We are looking forward to having Phylicia Aalbers join the St. Therese team as Co-Director of Formation on May 1. She will work along side Nick Pierlot, who is taking on the role of Director of Formation from retiring Jim Anderson.

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Hello! My name is Phylicia Aalbers and I was born and raised in southern Ontario and am the oldest of eight children. My background includes serving as a missionary with NET Ministries of Canada, working as a pastoral minister, and working as the associate director of Mercy through Mary, a nonprofit that seeks to spread consecration to Jesus through Mary to university students throughout the United States, Canada, and Ireland. I also have professional experience in both operations and project management. I received my BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Ave Marie University in Florida and I am a classically trained pianist.

I am also a proud alumna of St Therese Institute (Class of 2018-19) and am excited about serving the future students of St Therese. I look back at my time at St Therese with deep gratitude and I am convicted about the unique gift that St Therese is to the church today. I believe that St Therese is a place where young people are equipped with the tools to dive into inner healing, become intentional disciples, and receive a robust overall human formation, all within the context of encountering the mercy and tenderness of the heart of Jesus. I am excited for the continued opportunity to provide young adults with gifts and skills to live out their vocation in the modern age. With my experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, I believe I can provide the students of St Therese with a unique perspective on the joys and challenges of living out their vocational calling in the midst of society. I am particularly passionate about the gift of womanhood and I am excited to share the goodness and gift of femininity with the woman of St Therese.

I married St Therese alumnus, Kelly Aalbers (Classes of 2012-15), in January of 2022, and my greatest joy is living out my vocational mission with him. Together with Kelly, I enjoy gardening, canning our harvests, tackling home renovations, playing board games, and having philosophical debates. I look forward to joining the St Therese formation team and encountering Christ in the midst of each day.

Blessings,

Phylicia Aalbers