Pastoral Council

Denise Ambuhl

Years in Parish: 9 years
Profession: Sales Director – HTC
Came from: Littleton, NH, in Myrtle Beach since 1989

Other Information:
Married to Tony,
Children: Lauren and Nicholas
Previously a Catechist and member of the Child Development Center Board

Marco de los Santos

Years in Parish: 15
Profession: Concrete Finisher and Stamp Concrete
Came from: Mexico

Other Information:
Born in Chiapas, Mexico. Married Maria Molina in 1998. They have three children, Steven who is 10 years old, Liz Alejandra who is 7 years old and Fay who is 21 months old. In his free time he plays baseball and softball. He is a Eucharistic Minister and he helps wherever he can in the parish.

Vanessa de los Santos

Years in Parish: 13 years
Profession: Customer Service
Came From: Venezuela

Other Information:
Married to Francisco de los Santos
Three children: two girls and one boy
Bilingual in Spanish and English
Likes to sign along and dance

Peter Dechamplain

Years in Parish: 20
Profession: Machinist
Came from: Connecticut

Other Information:
Three children

Joseph Dumovich

Years in Parish: 7 years
Profession: Retired Fire Lieutenant
Came From: Chicago, Des Plaines, Illinois

Other Information:
13 years Catholic education
7 years U.S. Marines
28 years Fire service
Married to Jane 20 years in October.
Four children, 3 boys and 1 girl

Jeanne Halyard

Years in Parish: 24 years
Profession: Family Medicine Physician
Came From: Brooklyn, NY

Other Information:
Moved to South Carolina from New York City in 1986 as a National Health Service Corps physician to give care to the medically underserved. I met and married Michael Halyard and have been here since. Michael died in 2003. We have 2 daughters, Dominique and Alexis. Dominique attends Yale University in Hew Haven, Connecticut and Alexis attends Socastee High School.

Katherine Mathias

Years in Parish: 2 years
Profession: Retired “Industrial Engineer” , Mom, Organizer, Infant Care Technician
Came From: Tom’s River, New Jersey

Other Information:
She is known as “Miss Weeder” because she pulls them! She is married to Larry, is the mother of three grown children and three grandsons

John Moore

Years in parish: 19
Profession: Retired Military 33 years
Came from: Massachusetts

Other Information:
St. Leo’s College – 2 year degree
Area director for Cursillo for 6 years
Eucharistic Minister since 1975
Past member of Finance Council
High School teacher for CCD on several bases
Taught adult education
Father of 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren

Valentine Nwanegwo

Years in Parish: 17 years
Profession: College Professor
Came From: Nigeria

Other Information:
He was born in Nigeria, educated at Loyola Marymount Los Angeles, California with BA, MPA, and PhD in Business and Political Science. Is married with three children. His wife is a medical doctor.

Tim Papa

Years in Parish: 3 years
Profession: Engineer
Came From: Omaha, Nebraska

Other Information:
Grew up in Nebraska and went to Iowa State University for electrical engineering. Served five years in the U.S. Navy as a submarine officer. Has lived throughout the south in a career as a manger and engineer of lumber mills. Has been married to Norma for two years and has a son Benjamin.

Jean Witt

Years in Parish: 14 years
Profession: Registered Nurse
Came From: Charleston, South Carolina, born in Ohio

Other Information:
Graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Has two children, Thomas and Karen Ann as well as three grandchildren, Tom III, Heather Ann and Justin Lee. Has two great-grandchildren, Thomas IV and Donavyn Lander. Married to Thomas Sr. for 57 years.

Paulette Flench

Years in Parish: 7 years
Profession: Pastoral Associate
Came From: Ada, Ohio

Other Information:
Taught Middle School math and language arts, owned a school supply store and gave workshops to parents, educators, and store owners before moving to South Carolina. Is married with two sons and two grandchildren.

Fr. 'Rick LaBrecque

Years in Parish: 15 years
Profession: Priest
Came From: Waterbury, CT

Other Information:
Oldest of nine
Have served in New York, California, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Texas before South Carolina
Received Theology degree from Gregorian University in Rome.
Played right field for St. Margaret’s 6th grade baseball team

Paula Loehr

Years in Parish: 20 years
Profession: Administrative Assistant
Came From: Dalton, Massachusetts

Other Information:
Married to Timothy Loehr with two grown sons, Michael and Justin. Was a Dietary Manager for a nursing home and a school for 10 years prior to moving to South Carolina in 1990. Has worked for St. James for nearly twenty years.

Deacon Jeff Mevisson

Years in Parish: 23
Profession: Engineer, AVX Corporation
Came From: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Other Information:
Him and wife Susan have five children though the nest is emptying. They live in beautiful N. Conway where folks are young for their age. His diversions are running, cycling, and canoeing. He was ordained a deacon in 2002 and celebrates whatever small ways God works though him in this ministry.