Current Gratia Plena Board of Directors
Victor Mendiola, MD, President: Catholic family practice physician in the Houston area. He and his family are parishioners at St. Laurence (Sugar Land).
John Burchfield, Vice President: John is general counsel for David Weekley Homes. He and his wife are parishioners at St. Theresa (Sugar Land).
Lloyd Waguespack, Treasurer: He has a strong financial and accounting background, and currently serves as the parish accountant at St. Cecilia’s. Lloyd has also worked for the City of Houston, HISD, a CPA firm and a law firm. He is a parishioner at St. Theresa in Sugar Land and has served as grand knight in the Knights of Columbus St. Basil Council 4204. He is originally from Lafayette, LA. After his family moved to the Houston area, he went to St. Anne’s School and then St. Thomas High School.
Rachel Motte, Secretary: Rachel and her family are parishioners at Our Lady of Walsingham. She is editor and contributor for an international news magazine, and also does freelance writing and editing. Her husband Tim is General Manager for Guadalupe Radio Network's Houston affiliate KSHJ 1430AM.
Kate Mims: Director of Evangelization and Parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (The Woodlands).
Jonathan Alexander: Jonathan is President of Adore Ministries, which focuses on youth ministry. He and his family are parishioners at St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Richmond. His undergraduate studies were at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH.
Will Cravens: Will and his family are parishioners at St. Theresa Catholic Church (Houston). He is President and Owner of Cravens Price. His undergraduate degree was from the University of Arkansas.
Deacon Randy Graham: Permanent Deacon and Director, Family Life Ministry, St. Faustina Catholic Church in Fulshear
Fr. Wencil Pavlovsky, M.Div.: Fr. Wencil is a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in the NASA area. He has served on several boards and committees. For the Archdiocese, he has been Episcopal Vicar and has been on the Presbyteral Council for two terms.
Joel Mathews, CPA: Tax Consultant partner at Turlington & Mathews, PLLC. Parishioner at Epiphany of The Lord Catholic Church.
Dr. John Bertini, MD: Urologist at Gulf Coast Urology. Parishioner at Annunciation Catholic Church (Houston).
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Kenneth Buckle, PsyD: Dr. Ken is a clinical psychologist and is the Founder and Executive Director of Gratia Plena. He is married with four adult children and six grandchildren. He serves in an “emeritus” position on the board as a non-voting member. He and his wife are parishioners at St. Laurence (Sugar Land).
Previous Gratia Plena Board Members
Dick Hogan: He was before retirement the President and CEO of Solvay Chemicals. Now retired, he has been instrumental in launching Parks Youth Ranch, a nonprofit organization in Richmond (TX) assisting homeless teens. He was also previously chair of the Pastoral Council at St. Laurence parish. He is married with adult children and many grandchildren.
Roger Peters: He was before retirement a high-ranking engineer manager at Texas Instruments. He is currently the chair of the Pastoral Council of St. Laurence and has served on the board of the Ft. Bend Women’s Center. He is married with children and has a passionate interest in building strong marriages and families in the Catholic community.
Melanie Burrhus: She works for Gratia Plena as Business Manager; She previously managed an office for a real estate business. Melanie holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and did some graduate work toward a master’s degree in Counseling. She is married with children and her family is part of St. Faustina parish in Fulshear.
Rosemary Buckle, MD: She is a surgeon at HCA Hospital as well as at St. Joseph Hospital; graduate of Notre Dame University and UT Medical School at Houston; parishioner at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. She is Dr. Ken’s sister. She served three years on the initial board.
Bishop Brendan Cahill, STD, STL: Previously a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, he is now Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria. He served three years on the board.
Paul Cashiola, CPA: He is a retired accountant. He and his wife are parishioners at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. He served three years on the board.
Charles DeJohn, MD: Dr. DeJohn is a psychiatrist who works in a limited part-time practice in his retirement years. He previously held positions at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Houston, and with MHMRA of Harris County. He and his wife are parishioners at St. Anne’s on Westheimer. He served three years on the board.
Sr. Rosalie Karstedt, CDP: She was on the formation faculty of St. Mary’s Seminary, Houston for several years and now works at St. Cyril of Alexandria parish. She is a professed member of the Congregation of Divine Providence. She previously served on the board of the Shalom Center, Splendora, TX. She served two years on our board, asking to resign early due to time requirements at her job at the seminary.
Sr./Dr. Katrina Le Grand, CCVI, Ph.D.: She is a professed member of the Sisters of Charity at the Villa de Matel, but also a retired psychologist. She previously served on the board of a Christus Hospital. She served one year on our board, having to resign due to health reasons.
Fr. Dat Hoang: He is pastor of the relatively new St. Faustina parish in Fulshear, a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He was previously Vocations Director for the Archdiocese. He served one year on the board, unable to continue due to the exponential growth of the new parish.
James McCollom, Jr, JD: He is an immigration attorney. He and his wife are parishioners at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Memorial Park. He has been very involved in the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities. He served three years on the board.
Fr. Stephen Reynolds: Fr. Reynolds is a priest of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and serves as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, the largest in the Archdiocese and one of the largest in the United States. Previously he was the first diocesan pastor of St. Theresa (Sugar Land) parish following the service of the Basilian Fathers to that parish. Fr. Reynolds is a native Houstonian and obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Michael Simko: He has worked for many years at Texas Children’s Hospital. He is a parishioner at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Humble, TX. He served three years on the initial board. He and Dr. Ken worked together for many years at MHMRA of Harris County, now called “The Harris Center.”
Bill Ward: He was COO of Star Furniture before retirement. He and his wife were parishioners at St. Cecilia Catholic Church but moved to Christ the Redeemer parish. He served three years on the board.