David Douglas studied at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and double-majored in Catholic Theology and Sociology. After a career in employee benefits funding consulting, he decided to realize his goal of living abroad by earning a TEFL certificate to work as an English language instructor. He found a teaching job in Korea, and for most of the next decade, worked as an independent educational contractor, ultimately earning a teaching license and a master’s degree. He moved from language academies to international school classrooms, taking on a wide variety of instructional, mentoring, editing, and education leadership roles across South Korea, Malaysia, China, and the USA.

David Douglas is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota and his wife, Charmaine, is originally from Saskatchewan. David met Charmaine in Seoul in 2009; they came to Canada to be married in her family’s home parish outside Melfort, SK, in 2010, and then went back overseas together. David was raised Protestant but had studied the Catholic faith since encountering it in college. Shortly after the birth of their first son, he was received into the Catholic Church on Easter, 2012, in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. When Charmaine and David eventually decided to settle in North America in 2018, they came to her mother’s home in Bruno for the transition. They got to know some wonderful people related to the St. Therese Institute that summer and were both amazed by the vibrant Catholic community of the town; Their seventh child was also born while they were in Bruno baptized at St. Bruno Parish.

From Bruno, they moved to Cloquet, Minnesota in August 2018, where David served as the principal of Queen of Peace Catholic School.

Five years later, the Lord’s path directed them back to Bruno and in 2023 David took on the role of Executive Director here at St. Therese Institute.

As God has allowed us to work directly for a mission of the Church, we have grown in appreciation for both the challenges and the incredible call that is made upon Catholics of our day. The world is more connected than it has ever been, and the details of our daily lives have changed so much over recent generations that we can truly speak of facing a new historical epoch. What does it mean when the societal norms of a thousand generations are washed away and so much established wisdom no longer applies? Who are we called to be in these brave times? Above all, how are we to follow Christ and, indeed, each do our part to bring in the plentiful harvest? What a gift that the St. Therese Institute is here, equipping laborers for the harvest! My family gives praise to Christ for the invitation that allows us to join this wonderful and necessary mission work.

Theresa Strasser is the Administrator at St. Therese Institute and overseeing day-to-day financial operations. She is also the usual first point of contact when you visit or contact our office.

Theresa joined the staff team in 2022 following her relocation to Bruno, SK. Theresa holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Saskatchewan and has taken multiple courses in finance and risk management. She has a long-standing career in operations and administration, including seventeen years in healthcare and recently with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. She is thankful to have been able to join St. Therese Institute’s team and to use the gifts God has given her.

Theresa loves being a part of our quiet yet vibrant community in Bruno. When she is not at work, Theresa loves to be home with her husband, Terry, and enjoys gardening, golfing, and spending time with her two grown boys.

Rebecca Bekolay is the Admissions Coordinator at St. Therese Institute. She attended St. Therese as a student from 2017-2021 and now has the joy of being able to journey with prospective students. She feels truly blessed to be able to accompany applicants in their discernment, to hear their stories, and to help them prepare for their time at St. Therese.

Rebecca is currently studying for her B.A. in Theology through Holy Apostles College and Seminary alongside her husband, Christian—an activity that feeds her soul as well as her intellect. She also enjoys playing board games, solving cryptic crosswords, and going for walks that take longer than expected because she inevitably ends up stopping to watch birds.

James Riley wears many tech-related hats at St. Therese Institute. He is our graphic & web designer, our social media manager, our audio-video person & photographer, our shipper/receiver, our office supply guy, and our resident computer tech. He has a servant’s heart and is always willing to share his time and techno-knowledge with staff and students, whether it be by giving suggestions on layout or design for student projects, teaching new staff how to use our donor management software, or keeping the walk-in cooler running when it breaks down (by cobbling together a custom-programmed microprocessor thermo-controller out of some spare electronics he happened to have laying around). He has worked at St. Therese Institute since it opened in 2007.

James studied multimedia design and holds a Diploma with honours in Digital Arts and Media from MacEwan University and has worked in full-time Catholic ministry since graduating. He also has a certificate in Digital Marketing from Blue Moose Media and a Diploma in Sacred Studies from the John Paul II Bible School. James has professional experience working as a sound, video, and lighting tech for live events.

James met his wife Heidi in 1998 while they were both attending JPII Bible School in Radway, AB. They have lived in Bruno since 2007 and have six children, the oldest of which is now a student at St. Therese Institute. James enjoys singing, playing bass guitar and the stand-up bass, and doing the occasional fix-it or construction project around the house. He is an avid “saver” and enjoys finding the best deal on everything from office supplies to groceries.