Pastor

jmcbeth@stjohn23.org

Favorite Activity as a Priest? Sunday Mass

Where Would you like to travel? The Holy Land

First Job? Bagger at Churchill’s Supermarket on Byrne

Greatest joy in being a Pastor? Getting to encounter so many different people

Weekend Associate

rose@oblates.us

What do you really do? While I am so blessed to be a part of the community at St. John XXIII (or “the Two -Three” as I like to call it) my “day job” is as the president of St. Francis de Sales School, in Toledo. Foreign missions are a real passion for me, and I work with ministries in the Philippines and Jamaica, as well.

Religious Order?  I professed vows in 1998 with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and was ordained a priest for my community in 2002. St. Francis said that we are called to a devout life and his book “Introduction to the Devout Life” written in 1609 has never been out of print! Check it out.

Highs and Lows - I love to travel and my studies have taken me to the lowest point of the earth, the Dead Sea in Israel (1371 feet Below Sea level) and one of the highest elevation cities, El Alto, Bolivia (13,615 feet Above Sea level) 

Hobbies I love music (play guitar and sing), photography (and photo editing) and long boarding. Oh, and cat videos, but who doesn’t like cat videos?!?

Deacon

theadley@stjohn23.org

How did I end up here? I grew up near the shores of Lake Erie in northeast Ohio, a fairly typical childhood, complete with baseball and Boy Scouts, paper routes and farm work, and with a firm foundation of family and faith.

The performing arts were my passion. During one particular high school choral performance, I had a “mountain top” experience, a deep and profound sense of the spirit. I felt moved to make such experiences possible for others, and was fortunate to do so for thirty five years as a music educator/band director.

In this and so many other ways, God prepared me for ministry. A six year journey of formation led to ordination to the Permanent Diaconate in September of 2013. Such a blessing! to be among the faith community at St. John XXIII.

Greatest joys ..

• as Husband? sharing the journey with a faith filled woman who has a great sense of humor

  ( and always tells me the truth!)

• as Dad? observing our sons navigate life with strong women at their sides, each maturing into their roles as wonderful parents for a new generation

• as Papa? (grandfather) Emarie Jane (b. 2007), Ethan Matthew (b. 2009), Rowan Cale (b. 2012), Hazel Lynn (b. 2014), Foster Ellis (b. 2016) everyone lives in Wood County

• as Deacon? seeing the love for Jesus alive in the hearts and lives of our faith community

• in active Ministry? Shared Pathways, RCIA, Men’s Retreat, Grant Evaluator for Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and Project Connect Wood County (an ecumenical, intra agency effort to prevent homelessness)

• in private time? exploring, all things musical, and movies

Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation

ammolyet@stjohn23.org

What do you do at St. John XXIII? I really enjoy "working the crowd" after the Weekend Masses--meeting and greeting familiar faces and welcoming those who are new to the parish. For me, engaging parishioners in the life of the parish is where it's at. I like to hear what adults are looking for and then helping them discern where they best fit and can grow in our community of faith.

Religious Order? After graduating from college, I joined the Sisters of Notre Dame in Toledo. Throughout the years, I have ministered in a variety of ways in the Diocese of Toledo: elementary teacher, junior high teacher, and high school counselor. I also served on the leadership team for the Toledo Province for 12 years prior to my coming to St. John XXIII in 2011.

Most daring adventure? Traveling in a van through New York and into Canada in the 1978 snowstorm with a bunch of college friends! We were heading for Mt Tremblant Ski Resort in Quebec to go snow skiing for a week.

Pastoral Associate for Preschool to Fourth Grade

twalton@stjohn23.org

Is there a particular philosophy or mantra that guides your life decisions?

I have two.  The first one is: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

The second one is: Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.

How do you spend your free time?

Spending time with family is my favorite thing, playing games together, watching movies, walks at the park and going for Sunday drives. I love just being with them.  I also  love to read or listen to books.  My favorite authors are: Connilyn Cossette, Mesu Andrews, and C.S. Lewis.  Just to name a few. 

Fun Fact:

I was the first baby born in the city of Toledo, Ohio after the first man landed on the moon.  There was an article written in the Blade about my birth. They called me “The Moon Baby.” I still have the newspaper article. My mom says the doctor and nurses were going in and out of the room to watch the TV of the landing.

Pastoral Associate for Fifth Grade to Eighth Grade

sroof@stjohn23.org

What is your favorite food or a food that you could eat for the rest of your life?

I love chocolate and desserts, as long as it doesn’t have any coconut in it.  If it was the only food I ate for the rest of my life, I would want all the calories to disappear.

What would be your dream dinner party guests?

Saint John Paul II, Walt Disney, Eleanor Roosevelt with a special appearance by Lucille Ball.

What are some things that I love about myself:

I like to live life to the fullest.  I love to have fun and go on adventures. Also that I laugh and smile easily and enjoy the little things in life, but also my ability to make friends easily.

Who is my Confirmation Saint?

St. Maria Gorettii, she actually found me.  She is the patron saint of youth, purity, and young women/girls.  I’ve always been young at heart and not wanting to fully grow up.  After a while I realized I enjoyed being around youth and what a wonderful age that is, they have so much ahead of them, it's really an important age. About five years ago, I discovered Theology of the Body, and it has radically changed how I see life.

Pastoral Associate for High School and Young Adults

bmoren@stjohn23.org

What is the most interesting prize you have ever won? I have won Free Pizza for a year through a "text and win" via College Game Day Live!

What do you like to do when you are away from Ministry? I love just spending time with my wife and children, going camping and hiking and watching/playing sports.

Who is your favorite Saint? I have had many Saints play many roles in my life, but the one i have enjoyed learning about the most is Pier Giorgio Frassati. He inspires me to reach to the height of my faith in everything I do.  He was smart, athletic, funny, served God and the poor, loved the mountains and he knew the key to being fearless... "Jesus is with me. I have nothing to fear".

Director of Worship Music

pkern@stjohn23.org

What do you do? I am the Director of Worship Music at St. John XXIII. I plan music for Masses, organize band personnel and lead worship through music for every weekend and feast day Mass, Wedding and Funeral that occurs in our church.

Best part of your job?   The best part of my job is seeing everyone enter deeper into the Liturgy through the music that my team and I provide.  It is truly humbling and heartwarming to see people worshipping God in this way – I once heard the doctrine that “singing is praying twice.”  I enjoy seeing parishioners and guests alike praying twice with my team and I at every celebration of Mass.

What is your educational background? I earned a Bachelor of Science degree, Majoring in Journalism and Minoring in Entrepreneurship, in 2019 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 2020.  Both of my degrees are from Bowling Green State University.  Ay Ziggy Zoomba!

I am also a very proud alumnus of Lial School (Class of 2011) and Central Catholic High School (Class of 2015).  Go Falcons and Go Irish!

Fun Fact? I have perfect pitch – I can tell you what key a particular song is in, what note a car’s horn makes and everything in between.  This is what my fiancée, Marissa, likes to call my “fun party trick.”

Hobby? Well, playing guitar is a given – I also enjoy playing video games, participating in fantasy football and baseball leagues and spending time with family and friends.

Office Manager

tcarella@stjohn23.org

Best part of your job?  I get to meet new people almost daily.  My work gets put on hold, but then again I guess I truly am working.  Stop by the office and let’s talk,
 
Fun Fact? I lived in Hawaii and on Sunday’s Don Ho would come over for dinner.   
 
Hobby? I love to plan theme parties.  Even a game of bunco at my house has a theme.
 
What do you do? I’m behind the scene person.  I take care of running the daily office duties from finance to listening to someone who needs a helping hand.
 
 

Receptionist 

pketcham@stjohn23.org

What do you like to do in your spare time? Dine out & go see good movie.

What is one of your greatest joys? Traveling to see my daughter perform on stage..

What would someone be surprised to know? I am the secret shopper for St John XXIII.

Parish Multimedia Coordinator

abrubaker@stjohn23.org

Hobby? I like to keep busy with a bunch of different things. I’ll most often be found spending time with my family, walking my dog, catching up on new movies and music, or with my nose in a book.

Favorite food? Anything mediterranean.

Favorite childhood memory? Visiting my grandparents’ house in Michigan. They lived on a lake, and we had a blast trying out different water sports!

Fun fact: I’m a fourth generation BGSU Falcon in my family.

Maintenance

trussell@stjohn23.org