Marl Albarillo is a former seminarian, having studied at Quigley North Preparatory Seminary and Niles College Seminary. He received a BS in Psychology and an MS in Organization Development from Loyola University Chicago and currently works in training and development in the pharmaceutical industry. He is active in various ministries at Our Lady of Mercy as well as his home parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, where he teaches RCIA, Baptism prep classes, and serves on the Parish Pastoral Council. He spent over 10 years working in the non-profit sector in various capacities working with the elderly, sexually-abused children, and teens and adults dependent on drugs and alcohol. He and his wife, Fritzie, live on the north side of Chicago.

Briana Colton served as the Development Director at Charis Ministries before deciding to go back to school for a master's degree in Art Therapy. A product of Jesuit education, Briana earned an H.B.A. in Public Relations at Marquette University before spending a year in St. Louis working with the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers.  Briana continues to be an active participant in retreats, service opportunities, and spiritual activities whenever her schedule allows.Though she misses her family back in Minnesota, she loves every bit of the home she has created in Chicago.

Lauren Gaffey is a member of St. Andrew Parish on the north side. Originally from southern California, she braved the frigid Midwestern winters to go to school. She is a Notre Dame grad with a degree in Political Science and Theology and a Loyola University alum with a M.A. in Pastoral Studies. Not quite ready to leave the academic environment after graduating, she spent four years as a college campus minister before joining Charis Ministries as the Program Coordinator. Lauren loves being able to spend her time with fabulous young adults who live out their faith every day. Lauren, her husband Jim, and their new son Mikey live in Roscoe Village with their Siamese cat. Lauren also enjoys going to the beach, reading, and spending time with friends.

Jesse Keane is a member of the JVC-Magis program at Loyola University Chicago, and will spend three years working toward his Master of Divinity degree at Loyola University Chicago while serving as the Assistant Programming Coordniator at Charis Ministries. After graduating from Marlboro College in Vermont, Jesse moved to Alaska, where he worked for a local newspaper, learned to fish using homemade spears and once killed a polar bear with his bear hands, saving a small village. Emerging in 2008, Jesse joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and served at the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, MT, working with Native American children.

Check back soon for more!