdiocese while maintaining contact with the Missionary Servants through Father Rudy Breunig S.T. who was in charge of the Chicago House of Studies.
Kathie was born and raised in Seattle, the oldest of three children. She attended Catholic grade and high school. She graduated from Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington. After graduation she worked in the University’s Admissions Office and later in their Advancement Office,
A mutual friend introduced Paul and Kathie. After a yearlong Chicago to Seattle courtship, they married in Saint Martin’s Abbey Church and moved to Chicago so Paul could complete his MSW from the University of Illinois. During the first three years of their marriage Kathie also worked for the archdiocese however, in 1979 they returned to the Northwest with their eldest daughter, Stephanie. Their boys Ryan and David, were born in Lacey.
Paul became the Director of the Southwest region of Catholic Community Services for the Archdiocese of Seattle. He later worked for the state of Washington directing anti-poverty/gang/drug programs. In addition to serving on advisory committees for the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services Paul served on several state and local advisory committees. Since his retirement, Paul continues to volunteer on several state, county and local committees as well as coordinating their parish’s homeless shelter.
When we returned to the Pacific Northwest Kathie resumed working at Saint Martin’s University as the Director of Development. With the assistance of several alums, Kathie helped established the annual Saint Martin’s Golf Tournament and the Saint Martin’s Athletic Foundation to raise scholarships for student athletes.
Paul and Kathie were founding members of the Lacey-Mińsk Mazowiecki, Poland Sister City Association. Kathie developed and for 10 years ran a student exchange program for high school students from both cities. Due primarily to her efforts, both Kathie and Paul were made honorary citizens of Mińsk-Mazowiecki.
Thanks to the recruiting efforts of John Butler, Paul and Kathie have made the Missionary Servants their primary volunteer priority, along with Saint Martin’s University!
Kevin O’Rourke is the owner of a consulting firm specializing in assisting local governments and non profits called Kevin O’Rourke Local Government Solutions [KOLGS] He currently serves as a senior consultant with PARS. Below are a list of his bio points:
Fr. Nsom was born and raised in former British Southern Cameroons, West Africa. He is the first of seven siblings one of whom died young.
He attended Presbyterian, Catholic, and public grade school and a private high school in Bamenda. He went to the University of Buea where he obtained a B.Sc. in Business Management before moving to the USA for priestly formation. Prior to obtaining his M.A. in Theology, Fr. Nsom pursued philosophical and theological studies in Riverside, CA; Washington, DC; and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, NJ.
Fr. Nsom has been a professed member of the congregation since July of 2012. He was ordained in April 2016. He has been missioned to the rural parts of north-western Colombia in South America and to a Native American mission in Tucson, Arizona. He is presently serving as the Secretary General for the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity while pursuing an M.A. degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in George Mason University, VA.
Fr. Nsom is very new to the Mission Partners family and looks forward to gaining from their much-cherished experience and wisdom.
Stephen was born in Washington, DC, the second of thirteen children of Allan and Evelyn Flott. He grew up in Bowie and Chevy Chase before entering St. Joseph’s Preparatory Seminary in Holy Trinity, AL in 1957. He left the seminary in 1961 and, after a year in the DC area, was accepted as a seminarian by the Archdiocese of Washington. A clerical mistake – someone overlooked his five years in minor seminary – resulted in being sent to study at Resurrection College in Kitchener, Ontario. A year later, he left the seminary and enrolled at St. Jerome’s College at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, completing an undergraduate degree in history and economics in 1967 and a graduate degree in history in 1968.
After two years teaching junior high school in Toronto, he entered Osgoode Hall Law School, completing his law degree in 1973. Upon graduation he joined Weir & Foulds as a law clerk and was hired by the firm when he was admitted to the Ontario bar in March 1975. In May 1978, he was hired as CEO of the Ontario Trucking Association, serving in that capacity until May 1983 when he joined the Joint Program in Transportation at the University of Toronto as a Senior Fellow and started his own consulting firm. In September 1983, he met Fran O’Brien at a family wedding which chance meeting led to a date during a business trip to Washington in November. The rest as they say is history.
Fran and Stephen have three children: MaryJeanne, Allan, and Robert. Since moving to Arlington in May 1988, both have been active in St. Agnes Parish, singing in the choir, serving as Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, cantors, coaches for the children’s basketball teams, and on the Pastoral Council.
Stephen’s mother became a dedicated supporter of Trinity Missions when he was in the seminary and through the years she met and befriended several members of the order, most especially Brother Hilary, ST with whom she remained close to the end of her life. Stephen remained connected to the order through Brother Hilary and, after attending the reunion at Holy Trinity in 2018, agreed to try and help raise awareness of Trinity Missions among the community in Northern Virginia.
Through Mission Partners, Stephen wants to build the awareness of the poor church served by Trinity Missions among the rich church in more affluent areas of the country as a way of generating financial support for the work of the missions and the Order.
Born and raised in Ixtlan, Michoacán, Mexico. At the age of 12, he immigrated with the family to California, USA. He is the second of four siblings.
Fr. Ramon finished High School in 2009 and had a part-time job in his home parish as ministry coordinator in Sacred Heart Church in Compton, CA.
In 2010, Fr. Ramon joined the Missionary Servants and entered the seminary in Santo Domingo, Costa Rica, where he studied philosophy at the Theological University of Central America. In 2013, he professed his first vows in Hidalgo, Mexico, and continued his theological formation at the Intercontinental University i