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Pastoral Team
Pastor: Fr. Paul MacNeil
This Sunday's Bulletin
This Sunday's Bulletin
I was appointed as pastor of Our Lady of the Scapular parish in November 2015 and I am delighted to be here. Before that, I was pastor of St. Ann's parish in Fenwick Ontario, a small but loving community about 30 minutes from here. I was born and raised in St. Catharines and ordained to the priesthood in 1999. Currently I am Chair of the Niagara Catholic District School Board and I'm working on my PhD in Religious Studies at McMaster University. As your pastor, my first priority is just to listen, to get to know you and understand the best way for me to serve you and to bring you closer to each other and to God through Christ.
St. Denis Roman Catholic Church
A Catholic Centre of Excellence
The Pastoral Team
The Very Reverend Father Stephen Joseph Bruzzese, V.F.
Pastor
Father Stephen Joseph Bruzzese was born October 11, 1989. From an early age, he always wanted to be a priest and found great joy in being an altar boy. After graduating from St. Michael’s Catholic High School in 2007, he received recruitment from several universities for football. In 2008, Father Stephen enrolled at St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto and played one season for the Varsity Blues. Between 2009 and 2012, he earned a Baccalaureate in Thomistic Thought from St. Philip’s Seminary & between 2012 and 2017, he earned a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology and a Masters of Divinity from St. Augustine's Seminary. Fr. Stephen was ordained on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, by His Excellency, Bishop Bergie. He was named Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Scapular where he served from July 2017 to January 2021. Fr. Stephen is excited to serve the people of God at St. Denis.
Mrs. Nancy Chmay
Secretary
Nancy Chmay has served the Roman Catholic Church of St. Denis as the Parish Administrator since 2004 and Bookkeeper since 2012. Her duties support the many aspects of church life, such as handling administrative and financial activities, reporting and office management. As well as the weekly bulletin, Nancy sets up Mass Intentions, parishioner lists, and other worship and communication materials. Nancy assists with the Marriage Preparation Course, and helps instruct students to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. She is responsible for planning and coordinating fund raising events, luncheons and dinners. Nancy is married to Brian Chmay and they have four children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Brian and Nancy have been members of St. Denis since 1988. She also serves as a Eucharistic Minister, Reader, Greeter and Usher.
Mr. Ryan Hermack
Director of Evangelization
Ryan Hermack has served the Roman Catholic Church since 2014, both in secretarial positions as well as leading several church ministries. He studied Theology and Apologetics under Dr. Taylor Marshall at the New St. Thomas Institute. Now, he works with Fr. Stephen in the pursuit of fostering a healthy and thriving faith community at St. Denis. His roles include leading sacramental preparation for both First Communion and Confirmation, building and maintaining a LIFETEEN youth ministry program, as well as assisting Fr. Stephen with the overseeing of other faith-based ministries of the parish. Although Ryan has been a jack of several trades, having completed education both to work in carpentry as well as to be a mortgage agent, he is overjoyed to once more have an opportunity to work in the area he is most passionate about, which is within the Catholic Church. I want to be that voice of confidence echoing God’s promise to Jerimiah “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart” (29:13).
We are all called to make St. Denis that "Catholic Centre of Excellence", so perhaps this is the opportunity you have been waiting for or have an amazing idea you would like to share! If you are interested in joining the team as a volunteer, please send me an email at evangelization@stdenischurch.ca.
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