Fr. Aaron Laskiewicz
Ex Officio Member

I am blessed to have been raised in a Catholic family.  Ever since childhood, going to church, saying my prayers, and being a good Christian were very important.  I was also blessed to have so many good examples in my life of how to live our call to holiness.  This was really meaningful to me as I discovered my desire to become a priest.  In fact, I wanted to become a priest ever since first grade.  Since then, it has been all I have ever known.

 My family and friends have been supportive along with my home parish, St. John Paul II, on Milwaukee’s south side.  One of the most influential figures in bolstering my faith, is my home parish pastor, Fr. Mike Ignaszak, who has been and still is, a great friend and mentor.  Over the years of my formation, I have learned a lot about myself, and God, but one of the best things has been realizing more and more how active God is in my daily life.

Email: LaskiewiczA@stmaryhc.org

Clem Budny
Trustee

Clem has been a member of the parish since 1975.  He is married and the father of three children, all of whom attended and graduated from St. Mary grade school.  Clem is a Lector, a member of the Finance Committee, a participant in the Renew program, and, along with his wife Joyce, has facilitated pre-marital reviews for engaged couples.  With a background of having been a corporate lawyer for thirty-five years, he now serves as a Trustee for the parish.

E-Mail: cbudny@synap-sys.com

Tammy DuBois
Trustee

Tammy has been a member of St. Mary Catholic Faith Community since 1997.  She currently serves as the Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer for the Sojourner Family Peace Center. 

Tammy is an alumnus of both Carroll College, now University, and Marquette University.  She holds a Certification in Leadership Coaching from Cardinal Stritch, as well as a Transition to Executive Management Certification from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Tammy has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1994. 

Tammy is a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Parish Finance Committee Pastoral Council, participated on the Debt Reduction Committee, and currently serves as the Parish Trustee-Treasurer. 

Tammy lives in Muskego with her husband, Craig, and two daughters, Sophie and Emily.  She enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, listening to music, cooking, walking her dogs, and spending time with family and friends. 

Jim Podewils
Chairperson

 Jim is a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Faith Community.  He is married to Sadie and they have one adult child, Angela.  Jim also has had the privilege of serving as Director of Administrative Services for the parish from October 2013 to May 2017.  He served as Parish Trustee during the mid-1980s.

Currently Jim has been active in our Haiti ministry as well as a co-leader of a small group.  He and Sadie also served as chair of the Rides during the Parish festival for ten-plus years.

He is grateful for the positive impact the community has made on his life and prays that he can contribute in furthering the Lord’s work here at St. Mary.

Email: jim.podewils@gmail.com

Maureen Riemer
Vice Chairperson

Maureen has been a parish member since moving to Hales Corners in 1991.  She is married to Scott and together they adopted their three daughters; Lexi, Lana, and Daniella, who are now teenagers.  They feel blessed to have been picked by God to adopt their daughters.

Maureen feels fortunate to have attended Catholic and Christian schools her whole life, starting at St. Alexander on the south side, then St. Mary’s Academy for high school, and graduating from Lakeland College for her business degree.  She grew up in a house where family members always volunteered through church, school, and fraternal groups.

She remembers starting to lector in 5th grade for school Masses.  She continues to enjoy helping whenever and however needed.  In the past, Maureen and her husband worked with engaged couples through the marriage enrichment program.  She is currently a Lector, Eucharistic Minister sub, a parish festival volunteer, and part of a Renew Bible Study group, which she calls her church family.  Maureen continues to grow in her faith and felt a calling through St. Mary, Alpha, and her Renew group to share more of her strong faith and love of Jesus with others.

Since 1989 Maureen passionately uses her career as an Independent Beauty Consultant and Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics to build confidence in women and girls.  She also uses that opportunity to share God with her customers by keeping her priorities in order with God first, family second, and career third.  She genuinely likes people and getting to know the uniqueness and special qualities each person has.

Favorite bible quote: For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Caroline Schachtlie
Secretary

Caroline has been a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Faith Community.  She is married to Chris and they have three adult daughters, Laura, Sarah, and Monica as well as eight grandchildren.

Caroline attended grade school here at St. Mary, went to Pius XI High School and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Marquette University.

Over the years, Caroline has been active in several ministries here at St. Mary.  She sang in the adult choir and participated in the “Song of Mark”, has been a festival volunteer, worked with engaged couples through the Marriage Encounter program and is a Eucharistic Minister.  Her greatest joy is singing for the Lord.  (K-Love is her favorite radio station!)

Being retired, Caroline gives praise and honor to God for the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, travel, and garden, but most of all, for the gift of her Catholic faith.

Pilar Azmani
Discipleship Commission Liaison

Pilar was born and raised in Hales Corners.  After college she moved away, but upon returning she joined St. Mary Parish in the fall of 2020.  She feels grateful and blessed to have been raised in a big Catholic family.  God and family have always been most important to her.

In her early teen years Pilar found that she loved to sing.  As she got older, she began to sing in the church life teen band, as well as cantor on the weekends.  In 2016, Pilar graduated college with a degree in Communication and a minor in Music.  Throughout her college career she lived in a couple of different cities and continued to be involved in the church and singing.  Her heart loves to sing contemporary Christian music, but she believes there is always room for the traditional hymns too - you know, the oldies but the goodies.

She thoroughly enjoys being a part of the Magnify Praise Team at St. Mary, as well as cantoring at Masses throughout the year.  She is happy to join the Pastoral Council and serve as the Discipleship Liaison.  Pilar is looking forward to helping grow discipleship in our church, especially the young adult life at St. Mary.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, playing the guitar, and of course singing.

Elisabel Chojnacki
Deanery Representative

Elisabel has been an active member of St. Mary Catholic Faith Community since 2019 when her daughter began to attend the school.  St. Mary has been a spiritual home since day one and Elisabel likes to help as the occasion arises.  Since 2020, she has served with the Hospitality Ministry team.  She has also taken several opportunities to help guide small faith-group studies.  One of her favorite events of the year is the summer festival where the parish community highlights its joyful sharing and welcoming spirit.

She holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Upper Iowa University and works in Clinical Research.  She loves being involved at St. Mary and is looking forward to her new role as Member of the St. Mary Parish Pastoral Council.

Elisabel lives in Greenfield with her husband, two sons and daughter.  During her free time, she enjoys reading, music, walks, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Gilbert Frenn
Pastoral Care Commission Liaison

Gilbert is a retired portrait photographer who grew up in the Milwaukee area as a third-generation Lebanese Christian.  Baptized and confirmed in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church at St. George’s Melkite Church, he learned the importance of faith and service from his parents, who were instrumental in founding St. Sebastian’s Catholic School to ensure a Catholic education for him and his three brothers.

His family’s dedication inspired Gilbert to serve actively in his faith community.  He joined St. Mary in 1976, where he has worshiped through three different church constructions.  Over the years, he has served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, leading a monthly group of parishioners to distribute Communion at St. Luke’s Hospital.  Gilbert also supports St. Mary as an Assistant Sacristan, Funeral Host, Sweepstakes Chairperson for the parish festival, and as a member of the Men of Christ group.

Gilbert and his wife, Jamie, were married at St. Mary.  Jamie, who is a chaplain at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, shares his commitment to service.  Together, they have six children, five daughters and one son, and are blessed with nine grandchildren - seven granddaughters and two grandsons.

David Fritz
Human Concerns Commission Liaison

David, and his wife Kristine, have been members of St. Mary since 2001 after he completed the RCIA program.  David grew up in Wisconsin, involved in theatre and music, beginning in kindergarten and throughout his high school years.  David attended UW-Milwaukee where he studied Broadcasting.

In 2004, David was offered a job opportunity in Southern California.  After much prayer and thought, David, Kristine, and their daughter Madison all headed out to Rancho Cucamonga, California where they remained for the next twelve years.  In 2016 after visiting loved ones in Wisconsin, David and Kris realized that it was time to come back home to be with both families.  (Although both Kris and Maddie were a bit reluctant to leave the California sunshine for the Wisconsin winters!)

After returning home to Wisconsin and St. Mary, David joined the Choir and eventually was encouraged to become a Cantor which he thoroughly adores.  He feels blessed to be able to share his faith through music and song.  David also enjoys ministering as a Lector.

David works at FIS in the Electronic Payments division, and in his free time, enjoys watching the Packers with his parents, Kris, and children Jordan, Madison, and grandson Westly (a.k.a. Bubba).  He also enjoys working out at the local gym and looks forward to crossbow hunting every fall up north with his dad.  David and family currently reside in Hales Corners just up the block from St. Mary and the home of his parents, Todd and Nancy Fritz, who are also parish members.

Melissa Hendrickson
Parish School Commission Liaison

Melissa is a devoted member of St. Mary Parish.  Born and raised in Milwaukee, Melissa discovered a deep and personal connection with God as she navigated the complexities of adulthood.  Her unwavering faith became a cornerstone of her life, providing solace, hope, and guidance in times of need.  As a mother, Melissa embraces her role as a spiritual leader for her son, instilling in him the values of compassion, kindness, and a deep-rooted love for God.  She is a living testament to the transformative power of faith, teaching her son the importance of seeking God’s presence in every aspect of life.

Professionally, Melissa serves as a nurse practitioner, specializing in working with Veterans.  Her commitment to serving those who have served our country is a reflection of her deep sense of gratitude and compassion.  Through her work, she is able to provide not only medical care but also a listening ear and a comforting presence to Veterans who may be facing physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges.  In her role as a member of St. Mary Pastoral Council, Melissa brings her unique perspective as a nurse practitioner, a mother, and someone with a profound faith journey.

Outside of the church and professional commitments, Melissa cherishes quality time with her loved ones and finding solace in nature.  She believes that nurturing her own spiritual well-being is essential to being an effective servant of God and a source of support to others.

Janet Miller
Pastoral Care Commission Liaison

Janet and her husband Thomas moved to the area in 2018.  Since day one they have found St Mary Parish so welcoming and inviting.  They immediately felt a sense of community here.

About that time, the Holy Spirit nudged Janet to go deeper into her faith and prayer life.  She has found and grown her faith and cherishes the beauty of the Catholic faith.  She is thrilled and honored to be a member of St. Mary.  She feels on fire with the desire to help others encounter and recognize God’s presence, and develop their relationship with God.

Janet is a bookkeeper and Customer Service Representative.  In her free time she loves to spend as much time outdoors especially in summer.  She and Thomas like to swim and visit with family and friends.

Joe Plassmeyer
Parish School Commission Liaison

Steven Rice
Spiritual Life and Worship Commission Liaison

Steven and his wife, Erica, have been members of St. Mary since 2009.  Erica is an elementary teacher at St. Mary Catholic School, and their two boys attend the school as well.  Steven considers it an honor to be a part of St. Mary.  He has made many friends throughout both the Parish and School, and loves being part of the St. Mary Community.

Steven grew up in Wisconsin and attended a Catholic grade school.  He found his faith in grade school, and it has continued to guide him throughout his life.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and associate degree in business management, and has an exciting and challenging career working as an Engineer for a local utility.

Aside from serving on Pastoral Council, Steven volunteers for the annual church festival and many activities within the school such as High Interest Day and Get Moving Week.  He has also coached St. Mary Soccer and Futsal teams, and Upward basketball.

Steven and his family currently reside in Franklin.  In his free time, he enjoys running, golfing, reading, and spending time with his family.

Brenda White
Finance Council Liaison

Brenda and her husband Bill have been members of the parish since 1986.  Their three adult children, Heather, Rachel, and Michael, attended St. Mary Parish School.  The White family has been blessed by many amazing friendships gained through school, sports, and service at the parish.  Over the years, Brenda has served as a Eucharistic Minister, choir member, St. Ben’s volunteer, and as a member of the parish building committee for the construction of the current church.

Professionally, Brenda was the founding president of Siena Catholic Schools of Racine until her retirement in 2023.  Brenda also served the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as an associate superintendent and elementary principal, as well as a middle school principal and special education teacher in the public schools.  She feels grateful for her career working with students, teachers, parents, and community partners to advance learning and build a spirit of collaboration and care for all of God’s family.

Brenda and her husband live in New Berlin.  She stays active hiking, biking, traveling, gardening, taking yoga classes, and enjoying adventures with her family and friends.