What is the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)?

The PPC is a consultative body that unites laity and clergy in a community of prayer, leadership, service, and pastoral planning. The PPC prayerfully reflects on the needs of the parish and the larger community. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Council advises and consults with the pastor, recommends policies [vision] for the mission and faith growth of the parish, and monitors and evaluates the processes and programs that implement these policies [this vision]. The Council is the pastoral planning body of the parish.

You can read the PPC's full charter (in English) by clicking here.

Who are we?
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
​
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.
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. ​
Jaretlzi "Carolina" Renteria

Jaretlzi "Carolina" Renteria has been a St. John XXIII Parishioner at St. Nicholas Church since she arrived with her parents and two siblings from Mexico City in 1991. She has worked in Evanston for over 25 years in various non-profit and corporate roles. She and her husband Oscar are proud parents of their three children, Camila, Enrique, and Leo. She's very excited to serve as a representative of the Latino community on the Parish Pastoral Council.
Tim Schmitt

​Tim Schmitt, along with his wife Paula and two boys Harland and Weston, live in northeast Evanston. They have been parishioners of St. John XXIII since 2008. Tim was raised Catholic as part of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield, IL. Tim and Paula were married at St. Mary Church, and both boys have received their first sacraments (baptism and first Communion). Tim serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and is an active tenor in the St. Mary choir. Professionally, Tim leads sales and marketing as the Chief Growth Officer for XL.net, a leading managed IT services provider for small businesses and organizations. Tim has a degree in Computer Engineering from University of Illinois and an MBA from the CTO Academy in London.
Rob Sullivan

Rob is a member of the Pope John XXIII School Advisory Board and the St. John XXIII Parish Pastoral Council. Since joining the parish in 2018, he has also served on the Parish Unification Team and the Communications Sub-Committee, as well as on the final Pastoral Council at the legacy St. Nicholas Parish. You can usually find him at Mass where he serves as a greeter, usher, and Eucharistic Minister. Rob works as an IT professional and has two daughters, both of whom were baptized at St. Nicholas and now attend our parish 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 Lent groups, and on the Winter Parish Party/Mardi Gras planning committee. She’s also taken a leadership role in the annual parish mission trips since their beginning in 2015.
Elia Vergil

Elia and her family have been members of St. John XXIII Parish since 1989. Her four children celebrated their Frist Communions and Confirmations here, and she served as a catechist in the Spanish Religious Education program until 2014. She has also volunteered at the annual Kermés and the Rummage Sale. She finds comfort when she comes to St. John XXIII Parish, and she wants others to feel the same.
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: lector, Eucharistic 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.

    Contact the Parish Pastoral Council