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Meet the staff.....
Reverend Thomas Cargo, Pastor Deacon Ronald Whitman, Permanent Deacon Deacon David Marlowe, Permanent Deacon Barbara Staniszeski, Pastoral Minister Silvia Barajas, Hispanic Ministry Coordinator ext. 229 Mary Piper, Bulletin Secretary Sylvia Lane, Parish Secretary Lilia Belka, Director of Finance
Ken & Michelle Barrie, Youth Ministry (815) 472-8130 Jane Veers, Music Director - (815) 933-6058 Tony Bedoya, Music Director - (815) 585-2014
Carlos Aquino: Hispanic Counselor at St. Teresa Parish Carlos Aquino, is a trained bilingual counselor who serves part time here at St. Theresa Parish. Carlos Aquino, 32-year-old counselor, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, has been conferring with clients and lending his insights to help our people. A Mexican-American himself from Chicago, Carlos Aquino has a tight grip on the needs of our Hispanic. “I’m a familiar face,” Carlos points out, describing his dark Hispanic features that mirror the faces of his clients. ”Cultural differences, stereotypes, financial woes, documentation issues and other mounting concerns have a definite psychological impact on Hispanics living in America. These particular issues might lead to substance abuse or domestic violence among countless other destructive behaviors, he added.” “The Family is the central component of the Hispanic culture, but it often deters individuals from seeking help. The family unit is traditionally close and often becomes fully removed from outside society. This often forces a person who needs counseling services to keep problems hidden within the walls of the home.” “Various other factors impede Hispanics from seeking professional counseling assistance, including misgivings about revealing intimate life details to apparent strangers, language barriers and cultural differences.” “This church is safe ground for them to talk.” Fees for counseling have been discounted on a sliding scale based on income levels of families in need of services. Carlos Aquino’s guidance and expertise point out that: “this is a safe place for them to share anything. This is a judgment-free zone” For Carlos, the key to success as a counselor is making clients feel as comfortable as possible during sessions. Revealing some of his own personal life experiences is a technique he often utilizes for establishing trust between counselor and client. Carlos’ familiarity with the Hispanic culture is invaluable when it comes to relating to clients. Many times even social service workers do not realize the role of socialization in a certain culture and how different people can have different perspectives and views regarding daily barriers. These may or may not be barriers to others. Carlos provides counseling opportunities at high schools and outreach agencies, including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, across Kankakee, DuPage, Grundy, Will, Lake and Kendall counties. “I’m all over the place.” Carlos is an independent counselor; he is constantly searching for grants to continue to advance his mission.
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