Welcoming our New Cap Corps Volunteers

Welcoming our New Cap Corps Volunteers
05 September 2010
“…a community of women and men who serve among people in need as full-time
volunteers, sharing common prayer and simple living.”
Andrea Carrera
Alumni Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: Most Holy Trinity/Sacred Heart, Highland Falls, NY
Andrea was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from Santa
Margarita Catholic High School in 2006. Following high school, she attended
Santa Clara University in Northern California. In June 2010, Andrea
graduated from SCU with degrees in Psychobiology and Religious Studies. In
college, she was involved with Student Government for three years and
Residence Life for two years. The Santa Clara Mission is in the center of the
campus and became a haven to her during her time as a student. Andrea is
very grateful to Santa Clara for providing her with the opportunity to grow
and develop physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
During college, she felt called to do a year of service after graduation. Andrea
came across CYFM while researching graduate school programs and has since
been welcomed with open arms and hearts. She feels very blessed to have
been offered a position as a Cap Corps Volunteer. Andrea is looking forward
to learning all she can about CYFM and being able to share her life, love, and
faith with the community for the next year.
Elizabeth D'Onofrio
Red House Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: St. Stephen, Warwick, NY
Liz, originally from Montrose, New York, graduated from Saint Bonaventure University
(Go Bonas!) in May of 2010 with an undergraduate degree in Theology. During her four
years at SBU, Liz was able to study a wide range of theological topics, her most favorite
being Islam Religion and Culture, Mission and Ministry, and Arabic. Liz was also very
active in campus ministries, serving as a leader for Students for the Mountain at Mount
Irenaeus, the campus' mountain retreat house, while also serving the departments of
Residence Life and Admissions.
Liz is blessed to be a part of the CYFM community, and is thrilled to be back after
spending three years in high school as an active teen member. She hopes to serve as a role
model and grow in community, both with the teens that come through the doors as well as
with her fellow CCVs. After this year, Liz will be attending Boston College School of
Theology and Ministry to obtain her Masters in Pastoral Ministry and Social Work.
Vijay DaCosta
Public Relations/Communications Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Shrub Oak, NY
Born and raised in the Bronx, Vijay graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in 2004,
where he was very involved in campus ministry and Christian service. He went to Le
Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, where he graduated in 2008 with a degree in
English/Creative Writing. Additionally, Vijay received a Master’s degree in May 2010 from
Fordham University in Religious Education and Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
At Le Moyne, Vijay was active in student affairs, campus ministry, and alternative break
projects. His proudest accomplishment of college, however, was spending his spring
semester of junior year as a Campus Ministry intern at McQuaid Jesuit High School in
Rochester, NY. At McQuaid Jesuit, he led retreats, taught religion classes, and chaperoned
student activities. As a graduate student at Fordham, he was a resident assistant for
freshmen and was very involved in retreat leadership, radio ministry, and Global Outreach
service projects. While completing his graduate studies, he was an alumni volunteer at
Fordham Prep and used his experiences in that capacity to write his Master’s paper.
During his time as a student at Fordham Prep, he was a participant and leader in the
school’s Emmaus Retreat program, which is held at CYFM. He is grateful to be back and
hopes to help others in strengthening their faith lives, while also growing stronger himself
in his relationship with God.
Benjamin DeTrempe
Volunteer Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: St. Joseph, New Paltz, New York
Ben hails from Granger, Indiana, just minutes away from the University of Notre Dame.
He attends the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he has completed
two years of study and training. Ben is majoring in kinesiology and was involved in a
wide variety of activities at West Point, some of the key spiritual ones being the
University Christian Fellowship group and a nightly rosary group. He is taking a year of
absence from the Academy in order to join the Cap Corps Volunteers at CYFM.
He is excited for the opportunity to serve others in a different way than he is accustomed
to with the rest of the CYFM community. Ben feels blessed to have been given the
chance to work with CYFM and fully engulf himself in his faith.
Christine Guariglia
Communications Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: St. John the Evangelist, Mahopac, NY
Chrissy is from Glen Rock, New Jersey and recently graduated from the University of
Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Counseling and Human Services.
During her time at Scranton, she became very involved in numerous activities through the
University Ministries office. In the fall of her junior year, she served as a leader and
coordinator of a retreat for the freshman class called “Connections.” During the summer of
2009, she travelled to El Salvador through the University’s International Service Program.
During that summer, she also attended the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute in
Philadelphia, PA. This experience gave her the opportunity to develop a program at
Scranton during her senior year called Leaders for a Brighter Scranton (LBS). She also did
a summer internship at Downey Side in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.
She feels excited and blessed to be a part of the CYFM community this year. She knows it
will be an amazing opportunity for her to further her relationship with Jesus, deepen her
faith, and meet incredible new people. She is looking forward to a great year!
Matthew Patella
Outreach Program Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: Our Lady of Loretto, Cold Spring, NY
Matt grew up in Merrick, New York and graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High
School. He just completed his college education at The Catholic University of America,
where he earned a B.A. in History with minors in philosophy and theology.
At CUA, Matt was involved in the Campus Ministry program participating in different
social justice and student life activities. He went to Colorado during the spring break of
his sophomore year and then went on a mission trip to Belize for two weeks in the
summer between his sophomore and junior year. Matt also was a student minister to an
underclassman dorm helping students grow in their faith.
Matt was also involved in CUA's Ice Hockey and Rugby teams. He was inducted into the
Sacred Constantinian Military Order of the Knights of St. George in April of 2010.
Following a long line of CUA grads, Matt was inspired to be a part of the great CYFM
program. He is very excited about the opportunity to minister to the youth at CYFM and
assist in their growth.
Amy Schille
Liturgical Ministry/Special Events Liaison
God’s TYM Parish: St. Patrick, Yorktown Heights, New York
Amy Schille grew up in Washington State near the Pacific Ocean! She went to Central
Washington University (CWU) in Ellensburg, Washington, where she studied
Psychology, Religious Studies, and Creative Writing. She is the oldest of three children,
and enjoys quality family time with boisterous laughter and warm moments.
Amy was involved with youth ministry in high school as a participant and in college as a
volunteer. She worked as a peer minister for a year while attending CWU where she led
the music program and worked with a team to plan and host events. Last year, Amy
worked as a part time middle school youth minister and she is extremely excited to build
her knowledge, faith, and life as a Cap Corps Volunteer this year!