Rev. Dan O’Connell, Pastor
Father Dan is originally from County Cork, Ireland. He was ordained for the Diocese of Savannah in 1971. His first assignment was here at St. John Church until 1974. He subsequently served in parishes in Savannah, Columbus and Augusta. Father spent 1990 – 1995 in Ecuador with the Society of St. James the Apostle. He then served over ten years as Pastor in Douglas before returning here in 2007. He is an excellent guitar player and an avid sports fan with a special love for rugby. Father’s nephew, Paul O’Connell, is an Irish rugby star and has gained international fame.
Rev. Luis Fonseca, Parochial Vicar
Father Luis is originally from Colombia. In his native country he was a member of the Salesians, a religious community founded by St. John Bosco. He had the opportunity of working with street children and displaced populations. After leaving the religious order, he worked on education and counseling for several years. He joined the Savannah Diocese in 2003, and served in various parishes from Columbus to Savannah while in the Seminary. He was ordained in 2009. St. John Church is his first assignment.
Rev. Msgr. Marv LeFrois, In Residence
Father Marv is originally from Rochester, NY. He was ordained for the Diocese of Savannah in 1949. After serving as Pastor of several parishes in the Diocese, he became Pastor of St. John’s in 1991 until he retired in 1994. He now resides at the Newman Center. As well as assisting at St. John’s, he is always ready to fill in for many other priests in the Diocese.
Deacon David Lasseter
Deacon David was ordained June 2, 2001. He is the husband of Melanie, and the father of four. He can be reached on his cell phone at 229-251-6521.
Deacon Pete Falkenhausen
Deacon Peter Falkenhausen is a USAF (Ret.) Master Sargeant, the current Wing Weapons Safety Chief at Moody AFB. He was ordained in the Savannah Diocese May, 2008. He is married to Cathy Falkenhausen and they have four children: Brittany, Katie, Peter, and Thomas. Deacon Pete assists at Masses, Adult Religious Education and Marriage Preparation.
Deacon Columbus Carter
Deacon Columbus Carter, Jr. is a native of Valdosta. He has been a member of St. John Church since 1964. On May 31, 2008, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, Georgia. That same year, he received his Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from St. Leo University. He and his wife, Angela, are the proud parents of two children, Arren and Alyssa.
Deacon James Burns
Deacon James Burns and his wife Marian come to us from the Archdiocese of Chicago. James was ordained deacon on April 30, 1994. He grew up in Yazoo City, MS. He moved to Chicago in 1960, left to study theology and philosophy in MA, and returned in 1964 to pursue a career. James retired from the Chicago Transit Authority in 2004 and moved to Hahira in 2009. James and Marian are the parents of James and Lisa and they have five grandchildren.
Deacon George C. Heise, R.N. BSBA
Deacon George Heise and his wife Judith come to us from Apache Junction, AZ, where he served as Permanent Deacon at the Catholic community of St. George. Deacon George was ordained in the Diocese of Richmond, VA in 1999. He served as pastoral associate and later Administrator in several churches in Virginia, including St. John the Evangelist in New Castle, VA. He served in the US Air Force and attended Alexian Bros. Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, graduating in 1961. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Robert Morris Univ. in Pittsburgh, PA. He worked for Alcoa from 1962 – 1996. He and Judith have five living children and nine grandchildren.
Our Parish Sisters
Sister Rebecca Campbell, Sister Therese Galarneau, Sister Pauline Oetgen,and Sister Justine Ostini assist us in many ways, including the school and home visitations. Sister Therese Galarneau is a childhood friend of Sister Justine. She is a member of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. She currently serves as Assistant Principal of the school. The Sisters have served St. John’s since the opening of the school in 1941.
Sister Nuala Mulleady is a native of County Roscommon, Ireland. She is a Missionary Franciscan Sister who did her studies and novitiate training in Rome, Italy. After her first profession, she came to the United States where she ministered as an elementary school teacher and principal in several dioceses. Sr. Nuala later served as Provincial Minister of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters in the U.S., Peru and Bolivia. Her missionary call has taken her to many countries around the world. She comes to Valdosta as our Director of Social Services. She plans to work with other organizations and churches in the area to administer help and encouragement to the needy. Sr. Nuala enjoys reading, music, walking and cooking.