Cliff Barber


Cliff is now a member of St. John XXIII Parish, having attended St. Mary Church since 2012 along with his wife, Claire, and their five children. He is currently a partner at Chicago Rises, an impact investing fund focused on violence reduction and wealth creation in the poorest neighborhoods of Chicago. 
Shelley Benson
Chairperson, Executive Leadership Committee

Shelley and her family have been members of St. Mary Church since 1984. She previously served on the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) for three different terms and chaired the renovation project in 2000-2004. Since 2018 she’s been the coordinator for Eucharistic Ministers at St. Mary. Shelley was part of the Discernment Team for Renew My Church and the Unification Team for St. John XXIII Parish, and most recently has led the Unification Communications Team. ​
Matt Brands
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Matt, along with his wife, son, and daughter joined St. Mary when looking for a preschool. Growing up in a Lutheran faith family, he became familiar with Saint Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine. In 2020 Matt started praying the rosary every day, deepening his relationship with God. He is honored to be able to help in the growth and evangelization mission of St. John XXIII Parish
Jim Burke

Jim has been a member of St. Nicholas for about 20 years. Since 2006 he has taught theological social ethics at Lewis University, a Catholic and Lasallian institution in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. Jim directs Peace & Justice Studies and is an Associate Director of the Gros Institute for Dialogue, Justice & Social Action
       
Sara Delva

Sara has been an active parishioner at St. Mary for 30 years. She feels honored to be part of the new Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) for St. John XXIII Parish as a representative of the Haitian community.
Krista Gliva

​Krista and her daughter have been active in several ministries at St. Nicholas for 14 years. Krista taught in the religious education program for eight years and in the SPRED program for three years. She’s been a committed rummage sale volunteer and serves on the planning team for this year’s sale. Krista is a principal and project manager at her architecture firm.
Gerry Kulans

Gerry has been an active member of St. Mary Church for more than 40 years. She has served as a catechist and on various committees, including the Peace & Justice Committee and the Liturgy Committee. Gerry has also been President of St. Mary School and on the Pope John XXIII School Board
Tom Lenz
Vice Chairperson, Executive Leadership Committee

​Tom and his wife, Suzanne Lefevre, have been members of St. Nicholas Parish, and now St. John XXIII Parish, since the early 1990s. They have three adult sons and one grandson and live in south Evanston. In his professional life, Tom works as a consultant to nonprofit organizations and to churches.
Charles Loiseau

Charles attended grade school at St. Mary, made his First Holy Communion at St. Mary, and married at St. Mary. Charles’ family and Haitian community friends have been active in the parish since the early 1960s. He has been an altar server, youth group member, and volunteer in various fundraisers. Currently Charles is Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. ​
Alex Lule-Rivera
Executive Leadership Committee

Alex immigrated with her parents from Mexico when she was two years old and is entirely bilingual and bi-cultural. The Lule family have been members of St. Nicholas since 1990. She celebrated her quinceañera and married at St. Nicholas, and her daughter was baptized and received her First Communion at the parish. For the past 20 years Alex has been a catechist in the Spanish religious education program. ​
Pablo Sanchez

​Pablo and his wife, Erika Castro, have been active parishioners at St. Nicholas for several years. Pablo has a great desire to support St. John XXIII Parish in this new beginning
Rob Sullivan

​Rob, his wife, and daughters joined St. Nicholas in 2018 after the girls started their preparation to be baptized and receive their First Holy Communion. He volunteered for the reopening team during the first year of the pandemic and was part of the PPC at St. Nicholas in 2021. Rob will also join the school board at Pope John XXIII School
Pat Trafton

As a member of St. Nicholas for 20 years, Pat has been active in many ministries, as a participant and as a leader: as a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Art & Environment Committee, a manager for the rummage sale, in ReLent groups, and on the Winter Parish Party and Mardi Gras planning committees. She’s also taken a leadership role in the annual parish mission trips since their beginning in 2015
Cathleen (Cat) Wolfe
Secretary, Executive Leadership Committee

​Cat joined St. Mary when she moved to Evanston in 1997. She has served the parish in many roles: as lector, Eurcharistic Minister, and member of the music ministry. Cat has volunteered in the managing of the St. Patrick’s Day party and most recently the St. John XXIII Mardi Gras party. Her profession as an event manager has been instrumental in the success of these parties