Catholic Parish of St. Thomas More

210 Haddow Close, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6R 2P3, Ph: (780) 434-6313, Fax: (780) 438-2088

PASTORAL COUNCIL BIOGRAPHIES

	Father Sylvain Casavant (Pastor) Fr. Sylvain has been a priest since 1992 and has worked in various ministries throughout the Archdiocese. His priestly service first began at St. Theresa’s parish and, after 2 years in that setting, he was made pastor of the churches in Rimbey, Sylvan Lake, Bentley and Winfield, Alberta. His next venture was as Vocations Director, holding this position full time for 2 years. Fr. Sylvain has also studied Spiritual Theology at the Teresianum in Rome. After a short time with the church communities in Camrose and Bashaw, Alberta, Fr. Sylvain was given the mandate of parish priest for St. Thomas More in August, 2004. He is pleased to be present to this vibrant and ever-growing community and hopes to bring his love of Christ to the parishioners for whom he ministers.
	Dorothy Johansen (Chair) Dorothy Johansen has been an active parishioner of St. Thomas More since 1995. She is an active member of the Catholic Women’s League, and is currently Provincial Secretary. She serves the parish ministries as an Acolyte, and lector coordinator. Dorothy is married to Mike, and they have one adult daughter, Jamie. Dorothy is a Professional Engineer who works at CoSyn Technology as a Team Leader. She volunteers with Girl Guides, as a Guide Leader and Commissioner. In her spare time, she plays golf, enjoys quilting, and plays the piano.
	Matt Oryschak (Vice-Chair) Matt has been an active parishioner of St. Thomas More since moving to Edmonton in 2003. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus where he has served as Lector and Church Director. Matt also serves as a Lector at Sunday masses. He and his wife, Clover, have sponsored adult inquirers of the Catholic faith through involvement in RCIA both at St. Thomas More and in Saskatoon. After finishing a M.Sc. in non-ruminant nutrition, Matt worked as a Livestock Instructor at Fairview College and later as an Environmental Program Specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Food. He is currently the Biosecurity Coordinator at the University of Alberta’s Poultry Research Centre. In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing with his two little girls, Hannah and Gracie.
	Alice Tkaczyk Alice Tkaczyk was formerly a parishioner and CWL member at St. Agnes Parish for a couple years. She is an active member at St. Thomas More Parish since 1994. Alice is involved with CWL on the Executive as the Communications Convenor. She has been serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Greeter for several years. Alice completed her post secondary education at NAIT. Her former professional background had involved being a water resources/environmental technologist. She is presently employed as an Administrative Secretary with the Sisters of Providence at Providence Centre. Alice served on various committees, Provincial Council and President as a volunteer during her professional work experiences. She has also been a President for many years and a board member in the condominium where she resides. Alice enjoys spending social time with family and friends. Her other interests include nature walks, occasional golfing, and attending Edmonton’s many festivals and cultural activities.
	Carmen Grabusic Carmen Grabusic has been attending St. Thomas More since she was a young girl including such celebrations as her first communion and confirmation and her childrens' baptisms. Carmen has been married to Goran for four years, has a three-year-old daughter Ava and a seven month old son Oliver. When not on maternity leave, she works for Alberta Seniors and Community Supports in the area of research and planning, and is a provincial board member for the Alberta Association on Gerontology. In her free time, Carmen enjoys cooking for family and friends, traveling, scrapbooking, sewing and gardening. This is Carmen's second year on Parish Pastoral Council.
	Lixmila Serrano Lixmila Serrano was born in the Philippines, the fifth of seven children. Due to poverty she was given up for adoption when she was 8 months old. Later in life, she graduated cum laude in Agriculture and pursued her post-graduate studies in Agricultural Business. In 1987 she traveled to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper. With the help of her employers she applied and was approved to become a caregiver in Canada in 1989. While working in Canada, she studied Accounting part-time at Grant McEwan Community College and volunteered at the Misericordia Hospital and the Alberta Legislature. After two years, with her permanent resident status, she found a full-time job. Lixmila Serrano has been in special events field for the last 14 years, seven of those at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and she is currently at the Edmonton Real Estate Board. Her skills include calligraphy, painting, event-planning and organizing. She and Juanito are blessed with three children and a niece in Canada. The couple is actively involved with the "Couples for Christ." The family owns a specialty store in the south side of Edmonton.
	Dennis Heber Dennis has been a member of St. Thomas More parish since 1967. He and his wife Lorraine lived in Greenfield with their four children. He worked as a teacher and administrator with the Edmonton Catholic System for 34 years. While at St. Mary High School ( now Ecole Picard on 99th St.) he pioneered the "chem. Study" program and piloted the new physics 30 curriculum. During his career he always made time for professional involvement in the ATA. While with the school system he served on a number of committees such as Administrative Selection, Professional Improvement Leaves and Insurance Committees. He was also involved in a program called traffic clinic set up by the Alberta Safety Council, there he counselled dangerous drivers. For a change of pace they moved to Pigeon Lake in 1994 and resided there until May 2000. The stay at the lake was very pleasant and a busy time for Dennis. He was on village council and was also deputy mayor at Poplar Bay. He loves to read, enjoys photography and model railroads. He’s a handyman and loves to work with wood. He can construct or fix absolutely anything. He is looking forward to contribute to the Christian community in St. Thomas More Parish.
	Leo Sosa Leo Sosa has been an active member of St. Thomas More Parish since 1998. He is active in the Knights of Columbus and has recently completed a successful term as Grand Knight of the Nazareno Council, a council sponsored by St. Thomas More’s Fr. Bonner Council. He has a university degree in social sciences with economics as his minor. His varied career includes roles in human resources, risk management in the insurance industry, and currently, pension administration with the provincial government. He and his wife, Mary Ann, are blessed with two children, Raymond and Katrina. The family is actively involved in various parish ministries and in the Amazing Grace Prayer Ministry. As a doting father, Leo enjoys watching his children develop into young musicians - Raymond with his violin and piano playing and Katrina with her singing, piano playing and dancing. Both children are members of a performing arts group through which their talents are showcased not only for competitions and gala performances but also for community service causes. This is Leo’s first year with the Parish Pastoral Council.
	Peter Semchuk Peter Semchuk is a native Edmontonian and has been a member of St. Thomas More parish since 2001. Prior to moving to southwest Edmonton, Peter and his family were members of St. Theresa’s parish since 1985. Peter is 48 years old and has been happily married to Charleen for the past 23 years. They have two daughters, Vanessa (19), and Elyse (17). Peter has been employed with IBI Group Architects, Engineers since 1984, and became an Associate with the firm in 1998. He is a Project Manager, Specification Writer and Certified Construction Contract Administrator for projects the firm has been commissioned for throughout western Canada. In his spare time, Peter enjoys playing golf, and attending Edmonton Eskimo games. This is Peter’s first year on the Parish Pastoral Council.
	Lauraine Saretsky I was born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Following professional training as well as a number of years of employment in Saskatoon, I moved to Edmonton in 1990 when I began employment (which I remain with at present) with the University of Alberta Hospital (Capital Health Authority) as a medical transcriptionist. For the past 8 years, I have been doing this work from my home, which allows for flexibility and variety. I also received in 2005 training and certification as a foot reflexologist. I was an active member of St. Anthony's Parish for 15 years, being active in various ministries as well as committees. I came to St. Thomas More Parish in 2004 and presently volunteer in the ministry of greeter. This is my first year with parish council. In my free time I love to read, enjoy nature walks, do needlepoint, write poetry, attend live drama, as well as take continuing education classes, particularly crafts or computer.
	Tim Battle Tim Battle and his wife Monique have been St. Thomas More parishioners since 1994. Tim is a member of the Tri-Parish Social Peace and Justice Ministry, and was involved in the original planning to establish the parish youth ministry. Tim and Monique have served on the St. Thomas More Marriage Preparation team for several years. Tim is a former teacher who now does educational programming for a nonprofit agency. He is a former chair of the Edmonton Archdiocesan Council for the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, and past chair of the Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities. He obtained his CTM standing from the Gospel Lights Toastmasters Club which meets in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre. Tim and Monique have two children, Paul and Katie, who attend St. Stanislaus School.
	Jeannine Harris Jeannine Harris has been a member of Saint Thomas More since June of 2006 when she relocated to Edmonton from the United States. She has been married to her husband Jeff for 12 years and together they have three daughters, Paige (11), Olivia (4), and Avery (1). Jeannine worked as an Accounting Manager and Human Resources Manager for 10 years while residing in Texas. She retired two years ago to be a fulltime mother when her third child was born. She volunteers for various ministries within the Parish such as the Children’s Liturgy, the C.I.C., and is a current sponsor for the R.C.I.A. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
	Bosco Dias Bosco Dias has been an active parishioner of St. Thomas More since 2005. He serves the parish ministries as an Acolyte, Lector and Holy Communion minister. He immigrated to Canada from the Middle East (Qatar) and has settled in Edmonton. He and his wife were actively involved as Lectors and with the children's music ministry in the Middle East. Bosco is happily married to Olivia, who is also a Lector and Holy Communion minister, and they have two lovely daughters, Kesia and Delilah, who are Altar Servers and attend Ecole St. Stanislaus School. Bosco is a professional engineer who works in the oilfield as an applications engineer. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. His other interests include playing the guitar, dancing, playing chess and golfing. He is eager to serve the Catholic community of St. Thomas More Parish and this is his first year with the Parish Pastoral Council. Photo coming soon.
	Klaus Klein Klaus Klein has been attending St. Thomas More Parish since immigrating to Canada with his family from Gernany, where he was born. Klaus and his wife Ellen have been married for over 31 years. They have two children – their son Jan (28) and daughter Joana (23). Klaus qualified as an architect and engineer in Germany, where he worked for several years for architectural firms and with his own practice. In Edmonton, he is employed by a local archtectural firm and has been responsible for the detailed design of several building projects in Edmonton and Northern Alberta. Klaus currently serves the parish as Holy Communion Minister. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. For the last three years he has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Active Mission to Guatemala. Klaus loves living in Canada. He has become an ardent fan of the NHL and CFL. On warm summer evenings you may find him out on a golf course with Ellen.
	Jane Bereznicki Bio coming soon.

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