Images

Gabriela Karaszewski, M.S., M.A. is currently the Director of the Office of Young Adults & Campus Ministry at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Obtained a M.A. in Pastoral Studies from University of St. Thomas and Master of Science from University of Washington. Serves as member of the National Advisory Team for Young Adult Ministry for the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth at the USCCB. Previously was the Director of Faith Formation for 10 years at a parish in Texas. Originally from Mexico, married to a Polish man and they have two daughters.

Dr. Chris Stravitsch is Co-founder of the St. John Paul II Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors. He has a passion for creating new ministries that meet today’s most pressing needs, especially the pastoral needs of couples and families. Dr. Stravitsch earned a Doctor of Ministry from The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, where he focused his research on the spiritual formation of spouses and families. He earned a dual degree in Pastoral Counseling from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, which consisted of an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and he earned a B.A. in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Dr. Stravitsch is the President and Founder of Rejoice Counseling Apostolate, an apostolate which serves parishes by providing onsite Catholic counseling services. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Dr. Stravitsch and his wife, Sarah, reside in Katy, Texas, with their five children.

Preston H. Young is Regional Managing Partner at Stream Realty Partners.  Mr. Young also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Free Enterprise Institute and is on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Business Ethics Forum and Western Academy. At Texas A&M University, Mr. Young serves as an Advisory Board Member for Mays Business School and is a member of the 12th Man Foundation’s Champions Council.  He and his wife, Amber, have three children and are parishioners at St. John Vianney Parish in Houston.

Helen Tschoepe has been married to Phil for 37 years, and they have 4 grown children, all happily married, and 6 grandchildren. When her youngest child started kindergarten, she returned to teaching at St. Michael Catholic School, where she taught 2nd grade for 19 years and then became the Religion Resource Teacher. Helen also helps with all the Sacramental preparation at St. Michael’s and teaches twice a month for Pre-K3 through 5th grade.

Mini Vettical, MD is a wife, mother of five children and has given up her career as Internist and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine to raise her children.

Arland K. Nichols is president and founder of the St. John Paul II Foundation. Early in his career, as an educator and non-profit executive, he became a popular speaker and successful writer while he established the groundwork for the initiatives that would become the St. John Paul II Foundation. Arland launched the St. John Paul II Foundation in 2014 and he is author of the 4th edition of the Handbook on Critical Life Issues published in 2024 by the National Catholic Bioethics Center. Arland earned a B.A. in philosophy from Texas A&M, an M.Div. in Theology from University of St. Thomas, and pursued doctoral studies in bioethics at Regina Apostolorum in Rome. With the generous support of his wife, Cindy, and their ten children, Arland is blessed to lead the St. John Paul II Foundation as it serves, educates, and supports medical professionals, married couples, and clergy.

Kiernan O’Connor  is a writer in The Woodlands, TX. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in CatholicMom.com, Down in the Dirt, Ancient Paths, and Catholic Arts Today. He and his wife of 17 years, Jackie, have four children and attend Annunciation Catholic parish in Houston.

Trey Cashion and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for nearly 30 years and have six children, including soon-to-be 17 year-old triplets, and are Parishioners at St. Mary’s in College Station, Texas.  In 2001, Trey received his Master of Theological Studies from The University of Dallas IRPS program.  Trey co-authored with Dr. Joseph White “Together in God’s Love” – a marriage preparation program published by Our Sunday Visitor.  Trey and Stephanie host a radio show produced by RED C Radio in College Station, Texas called “The Mystery of Parenthood”. Currently, Trey is a Private Banker and Senior Vice President with Guaranty Bank & Trust.

Lucy Hines, a native Houstonian, is always cooking up something–homeschool plans, meal plans, and even fresh kolaches in her small bakery, the Kolache Shoppe. Lucy, a widow at 27, was amazingly blessed with the gift of marriage to Randy Hines in 2012. As a devoted wife and mother to five who range in age from 10 to 2, Lucy is constantly seeking Christ in the workplace and in the domestic church. She is a parishioner at Our Lady of Walsingham here in Houston.