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 Tatiana Torres
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Staff Bios
Pastor of St. Francis Xavier since September of 2006, Fr. Joe Costantino entered the Society of Jesus in 1977 and was ordained 1987. Born in Brooklyn, he holds a BA from NYU (’77), an MA in Philosophy from Fordham University (’81), and both a Master of Divinity (’87) and Licentiate (’89) from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA.
As a Jesuit, he taught philosophy for 3 years at Canisus College, Buffalo, and served for 7 years as Vocation Director and 7 years as Executive Director of St. Ignatius Retreat House, Manhasset. He is a past board member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corp which provides service opportunities with the poor for retirees. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for both Canisius College and Loyola High School in NYC.
Fr. Peter E. Fink, S.J. is the Associate Pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. Professor Emeritus of Sacramental-Liturgical Theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA, he holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University (A.B.), two Masters degrees—one in Science (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – M.S.) and the other in Theology (Woodstock College – S.T.M.)—and a doctorate in Systematic Theology from Emory University (Ph.D).
A Jesuit from the New York Province, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1969, and has presided in both the Latin and Maronite churches. He is author of Worship: Praying the Sacraments (Pastoral Press) and editor of The New Dictionary of Sacramental Worship (Liturgical Press/Glazier), and two volumes in the Alternative Futures for Worship series (Liturgical Press): IV, on Reconciliation, and VII, on Anointing of the Sick. He has published numerous articles and is a charter member of the North American Academy of Liturgy, of which he was President in 1995.
Director of Xavier Mission at St. Francis Xavier since July of 2006, Cassandra manages the operation of the church’s five outreach programs, including the Welcome Table soup kitchen, food pantry, Hurtado Men’s Shelter, All Saints Clothing Room, and Life-Skills Training & Empowerment Program (collectively known as Xavier Mission). Prior to working at St. Francis Xavier, Cassandra was the Feed the Solution Anti-Hunger Campaign Coordinator at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, where she engaged emergency food providers in policy advocacy and integration of outreach services into their programs.
Cassandra holds Bachelor of Art (Social Work), Bachelor of Science (Psychology), and Master of Social Work degrees from Fordham University. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) by the State of New York. A native Rhode Islander, Cassandra currently resides in the Bronx with her husband, Rob, and twin 4-year old daughters, Sammie and Ella.
Patrick Brewis, a native metro Detroiter (and yes, proud of it!), holds a Professional Certificate in HR management from Cornell University ILR, and a BFA, Theatre from Wayne State University. Upon graduation he was received into the Actors’ Equity Association and, as many performers do, found himself honing new skills in each of his in-between-show gigs including sales, marketing, education/training and development.
His work as Director of Stewardship has offered an unparalleled opportunity to use his transferrrable skills in a “perfect storm” of sorts here at his spiritual home. Most recently, he raised nearly $3M as the Capital Campaign Director for the renovation and restoration of the church. He has performed in the US and the UK and has called major NYC corporations, an Ivy League School and top-notch non-profits his work home. His feature-length documentary on the history and transformation of the Church of St. Francis Xavier will premier this fall. For more info, click here http://www.dnainfo.com/20110203/chelsea-hells-kitchen/massive-church-restoration-captured-on-film. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Kapellmeister, John Uehlein is celebrating his 10th year at St. Francis Xavier. Before that, he was music director at St. Malachy’s The Actors Chapel and St. John the Evangelist, both in Manhattan. Joining the Diocese of Harrisburg Liturgical Commission at the age of 14, he has been sharing his talents in the Catholic Church for most of his life. Active as a composer as well as a singer, he has been involved in the NYC musical scene for 25 years at New York City Opera, New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, and BAM.
With an MA from Columbia and an MM from Manhattan School of Music, and a Diploma from the Schubert Institute in Vienna, John teaches at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and is active here in New York and in other East Coast cities as a composer and singer. As producer and performer of six different CD’s over the last 30 years, he has covered both political and religious arenas so the dinner table talk is most certainly lively!
Luz Marina Diaz was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She spent much of her early life working as a system analyst as well as dancing, choreographing and teaching in two major modern dance companies in Venezuela. In 1994, she came to New York and discovered her vocation as a religious educator and liturgical dancer.
She has 10 years of dedicated service in Catechetical Leadership and has been Director of the Religious Education Program at Xavier since August 2007. She also serves as chair of the Liturgical Ministers Committee, a member of the ISEL (Ignatian Spirituality in Every Day Life) team, a member of the Interfaith Committee and a member of The Jesuit Collaborative Hispanic Advisory Board. Luz is certified in Level I and Level II of Catechist Formation and the Basic Training of Coordinators by the Archdiocese of New York and is also certified as a Spiritual Director of The Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola by Fairfield University. She holds a degree in Computer Science from Universidad Central de Venezuela and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education (M.A.) from Fordham University, where she is currently a PhD candidate in Religious Education. She is a member of The Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi by election of the chapter at Fordham University.
