Leadership at Holy Spirit

Meet the people who Make it Happen!

Our Clergy

Fr Michael J. Field

Pastor

Fr. Michael Field was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954. As a young boy, the youngest of five children, he moved to Ocean City, New Jersey. He, along with his older brother and sister converted to Catholicism at the age of twelve through the waters of Baptism. He attended the Ocean City public schools and later went to Mount Saint Mary’s College in Maryland. Graduating in 1976, the influence of a number of priests called him to discern the call to priesthood. He entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1978 in Mahwah, New Jersey. Michael witnessed the death and transition of three Popes in his first weeks of seminary. Pope Paul VI to Pope John Paul to Pope John Paul II.

 

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Fr. Michael was ordained a priest on May 29, 1982, one day after his twenty-eighth birthday As a parochial vicar, he’s served in a number of parishes from Vineland to Blackwood to Cherry Hill. As a parochial vicar, he received a doctor of ministry degree (D.Min) from Drew University focusing on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. He was appointed Diocesan Director of the RCIA office and served in that capacity for five years.
In 2002, Fr. Michael was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Swedesboro. From there he served as Pastor of Queen of Heaven, Cherry Hill.

In his term there, the bishop began the merging process. The bishop assigned Fr. Michael to merge the Wildwood parishes. Near the end of his first term in Wildwood, Fr. Michael requested a sabbatical. Using the year to renew and be enriched, he updated himself at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Upon completing the sabbatical, the bishop appointed him pastor of St. Bridget University Parish in Glassboro. Fr. Michael served there until he was appointed pastor of our parish in 2019!
What is his vision for our parish? He says, “The church of the future, the church of now must reflect the Good News. It must reflect welcome, free of judgment or exclusion. If we create safe, welcoming environments with liturgies full of life, joy and hope — we’ll see a faith community full of disciples!”

Fr Chris Bakey

Parochial Vicar

Biography will be updated shortly

Robert Fanelli

Deacon

856-478-2294 x1004

rfanelli@holyspiritweb.org

Deacon Bob was born in Woodbury, NJ, the youngest of 4 children. He lived in Bellmawr, NJ until he was 13, when his family moved to California, Md. in St. Mary’s County.  

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He moved back to NJ in 1980, and joined the Washington Twp. Jaycees, where he chaired many projects to raise money for children in need, those who were physically or mentally challenged, as well as other charitable causes.  In 1983 he met his “Earth Angel”, Robin, and they were married in 1984. They have resided in Penns Grove, NJ since 1989.  He was ordained as a Permanent Deacon on March 15, 1997, and has been assigned to St. James Parish (Penns Grove), St Ann’s (Elmer), St. Gabriel’s (merged parish), and now the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit.   Over the years he has coached Little League, church softball teams, received a B.S in Business Management from Wilmington College, and a 4 year certificate in Bible studies from the Camden Diocese’s Institute for Religious Studies. He and Robin have been involved with Small Christian Communities and prayer groups. Deacon Bob also taught Religious Education classes to 8th graders preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation for 17 years. Although he no longer plays sports, he is still an avid fan, especially baseball.

Joseph W. Loungo

Deacon – Retired

Faith Formation

Robert Sutliff

Youth Ministry

856-478-2294 x2003

rsutliff@holyspiritweb.org

Hails from Philadelphia, growing up in the Germantown section. Oldest of 5 – 2 brothers and 2 sisters, parents live in Quakertown, PA.

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Bob attended Immaculate Conception Church and School, Cardinal Dougherty High School. He joined the Salesians of St. John Bosco earned at BA in Philosophy from Don Bosco College Seminary in Newton, NJ where his youth ministry career began teaching Religious Education classes and assignments at residential and day summer camps and a boarding school in Tampa, Fl. After leaving the Salesians, Bob worked as office manager for a printing company in Tampa and managed Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant in Clearwater Mall, FL. 

Still feeling the call to priesthood, he attended St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Fl for two years before taking his first youth ministry position at Holy Family Church in Rockford, IL. From there Bob moved back to Florida for a year before accepting the Youth Ministry position at St. James Church in Falls Church, VA. While there he completed a Master of Theological Studies from St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, IN. When the new pastor dismissed the lay staff, Bob moved to Baltimore to serve as Campus Minister at Mt. St. Joseph High School, Youth Minister and Rel. Ed Director at St. William of York Church, Baltimore; Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph Church, Odenton; Youth Minister at St. Joseph, Eldersburg; Pastoral Associate at The Catholic Community of Ascension & St. Augustine and here we are.

While living in Falls Church, VA Bob and a co-worker discerned a call to foster HIV+ children, and with support of the parish cared for Nathan. The co-worker adopted Nathan and moved on to Seattle. While living in Columbia, MD Bob responded to an ad looking for foster parents for HIV+ children and was connected to Catholic Charities in Washington, DC. He was asked to consider fostering “difficulty of care” children and was asked to meet David which happened on February 14, 1994. After spending days together, then overnights and weekends, David moved in on April 22, 1994. Difficulty of care was an understatement given all that David has experienced while with his birth mother and in other foster homes. Bob adopted David on November 28, 1998. Eventually, Joshua joined them and when Joshua graduated high school, Tim moved in. Tim was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome yet manages his life well.

Bob has had care of his granddaughter, Leah, since June of 2009, adopting her in May of 2013.

As a kid, Bob wanted to be a priest but came to realize that he best serves as a Lay Ecclesial Minister moving where he feels called to serve. In almost 50 years in ministry Bob has led Communion Services, Wake Services, Funerals, and two weddings. He feels most comfortable empowering young people, of all ages, to take ownership of their faith and walk with any who feels called to a deeper relationship with our God. Bob’s “motto” is “Stop telling God how to do God’s business” which translates as “Take ‘em where they are!”

Sr. Denise Ware

Pastoral Associate of Faith Formation

856-478-2294 x2004

sr.denise@holyspiritweb.org

Irene Clark

Sacramental Coordinator Faith Formation

856-478-2294 X2002

iclark@holyspiritweb.org

Our Staff

Jim Rementer

Director of Music

856-478-2294 x1003

jimr@holyspiritweb.org

Jim has over 45 years of music ministry experience. He has lead contemporary music ministry since 1979. Jim & Grace married in 1972 and they have three children.

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Jim plays the guitar, mandolin, and other string instruments, flute, woodwinds, and hand percussion instruments. He has served in the roles of leader of song, cantor and director of adult and children’s choirs. Jim has been a team member for Gregory Norbert, and Grayson Warren Brown concerts. He has played guitar for several National Pastoral Musicians Conferences as well as being a musician for several concerts featuring John Michael Talbot and Bob Hurd. Beginning in January of 2007, Jim was a Co-Director of music ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish. He continues working as the current Director of Music since 2010.

Dana Cooper

Parish Business Manager

856-478-2294×1004

dcooper@holyspiritweb.org

Rob Reilly

Associate to the Pastor

856-478-2294

office@holyspiritweb.org

Felicia Mitchell

Bookkeeper

856-478-2294 x1006

fmitchell@holyspiritweb.org

Felicia moved with her husband, John to Mullica Hill in 1994 and joined the Holy Name of Jesus Parish. In 1996, their daughter, Janet was born.

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Felicia is originally from Nanuet, NY. She attended Fordham University for Undergraduate and Iona College for Graduate work. She was a member of the Finance Council for Holy Name of Jesus and later joined the Finance Council for Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit. She also was a counter for several years. Prior to becoming the Bookkeeper, she worked for IBM in Accounting, Marketing and Finance before retiring after 35 years.

Joan Baker

RCIA Coordinator & Bulletin Editor

856-478-2294

Joan has been a parishioner since 1992 when she moved from Alexandria, Virginia where she was Vice President of Operations for the largest family-owned and oldest bank in Virginia.

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She and her husband Bruce have been involved in many ministries throughout the years. Joan has been involved with RCIA since 1997 when Bruce joined the Catholic Faith. Prior to retirement, she was Office Administrator for a local real estate & land development company.

Ann DiGiacomo

Office Administrative Assistant

856-478-2294 X1002

office@holyspiritweb.org

Born in Cramer Hill, Ann was raised in the church and learned at a young age the power of volunteering and helping others.  She has been volunteering her whole life.

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She’s been involved at all her parishes:  St. Anthony of Padua, Queen of Peace & now here.  She currently volunteers in our parish heading up the counters’ ministry.  She joined our parish team in June of 2023, following a long career in office management & bookkeeping.  She is married to her long-time husband, John with one beautiful daughter, Giavanna.  They have made their home in Woolwich for 22 years.  If you haven’t had a chance to meet Ann, feel free to stop into our parish office.  She will gladly help you with whatever you may need.  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call her at 856-478-2294, x1002.    

Gladys Stillwagon

Church Maintenance

856-478-2294

office@holyspiritweb.org

Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council consists of lay members of our parish with Fr. Michael, our pastor and Fr. Joseph, our parochial vicar. The council is to be the visionary group of the parish, meeting monthly to work on the goals of establishing a parish vision and mission. In addition, they give counsel and assistance to our pastor.

Unlike a “Parish Council”, the Pastoral Council does not have officers and is not about the “business” of the parish. Instead, the work of the Pastoral Council is prayer and discernment for the identity and future of the parish. The members are tasked with being the “eyes and ears” of the parish and bringing that to the table with a goal of forming the direction of the parish. The business of the parish is the work of the Finance Council, and the newly formed Ministry Council.

The Pastoral Council meets regularly with the Parish Ministry Council (a group of leaders from each parish ministry). In those meetings, the Ministry Council reports what they are doing, hearing and seeing and the Pastoral Council offers suggestions and overall parish direction and vision. For instance, the Pastoral Council may feel it’s important for our parish to focus on finding ways to involve the youth of the parish in more parish activities and will suggest that to the Ministry Council. Or the Pastoral Council might think there is a greater need to serve the senior citizens of our parish, especially the sick and homebound, and will ask the Ministry Council to consider that need within any or all of their ministries.

Joan Baker

John McGonigle

Bill Singer

Jack McElwee

Doug Kalbach

Michael Guy

Marianne Reilly

Christine Williams

Membership on the Council is the result of someone offering their time and talent as a council member, and then a process of Discernment. This is much the same way as is found in scripture when a new apostle was needed.

Finance Council

The Parish Finance Council is a consultative body which assists the pastor to act justly and prudently in the administration of the parish’s temporal goods.

Tony Vitullo

Stephanie Weidman

Leo Hughes

Trustees

The parish trustees are recommended by the pastor and elected for a period of 1 year. A lay trustees of a parish corporation is not merely an “honorary appointee” but is to be a parishioner who is knowledgeable, outstanding in concern for the Church and the parish and who actively shares with a pastor his or her views on parish life and needs. -(Diocesan Statutes nos. 203, 207, 209, 210, 246 and 247)

John Morris

Mary Hartman