Our Staff
Father Kevin Huber
Ordained to the Priesthood in 1991, Fr. Kevin has spent more than 30 years working in a
variety of assignments in the Diocese of Gary, ranging from parish ministry to campus
ministry to vocation ministry. In 2008, he earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree in
Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. After 11 years as
Pastor at Queen of All Saints Parish in Michigan City, Indiana, Fr. Kevin arrived at St.
Mary Parish on July 1, 2021.
In addition to his pastoral and sacramental responsibilities
at St. Mary’s, Fr. Kevin is the Chancellor for the Diocese of Gary. He is passionate about
leadership, preaching, and empowerment and enjoys golf, cycling, and anything to do
with being a cowboy, especially rodeos.
Maura Marcotte
The Executive Assistant to Father Kevin Huber and our Safe Environment Coordinator is Maura Marcotte. She and her husband, Dan, relocated their family of five to Crown Point from Illinois in 2019. A homeschooling mother for the past 20 years, Maura is a graduate of Loyola University with a degree in Political Science. Prior to motherhood, Maura was the head of the information technology department at a Chicago law firm.
Sister Joanne Marie Schutz, SSCM
Our Pastoral Associate is Sister Joanne Marie Schutz, SSCM. She was born to Herb and Rachel (Ornelas) Schutz in Gary, Indiana and was baptized at Holy Angels Cathedral in 1949. She attended Saints Peter and Paul School and Andrean High School. She left home and the Gary Diocese to explore her call to religious life with the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Her discovery led her to final profession in 1976.
Her professional preparation includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania; a Reading Specialist Degree from Bloomsburg University; and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago. She was certified as a Pastoral Associate in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1997.
Sister Joanne Marie has served as Teacher, Vocation Director and Parish Pastoral Minister. She finds it a joy to be “back home” after thirty-nine years of ministry in five diocese/nine parishes. She hopes that what she has received as gift from the people of God, she is able to give back as gift to God’s people at Saint Mary’s.
Mikinson Henry
Sheila Vaclavik
Raised in Merrillville, Indiana, Sheila was a member of S.S. Peter and Paul Parish
since the time of her birth until well into adulthood. It is there where she
received all of her sacraments: Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist,
Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony. She is married to her husband, Phil, and has
three adult children: Matthew, Andrew, and Joseph, and one grandchild. She
enjoys spending time with her entire family.
Sheila received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Valparaiso University in 1983, a
Master of Science in Education from Indiana University Northwest in 1986, and a
Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Duquesne University in 2021. She taught
English for thirty-three years and was the English department head at Griffith
High School. While teaching, she began her involvement in music ministry at her
parish.
An organist, pianist, cantor, and music director, Sheila has ministered at various
parishes in the diocese. She even moved to Pittsburgh for a short time for her
first full-time position in ministry. Returning to the Diocese of Gary, Sheila
continued her involvement in diocesan music. Having been a diocesan cantor for
twenty years, she now continues to sing in the diocesan choir. She is currently
the St. Mary Parish Music Director in Crown Point.
Mrs. Marian Weeks
Our Faith Formation Coordinator is Mrs. Marian Weeks. She was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Anthony and Anna Benyacko. She attended Saint Stephen’s Grade School, Bishop McCort High School, Calumet College, and the Diocese of Gary Ministry Formation. Marian served as teacher, Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister at Nativity of Our Savior Parish in Portage, Indiana for twenty-five years. She joined Saint Mary’s to serve as Faith Formation Coordinator in 2005.
Marian has a love for children and delights in helping them grow closer to God and to live by His Word.
Marian and her husband Dennis reside in Portage, Indiana. They are the proud parents of four children and four grandchildren.
Mr. L. Thomas Ruiz
Our School Principal is Mr. L. Thomas Ruiz. His professional educational career includes service as a Science Teacher, Dean of Students and Assistant Principal before Father Pat appointed him to serve as Saint Mary’s School Principal in 2006.
Mr. Ruiz loves his role as Principal of Saint Mary’s School. He has an “open door policy” that encourages students, parents and teachers to maintain open lines of communication. He is especially proud of the tremendous progress the school made to implement new technology as a tool to enhance learning.
Mr. Ruiz and is wife reside in Crown Point with their two young daughters and are parishioners at Saint Mary’s Church.
Mrs. Bea Kozlowski
Our School Assistant Principal is Mrs. Bea Kozlowski. Her professional education career consists of 12 plus years of experience. Prior to becoming the Assistant Principal of St. Mary Catholic Community School, she taught Spanish to grade levels K-12.
Mrs. Kozlowski is always smiling and willing to help in any way. She is constantly finding new ways to improve the school. Being apart of a child’s education is something that she is truly blessed and grateful for.
Mrs. Kozlowski and her husband grew up in Northwest Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Kozlowski have two boys. Both boys attend St. Mary Catholic Community School.
Mrs. Jan Mucha
Our Business Manager is Jan Mucha. She was born in Hammond, Indiana to Bob and Joan Hamnik. She grew up in Schererville, Indiana and was a member of St. Michael’s Parish until 1995. She is a proud product of Catholic education, having attended St. Michael’s School, Andrean High School and Calumet College of St. Joseph.
In 1986 she married her husband, Dave, and they have been blessed with 3 wonderful children. They are all graduates of St. Mary’s Catholic Community School. Their daughters, Arielle and Megan, have graduated from Andrean High School and attend Purdue University, West Lafayette. Their son, Joey, is currently a student at Andrean High School.
Prior to coming to work at St. Mary’s in 1996, Jan worked for 10 years in banking, having last served as Human Resources Director for Bank One, Merrillville. She joined St. Mary’s in 1996 as Director of Religious Education. She served in that role for 10 years, during which time she began to take on responsibility for some of the business aspects of parish life. In 2006 she became full-time Business Manager of the parish. She continues to serve as one of the Catechists for the children in our Faith Formation Program who are preparing for Confirmation.
She feels truly blessed to be able to use her business education and experience in such a special place as St. Mary’s.
Paul Czysczcon
Cheryl Grandys
Our Parish Office Manager is Cheryl Grandys. Born and raised in Northwest Indiana, she attended St. Michael’s School in Schererville, Lake Central High School and Purdue University. Prior to coming to St. Mary’s, Cheryl worked for 20+ years in Human Resources having last served as Benefits Coordinator at the Diocese of Gary Pastoral Center. She joined St. Mary in 2020 as Parish Secretary.
In 2022, she became the Office Manager of the parish. She is honored to serve St. Mary’s multi-generational families as well as new parishioners who move to Crown Point and choose St. Mary as their new parish.
Cheryl, along with canine Maddie and feline Bella, live in Cedar Lake, IN and enjoys time spent with family and friends. She loves spending time in the serenity of God’s beautiful nature whether bicycling, walking or experiencing it from her backyard deck.
Nettie Stewart
Tracey Kolodziej
Nellie Marcotte
Nellie Marcotte works as an Office Assistant at St. Mary’s. She is currently a junior in high school and has plans to attend college to pursue a Psychology degree to become a therapist. She is devoted to spreading kindness and “sunshine” in and outside of the workplace and has been a St. Mary parishioner for over 3 years.
Suzie Hartman