The Staff at St. John's

 

Rev. James A. Waite, 

Parish Administrator

Fr. James Waite is the new administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish. Fr. Waite grew up in Buffalo at All Saints Parish. He is a graduate of St. Joseph Collegiate Institute and Canisius College. Before he was ordained to the priesthood, he was an Instructor of General Education and Coordinator, and Chair of the Graphic Design and General Education Departments at Platt College in New port Beach, California. He graduated from Christ the King Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree. He was ordained in 2004. He served at Fourteen Holy Helpers Parish in West Seneca and at St. Gabriel's Parish in Elma. He is a member of the Diocesan Committee for the Continuing Formation of Priests. Fr. James's parents live in the Town of Lockport and are parishioners at St. John's. Fr. James is joined by "Bosco," a rescued dog who was thrown out of a moving vehicle on a local expressway.  Now he has sort of become St. John's mascot. 

 

 

Rev. Joseph C. Dumphrey, OSFS, 

Parochial Vicar

Fr. Dumphrey was born in Lockport where he attended St. Patrick's Grade School and DeSales High School. His parents were Joseph and Cecelia (Donner); and he has two sisters, Elaine and Catherine, and a brother, Kerin. Following high school graduation in 1953, he entered the Novitiate of the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales in Childs, Maryland. He was sent to study at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master's degree in mathematics from there. During that time he also taught for two years at Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia. Father Joe was ordained a transitional deacon at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington in 1963. He was ordained to the priesthood at St. Anthony's parish in Wilmington, Delaware on April 11, 1964. After ordination he was assigned to DeSales High School in Lockport where he taught for four years. During this time he coached football, basketball and cross-country; and was school treasurer. In 1968 he was named principal of Bishop Duffy High School in Niagara Falls. He remained there for seven years until it merged with Madonna High School to become Niagara Catholic High School. In 1975 Fr. Joe returned to DeSales where he resumed teaching, and spent his spare time helping out at local parishes and in ministry to the sick. He also taught various courses for the religious education teachers certification program. In 1985 he received the Educator of the Year award from the Diocese of Buffalo. After DeSales High School closed he taught for three years at O'Hara High School in Tonawanda, NY. In 1992 Fr. Dumphrey retired from teaching and became a full time parochial vicar here at St. John's.


 
 

Nadine Oates

Business Manager

Nadine was born and raised in Lockport as part of the Oates family. Her great grandparents came to St. John's Parish from Ireland in the late 1800's. She is a life-long member of St. John's. In 1986, she was hired by Fr. Duggan as Parish Secretary. In 2002 she was named Office Manager and Business Manager in January 2007. Nadine handles all of the bookkeeping responsibilities for the parish. She works closely with Fr. Dumphrey on the parish budget and financial reports. She arranges funerals, orders supplies, fields phone queries and attends to the needs of parishioners. Nadine is also active in various parish ministries. She sings with the adult choir, is co-president of the Altar and Rosary Society, serves as Eucharistic Minister and is on the Funeral Brunch Ministry. She has two grown daughters, Nicole and Stephanie. She is the proud grandmother of two grandchildren, T.J. and Amaya.

 

 

Carrie Prue


Communications and Technology Coordinator

Carrie began working as a part-time parish secretary in November of 2004. Her responsibilities include producing the weekly parish bulletin, handling parishioner requests, assisting people with Mass cards, registering new parishioners, and helping with general parish correspondence. Carrie sings with the adult choir, serves as Eucharistic Minister, helps coordinate the annual Golf Tournament, assists with decorating the Church for Christmas and Easter, and is a member of the Technology Committee. Carrie became a full time employee in January 2007 and was given the added title of Technology Administrator. She works closely with Fr. Waite on various projects including updating our website, expansion of the weekly bulletin, the on-line parish calendar, Parish-Pay, Eyez-up, setup of computers and the continuing education of staff on new programs.  Carrie, her husband, Jeff, and their three children, Alex, Katie and Zach, are all active members of St. John's Parish.

 

Sally Sayward


Director of Lifelong Faith Formation
Sally has worked at St. John's since 1995. She started as a part time Coordinator of Youth Ministry. When Sr. Helen left, she became the Director of Religious Education. Sally is responsible for all of the religious education programs for the parish. She recruits and forms volunteers into catechists. She worked with the Directors of Religious Education in the Lockport parishes to merge the religious education into a city-wide program. She was the first Director of Religious Education in the Diocese of Buffalo to offer a Summer Church School program. Her program has become a model for other parishes. Sally and her husband, Leonard, are parishioners at St. Patrick's Parish in Lockport. They have two adult children, a daughter and son, and four grandchildren.

 
 

Cheryl Naples

Faith Formation &  Outreach Coordinator

Cheryl joined our staff in October of 2007 as the Faith Formation & Outreach Coordinator. Cheryl’s responsibilities involve class registration, class assignments, and keeping the records for the students in religious education up-to-date. Her office is located at the entranceway to the Outreach Center and she is involved in the ministry of outreach. She was born and raised in Buffalo and moved to Lockport two years ago. She is currently registered as a parishioner at St. Pius X where she previously worked performing various duties in the rectory, church hall and religious education offices. Cheryl is involved with the Ladies of Charity and the Getzville Business Women’s Association. She is the youngest of five children in her family and currently lives with two of her sister’s, Sandy & Julie and their three dogs Lincoln, Porkie & Keyhole.

 
 

Jim Haid

Director of Outreach

Jim has been working at St. John's since 1999. He oversees Sr. Helen's Food Pantry, the clothing center, and the Thanksgiving and Christmas distribution of food, clothing and gifts. He is the staff member on the Parish Outreach Committee and works with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In 2003 he organized the first Group Work Camp in Lockport which drew hundreds of teens from around the country to repair homes of people in need. The camp continues every year. Jim also serves as co-chair of the local Human Services Organization and has accepted numerous community awards. He coordinates the St. John's delegation to the to the Diocesan Youth Convention and encourages teens to participate in Lights for the World, and Christian Leadership Institute. He heads a group of teens who travel to Appalachia to work with the people of the area for a week and college students to New Orleans to help with the cean-up efforts there. Jim is a parishioner at St. John's with his two sons, Matt and Ben. 

 

 

 

Debbie Brown 

Director of Spiritual Life

Debbie began working at St. John's as the Director of Sacramental and Liturgical Life in August 2003. Her responsibilities include helping individuals and families prepare for the reception of baptism, first communion, reconciliation, and confirmation. She works with Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors. She prepares the prayers of the faithful for weekend Masses and plans the liturgical seasons such as Lent, Easter, and Advent. She is the staff member assigned to the parish's Spiritual Life Committee. She oversees the RCIA process at St. John's and has successfully implemented joint RCIA formation with the five Lockport parishes. Debbie is a member of St. Mary's Parish in Gasport. She and her husband, Kevin, are active in music ministry at both St. Mary's and St. John's. They have four adult sons, Jason, Jonathon, Jeff, and Jeremy. Before coming to St. John's, Debbie was Director of Sacramental Catechesis and Associate Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Buffalo with responsibility for religious education and sacramental catechesis for the four eastern vicariates. Debbie is also one of the 24-member of the diocesan planning commission for the Journey in Faith and Grace program set up by the bishop. This commission is working on the restructuring of the diocese.

 

Philip Revekant

Director of  Music and Liturgy

Philip began at St. John's in April 2008. He coordinates the Contemporary Ensemble on Saturday evenings and the Adult Choir on Sunday mornings. He plays the organ and leads the musical participation at the 8:30, 10:00 and 12:00 Noon Masses on Sunday. He plans the music for all liturgies. He arranges for instrumentalists and special occasion choirs. Philip holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Xavier University. Prior to coming to St. John's he served as Music Director for Queen of Heaven Parish in West Seneca.

 

Jane Coakley

St. John's Store Manager

Jane Coakley manages St. John's Catholic Store. She keeps the store well supplied with cards, gifts, sacramental items, books, medals, statues and various other religious items. If there is something in particular that a customer wants and she doesn't usually stock it, she will special order whenever possible. Jane and her husband Ray raised six children and have 15 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. She was born and raised in Lockport and is an active member of St. John's Parish where she serves as Lector and on the Funeral Ministry Team.

 

Joleen Brewer

Rectory Manager

Joleen was hired by Fr. Duggan in 1985. She is responsible for grocery shopping and cooking for the priests. She takes care of the laundry and dry-cleaning and assists in keeping the rectory neat and orderly. She makes sure there is a supply of altar wine and candles for Mass. During the Summer Festival she runs the popular pie baking classes and the Bid Pitch Tournament. Joleen is widely known for her sense of humor and wise sayings. Joleen is an active member of St. John's and serves as Eucharistic minister. She has four grown children and eight grandchildren.

Ruthie Maliszewski

Rectory Housekeeper

Ruthie Maliszewski has been taking care of the housekeeping in St. John's Parish rectory since 2003. Her responsibilities include cleaning the priests' residences, the rectory offices, and whatever other areas need attention. She also teaches the popular Candy-making class during St. John's Summer Festival. Ruthie's special gift is her joyful attitude toward living each day for the Lord. Ruthie and her husband, Fred, belong to the Community Bible Church in Cambria. She is the Hospitality Chair, and the coordinator of a group of women called Secret Encouragers, who pick names of people in their church and encourage them for a year without telling them they were chosen.  Ruthie and Fred have two adult sons, Michael and Andrew, and one granddaughter and new twin grandsons.

 

Ron Burg

Maintenance

Ron Burg takes care of the buildings and grounds at St. John the Baptist. He has held this position since January 31, 1989. He does minor repairs, painting, janitorial work, and outdoor maintenance. He keeps the church, parish hall, and the parish library sparkling clean. Ron is also the man behind the snow blower on cold winter mornings. When events in the parish hall require that tables and chairs be put up or taken down, Ron gets it done quickly. Ron always has a smile for everyone. Ron, his parents and brother all live in the Lockport area.

Howard Burns

Maintenance

Howard joined the staff in November 2006 as a parttime maintenance  man. He is in charge of the care and cleaning of St. John's Outrech Center. He also helps in the winter with removal of snow and ice on the grounds.