Student Leadership Team

3rd-Year
Major: English
Email: [email protected]

Hello! I’m Emma, and I am from Woodbridge, Virginia. Catholic Hoos has afforded me invaluable formation and more fruit than I know how to use, so I hope to offer similar care to the ministry. In the meantime, it’s likely you catch me at my favorite activities: reading, eating ice cream, learning chants, and playing tag. I love to discuss literature and writing, and welcome any opportunity to do so, as well as whatever else strikes your fancy—contemplation, music, the Latin Mass, so on. I’ve devotions to the Jesus Prayer and practicing the presence of God, and love to sit with empty mind and burning heart before the Blessed Sacrament. Feel free to talk about prayer with me; it would be my great pleasure to do so. Though, like everyone else, I know hardly how to pray, I’ll always make myself available for such enlivening conversation.

Favorite Quote: "We should continually strive to ensure that all our actions are like little conversations with God, quite unstudied, just using the words that come from the purity and simplicity of heart." - Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection

3rd-Year
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Email: [email protected]

Hello! My name is Phil Bongiorno and I am a third year Mechanical Engineering student from Woodbridge, Virginia. I am incredibly blessed and grateful to serve as your 2023 Liturgy Chair in Catholic Hoos! This ministry has been a massive blessing throughout my college career, and I am delighted to give back to all of you in such a way. The Mass is the highest form of prayer we can participate in, and my love for it continues to grow day by day. As a leader in the ministry, I want to, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, bring you closer to the truth of the liturgy, the beauty of liturgical living, and the goodness of the sacraments so that love for Christ and His Church may grow within each and every person. St. John Vianny once said, “If we truly understood the Mass, we would die of joy.” May Christ guide us to that truth through His Holy Sacrifice present on the altar, and through His example of humility as he comes to us in the accidents of bread and wine. I enjoy European soccer, all things basketball, chess, altar serving, and Pico Wrap. I am always up for a basketball game at the AFC, or any gym for that matter. I have a special devotion to the three hearts of the Holy Family, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Saint Joseph, and Saint JPII. Outside of participation in the Mass, my favorite way to pray is in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament through Eucharistic adoration. Feel free to reach out if you want to become involved in the liturgy or if you have any questions! I look forward to meeting you all!

Favorite quote: "Man should tremble, the world should quake, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest.” - St. Francis of Assisi

3rd-Year
Major: Speech Communication Disorders 
Email: [email protected]

Hey y’all! My name is Kendall Peterson and I’m originally from Virginia Beach. I’m a third year majoring in Speech Communication Disorders. I can't wait to give back to the ministry and to serve you all as I have received so many good friends and beautiful memories from my experience in Catholic Hoos. I believe that there are so many ways to encounter God and I think one of them is simply getting to spend time together and be present with the person in front of you. I like to fill my time with laughter, country music, spontaneous cooking, guitar playing, tea, dancing, and walks. Some fun facts about me are that I have a slightly problematic obsession with mugs and I believed in Santa Claus until the 7th grade. In prayer, I love reading the Bible (I am quite fond of the Book of Job), praying the Seven Sorrows Rosary, attending daily Mass, and reflecting on gratitude. If you want to laugh, eat, or walk with someone, let me know and it would make my day to join you! I can’t wait to get to know you all as we get ~social~ this coming year!

Favorite Quote: “The higher we go, the better we shall hear the voice of Christ.” - Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati

3rd-Year
Major: Music & American Studies
Email: [email protected]
Fun Fact: I can do the worm!

My name is Kat, I’m from San Diego, California, and am the youngest of 5 kids. Some fun facts about me: I celebrate Christmas in some capacity on the 25th of every month, it’s on my bucket list to visit every US state (so far, I’ve been to 29), I took a gap year after high school and moved to Nashville for a few months, and whenever it snows, I wear my Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati socks as a nod to his love for snow and outdoor adventures. My favorite saint is Saint Anthony, but I also have a fierce love for St. Anne, Blessed Frassati, and my Confirmation saint: Saint Cecilia. In my free time, you can find me playing piano, writing songs (okay, doing anything music related!), obsessing over books, or finding new novenas to pray. I am so excited to continue serving the ministry as Music Chair!

Favorite Quote: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” - C.S. Lewis

3rd-Year
Major: Biochemistry
Email: [email protected]

My name is Zach and I am a third-year from Richmond, Virginia. In my spare time, I enjoy running, reading, and memorizing poems. Some of my favorite authors include C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and Aquinas and I especially love The Screwtape Letters (whenever I read it I finish it in one day). Come talk to me about anything from the relationship of beauty to truth, to science and faith, to the interior life, and to Premier League soccer. I’ll take all challengers in ping-pong, let me see what you got!

Favorite Quote: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” - Gerard Manley Hopkins