Our Team
We have an amazing team of hardworking people. Our team members change over the years and we are so grateful to everyone who has given of themselves to make
Our Staff
David Douglas
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
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
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
Theresa Strasser is the Administrator at
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
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.
Nicholas Pierlot
For the past five years, Nicholas Pierlot has worked as the Assistant Director of Formation at
Born and raised in Eastern Canada, Nick completed his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Prince Edward Island and completed his MA in Catholic Applied Theology through the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England. His greatest joy is his family. He is happily married to his wife, Denise. They have one daughter and two sons. In his spare time, Nick loves reading literature, listening to podcasts, smoking a pipe, baking sourdough bread, and the odd board game with friends.
Phylicia Aalbers
Phylicia Aalbers was born and raised in southern Ontario and is the oldest of eight children. Her 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. She also has professional experience in both operations and project management. She holds a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Ave Marie University in Florida and is a classically trained pianist.
Phylicia is also a proud alumna of
“I look back at my time at
St Therese with deep gratitude and I am convicted about the unique gift thatSt Therese is to the church today. I believe thatSt. 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 ofSt. 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 ofSt. Therese .”
Phylicia married
Rebecca Bekolay
Rebecca Bekolay is the Admissions Coordinator at
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
James Riley wears many tech-related hats at
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
Ken Serblowski
Shelley Ebner
Cheryl Anholt
Tammy Berscheid
Our Teaching Faculty
Nicholas Pierlot
For the past five years, Nicholas Pierlot has worked as the Assistant Director of Formation at
Born and raised in Eastern Canada, Nick completed his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Prince Edward Island and completed his MA in Catholic Applied Theology through the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England. His greatest joy is his family. He is happily married to his wife, Denise. They have one daughter and two sons. In his spare time, Nick loves reading literature, listening to podcasts, smoking a pipe, baking sourdough bread, and the odd board game with friends.
Phylicia Aalbers
Phylicia Aalbers was born and raised in southern Ontario and is the oldest of eight children. Her 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. She also has professional experience in both operations and project management. She holds a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Ave Marie University in Florida and is a classically trained pianist.
Phylicia is also a proud alumna of
“I look back at my time at
St Therese with deep gratitude and I am convicted about the unique gift thatSt Therese is to the church today. I believe thatSt. 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 ofSt. 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 ofSt. Therese .”
Phylicia married
Fr. Greg Smith-Windsor
Sr. Marta Piano
Sr. Mirasol "Sol" Abala
Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity / Sts. Benedict and Scholastica Formation Program
Our Board of Directors
Christine Aalbers
Chris O'Hara
Chris O’Hara is the Project Coordinator for Faith Formation at Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. He is an alumnus and past staff of
John Connelly
Marko Nikolic
Short bio
Catherine Renneberg
Fr. Colin Roy
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Oscar Torres
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