Staff Directory
Parish Staff Mission:
To serve the Pastor and parochial vicar of Corpus Christi Parish by providing a collaborative environment conducive for the day-to-day business of the parish, ensuring that the faithful of the community receive the sacraments and opportunities to grow in faith. Staff members exercise prudence and thoughtfulness in financial matters; preserve parish records and documentation; maintain the campus buildings and grounds; and coordinate efforts with volunteers for parish events, from daily Masses to annual celebrations. Each staff member serves with joy and gladness as ultimately serving God.
Parish Office
Fr. Reynaldo Clutario Biography
Fr. Reynaldo Clutario Jr., was born on July 24, 1967, in Tiwi, Albay, Philippines.
In 1980, he graduated elementary education and in 1984, graduated secondary education. In 1988, he graduated from Our Lady of the Angels Franciscan College Seminary, Quezon City, Philippines, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, with a minor in philosophy and sociology. In 1993, he completed his master’s degree in Theology (Cand) at St. Vincent de Paul Theological Seminary, Tandang Sra Quezon City, Philippines.
Ordained to the Priesthood at the age of 25 on July 16, 1993, at Holy Cross Parish, Novaliches, Quezon City Philippines. For him priesthood is Christ’s gift to the Church. It is his joy to be that gift and to be an instrument of Jesus’ love and mercy in administering the sacraments to many people who are lost and to people who need to experience the love of God and his forgiveness. Though unworthy he is to be Alter Christus, yet he believes at what St. Theresa of Calcutta said: “God does not call those who are qualified, he qualifies those who are called.”
His first assignment was to serve as a Formator or (Priest In-charge) of the SOLT College seminarians in Naga City, and at the same time he was assigned as Chaplain of Bicol Medical Hospital of the same place for two years and also as the Parish Administrator to a Quasi-Parish of St. Anthony de Padua. His first Parochial Assignment as Assistant Parish Priest was in Holy Cross Parish in Manila for 2 years. A meaningful ministry as the Pastor was devoted to the Parishioners of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Camarines Sur from 1997 up to 2002. In 2003, he became again a Pastor of the Parish of Holy Family Parish in the province of Sorsogon where he served for three years. Aside from being a Pastor, he became a member of the (SOLT Asian Regional Council), second assistant to the Superior of the religious order (SOLT) from 2000 to 2003.
He is grateful that God has been given him the grace of good health; happy disposition in life coupled with a sense of direction and special charism and personal power that draw people together in unity and solidarity in his twelve years ministry in the Philippines.
In June 2005, he came to the United States of America having a Religious Working Visa and served in the Diocese of Phoenix, assigned to St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Sun City for one year. After that year, the Bishop of Phoenix appointed him to be the Pastor of two medium size parishes: St. Frances Cabrini Church in Camp Verde, Arizona, and St. Joseph Parish at Mayer, Arizona. He served there as Pastor for six years and became a permanent resident of America. After 8 years, he became a Citizen of the United States of America in October 2013.
In July 2012, He was assigned as Parochial Vicar to the parishes of St. Francis of Assisi in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Cristo Rey Parish in Grand Canyon. He served there for three fruitful years. There he experienced how to work in the hospital (Flagstaff Medical Center) as volunteer chaplain with a little exposure at the prison ministry.
In July 2015, he was assigned as Parochial Vicar at Corpus Christi Parish, Phoenix, Arizona. In October of 2016, he was incardinated to be a Diocesan Priest of the Diocese of Phoenix.
In May 2020, Father Rey was appointed Temporary Parochial Administrator and in July 2021, he was installed as pastor.
We love having Father Rey with us at Corpus Christi, as he always reminds us: BE HAPPY!
Fr. Johnson Vadakkumcherry Biography
Fr. Johnson Vadukkumcherry came to the United States in September of 2022 to serve as Parochial Vicar, also known as, Associate Pastor, at Corpus Christi. He was born in the early morning of May 28, 1969 to Antony and Eupracia, in the village of Manjapra on the southern tip of India. He is the seventh of nine children and one of eight boys! Fr. Johnson’s mother told him that, on the day he was born, a funeral took place for a child at the family’s parish. Two children had gotten into a fight and a careless stone-throw from one child ended the life of the other. This incident, along with his birth at sunrise, shaped Fr. Johnson’s understanding of the purpose of his life as one that gives life and light to others. He shared, “My journey to the priesthood was cultivated through the examples of my uncle priests and religious sister aunties. A deep sense of being with Jesus, working with Him and for Him developed in me even from my childhood days.” He said he would come home from school and use the tiffin pans to pretend he was celebrating Holy Mass. “I used to sense something beyond, in everything.” He also recalls his mother praying, telling God, “One of the eight boys is for you!"
At the age of 15, in 1984, Fr. Johnson entered the minor seminary of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. After eleven long years of philosophy and theology studies, he was ordained in 1995. In 2000, he was sent to Rome for higher studies. After returning to India, Fr. Johnson served in several different parishes and as a spiritual director and professor for seven years in the seminary. “In the 27th year of my priesthood, I was recommended by my Archbishop to work in the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. I asked myself, why does God want me to go to the USA? God told me, ‘A priest is always and everywhere the same.’ I will sing of the mercies of the Lord, forever I will sing…. At Corpus Christi, God gives me the best chance to identify myself with the Body and Blood of Christ.” Fr. Johnson hopes to remain in the Diocese of Phoenix for the next ten years, but has also said, “Send me God, where you want me to be!’ Father said he loves the freedom with responsibility we have here in America. “I find it a miracle country! Fifty states united with freedom respected by all!” Here in Arizona, he enjoys the beautiful climate, people, and the cleanliness. He does, however, miss his family that was close to him in India and the taste of certain foods, but he’s been able to maintain communications and his palate is adjusting.
Fr. Johnson expressed that his most profound experience as a priest has been his effort to make himself one with Christ, especially in the Eucharistic celebration. “All other activities depend on this identification with Him. Through prayer and intimate relationship with Jesus, I am able to find maximum happiness in all my services for Him.” He wants everyone to understand that it’s the vocation of each of us to bring our knowledge of God to those who do not know Him. “God takes us seriously, so take Him seriously, too!” Fr. Johnson also encourages everyone to give thanks for the Faith we have and to develop it through daily prayer, the Rosary, regular confession, and Mass.
Steve Mandarino Biography
Steven Orlosky
Coordinator of Communications and Parishioner Engagement/Safe Environment Coordinator
READ BIOSteven Orlosky Biography
Greetings to everyone!
My name is Steven Orlosky, and I am the new Coordinator of Communications and Parishioner Engagement. Connecting parishioners and staff, gathering online prayer requests, and making the e-newsletter are some of my tasks. I am your guy for anything related to parish events or if you’d like to request to hold an event at the parish. I also help ensure all volunteers meet the Safe Environment Training requirements.
My family and I are coming from Barling, Arkansas—a small town just outside of Fort Smith. My wife Huong and I have been married for nearly 12 years, and I have four young children: Josephine (7), Marie (5), Stevie (3), and Michael (2). As you might expect, there’s never a dull moment at our house. 😊 As an owner of a web development company, I have a strong background in online communication, as well as graphic and web design.
I feel so privileged and blessed to be part of the mission of Corpus Christi in bringing people closer to Christ. I can’t express to you the joy I feel in doing the Lord’s work, serving Fr. Rey and Fr. Johnson and everyone at the parish. As Fr. Johnson recently said to me, “You are a servant of servants.” Thank you for welcoming me into the Corpus Christi family, and please reach out to me for anything you need.
Carol Pavlak Biography
As a native New Yorker, born in a close Italian family, only God could have gotten me to leave my home and move to the desert! And so, He did… and I am forever grateful for these 19 years in Arizona! I’ve worked with the disabled, counseled women in a pregnancy crisis, was co-chair of Corpus Christi’s Respect Life Ministry and have been the office manager for more than 11 years. My husband, Jim, is a fabulous cook, so dinner time is my favorite time of the day!
Christi Deg Biography
I have been the Bulletin Editor since 2007 and the Content Facilitator for our parish magazine from its beginning in 2018. I am also on our parish's social media team. My husband, John, is also on staff here. We were married on the feast of St. Thérèse in 2005 and now have 6 children. In addition to working here, I am a member of St. Gerard Circle and the Coffee Break Women's Bible Study group. I enjoy watching science fiction shows, playing board games, and baking.
Matthew Henry Biography
I have been in the parish for 11 years, 10 as music director and 1 in my newly expanded role as Director of Music and Liturgy. My hobbies include playing board games and fishing.
Barbara Manning Biography
I have been a parishioner of Corpus Christi since moving to Ahwatukee in 1991. I was originally a volunteer in the gift shop and later became the Gift Shop Manager nearly 16 years ago. I am also very involved in the planning of many of the Parish events such as the Parish Picnic, the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and various receptions held in the Parish Center, including the Parish Feast Day receptions. My husband, Steve, and I have a son and a daughter and 2 grandchildren. I love spending time with my family and reading.
Nancy Krappitz Biography
I have been a member of Corpus Christi for over 20 years. A job transfer brought us to Arizona from Maryland in late 1997. I have been married for 32 years to my husband Kevin.
As a blended family we have five children as well as 6 grandchildren living in South Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee and California. I am a professed member of the Secular Franciscans, a Eucharistic Minister and I also volunteer in various other ministries at Corpus Christi. A favorite quote of mine from Joyce Coronel of the Catholic Sun is “The love of God isn’t virtual-it’s real and it’s in Person at every Mass, waiting for us”!
Ken Doering Biography
Corpus Christi had been my parents’ parish since the mid-80s, long before my family (wife, Dee Dee, daughter, Brandelyn, son, Graham, and I) came to live in Phoenix in 2000. While here at the Parish, I helped fix a few things here and there and was asked what I was doing the rest of my life. HA! So “The Handyman Ken” became a staff member. I love our Parish, its surroundings, the staff and of course, all of our parishioners. The work here is endless, as anyone would expect it to be when called the House of God. We strive to make each day count towards the safety, structural and mechanical functions of our buildings and grounds as well as unleashing the beauty of our parish.
Faith Formation
Rob Curtis Biography
A native Arizonan born and raised in nearby Chandler, Rob is excited to joyfully serve Corpus Christi Parish as Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry. A lifelong Catholic, Rob has spent his entire life serving the Church in youth ministry, campus ministry, adult faith formation, and education at parishes and schools in the Dioceses of Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Most recently, he served as Director of Campus Ministry and Theology faculty at Benedictine University. Rob holds Master’s degrees in Pastoral Theology, Secondary Education, and Educational Leadership.
While he is truly humbled to be able to serve Christ in the numerous ways he has been called, none mean more to him than his vocation as a husband to Carrie, and father to Taylor, Molly, and Austin.
Laura Celentano Biography
I have been a part of Corpus Christi since January 2023! Funnily enough, this the very first parish my family belonged to when we moved to Arizona from New York when I was just 4 months old (wild how life works, huh??). Shortly after, we moved to Gilbert, where I currently live. I have been a volunteer for my home parish since I was 13 and my passion for serving the church has only grown. And now I’m doing what I love most – serving and teaching about the Lord to our youth! I’m the second oldest of 5 kids (big families rock!). I love to hike, read, and spend time with family and friends.
Samantha Ureta Biography
Samantha is excited to join Corpus Christi as an Faith Formation Office Manager. She brings to the team four years' experience as a teacher and camp counselor for Pre-K to 5th grade students. Recently, she taught at Corpus Christi as a substitute catechist. She is eager to work closely with families as their children learn and grow in their faith. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys hiking, fitness, writing, and exploring the natural beauty of AZ.