People — Columbia Catholic Ministry

CHAPLAINs

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Father John Wilson has been the chaplain of Columbia Catholic Ministry since the summer of 2025. Originally from Connecticut, he studied government at Claremont McKenna College in California and worked as a journalist in New York City for three years before discerning a vocation to the priesthood. He was ordained a priest in 2016 and has served at several parishes in the Hudson Valley region of New York, including St. Patrick in Yorktown Heights and St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Lagrangeville. Most recently, he has been pursuing a doctoral degree in theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, where his research focused on the virtue of faith and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in St. Thomas’s thought. He also serves as parochial vicar at the Parish of Corpus Christi and Notre Dame.

Father Peter Heasley: Assistant Chaplain

Father Peter Heasley has been the pastor of the Parish of Corpus Christi and Notre Dame, the parish on Morningside Heights, since the summer of 2022. Born in the Detroit area, he studied architecture at Syracuse University. After a two-year term with the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa, he practiced architecture in Manhattan and Brooklyn. After much discernment, he entered the seminary. This meant two years in a philosophy program in Yonkers and four years at the North American College in Rome. He stayed in Rome for an extra year to complete a licentiate in Biblical Theology. After two years as parochial vicar of Saint John the Evangelist in Goshen, New York, he completed a doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. Since then, he has been an adjunct professor of Scripture at Saint Joseph’s Seminary and the pastor of Saint Michael the Archangel in the Bronx, before coming to Morningside Heights.

Undergraduate board

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Madeline Wiseman: Co-President

mrw2198@columbia.edu

Madeline Wiseman is a Senior in Columbia College from Woodland Park, Colorado. Her patron saint is Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity.

Ignazio LaManna: Co-President

isl2123@columbia.edu

Ignazio LaManna is a Senior at the School of General Studies. His patron saint is Saint Basil the Great.

Nicole Ineza: Treasurer

nai2110@barnard.edu

Nicole Ineza is a Senior at Barnard College from Kibuye, Rwanda. Her patrons are Blessed Carlo Acutis and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Gabriel Chuang: Choir Coordinator

gtc2117@columbia.edu

Gabriel Chuang is a PhD candidate from Fremont, California. His patron saint is Saint Ambrose.

Matthew Jedras: Service Co-Chair

mgj2121@columbia.edu

Matthew Jedras is at the School of General Studies. He is originally from Westbourough, Massachusetts and his two patron saints are Saints Cosmas and Damian.

Laritza Chena: Retreat Chair

lcc2192@columbia.edu

Laritza Chena is a Senior at Columbia College from Searcy, Arkansas. Her patron saint is Saint Joan of Arc.

Evan Bursch: Interreligious Co-Chair

emb2333@columbia.edu

Evan Bursch is a PhD candidate from Caledonia, Michigan. His patron saint is Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Victoria Hoeper: Interreligious Co-Chair

vmh2117@columbia.edu

Victoria Hoeper is a Sophomore at Columbia College from Villard, Minnesota. Her patron is Our Lady of Victory.

Grace Van Valkenburg: Communications Co-Chair

gjv2114@columbia.edu

Grace Van Valkenburg is a Junior at Columbia College from Bedford, New Hampshire. Her patron saint is Saint Brigid of Ireland.

Paige Sexauer: Communications Co-Chair

pts2124@columbia.edu

Paige Sexauer is a Sophomore at SEAS from Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Her patron saint is Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

Ally Landry: Communications Co-Chair

aml2376@barnard.edu

Ally Landry is a Junior at Barnard College from Belmont, Massachusetts. Her patron saint is Saint Rose of Lima.

Quinn Synder: Liturgy Co-Chair

qfs2101@columbia.edu

Quinn Snyder is a Sophomore at Columbia College from Washington, DC. His patron saint is Saint Francis of Assisi.

Richard Machado: Liturgy Co-Chair

rbm2171@columbia.edu

Richard Machado is a Junior at Columbia College from Westwood, New Jersey. His patron saint is Saint Lazarus.

Joel Wong: Social Co-Chair

jw4649@columbia.edu

Joel Wong is a Sophomore at The School of General Studies from Yew Tee, Singapore. His patron saint is Saint Felix of Valois.

Alden Christian: Social Co-Chair

ac5698@columbia.edu

Alden Christian is a Senior at The School of General Studies from Indonesia. His patron saint is Saint Michael the Archangel.

Victoria Solano: Social Co-Chair

vss2132@barnard.edu

Victoria Solano is a Junior at Barnard College from Huntington, New York. Her patron saint is Saint Cecilia.

Leonah Esteves: Social Co-Chair

lae2147@barnard.edu

Leonah Esteves is a Junior at Barnard College from Peekskill, New York. Her patron saint is Saint Veronica.

focus missionaries

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Anne Bloomer: FOCUS Team Leader

Hi everyone! My name is Anne Bloomer and I’m a third-year Missionary and the Team Director at Columbia. I am originally from Chicago and I graduated from Harvard in 2023. I love doing anything active, reading, trying out new recipes, and I am on the hunt to find the best coffee shop in New York City. I am passionate about reaching souls for Christ and sharing the Gospel! My patron saint is St. Joan of Arc and I strive to embody her zeal, courage, and fortitude!

Jared Richard: FOCUS Missionary

Hey CCM! I’m Jared, a FOCUS missionary from Maryland. I studied Computer Science at UMBC and spent four years in finance before answering God’s call to mission. I come from a big family with eight siblings and love reading, spike ball, and riding ATVs. I’m pumped to be back for my second year serving at Columbia!

George French: FOCUS Missionary

Hello, my name is George French! I’m from Manassas, Virginia, and I studied physics and philosophy at the College of William and Mary (‘24). I spent nine months working for the Navy as a civilian scientist before the Lord called me to FOCUS. As I prepare for the fall semester, I’m most excited to begin sharing life with the students and modeling for them the love of Christ!

Nelly Hadlaw: FOCUS Missionary

Hey everyone! My name is Nelly Hadlaw and I’m a first year FOCUS missionary at Columbia! I’m originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and I just graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an ML concentration. For fun I love doing anything active (especially outside), cooking, painting/drawing, and learning new things! I’m so excited to get to know all of you and share life in Christ (and memes) with everyone.