2009 Campus Ministry Staff
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Carolyn F. Birner Administrative Associate OM 207 716-888-2420 cbirner@canisius.edu | |
| Carolyn Birner has worked at Canisius for 28 years; first as a secretary in Graduate Deaf Education and for the past 25 years in the Office of Campus Ministry. She received her associate's degree from Canisius in May 1999. Carolyn is an active ‘Red Hatter’ and is the proud mother of four, grandmother of five, and greatgrandmother of 1. She lives in Amherst. | ||
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John P. Bucki, SJ Director of Campus Ministry OM 207 716-888-2420 buckij@canisius.edu | |
| Father John Bucki, SJ, a Buffalo native, has been a Jesuit for 40 years and a priest for 29 years. He studied at Fordham University in New York City and at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. For many years he enjoyed working in New York City in parish and social ministry. At various times he has lived in Africa and the Philippines. As director of the Office of Campus Ministry, he organizes the annual service trip to New York City, promotes and helps with retreats, goes to lots of meetings, and tries to appear at many events all around campus. He lives in the Delavan Residence Hall (Building A 104). | ||
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Tom Colgan, SJ Associate Campus Minister OM 207 716-888-2488 colgant@canisius.edu | |
| Father Tom Colgan, SJ has been a Jesuit since 1963 and a priest since 1975. He grew up in Washington State and worked for many years in the Northwest, especially among Native American peoples. Father Tom says mass, provides spiritual direction, and can be seen around campus with his "Lucy" ministry. He is also very passionate about peace and justice. | ||
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Sara Essember Graduate Assistant essembes@canisius.edu | |
| Sara Essember grew up in Peabody, Massachusetts. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Vermont in 2009 and is a current graduate student in the College Student Personnel Program. Her interests within student affairs include social justice, multicultural affairs, LGBTQA services and student spirituality. She enjoys hiking, running, arts and crafts, reading anything she can get her hands on and has a soft spot and a love for dogs! | ||
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Luanne Firestone Associate Campus Minister OM 211 716-888-2422 firestol@canisius.edu | |
| Lu Firestone grew up in the snowy suburbs of Buffalo. She left to do her undergraduate work at Georgetown and spend some years as a Jesuit Volunteer on the Colville Reservation in Washington State before getting her Master of Arts degree in Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. She came back to Buffalo to live in and bike around the city proper with her husband and 2 cats. If you meet Lu in your time at Canisius, she will probably invite you to: 1. Go deeper by praying with students involved in small faith-sharing CLC groups on campus 2. Travel with her to some remote corner of the world as a part of Campus Ministries International Service-Immersion Experiences or 3. Commit to a year-long volunteer experience after college and prepare to have your world turned upside-down! | ||
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Susan A. Fischer Associate Campus Minister Coordinator of Retreats OM 213 716-888-2425 fischers@canisius.edu | |
| Sue Fischer brings to our office 33 years of experience working with teens and young adults in ministry. She has been Director of Youth Ministry at St. Gregory the Great Parish and Director of Campus Ministry at Cardinal O’Hara High School, where she also taught religious studies. She is certified in bereavement counseling and presents on the subject in the diocese. Her passion is retreat work but she also loves working with RCIA, liturgy, and spiritual direction. Sue is the very proud mom of three daughters and three sons-in-law and is grandmother to four grandchildren. When she is not traveling or "retreating", she enjoys living in Lockport with her husband. | ||
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Patricia Kelschenbach Administrative Associate OM 207 716-888-2420 kelschec@canisius.edu | |
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Sarah Signorino Associate Campus Minister OM 215 716-888-2424 signoris@canisius.edu | |
| Sarah Signorino hails from Erie, Pennsylvania. She received a B.A. in English in 2004 and a M.S. in College Student Personnel Administration in 2008 from Canisius College. Sarah is very excited about women's spirituality and the life-giving power of service. She loves to travel and be a contemplative in action. Sarah organizes Winter Service Week, Alternative Spring Break, Ignatian Family Teach-Ins, the School of the Americas protest, and peace/justice programs on campus. When she's not at Canisius, you can find her working on her house in Parkside, hanging out with her husband and two cats. | ||
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Joseph Van Volkenburg Assistant to the Director of Campus Ministry OM 210 716-888-2875 vanvolkj@canisius.edu | |
| Joe Van Volkenburg is a graduate of Canisius College and University of Detroit Mercy. Joe’s focus in Campus Ministry is promoting local community service with the Canisius for Buffalo program working closely with the service interns, student organizations, department of athletics and individual students. Joe is a member of campus ministry’s travel department assisting with the Winter Service Week trip (NYC), the Alternative Spring Break (Appalachia) and organizing the Alumni Service Trip (New Orleans). Serving as advisor to the Canisius Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and Circle K are some of Joe’s other responsibilities. Joe is an avid ice hockey fan and can often be found at college athletic events. Joe enjoys Great Lake ship watching and is a member the Welland Canal Ship Society currently serving as President. Joe makes his home in Fort Erie, Ontario. | ||