Faith & Marraige

Advisory Board

Jason & Elise Angelette are in their seventh year of marriage and have two beautiful girls and one very active baby boy! Jason is the Director of Faith and Marriage and Elise is the Assistant Director.

Jason received a Masters in Theological Studies from the Pope John Paul II Institute on Studies of Marriage and Family at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.. He has gained much experience in the field of theology and family through teaching religion at Archbishop Rummel and Archbishop Hannan High School, as well as working on and speaking at various retreats and events nationwide with Dumbox Productions and Catholic Answers. He is also the co-host for a weekly television program on WLAE entitled Issues and Faith.

Elise graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She then taught Drama and Kindergarten in Covington, La, followed by a First Grade teacher position in Alexandria, VA. Elise has been involved in music ministry, as well as retreat leadership and speaking ministry for both teens and young adults with Dumbox Productions. Both Elise and Jason also serve as board members to the Alexander House.

Steve & Patricia Phillippi have been married for fourteen years. They have seven children, four who are walking with them in this life and three who are praying for them in the next. They are founders of Archangels Academy, a private Catholic school based in their home. Their venture into home schooling has produced a harvest of virtue and academic success over the past eight years.

Stephen and Patricia’s commitment to Godly marriage and family life extends beyond their own home. Stephen is a licensed clinical social worker who works with couples, families, and individuals (especially adolescents) in a private counseling practice. He is faculty at the LSU School of Public Health where he administers grants related to juvenile justice reform. Patricia enjoys her work as teacher and home maker and is called to share those blessings through volunteer efforts with the Roman Catholic Homeschool Association of Louisiana (RCHAL), The Little Flower Girls’ Club (a virtues-based program for girls), and Gianna’s Mammas (a prayer group for wives and mothers in support of their vocation). Both Stephen and Patricia are active in their faith community at St. Peter Parish in Covington where Stephen is a catechist for youth ministry programs and Patricia is Coordinator of the Vocations Ministry.

Dr. Chris & Christine Baglow

Chris and Christine Baglow were married in 1995. They are the proud parents of three beautiful children: Margaret (10), John (8) and Peter George (3 1/2). They live in Covington and are parishioners of St. Peter Parish. Chris is a theology professor at Notre Dame Seminary and has recently published a text book entitled: Faith, Science & Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge. He is a popular Catholic lecturer whose ministry takes him all over the Archdiocese of New Orleans and around the United States. Christine is a homeschooling mom, crafter, church volunteer, presenter and Little Flowers Girls Club leader. She is on the board of directors for the Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival and is an avid reader.

The Baglow’s marriage is founded on mutual respect and devotion to one another and to Jesus Christ and His Church. The evangelization, education and spiritual formation of Catholic laity – children and adults - are priorities for the Baglows. They met and became friends as young adults working side-by-side in youth ministry. Over the years, their mission has grown to include various ministries such as the Willwoods Faith & Marriage Board, chastity education, Theology of the Body, Pro-LIFE work, virtue formation for girls, seminary education and much more. But, their primary mission remains to one another and to their children.

Chris and Christine are proud, die-hard Saints fans – both those in heaven and on the field!

Pete & Marilyn Quirk met while students at LSU. Pete was in the school of engineering and Marilyn was studying to become a medical missionary for the Episcopal Church. After Marilyn’s entry into the Catholic Church, she and Pete received the Sacrament of Matrimony in 1958 at St. Dominic Church in New Orleans.

Pete & Marilyn have been married for 49 years and have been blessed with six wonderful children and 10 grandchildren. They have served as volunteers in the Archdiocese of New Orleans in many capacities.

Pete worked as a professional engineer, for 37 years and served as CEO of the Engineering firm Walk Haydel & Associates. He is now employed by the Archdiocese of New Orleans as Executive Director of Development and the Catholic Foundation. Marilyn has served the last 26 years in leadership for Magnificat, a Ministry to Catholic Women. Magnificat is a canonical entity within the Church as a private association of the Christian faithful and has grown internationally.

They have a keen appreciation of the vocation of Marriage and have spoken in various forums on this topic.

The Quirk’s make their home in Metairie, Louisiana.

Marlon & Charlene Rovira are natives of New Orleans and have been married 39 years. They are parishioners of St. Clement of Rome Church. Charlene is a registered nurse and Marlon is a Veterinarian. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

Charlene & Marlon have been actively involved in Marriage Ministry since 1983. Initially they served as team for Marriage Encounter for five years. Then in 1988 they began working with the Family Life Apostate, serving in the ministry Retrouvaille, a program for hurting marriages and were Coordinators for the New Orleans Community from 1988-1999. During this time they have been involved in initiating programs in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Mississippi, Little Rock Arkansas, Columbus Ohio, and St. Louis Missouri. Since beginning Marriage Ministry they have presented over 85 weekends and have ministered to over 1800 couples.

Patrick & Susie Veters have been married for 24 years.  Pat is a practicing attorney and Susie is an adjunct theology instructor at Our Lady of Holy Cross College and the director of the Office of Eucharistic Adoration for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  They have three teen-age sons.  They are both involved in many Church and Archdiocesan activities, including marriage ministry and Christ the Builder mission program. They are also Vice-Chairs of the Willwoods Community Board of Regents and Co-Chairs of the Willwoods Community Faith and Marriage Committee.  Their favorite ministry is speaking to couples about the wonderful gift of the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Deacon Mark & Judeyanne Coudrain have been married for 26 years and are blessed with three wonderful daughters.   Judeyanne is an Occupational Therapist with the St. Tammany Parish School System.   Mark was employed with the Willwoods Community for 22 years at WLAE TV before recently taking positions with Archbishop Hannan at his FOCUS ministry and St. Joseph Abbey starting a new woodworking venture, St. Joseph Woodworks.
 
After attending an Engaged Encounter weekend as an engaged couple, Mark and Judeyanne became involved in that ministry for many years after they were married.  Also, they have been involved in Evenings for the Engaged in their home.  In June of 2006 Mark was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. 

Clinton and Sheryl (Sutton) Smith have been married 25 years. They are the proud parents of 3 children, Clinton III, 19, Jesse, 17, and Talmon, 13. The family is active in Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish on St. Roch Avenue in New Orleans. While just beginning their involvement in marriage ministry Sheryl has been a supporter and retreat captain for the Cenacle for the past few years. Clint and Sheryl look forward to furthering the efforts of the Willwoods Community in reaching out and involving as many communities and parishes as possible in keeping with their mission. As we rebuild our communities in New Orleans they realize that our marriages and families need to be nourished and supported now more than ever.

Deacon John and Linda K. Pippenger
Linda Krass was born in New Orleans. She is the daughter Fred and Joyce Krass and the oldest of 4 daughters. She graduated from St. Dominic School, Mt. Carmel Academy, and attended Loyola University.

John Pippenger was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is the oldest of 3 boys and the son of Max and Dorothy Pippenger.  He graduated from Wawasee Prep in Indiana before attending Loyola University.

Linda & John met at Loyola. She was a student and, on work-study, the chaplain's secretary and he was a guitarist who played for the student masses. They met while setting up for mass. After graduating from Loyola, Linda & John were married at St. Dominic Church on Sept. 18, 1971.

They have 3 children. Their daughter Jodie was born on Christmas Day, followed by Jason on the Bi-Centennial and Jeffrey in 1982. They lived in Lakeview for 26 years before Katrina. Linda was a full-time mom and made their house a home while John was a teacher at Dominican High School before going into the accounting field.

Over the years both Linda & John have been very active in family and parish activities.
They were active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and then shifted their attention to St. Dominic Parish where they became active in the school, the Mothers' and Men's Clubs, and numerous church activities. They have been the coordinators of the St. Dominic Parish based marriage prep program, Evenings for the Engaged, for 26 years.
Together they helped initiate the Supper and Substance Program in the Archdiocese and have been a speaker-couple at many parishes. They have been speakers at many retreats and have given talks to many diverse groups.

In 1996 John was ordained to the Permanent Deaconate and was assigned to St. Dominic Parish. As a Deacon Couple, Linda and John, have been very active with the Family Advisory Board planning numerous family enrichment programs for families of all ages.

Linda helps coordinate Family Day, Parish Supper & Substance Programs, as well as special events in their parish. After buying and fixing-up a new home in Lakeview following Katrina, Linda serves as one of the Lakeview Beacon of Hope Coordinators. She also loves to cook and makes her home a welcoming place to visit.  John received his Masters in Theological Studies from Notre Dame Seminary in 2005 and is a theology teacher for the Deaconate Candidates for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  John is also chairman of the parish Liturgy Committee as well as a member of the parish pastoral council and the spiritual advisor for the St. Dominic Knights of Columbus Council #3729.

Linda and John are both members of the St. Dominic Chapter of the Dominican Laity and members of the WillWoods Faith and Marriage Board. As members of the St. Dominic KC council they coordinated programs that won the annual State-wide Family Activity Award 3 times and the International Knights of Columbus Family Activity Award once.

Two of their children are married and they are blessed with 2 grandchildren with whom they spend as much time as possible. They love planning family activities with their immediate family as well as with their extended family of St. Dominic. They most especially enjoy being together as husband and wife and witnessing the joy of living out a Catholic Marriage.

David and Anna Jouandot are in their 27th year of marriage and have four children. They are parishioners of Visitation of Our Lady Parish in Marrero.

David obtained his Pharmacy Degree from Xavier University and owns and operates his own pharmacy. David has actively been a member of various committees within his parish, including the Pastoral Council, The Shrine to the Unborn Committee and the Matrimonial Ministry.

Anna is a stay-at-home mother and also a full-time college student at Our Lady of Holy Cross College obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Theology. She has been coordinator of various ministries within her parish including Respect Life, Familia, and Ministry of Mothers Sharing.

Tom & Caroline McDonald

Mrs. Jane Nalty