Clergy:
Rev. Paul Asoh, MSP, Pastor
Fr. Paul Asoh is a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria. Ordained a priest in 2002, he has ministered in Africa, Europe and North America, serving as assistant director of seminary formation, a college chaplain, and director of a retreat center. Prior to his assignment to St. Mary’s he served for two years as parochial vicar at St. Therese parish in Mooresville, NC.
Email: pastor@stmarymotherofgod.com
Rev. Mr. Matthew Newsome
Deacon Matt was born in Charlotte, NC, and moved to Sylva after high school. He attended college at Warren Wilson College and Western Carolina University, where he graduated in 1999 with a degree in English Literature. He earned a Masters of Theology degree from Holy Apostles College in 2008 and was ordained to the diaconate in 2018. He is an adult convert, having been baptized at St. Mary’s in 2000. He has been serving as the Catholic campus minister at Western Carolina University since 2008. He and his wife, Joannie, have seven children.
Email: MANewsome@rcdoc.org
Rev. Mr. John Szarek (retired)
Deacon John is from Chicago, IL, where he attended Catholic schools and served as an altar boy and lector since his youth. He was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2006, and served for 13 years at St. Ansgar parish in Hanover Park, IL, where his main areas of ministry were to the homebound and those in nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Since retiring from a career in nursing, Deacon John and his wife Sue have lived in in Franklin, NC.
Email: szarekjohn@comcast.net
Parish Staff & Volunteers:
- Executive Assistant to the Pastor: Salomon Salinas
- Director of Religious Education: Rayanne Herrera
- Bookkeeper: Jane Sullivan, CPA
- St. Mary’s Bookstore: Mary Ann Kuehl
- Music Director: Jonathan Fisher
- Organist: Kristin Fisher
- Altar Guild: Sue Szarek
- OCIA Coordinator: Mike Ensley
- WCU Campus Minister: Dcn. Matt Newsome
- Respect Life Committee Chair: Sue Szarek
- Knights of Columbus: Joe Cerniglia
- St. Vincent de Paul Society: Ernie Sipler
- Website & Social Media Administrator: Deacon Matt Newsome
Parish Commission Chairs
- Parish Council Chair: Brian Raming
- Finance Council Chair: Robin Starrs
- Buildings and Grounds: Don Pierce
- Communication and Evangelization: Melayna Alicia
- Community Outreach: Elaina Quijada
- Religious Education: Sara Freeman
- Liturgy: Jonathan Fisher
- Hispanic Ministry: Jose Luis Perez and Patricia Hernandez
- Parish Life: Lucinda Rose and Victor O’Brien
- Stewardship: Brian Raming