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Mari Pablo is a proud Hispanic and cradle Catholic whose life was wrecked in the best possible way when she finally decided to stop fighting and surrender it all to Him. She holds bachelor’s degrees in theology and psychology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute. Mari has worked in youth ministry for over fifteen years, both as a youth minister and theology teacher. She is currently serving parishes and universities across the country with The Evangelical Catholic. Mari is well known for her dynamic presentations at the Steubenville Youth Conferences, SEEK and other national outlets. She is a presenter for Ascension press in YOU- Theology of the Body for Teens, CHOSEN, and Connected- Catholic Social Teaching for this generation. Mari has a deep love for food but an even greater love for Christ and is dedicated to helping others encounter Him. You can learn more at www.MariPablo.com

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Sister M. Karolyn Nunes entered the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in 2005. A native of Rhode Island, she is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville having received a Bachelor’s degree in Theology with a concentration in Religious Education and a Masters in Catechetics and Evangelization. Over the past 20 years, she has worked in the field of catechetics and youth ministry in Tennessee, Illinois, New Jersey, and Kansas.  She currently serves the community as vocation director which involves traveling to share her community’s charism of merciful love in parishes, schools, retreats, and conferences throughout the country.  She enjoys painting and other arts and crafts and making music on the guitar, harmonica, ukulele, and as a human jukebox with a song always on her heart.

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Naomi was raised Catholic but it wasn’t until college that she truly met Jesus and began to fall more deeply in love with Him and His Church.  Since then she has tried to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to help others grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. She worked at St. Ann Catholic Church for over 20 years in various ways including youth ministry and adult discipleship. Currently she is focusing on creating disciples in her own home as she homeschools her five children. Naomi has a Masters of Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. 

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Jenna is a wife and mother who has lived in Coppell for 10 years and has been a parishioner of St. Ann the whole time. She has seven kids aged 11 down to 1, with 6 of them being GIRLS. Jenna is a cradle Catholic, but came into a more mature spiritual life while in college at Texas A&M, and has grown to depend constantly on the Holy Spirit through motherhood. Her love of the faith and prayer has borne many personal apostolates including her podcast, The Better Part, which she works on in between homeschooling her kids and trying to keep her house in some sort of order. Jenna loves baking, traveling, and journeying with other women on her walk toward Heaven!

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When Kelsey Gillespy became a mom, she was an ESPN Academic All-American and an award-winning writer. After having her first child, however, Kelsey discovered that motherhood was by far the most difficult thing she had ever done. Now, she has found that being a mother can be beautiful and fulfilling, albeit a little (okay, very) messy and chaotic. At any given moment, Kelsey can be found homeschooling her herd of humans, lifting weights or small children, laughing out loud, or singing kids songs that are forever stuck in her head.

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Mandy was a Navy military brat, raised mainly on the East Coast. She made it to Texas in 1991 where she studied Spanish at UT Austin and later earned a MDivBL at a protestant seminary in Fort Worth.  She met Derek at church during her seminary years and they were married in Fort Worth 25 years ago. They served as Southern Baptist missionaries from 2003 - 2015 in San Sebastián, Spain. The Lord graciously wooed them into His Church, and their whole family came into full communion with the Holy Catholic Church in San Sebastián in April of 2015. They resigned their job, moved back to the US, had baby number 5, and finally moved back to Texas in 2018. Their family became parishioners at St. Ann in 2021. Mandy and Derek have loved serving with ReachMore, the Children’s Ministry and Mission Laredo.

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Katie wakes up everyday with a profound gratitude for coffee and silence. It is in this quiet, coffee space that she ponders the many blessings that the Lord has provided in her 21 years of marriage to her husband, Josh. Katie homeschools 6 of their 7 children that are still at home. Perhaps the greatest blessing of all is the fulfillment found in living her own vocation and watching her children blossom in pursuit of the Lord’s call.

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Kelly Somers is a Catholic wife and mother, former therapist, and homeschool mom of 4 children. After her experience being rescued by God in the midst of miscarriage, Kelly has been led to walk with women in all stages of grief after loss of children. 

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Sue is first a daughter of our King and in love with the way He loves. She is a cradle Catholic and grew up going to Catholic schools in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and is now a retired dental hygienist. Terry and Sue have been married for 45 years and lived in many states before settling in Coppell at St. Ann over 20 years ago. They have two sons, a daughter-in-”love,” and three grandchildren. Sue has always been involved in parish ministries but spiritually she was drawn to St. Ignatius and his spiritual exercises while discerning where God was leading her and healing her. As a spiritual director, she is a graduate from the Monserrat Ignatian Spirituality Institute program and then went on to the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence to become a certified spiritual director. Currently she is a second year student in the Encounter School of Ministry at St. Ann. She has a deep love for the Eucharist and her mission is to walk with others guiding them in their love and relationship with Jesus, the Trinity, and Mama Mary.

WORSHIP LEADER

Over the past 20 years, I've served in many different ministry capacities including youth, young adult, marriage, pro-life, and music ministries. Back in 2006, I teamed up with Oregon Catholic Press with whom I released two original music albums. Since getting married and welcoming five adorable kids into the world, my ministry has evolved to include homeschooling our kids, which has been a wonderful blend of faith, fun, flexibility, and chaos. In the few moments I have to myself, you’ll find me enjoying a delicious cup of coffee while reading scripture or hiding in the laundry room eating a kouign amann pastry all to myself.

SUMMIT HOST

Leah is a lifelong parishioner of St. Ann and is thrilled to be back serving the community that raised her! After nearly eight years in Steubenville, Ohio—where she attended and worked for Franciscan University, she felt called to return home to St. Ann as the Young Adult Ministry Coordinator. When she’s not at St Ann, you can find her exploring new restaurants/breweries with her husband, Wyatt, soaking up the Texas sunshine, spending time in the chapel, or hanging out with friends and family across the street at Oles!