Showcased Members (Launched 6/5/2023)
Katie Bowyer, music therapist, songwriter
Katie is a Board-Certified Music Therapist hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina. Her studies took her from Boone, NC, to St. Petersburg, FL, to Fort Collins, CO from 2014-2023. Throughout her music degrees, she learned the art of songwriting, but did not take it outside the classroom in a serious way until she collaborated with Tony McCaffrey on the Christmas lullaby, “Fully Baby,” in Fall 2023. Lullabies are one of Katie’s favorite types of songs to sing and record. People who need the healing and beauty of music are who Katie aims to touch in her work as a musician and songwriter.
Chisom Ogoke (Chee-sum Oh-go-kay) , writer, storyteller
Chisom is a Catholic, Nigerian American emerging writer and storyteller. She hails from Plano, Texas, and attended Texas State University where she earned her B.A.s in English and anthropology and her M.F.A. in creative writing.
She was selected for the 2022-2023 U.S. Student Fulbright Award which enabled her to pursue a 10-month independent study in Barbados. There, she studied West-African influenced oral storytelling practices for her writing and storytelling voice. When she has time to herself, she enjoys taking long walks, watching adventure movies, and listening to well-told stories.
She’s interested in merging her gifts for the spoken word with her faith and can offer assistance with writing-related tasks (e.g., proofreading, brainstorming, editing).
Stephanie McCaffrey, photographer, hospital chaplain
Stephanie McCaffrey is an amateur photographer, hospital chaplain, and former campus minister at Assumption University. She seeks to capture the beauty of God’s creation through her camera and to share with others the abundant grace God can reveal through photography.
Christine Steele, Children’s Literature Enthusiast, Young Children’s writer and digital illustrator
Christine graduated from Providence College with a BA in Computer Science. Attainment of an MA in counseling psychology led her to working with kids as a school counselor and advocate for youth substance misuse prevention. As a school counselor, she often used the power of books to open communication with kids. Now living in Wisconsin, Christine is spending time writing and illustrating a children’s series reflecting Christian values. She believes approaching God through art is a form of meaningful prayer.
Jerry Francis, storyteller, author, visual artist
“I am a happily married practicing Catholic living in Central Massachusetts (New England, USA). I am actively involved in various ministries but could not do so if I did not take time for prayer and just to be. My life experiences in faith far outweigh but are supported by a formal graduate degree in pastoral ministry. I have found that attempting to fight every single wrong I observe quickly burns me out. I now realize our specific commission is far more essential, and we must responsibly identify and use our God-given gifts. For me, among other things, this means making quality time for daily prayer, teaching about our loving Trinity in an as appropriate way as possible, and moments of accepting Jesus’s will, which includes writing of the ordinary moments of God’s peace love, and actions. I firmly believe we are already participating in the mystery of heaven and eternity. I understand that some of what I write may differ from your thoughts as I lean on my experiences and background. I only ask that you think ecumenically and let the Holy Spirit regulate your reaction.” Jerry’s Immersive Prayer website.
Daniel Fernandes, graphic designer, digital creator, ceramic artist
Daniel attended college at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he majored in graphic design and ceramics and minored in business and theology. Daniel lives in Dallas, Texas, and works as a graphic designer. He enjoys website design, video production, photography, and other design projects. He is also in the process of setting up his own small ceramic business. He loves helping people, especially in the digital space and is fascinated by the combination of faith and art.
Dave Goulet, screenwriter, author
Author of "Halos Rising" (Twenty-Third Publications), in which Dave asks the question in a series of vignettes, "What would a saint be like in future situations involving cyborgs, AI, aliens, etc."? Dave is the screenwriter of numerous TV and film creations, from thrillers to sci-fi to animation. A thoughtful Catholic in all issues, Dave embodies theological themes in his writing.
Patrice Metcalf, music director, pianist, organist, cantor, voice teacher
Patrice will be finishing her MA in Music and Worship in 2024 from Liberty University and currently holds a BA in Music Performance from Westfield State University. Dedicated to performing liturgical music since she was 10, Patrice has been a cantor, pianist, organist, and music director in her young career. She currently is the Music Director at St. Anne & St. Patrick in Sturbridge, MA. She is blessed to have the opportunities to combine her love of theology and music.
In Memoriam: Dr. Robert Bela Wilhelm (an honorary member)
Bob was a pioneer in narrative theology in the 1970s. He was the most experienced sacred storyteller of his day. He received his ThD from the Graduate Theological Union (Berkeley, CA) and an MA in religious education from Catholic University. He taught many to preach much better by teaching them to perform a story well. He also improved the effectiveness of many religious educators and spiritual directors by imparting on them the skill of telling a story.
