 FR. GREGORY ADOLF
Pastor
Father Adolf is St. Andrew’s 8th pastor. He came to St. Andrew’s in 1991, as the Associate Pastor to Fr. Harry Ledwith. When Fr. Harry was transferred to Tucson in 1992, Fr. Greg was appointed Administrator, then then in 1993, Pastor.
A native of Colorado, Fr. Greg grew up in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Fr. Greg can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 FR. MARCO BASULTO PITOL
Parochial Vicar
Born in Cordova, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico April 7, 1964, Marco Antonio, is the second of 4 boys in the family. He grew up in the small town of Tilapan. When he was 12 years old he went with his older brother, Jose Luis, to San Andres, Tuxtla, where they went to high school and did some college prep. Every week they traveled to spend the weekends with their parents, Irma and Jose Luis, and their two younger brothers, Juan Manuel and Hector Hugo.
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Fr. Marco can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 GEORGE GAUN
Deacon
George Gaun was ordained into the Diaconate in 1996.
His ministries for St. Andrews include prenuptual marriage preparation, annulments, and training weekday Sacristans, Sunday Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers.
His family joined our parish in 1975.
George can be reached at 458-2748 or
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 JOE KUSHNER
Deacon & Facilities Manager
Joe wears two hats for our parish. Ordained as a deacon in 2003, he heads the jail ministry, coordinates ministers of hospitality, acts as our compliance officer for the Safe Environment program, teaches religious ed and officiates at baptisms, weddings and funerals. Starting as our facilties person in 2006, Joe is responsible for maintaining our buildings and grounds, and coordinating construction projects.
Joe comes to us from Michigan. After graduating from Wayne State University, he had an Army career in counter-intelligence and worked for the county Sheriff’s Department. He and wife Pat have five children plus grandchildren. They also like camping and taking cruises.
Joe can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 FRANCES LOPEZ
Assistant to Director of Religious Education
Fran has been the assistant to the DRE since 2006. Christine calls Fran her “other pair of hands.” This lady is responsible for getting classrooms ready for classes, directing the children to the right rooms, filling out attendance sheets and inputting data to the computer. She may also be called upon to substitute as a catechist’s aide.
Fran is a native Arizonan, having been born in Superior and raised in Bisbee. She arrived in Sierra Vista in 1979, and has since retired from a career in administrative work at Fort Huachuca. She and husband Guillermo have two children and a granddaughter. Fran’s interests are reading, cooking and hitting the beach at Rocky Point in their RV.
Fran can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 CAROL O’DONOGUE
Business Manager
Carol’s is the second office on the left down the parish office hallway. Working for the parish since 1988, Carol keeps the computerized financial records, and can answer questions about the envelopes, the status of parishioners’ donations, and the parish finances in general. It is Carol who prepares financial reports annually for the diocese and monthly for the pastor and parish council.
Carol grew up in Indianapolis, living in several places before coming to Arizona. With her own family, she came to Sierra Vista in 1985. She and husband Jim, who himself is active in parish ministry, have 4 children plus grandchildren. Carol likes to fish and hike.
Carol can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 GAIL PHELPS
Teen Choir Director
This lady with the really nice voice became our teen choir director in 2009. The teen choir sings once a month at the Life Teen Mass on Sunday evenings, and members rehearse with Gail two hours each week. Their goal, as she puts it, is to “Praise God in Song.”
Gail earned a degree in music education at the College of St. Theresa in her native Minnesota as well as a Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix for School Guidance Counseling. She came to our area in 1989, began working as a teacher and later met her husband-to-be, Don. She has worked as a music teacher, band director, choir teacher and counselor at schools throughout the area. Gail has also led children’s and adult choirs at Holy Family and Our Lady of the Mountains parishes, as well as ours, which she and Don joined in 2001.
In her spare time, Gail likes to act, write religious music, and participate with pro-life causes.
Gail can be reached at
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 CHRISTINE RAMIREZ
Director of Religious Education
Christine is the person to see for classes to train our youngsters in knowing Jesus and understanding our Catholic faith. She is the person who resources, interviews and trains the teachers. Programs include Catechism of the Good Shepherd for pre-school children, Christ our Life for grades 1 through 8 and Confirmation for grades 9 and 10.
Christine has an A.A. in Psychology, a B.A. in Sociology and M.A. in Pastoral Theological Studies from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Christine was born and spent part of her young life in Kansas. At times, when her Navy stepfather was stateside, she lived in the places he was stationed. Before coming to us in 2007, she worked as a pastoral coordinator for Glenmary Home Missions in Appalachia. This beautiful lady has three children, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Christine can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 PRISCILLA RENDON
Nursery Assistant
Priscilla helps her mom in the nursery on Sundays, perhaps getting an idea of how it might be someday with a house full of young ‘uns. Right now, though, she is in college, at Pima in Tucson, with future ambitions for law school.
Priscilla was born in Germany, at a time when her folks were stationed there. The family arrived in Sierra Vista for the first time when she was 2, so this is like her only home.
She was a St. Andrew’s Life Teen at one time, and graduated from high school at the Berean Academy. She studied dancing under Alma Dolores and enjoys participating in beauty pagents. Among her honors were Miss Pre-Teen Tucson in 2004 and Miss Cochise County in 2006.
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 RON RIVERA
Life Teen Musician
This talented guy currently leads the adult group that provides the music for the lively Life Teen Mass, Sunday evenings at 5. This Mass, designed for the youth, also has a dedicated following of adults.
Over the 30 plus years that Ron has been a member of St. Andrews, Ron has been actively involved in our music ministry. For a long time, he was with the Folk Mass group.
For many years, music was his career. He plays 15 instruments, including a great trumpet. Ron taught band and choir at all levels in the Sierra Vista school system.
Ron came to us from Tucson, where he was born, raised and graduated from the U of A. He enjoys wrestling and other sports and participates with local band and singing groups. And, he proudly says, his five kids are also musically inclined.
Ron can be reached at
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MARK WILLIAMS
Custodian
Mark is our full-time custodian, starting his rounds very early and working to around 2. He is responsible for cleaning and groundskeeping, and also does light carpentry and other maintenance work. He has been with us since 2006. After work, Mark may head for Cochise College, where he studies building construction technology.
Mark came from a military family. He was born in Kentucky, but spent most of his youthful years in North Carolina. After high school, he enlisted in the Army himself and made a career of it. Mark came to this area in 2000. He is single, and in his spare time likes to use his carpentry skills to build scale models.
Mark can be reached at 458-2925 |
 LEILANI ZARAGOZA
Office Assistant
Leilani is the first person you see when you go into the parish office building, as her desk is right there in the foyer. She’ll direct you to the priests or anyone else you want to see. She’ll likely be the person answering if you phone the parish. In addition to receptionist duties, Leilani assists volunteers in meeting diocesan compliance requirements, and helps in any other way she can.
Leilani, a native Californian, trained and worked as a beautician for many years before coming to our area in 1995. She and husband Mome moved to Sierra Vista in 2001, and Leilani joined our parish staff in 2006. Leilani has 2 stepchildren and has grandchildren and more. She enjoys gardening, baking and sewing.
Leilani can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 KARL BALANDOVICH
Children’s Choir Director
Once a month, the Children’s Choir takes over the music for the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass. Karl is the man leading them. The young people develop their singing talent and stage presence. Practices are held once a week. Parents interested should contact Karl or Rebecca Williams.
Karl hails from the coal country of Pennsylvania. College trained in music education, he made a career with Army bands before retiring in 2002 from Fort Huachuca. Bassoon and tuba were his specialties. He is a music teacher and band director for the schools on post, teaches in town schools and participates with local choral and instrumental groups. Karl is single and lives in Hereford.
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 ANN DICKSON
Special Ministries & Secretary of Parish Board of Directors
Ann teaches Baptism classes for parents and godparents of infants, facilitates our Bereavement Support Group and co-facilitates the Welcome Home program. Previously, she was our RCIA director from 1999 to 2008.
In addition to being the secretary of our parish Board of Directors, she is treasurer for the La Purisima retreat center and active with the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
A native of New Jersey, Ann came to our area first in 1982 with husband Rod, who was career military. Ann had a financial management career with civil service. She is involved in Ignatian spirituality, is fascinated by the Holy Land, and enjoys opera and the theater.
Ann can be reached at 378-2486 or
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 MARYANN HOCKSTAD
Community Liaison for Kino Hall
Maryann, as a volunteer, helps the parish staff schedule events and manage use of Kino Hall.
Originally from New York, Maryann moved to Tucson as a child. After graduating from the University of Arizona, she moved to Sierra Vista in 1970. In 2005 she retired from Fort Huachuca after a 35-year career. .
Maryann is a member of the parish council and the “8 o’clock” choir. She is also Treasurer of the Diocese of Tucson Catholic Founddation. She is a life-member of the Girl Scouts USA, serves on the Sierra Vista Arts & Humanities Commission and sings with local choral groups.
She has a married daughter, Misty and several “grand-pets.”
Maryann can be reached at 458-3185 or
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 LUCIA LEON
Administrative Assistant
Lucy has been with us since 2003. As you walk into the parish offices, she is the person on the left, where the window is. She is the person to see to register in the parish, make appointments with Fr. Greg, to have Masses said, or schedule the church or parish hall.
Other jobs for this busy lady include typing the bulletin, preparing pastoral reports, buying sacrament books, arranging visits to the homebound and hospitalized and working with and being on the Board of Directors for La Purisima Retreat House.
Lucy was born and raised in Agua Prieta, Sonora. She has lived in Sierra Vista since 1994. Before joining our staff, she owned a party catering/rental business. Lucy and husband Bob have two daughters. Lucy enjoys gardening, photography and traveling.
Lucy can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 MIKE MORALES
Custodian
Mike works part-time, in the evenings, taking care of the parish center, classrooms and the administrative building. He also helps with painting and other mainenance projects. He started working with us in 2007. He is also a vice-president of our Hispanic Council and a member of the K of Cs.
Mike was born in Bisbee, one of 11 children. The family lived in Naco, Sonora when Mike was growing up. Before joining our staff, Mike worked for the Sierra Vista school system and U of A-South.
He has two children. Mike likes playing sports, hiking and fishing and rock and Norteno music.
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 TAMMY PERCY
Coordinator for Rite of Christian Initiation of Children
The RCIC program that Tammy coordinates is geared toward children of elementary school age who have not been baptized, or if already baptized, have not been prepared for Holy Communion. The children are baptized and/or receive their first Communion and Confirmation at Eastertime, like the adults in RCIA. Classes are held on Sundays during the school year, between 8:30 and 9:45 a.m. in the conference room of the parish office building.
Tammy has been doing this since 2006. She was born at Fort Huachuca into a career Army family. Husband Kevin was also in the Army, and now works in civil service. Tammy substitute teaches at Village Christian school and is heavily involved in her children’s school and scouting activities. She enjoys baking, cooking, sewing -- in fact, describes herself as an “old fashioned girl.”
Tammy can be reached at
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 BILL POLAKOWSKI
Parish & Finance Council Chairman and Treasurer of the Parish Board of Directors
Bill first joined the parish finance council back in the eighties, and later became its chairman, serving through 1990, when his career required him to move away for a few years. Upon retiring, he and wife Jean returned to Sierra Vista, and Bill reassumed the finance council job in 1996.
He has served in that capacity ever since, and when the council was made the de facto parish council, assumed that chair, too. Since the parish was incorporated in 2005, he has been an elected lay member of the board. Bill played a major role in the building of our new church.
Bill’s employment as an electrical engineer brought the Polakowskis to our community and parish in 1979. They have five children and numerous grandchildren.
Bill can be reached at 459-2653 or
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 MARICELA RENDON
Nursery Coordinator
Maricela runs nursery care during the Masses on Sunday morning. Just drop the kids off at the last room in our youth building. There’s a sign on the door. The nursery is well stocked with toys and videos, and Maricela, who is both a Certified Child Care Provider, a CPR and First Aid Instructor and a Registered Medical Assistant, will take great care of them.
Maricela herself comes from a large family. Born in South Dakota and raised in Texas, she married a career military man named Johnny, and they have lived all over.
The family joined St. Andrews in 2002, and Maricela has been working in our nursery since 2004. A busy person, she raised five children and also currently works as Medical Externship Director and Instructor at Brookline College in Tucson.
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 RICHARD RIVERA
Youth Minister
This personable young man directs the Life Teens program for high schoolers and the EDGE program for our middle school youth. The programs include spiritual development, religious education, community service and fun activities. Sunday evenings, we have the Life Teen Mass, followed by the Life Teen meeting, called a Life Night. EDGE meets on Tuesday evenings.
Richard has been in St. Andrew’s youth ministry since 2001. He was born into a military family, and was raised all over. The family first came to Sierra Vista in 1996, in time for Richard to graduate from Buena High. He likes outdoor activities like scuba diving, hiking and rock climbing. His favorite music is contemporary Christian.
Richard can be reached at 458-2925 or
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 RITA THOMPSON
RCIA Director
Rita Thompson is the director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The RCIA is a progressive journey of faith by which adults, teens and children are brought into full communion with the Catholic Church through four phases--precatechumenate, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy.
Rita was certified as a Lay Episcopal Minister on June 8, 2008, after participating in the Diocese of Tucson Common Formation Program. A combined 4-year ministry preparation program for Permanent Diaconate and certified Lay Ecclesial Ministry candidates, it addresses four areas of formation--human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral--as presented by local experts in Catholic theology, practice and experience.
Rita can be contacted at
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 REBECCA WILLIAMS
Music Director
Rebecca has been our music director since 1993. In that capacity, she makes sure that there is music for all our Masses on weekends as well as Masses requiring music on other special days, plus weddings and funerals. She can be found at the Saturday evening Mass, the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass and the Good Shepherd Mass every weekend, plus the Spanish Mass twice a month and the Life Teen Mass once a month. She trains the Teen Band, and the children’s choir in bell ringing.
From her lack of accent, one would never know Rebecca was born and raised in the Deep South. Upon graduating cum laude from Vanderbilt University, she joined the Peace Corps, teaching music in Barbados. After that she toured with R&B, reggae and "Top 40's" groups. This mother of two daughters in college describes herself as a news junkie.
Rebecca can be reached at
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