Parish Staff

Fr. Edward F. SteinerFr. Edward F. Steiner, Pastor

icpastor@charter.net

Fr. Ed, a native of Chattanooga, TN, attended Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, and went on to attend college at  St. Meinrad College Seminary in southern Indiana, completing his graduate studies at The Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. 

Ordained a priest May 28, 1982, he was assigned as Associate Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Nashville and to teach at Father Ryan High School where he eventually served as the Interim Principal and then the Associate Principal.  He also served as the Director of Camp Marymount, our diocesan summer camp, for several years.  In July 1991, he was named as Pastor of Saint Joseph Church in Madison ( Nashville ) where he remained until being assigned to Immaculate Conception in September 2003. 

Fr. Ed also serves as the Director of Continuing Education for Clergy for the diocese, Chairman of the priests’ Benefit Foundation, and on the Diocesan Presbyteral Council as Vice Chair.  He has two younger sisters, both married with children.  Their families and his mother reside in the Tampa area of Florida.


Fr. Edward F. SteinerFr. Wieslaw S. Burakowski (Fr. Mario) – Associate Pastor

Fr. Wieslaw (Fr. Mario), a native of Warsaw, Poland, became a U.S. citizen in 1968.  He attended the Pontifical  St. Bede Seminary in Rome, Italy, and the Pontifical St. John Baptist Seminary in Warsaw.  

Fr. Mario was ordained by Cardinal Joseph Glemp, a primate of Poland, on May 28, 1992.  He worked in Rhode Island for approximately one year.  He returned to Warsaw, Poland, and, with the permission of Cardinal Glemp, he returned to the United States.  

He came to Immaculate Conception parish in September 1995 as an Associate Pastor.  His incardination into the Diocese of Nashville took place in 2002.


Fr. Edward F. SteinerFr. John Baptiste Kyabuta 
Associate Pastor

FrJohn@immaconception.org

Fr. John Baptiste was born and raised in The Democratic Republic of the Congo ( Zaire ) in the city of Manono.   He came to the United States in 1984 and attended the seminary at Seton Hall University.  

He received a Masters of Arts Degree in Theology.  On March 19, 1988, he was ordained a deacon by Archbishop McCarrick.  Returning to the Congo, he was ordained to the priesthood on the Feast of the Assumption in 1988.  His assignments were as pastor at a small parish and as Coordinator of Education for the Elementary and Secondary Catholic Schools in his diocese.  After the Civil War broke out in 1996, he was sent to Seton Hall for additional studies. 

In 2003, he received a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Seton Hall University.   While attending the university, Fr. Bob Meyer arranged for Fr. John to come to Clarksville between semesters to assist Fr. Eric.  Since his diocese continues to be occupied by rebels, the Administrator Bishop granted him release to return to the United States.  

Bishop Edward Kmiec accepted Fr. John’s offer to provide pastoral ministry in this diocese, and he was officially assigned to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in September 2002 as Associate Pastor.

 


                              Fr. David Gaffny 
                             Associate Pastor

 

                                    Fr. David Gaffny a native of 

He came to Immaculate Conception parish in September 1995 as an Associate Pastor.  His incardination into the Diocese of Nashville took place in 2002.


Fr. Edward F. SteinerFr. Athanasius Abanulo
Associate Pastor

acabanulo2003@yahoo.com

Fr. Anthanasius was born and raised in Nigeria.  He came to the United States in 

 

 


                             Fr. Michael Baltrus
                               Associate Pastor

 

                                     Fr. Michael  was born and raised in

 

 


Fr. Edward F. SteinerDeacon Dominick Azzara –
Deacon, Pastoral Assistant and Director of Pastoral Ministries 

DeaconDominick@immaconception.org

Deacon Azzara, a native of Brooklyn, came here as an Army officer in 1967.  After the military, he earned a B.S. degree at Austin Peay State University (APSU) and has worked in management and administration at social service agencies in Clarksville prior to joining the Immaculate Conception staff. 

Completing the MLF program, he was commissioned a Lay Pastoral Minister in 1988.  He has served the parish in religious education, parish council, and liturgical ministries.  After completion of the Deacon Formation Program, he was ordained in May 1999 and assigned to the parish by Bishop Kmiec. 

In 2002, Bishop Kmiec assigned additional duties as Co-Chaplain for the Catholic Committee on Scouting.  The committee fosters the Catholic faith through youth ministry to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and adults who participate in scouting.  He and his wife, Regina, have three sons.


Fr. Edward F. SteinerDeacon Robert (Bob) Berberich 

Deacon Berberich was raised and educated in Milwaukee, WI.   After ROTC he was assigned to Ft. Campbell and in 1970 he became a member of Immaculate Conception parish.  He served as a clinician at the Mental Health Center and earned a Masters in Psychology from APSU in 1972. 

Relocating to Nashville, he earned a Doctorate in Psychology from Vanderbilt University ’s Peabody College.   He and his wife, Pat, returned to Clarksville in 1980 and were active in Cursillo and Ecumenical Family Enrichment Programs until her death in 1986.  Deacon Bob has served as Co-Chairman of the Parish Council and in Religious Education Programs. 

He was ordained and assigned to the parish in 1999.  Deacon Bob is a clinical psychologist in private practice.  His son, daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and one granddaughter live with him here in Clarksville .


Deacon Timothy Winters

Deacon Winters was born and raised in Arizona.   A Greek and Latin scholar, he has studied at the University of Arizona and at Ohio State University where he earned a Ph.D.  He taught high school and at universities in Utah and Pennsylvania.  

In 1994, he moved to Nashville where he taught at Vanderbilt before coming to the parish and his present work at APSU.  He was ordained in 1999.  He and his wife, Mary, have four children.

 

 

 

 


                             Deacon Jim Walters – 
                           

 


Judy Spink –Secretary

icsecretary@charterinternet.com

Judy was born in Texas, raised in a military family, and settled in Clarksville in 1967.  She married husband Richard in 1971 and has three sons.  Judy converted to the Catholic faith in 2000.


Venus VanWormer – Receptionist

Venus is a native of Gallatin, TN, where she graduated high school from Southside Christian School.   She has studied at Volunteer State Community College where she earned an A.S. degree in Music Education. 

She has also taken classes at APSU towards a B.S. degree in early childhood and music education.  She is a member of New Providence Baptist Church where she serves as both Church Pianist and Youth Director.


Mary Hoffpauir –
Sacramental Clerk

Mary, a native of Clarksville, returned to Immaculate Conception in 1990 after 30 years in southwestern Louisiana.   She has three daughters and three grandchildren.  Mary is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and a member of the Welcome Committee.


                              Greg Martin –Life Teen

                                      Greg, a native of  


Kathy McDonough –
Accounts Manager

Kathy@immaconception.org

Kathy was born at Langley A.F.B. in Virginia and moved to Clarksville in 1968.   She received her A.S. Degree in Accounting from Miller-Motte Business College and joined the Immaculate Conception staff in April 2002.  Kathy has one son.


                                         Regina Azzara –
                                         Safe Environment Coordinator

 


Music Ministry Team

Terry Martin – Music Coordinator

June Esquilin – Parish Choir

Stella McKnight – Chancel and Children’s  Choirs

Danny Chartrand - Ensemble

Michael Lewis – Life Teen Band


Donna GarrettDonna Garrett – Custodian

Donna is a native Clarksvillian.  She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and has been a staff member for 15 years.


Rosemary Gunn –
Nursery Director

Before marrying and moving to Clarksville in 1960, Rosemary worked; attended DePaul University for three years; and attended Bryant and Stratton Business College for one year.  She has been employed in Clarksville for ten years in the school system and nine years at the Cumberland Dialysis Center.  

She was a Brownie leader at St. Mary’s School from 1965 to 1968.  In the 1970s, she was president for two years and secretary for two years of the PCCW.  She did volunteer work at the church office for two years and taught 5th grade CCD classes for eight years. 

She served as Nursery Director from 1970 to 1972.  After taking a break to raise six children, Rosemary returned to her previous position as Nursery Director where she has served over six years.  Also, she is a member of the prayer line; participates in the Wednesday morning study group; and is a Eucharistic Minister.  She has six grandchildren.


Courtney Leudenberg –Grounds Keeper


Bill Young –
Building Maintenance


Denise Tucker –
Principal – St. Mary’s Catholic School

Denise@immaconception.org

Denise, a native of Maryland, moved to Tennessee in 1984 with her husband.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education with a Minor in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration.  Before becoming principal of St. Mary’s, she worked in education for 16 years


Phyllis Loos – Administrative Assistant – St. Mary’s Catholic School

Phyllis, a native of St. Louis, moved to Clarksville in 1990 with her husband and four children.  She worked as the secretary on the task force for the school.  She became Administrative Assistant in 1998.  She is an active member of Immaculate Conception.


Pam Loos – Director - St. Mary’s Pre-school; Assistant to the Principal - St. Mary’s Catholic School

Pam@immaconception.org

Pam is a native of Hurricane Mills, TN.  She has lived in Clarksville for seven years.  She became a Catholic in 1998 and Pre-school Director in June 2002.


Sally Tranberg – Administrative Assistant – St. Mary’s Pre-school

Sally has served with the pre-school for 14 years and has been a Clarksville resident for 15 years.  Her native state is Ohio.