Pastoral Team

Fr. Chris Cauchi, Pastor and Chaplain

Patrick Douglas, Director of Human Resources and Operations, has served on staff at the Newman Centre since 2001. Patrick graduated from Queen's University in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Chemistry. Before coming to Newman, he developed a career at Xerox in business and information management. Patrick holds a certificate in Human Resources Management through the University of Toronto and has earned the designation, Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP).  Patrick lives in Sutton with his wife, Carissa, and seven children.

José González, Facilities Manager

José González, has served as a Facilities Manager for the Newman Centre & the St. Thomas Aquinas chapel since 2007. His main responsibilities include scheduling and coordinating the day-to-day maintenance and repairs of the building operational systems, structures, grounds, contractual services, occupational health and safety matters, project planning, and compliance with building regulations and standards.

His education and professional experience include Law, Real Estate, Business Management, Facilities Management Administration, and Languages.

Anne Skrepichuk, Administrative Assistant

Hello! My name is Anne Skrepichuk and I am very excited to join the Newman Centre community! As a UofT student and continuing afterwards as staff, I was often impressed by the medieval beauty of the buildings of the Newman Centre. Now I am even more impressed by the loveliness of the people who make up this Catholic heart! I look forward to meeting you all in my role as Administrative Assistant.

Josh Canning, Director of Chaplaincy Services

Hi there!  My name is Josh Canning, and I am thrilled to be back at the Newman Centre at the University of Toronto.  I was a Student Campus Minister in 2005-06 as I was completing my final year in Kinesiology and Health Science.  From there I went on to work full-time in campus ministry at the Catholic Chaplaincy at York University for four wonderful years.  In the interim I got married (in the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel) to my wonderful wife Lisa, and we have been doubly blessed by God with one child, and another on the way. 
 
In my role as Director of Chaplaincy Services I am working with a mandate to serve the students of the University of Toronto on the downtown campus.  This means a number of things, including:
* Providing pastoral guidance to students
* Organizing programs of faith formation for students during the week
* Reaching out to new students through various channels
* Promoting the Newman Centre to students through campus advertising, social media, etc.
* Determining how to utilize and orient the space and resources we have available to us at the Newman Centre during Monday-Friday
* Planning and implementing retreats and days of reflection
* Fostering strong relationships between the Newman Centre and the university
* Serving as liaison with other Canadian Catholic university chaplaincies and organizations

To all you students, I hope you will make the Newman Centre your second home on campus this year.  We are here for you!  And we want to hear from you.  Please drop by soon, get comfortable in the Centre, and check out our new webpage for upcoming events. Thanks, God bless!

Bruno Cormier, Director of Music

Bruno has been a church musician all his life, beginning at la Paroisse St-Pierre in Chéticamp, Nova Scotia where he was a chorister in his childhood and became the director of its Youth Choir during his high school years. During his undergraduate studies, he was a cantor at the Notre-Dame d'Acadie Parish as well as the Notre-Dame de L'Assomption Cathedral in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Since coming to Toronto in 1997, He had sung as a bass soloist at St. Matthew's United Church, St. James' Cathedral and at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. At TEMC, he served as Assistant Conductor from 2008 to 2010, and as Interim Director of the TEMC Choir School from 2005 to 2006.

Outside the realm of church music, Bruno has enjoyed a busy and fulfilling career as a private voice teacher and opera singer. He has sung with many renowned companies including Edmonton Opera, the Veroza Opera Company in Japan, Tanglewood in the U.S., and the Canadian Opera Company, but to name a few. He has also continued to perform oratorio and concert work.

A recent highlight has been the 2006 release of Départs, a critically acclaimed recording featuring Bruno and his sister Aurélie Cormier, mezzo-soprano, performing some of their favourite Acadian folk songs. “A labour of love” as one critic stated, Départs features 14 of Bruno’s own arrangements, accompanied by Ana Maria Nunes, piano. In 2009, they released Dans le silence de la nuit, a Christmas recording of their favourite carols, arranged by Bruno, and accompanied by chamber orchestra, piano and organ.

Fatima Martins, Housekeeper

My name is Fatima Martins. I have been working at Newman for the past 19 years. I consider the Centre my second home. I feel a strong connection to the rhythm that gets woven on a yearly basis with meeting new students each school year.