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.
ADMINISTRATION/CORE TEAM
James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB, CDP, BLAS He/Él
Senior Director
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: partnerships, Archdiocesan programs, our parishes and schools, child protection efforts, formation for ministers, and getting involved.
Andrea Martinez, B.A.ECE, IDC She/Ella
Interim Director
¡Yo hablo español!

Ask me about: Quinceañera Ministry, young adult ministry, children's youth group, family ministry, and St. Nicholas Parish.
​Evelyn Ramirez She/Ella
Associate Director | Family & Hispanic Ministry
¡Yo hablo español!

​Ask me about: children's youth group, Pope John XXIII School, family ministry, youth group, and Hispanic Ministry at St. Nicholas Parish, and UCYM Board.
Jason McKean, M.Ed. He/Él
Associate Director | Youth Ministry

Ask me about: Discipleship program, youth group, St. Joan of Arc Parish, and UCYM Board.
Shannon Ambroise, M.A.P.S. She/Ella
Associate Director | Young Adult Ministry

Ask me about: young adult ministry, Lectio Divina, St. Mary Parish, and St. Mary Black Catholics, and Black Catholic spirituality. 
Katia Silva, B.A. She/Ella
Associate Director | Marketing & Communications
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: Quinceañera Ministry, communications, social media, marketing methods, and youth ministry.
​Josue Ortiz, B.A. He/Él
Associate Director | Digital Engagement & Retreats
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: video production, outreach via digital media, and retreats.
MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH
Katia Silva, B.A. She/Ella
Associate Director | Marketing & Communications
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: Quinceañera Ministry, communications, social media, marketing methods, and youth ministry.
​Josue Ortiz, B.A. He/Él
Associate Director | Digital Engagement & Retreats
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: video production, outreach via digital media, and retreats.
​David Jacob, MCA He/Él
Manager | IT & Telecommunications

Ask me about: telephone system, mobile app development, Office 365, and IT resources.
Carmelita Armenta She/Ella
Coordinator, Administrative Support
¡Yo hablo español!

Ask me about: scheduling a meeting with our senior director, Quinceañera Ministry, using our spaces at the UCYM Center, and parent outreach. 
Alex Roman She/Ella
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Assistant
¡Yo hablo español!

Ask me about: Diversity Council and DEI and communication integration.
YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM
​Evelyn Ramirez She/Ella
Associate Director | Family & Hispanic Ministry
¡Yo hablo español!

​Ask me about: children's youth group, Pope John XXIII School, family ministry, youth group, and Hispanic Ministry at St. Nicholas Parish, and UCYM Board.
Jason McKean, M.Ed. He/Él
Associate Director | Youth Ministry

Ask me about: Discipleship program, youth group, St. Joan of Arc Parish, and UCYM Board.
Ronabel Castillo She/Ella
Coordinator | Youth Ministry (Events & Retreats)

Ask me about: retreats, youth ministers, Totus Tuus, Closed on Sundays Podcast, and DEI.
Ben Landau He/Él
Coordinator | Youth Ministry (Sports)

Ask me about: sports with UCYM.
Michael Cherco He/Él
Youth Ministry Specialists (Psychology Student)

Ask me about: sports and psychology.​
Marshall, Melissa, Jovanny, Alize, Crystal, Robert
Youth Ministry Assistants (Peer Ministers)

Ask us about: youth group, service projects, our perspective on the church as young people
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY TEAM
Shannon Ambroise, M.A.P.S. She/Ella
Associate Director | Young Adult Ministry

Ask me about: young adult ministry, Lectio Divina, St. Mary Parish, and SPRED at St. Mary Parish. 
Jeff Garcia He/Él
Coordinator | Young Adult Ministry (College Outreach)

Ask me about: young adult ministry, college experience, campus ministry, retreats, social media content.
Vanessa Barajas She/Ella
Coordinator | Young Adult Ministry (Podcast)
¡Yo hablo español!

​Ask me about: Closed on Sundays Podcast.
QUINCEAÑERA MINISTRY TEAM LEADERSHIP
Andrea Martinez, B.A.ECE, IDC She/Ella
¡Yo hablo español!

Ask me about: Quinceañera Ministry, young adult ministry, children's youth group, family ministry, and St. Nicholas Parish.
Juanita Tamayo She/Ella
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: Religious Education and baptisms at St. Nicholas Parish, Quinceañera Ministry, and Ministerio Hispano. 
Carmelita Armenta She/Ella
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: scheduling a meeting with our senior director, Quinceañera Ministry, using our spaces at the UCYM Center, and parent outreach. 
Katia Silva, B.A. She/Ella
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: Quinceañera Ministry, communications, social media, marketing methods, and youth ministry.
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TEAM
Jason McKean, M.Ed. He/Él

Ask me about: Discipleship program, youth group, St. Joan of Arc Parish, and UCYM Board.
James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB, CDP He/Él
¡Yo hablo español! 

Ask me about: partnerships, Archdiocesan programs, our parishes and schools, child protection efforts, formation for ministers, and getting involved.

Contact 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


​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.

Site powered by The Archdiocese of Chicago