United Catholic Youth Ministries
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UCYM Staff: Your Pastoral Leaders

The UCYM staff is a diverse group of volunteer and paid professionals who care about ministry for young people. Our staff members come from a variety of backgrounds in order to meet the diverse needs of those in our communities. Our staff is led by a leadership team that helps organize the ministry teams.

Leadership Team

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James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB
​he/him
​Senior Director
​
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Andrea Infante-Martinez
​​she/her
​Interim Director
​
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Vanessa Barajas
she/her
Associate Director
​Young Adult Ministry
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Malakai Chuckas
he/him
Associate Director
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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Katia Silva
she/her
Associate Director
​Marketing & Communications

Ministry Teams

Youth Ministry Team
Jason McKean* (he/him), Assistant Director for Youth Engagement - jason@ucym.org
Evelyn Ramirez* (she/her), Assistant Director for Youth Outreach - evelyn@ucym.org
Ronabel Castillo (she/they), Coordinator
Ben Landau (he/him), Coordinator
Michael Cherco (he/him), Coordinator
Erika Castro (she/her), Children's Liturgy of the Word Coordinator (Spanish)
Nora Bondi (she/her), Children's Liturgy of the Word Coordinator (English)

Young Adult Ministry/Engagement Team
Vanessa Barajas* (she/her), Associate Director - vanessa@ucym.org
Jeff Garcia (he/him), Coordinator of Young Adult Ministry (College Outreach) 

Quinceañera Ministry Team
Andrea Infante-Martinez* (she/her), Senior Coordinator - andrea@ucym.org
Mireya Dominguez (she/her), Senior Coordinator (incoming)
Juanita Tamayo (she/her), Scheduling Coordinator
Carmelita Armenta (she/her), Liturgy Coordinator
Yolanda Salgado (she/her), Catechist Faith Formation Coordinator

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team
Malakai Chuckas* (he/him), Associate Director - kai@ucym.org
Alex Roman (she/her), Assistant

Digital Engagement Team
Katia Silva* (she/her), Associate Director of Marketing & Communications - katia@ucym.org
​Josue Ortiz (he/him), Digital Engagement Specialist
David Jacob (he/him), Manager, IT/Telecommunications

Administrative Team
James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB*
(he/him), Senior Director
Andrea Infante-Martinez (she/her), Interim Director
Mirka Gallo (she/her), Coordinator, Administrative Support - mirka@ucym.org
Carmelita Armenta (she/her), Administrative Assistant

*team leader
BOLD = habla español

Contact & Visit Us

San José Sánchez del Río UCYM Center
St. Theresa Building - St. Nicholas Parish Campus
1108 Washington Street
Evanston, IL 60202
(P) 847-719-9071 (E) ​office@ucym.org

Mailing Address
806 Ridge Avenue
c/o UCYM Office
Evanston, IL 60202

UCYM Center Hours*
Monday-Friday 3-8 pm or by appointment
Saturday & Sunday by appointment

*Subject to change

Quick Links

​Closed on Sunday Podcast
Covid-19 Vaccine
​Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Flocknote Sign-Up
Join our Team!
Leadership Academy
Mental Health Matters
Protection of Youth & Children
Quinceañera Ministry
​Youth Group

Connect with Us


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​WATCH OUT FOR SPAM!

Any email sent from us will either be sent by Flocknote (mail@flocknote.com) or by a member of the UCYM staff or Ministry Team using an email address firstname@ucym.org. Please send other email to Spam and please let us know at office@ucym.org if you receive any spam messages so that we can alert others to a possible scam.

​© United Catholic Youth Ministries. All Rights Reserved.

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  • About UCYM
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
    • Protection of Children & Youth
    • Who We Are
    • Leadership >
      • Our Staff
      • Boards and Councils
      • Leadership Academy
      • Opportunities
    • Renew My Church
    • Calendar
    • News & Updates
    • Donate
    • Store
  • For Youth
    • Start Here
    • Anti-Racism Pilot
    • Youth Group
    • Youth Council
    • Campus Ministry
    • Retreats >
      • Metanoia
      • Kairos
      • Emmaus Retreat
      • 24-Hour No Phone Retreat
      • Offline
      • Spirit Day
    • Archdiocesan Programs >
      • Holy Fire
      • NCYC
      • Totus Tuus
    • For Children >
      • Religious Education
      • Confirmation
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word
      • Vacation Bible School
  • For Young Adults
    • Start Here
    • 20s & 30s Group
    • Podcast
    • College Outreach
    • Young Adult Council
    • Theology On Tap
    • Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
    • Alpha
    • World Youth Day 2023
  • Hispanic Ministry
    • Start Here
    • Pastoral Juvenil
    • Quinceañera Ministry
    • Consejo Hispano
    • Hispanic Celebrations >
      • Day of the Dead
      • Our Lady of Guadalupe
    • Resources >
      • V Encuentro
      • USCCB
  • Prayer
    • Start Here
    • Lectio Divina
    • Click to Pray
  • Service
    • Start Here
    • HER Drive
    • Snack Drive
    • SNAP Gap
    • Care for Creation >
      • Start Here
      • Archdiocese of Chicago
      • Community Garden
  • Sports
  • Resources
    • Synod on Synodality
    • Mental Health Awareness
    • Need to Talk?
    • Covid-19
    • Advocacy >
      • Start Here
      • Catholic Relief Services
      • Immigration Ministry
      • Respect Life
      • Domestic Violence
      • Kolbe House Jail Ministry
      • Amate House
      • Equality for Women in the Church
      • Affirmed–LGBTQ Ministry
      • God Is On Your Side: A State from Catholic Bishops Protecting LGBTQ Youth
      • Exodus World Service
      • Black Lives Matter
      • Interfaith Action of Evanston
      • USCCB
      • St. Kateri Center of Chicago
    • Vocations >
      • Start Here
      • Cava
      • Archdiocese of Chicago
      • USCCB