We support the local Church in Her retreat ministry by providing engaging, high-quality, and effective Half-Day, Full-Day, and Overnight retreat opportunities for young people.
Meet our Team
LAUREN GENTRY
Lauren is a youth minister at Blessed Mary Virgin, Help of Christians in the neighborhood of Woodside right in the heart of Queens. Besides ministering there, Lauren is currently pursuing her Master’s in Catechetics and Evangelization from Franciscan University. She has a B.A. in Theatre from Butler University in Indiana, where she created theatre with refugees and immigrants to help them process trauma. For more information on Lauren, please visit her website at: www.laurengentry.com
BRANDON MOREL
Brandon serves as youth minister St. Michael's in East New York. Brandon grew up in the Bronx with a passion for the arts and brings that creative and magnetic spirit with into his work with young people in the City. After a sincere conversion, Brandon's gifts and message have been impacting a generation. You can find out more about Brandon from his website at: www.bethesymbol.com
GILBERT RODRIQUEZ
(FAR RIGHT)
Gilbert Rodriquez is serving at the Shrine Church of St. Gerard Majella in Queens. Gil grew up in Brooklyn and is happily married. He is completing his Masters of Theology at St. Joseph's Seminary and College and has greater joy than to know Christ and witness others encounter him.
ALEX QUINONES
Alex Quinones is a youth minister working in Brooklyn, NY at the parish Most Precious Blood - Saint Simon and Jude. Originally from Houston, Texas, Alex studied Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University with a focus on urban ministry. A growing public speaker, Alex has MCed events both for the Diocese of Brooklyn-Queens and the Archdiocese of Newark. He has given numerous talks at different events including Theology on Taps, Nights of Worship, and men and women's retreats throughout the country. In his free time, Alex works on his podcast Q&A W/AQ, plays ridiculously complex boardgames, and enjoys a good book by Brandon Sanderson. His overall passion and motto is that all are called to sainthood, the path to holiness is always right before us.
PETER DAMOUR
Peter began working in church ministry in the 2nd grade, as an Altar Server. He credits his father and his elementary school, St. Francis Xavier School, with his immense love for religious education and his strong Catholic beliefs. After receiving Confirmation, he realized his calling to serve God and his people. In 2016 he became a Youth Minister at his parish, St. Clare R. C. Church in Rosedale, NY. He serves as a Catechist at his parish in Rosedale but also at St. Anastasia, in Douglaston, NY.
Seeing a need and wanting to serve on a diocesan level, in 2017, Peter began assisting in the planning of Kujenga, a Youth leadership conference now in its 30th year of existence and serves as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens’ Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns, (VBCC). A proud Haitian-American, he has similarly assisted the Haitian Apostolate on some of their youth events over the years. Presently, Peter serves on the Brooklyn Diocesan Commission on Racism and Social Justice.
PAUL MORISI
Paul Morisi is the former Diocesan Youth Minister for Brooklyn & Queens and built the Diocese up into a nationally renown center of ministry. He lives in Queens with his young family and is helping to administer YL-Catholic Relations through his extensive network.
JOHN FINCH
John Finch is a small town native with a big heart for worship. Music was a game changer at a very early age. Since, he has led worship for a wide variety of gatherings both nationally and internationally. His mission as an artist and songwriter is to create with passion and authenticity, inviting people to encounter true freedom in Jesus. John currently lives in Pearl River, LA.
BAILEY SAVOY
Bailey is a graduate from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in Theology. Skilled in leadership, public speaking, song writing, and leading praise and worship. He enjoys cooking steak, off-roading in his Jeep Wrangler, playing Risk, and making handmade rosaries in his spare time.
JONNA MARIE
Jonna is 21 years old and a recent graduate from St. John's University with a B.S. in Communications. She works as a part-time young adult leader for the Archdiocese of New York where she coordinates events on Staten Island for adults between the ages of 21-39. She also has been leading music for her local parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea, in Staten Island for over 8 years. Jonna has been focusing on using her gift of music in leading praise and worship for the past few years with hopes of bringing the youth back to Christ and the Catholic Church. Her passions include leading music ministry, speaking and engaging with the youth, and finding God's mission for her life. You can find out more about Jonna on her website: jonnamariemusic.com
KRISTINA BLAIR
Kristina is a Catholic mom, speaker, and recovering New Yorker. After spending over a decade as a theology teacher, youth minister, basketball coach and Faith Formation Director in the Diocese of Brooklyn, she now serves in the Diocese of Orlando. Kristina loves to sing, have lunch at Disneyworld, and watch movies with her tween son, Kyle. She is passionate about St. Edith Stein, tacos, Social Justice, Doctor Who, and God's love for each of us. Kristina has an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from St. Francis College in Brooklyn and a Master's Degree from St. John's University in Pastoral Theology. Her Guardian Angel's name is Pat Pat.
My name is Betzaida, but I’m known more as Betzy. I began serving in church as a choir member at the age of 7 & became the worship leader for my youth group around the ages of 13-14 and then became one of the youth group leaders at the age of 15. Since then, God has taken me many directions from ministering in different youth/ young adult events, Retreats, masses including some awesome opportunities like singing masses and holy Hours at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and going on a couple of mission trips to Dominican Republic. Fast forward to today, I am the youth minister at Holy Cross in the Bronx, I also work for Young Life, I am married, became a mother to a 4 year old boy and 1 year old girl, and am now working my way to becoming a nurse.
Sean Cintron
Sean served in youth ministry and IT at the Basilica of Regina Pacis in Brooklyn. Sean was born and raised in Brooklyn. After high school, he served in the Army as a Paratrooper for six years and is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He then attended Fordham University, where he studied philosophy and theology.
Sean has a strong dedication to serving overseas missions and bringing the presence of Christ to those who do not know Him. He has spent much of his adult life evangelizing in Cambodia (and even adopted a dog there!) and Central America. He speaks often at retreats and other events, wishing to inspire our young people to respond to the call of holiness and sainthood. In his free time, he enjoys fishkeeping, road trips, and watching the Yankees.
Q Furnald is composer and singer/songwriter inspired by music of faith and worship for choral ensembles and for contemporary bands and singers. Since a very young age, music and prayer have been tremendous allies in his own faith life. Over the past several years, he has worked as a Youth and Music Minister, retreat consultant, guest speaker, and audio engineer for a variety of parishes, events, and camps around the US. He hopes to call upon the name of Jesus through his music, that he may share that light of Christ to those who join him in worship. You can find out more about Q Furnald and his music at: https://linktr.ee/Qfurnald
DEACON NATHAN GUNN
Nathan serves as a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Syracuse. A veteran of YL Staff for over 20 years, he is the Divisional Initiatives Coordinator for the Northeast Atlantic, with a focus in NYC. Nathan has a Masters of Theology from Fuller Seminary and a Masters of Biblical Theology from St. John Paul the Great Catholic University. He teaches Theology and Scripture for Deacon Formation in the Diocese of Syracuse and lives in Syracuse with his wife and 2 sons.
Howie is a Youth and Young Adult minister with Jornadas de Vida Cristiana. He is a musician and song writer and is also the Musical Director of the Jornada Music Ministry (JMM) which shares its talents across the Diocese spreading God’s word through praise and worship music in special events, retreats and youth masses. Howie is a proud husband, father and grandfather and is a huge DISNEY Fan (He proposed at Disney).