Marianne Betters
Professional Counseling
Marianne graduated from Regina High School, Wheeling Jesuit University, and has a M.A. Counseling from Seton Hall University. She has been married 37 years to her husband, Ralph, has 6 children – (Fr.) John, Tom (married to Katie), Maria, Joel (married to Molly), Steven (will be married to Hollie on May 14), and Mark, and 7 grandchildren (Owen, Haley, Colin, Hannah, Connor, Joseph, and Aela).Pastoral Minister at St. Bernadette, Westlake for 6 years (was in marriage and family ministry)
- Pastoral Associate at St. Christopher since 2002 (was in marriage and family ministry til 2007)
- Since 2007, she does part time counseling and spiritual direction at St. Christopher
- She is a Court Expert on a case by case basis for the Diocesan Tribunal
- Marianne will also be teaching Pastoral Counseling at Notre Dame College this fall
mbetters@stchrisparish.com (440) 331-4255 X105
Gayle Cilimburg
Pastoral Associate
Gayle has been a Pastoral Associate at St. Christopher since 1994. She is a Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister in the Diocese of Cleveland and has her Masters in Ministry from Ursuline College.
Gayle was the chairperson of the St. Christopher and St. Angela Merici Cluster Planning and Coordination Team and serves on the Parish Pastoral Council as the staff liaison. She works in many areas of parish ministry but her specific pastoral responsibilities include ministry with the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, funeral planning, the bereaved, the separated and divorced and Project Rachael, a ministry for those who are in need of healing after an abortion. She also authors a monthly newsletter for the parish’s Ministry of Praise. Gayle serves as a procurator for those wishing to petition the tribunal for an invalidity of their marriage following a divorce.
gcilimburg@stchrisparish.com (440) 331-4255 X106
Richard Gullion
Director of Music Ministry
Richard studied Sacred Music at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey with concentrations in organ and voice. Richard studied organ with Donald McDonald and voice with William Riley.
As a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, Mr Gullion concertized with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of famed conductor Ricardo Muti at both Philadephia’s Academy of Music and New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Upon completion of studies, Richard returned to the Cleveland area to begin his career in Sacred Music as organist, choral conductor and composer. Richard has served the Diocese of Cleveland for over 20 years at Our Lady of the Angels, Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Noel.
In 2006, Richard, along with Cleveland area musicians, produced a CD “In Quiet Confidence” Contemplative Instrumentals, featuring organ, cello, flute and oboe. For more information visit www.inquietconfidence.com.
rgullion@stchrisparish.com (440) 331-4255 X201
Emily Laco
Youth Minister
My name is Emily Laco and I am so happy to be the youth minister here at St. Christopher. My family and I have been parishioners here for 5 years. This is my second youth minister job, and am very appreciative of the opportunity to work with the people in my own parish. I live in Fairview Park with my husband Joe and 3 kids: Joey, Maura and Tess.
In High School I was apart of my parish youth ministry program and it made such a difference in my life. It was so inspiring to be around people who shared the same faith and values as me. I decided to study religion in college so that I could help provide those same opportunities to other students some day.
When I am not with my family or youth group I am running! I love to run marathons- crossing the finish line is the greatest feeling!
elaco@stchrisparish.com (440) 331-4255
Laura Peltz
Pastoral Associate/Director of Religious Education
Laura has been a Pastoral Associate and DRE (Director of Religious Education) at Saint Christopher Parish since 2004. She has has been a Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister for the Diocese of Cleveland since 1999. She has her BA in Theology from Notre Dame College in South Euclid. She is currently working on her Master of Arts in Theology at St. Mary Seminary in Wickliffe.
lpeltz@stchrisparish.com (440) 331-6226 ext. 401