Representatives Bio's
Father Roy A. Lee, PhD.
PO Box 370587, Decatur, GA · (404) 226-8170
roylee3042@gmail.c0m· frroylee.com
Father Lee is in specialized ministry. He is an in specialized ministry. He is an itinerary preacher, teacher and author. He gives revivals, missions, workshops, and retreats around the country. Father Lee works with the poor, homeless and jail ministry. Fr. Lee has launched a podcast this year trying to answer the question, "Where Do We Go From Here? - African American Catholics in the 21st Century." as well as a newsletter, "African American Catholics Lay Voice".
To empower teachers and students to achieve their greatest potential and recognize their capacity to effect their communities, far and wide
Experience
2012 – Present
Professor, Archdiocese of Atlanta
Lecturer for Permanent Diaconate Program in the area of preaching and homiletics.
2010 – 2012
Principal/Administrator, Emmaus Middle and high school
Took a failing, urban school and revived it within one year by placing the middle and high school on one campus
Direct all aspects of educational programs and activities for middle and high school facilities consisting of approximately 300 students
Supervise, train, and mentor 25 staff members and evaluate all teachers
Manage business, building maintenance, behavioral/disciplinary problems, parent/teacher relations, staffing schedules, and various daily activities
Other Accomplishments Include:
Head the Accreditation Program
Addition of Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4-5) class and hired new staff members
2008 – PRESENT
STUDENT AFFAIRS, XAVIER UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS
Community Life Coordinator for Institute for Black Catholic Studies. Duties included:
Student Registrations
Daily Liturgy
Scheduling of Class Schedule
Education:
May 2016
Master of Psychology, Institute for Psychological Services
May 2007
Doctor of Philosophy, Colorado State University
Area of Concentration: Educational Leadership
Minor: Human Resource Studies
MAY 1991
MASTER OF ARTS, XAVIER UNIVERISITY
Major: History, African American History
MAY 1986
MASTER OF DIVINITY, ST. FRANCIS SEMINARY
Ordained for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Major: Theological Studies & Pastoral Ministry
Activities
2021 to PRESENT
PODCAST, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
African American Catholics; Where Do We Go From Here?
2015 to PRESENT
JAIL MINISTRY, FULTON COUNTY JAIL & UNION CITY JAIL
2015 to PRESENT
MINSTRY TO THE HOMELESS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
1990 to 2000
CHAPLAINCY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Administrative Responsibilities:
Budgeting (including Fund Executive for largest fund in PACAF)
Staffing, Reorganization of Programs, Staff and Program Director, Fundraising,
Youth & Adult Programs, Educational Programs, Curriculum Evaluation,
Implementation of Diversity in Worship & Leadership
Individual/Family Counseling
Crisis Intervention, Field Visitation of Troops
Awards & Honors
Air Force Commendation Medal with One-Leaf Cluster
Air Force Organization Excellence Award
National Defense service Medal
Southwest Asia Service medal with Two Bronze Campaign Stars
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
Father Jeffery Ott, O.P.
Father Jeffery Ott, O.P., is a friar of the Order of Preachers serving as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, the first African American Catholic Church in Atlanta. He is the President of the Board for Interfaith Community Initiatives and serves on the leadership council for the Southern Dominican Province. Father Jeffery received a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. Before becoming pastor of Lourdes, Jeffery served his alma mater, Xavier University of Louisiana, as University Chaplain. He enjoys travel, singing, and communing with friends and family.
Father Urey Patrick Mark
Fr. Urey Patrick Mark was born in 1973 in Monrovia, Liberia, Africa. He moved to the United States in the year 2000 where he received most of his formation and has exercised his entire priestly ministry. His father and relatives from both sides of his family are also living in the US, and in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Fr. Urey was ordained to the Priesthood on May 26, 2007 in Techny, IL for the Society of the Divine Word after completing his theological studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He received a Master of Divinity degree with emphasis on World Mission and a Masters of Arts in Theology degree with Church History as his major and Systematic Theology as a minor.
His first assignment was to St. Nicholas Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis where he faithfully served as Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish and Administrator of St. Nicholas Early Childhood Development Center and Preschool from September 8, 2007 to November 2, 2014. He also served the Archdiocese of St. Louis as a member of the Board of Trustee of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and as a member of the Archbishop Annual Catholic Appeal Council (ACA). Fr. Urey is a strong advocate for Early Childhood Development programs, a cause he championed greatly when he served the Archdiocese of St. Louis by making Catholic preschool affordable for inner city families in St. Louis.
From December 1, 2014 to June 7, 2015, due to the pastoral needs in the Dioceses of Des Moines (Iowa), Fr. Urey was assigned temporarily to provide pastoral care for St. Peters Parish in Defiance and St. Joseph Paris in Earling Iowa, an assignment he successfully completed before coming to the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Fr. Urey has an unparalleled level of energy and excitement, as well as gifts and a spirituality of pastoral experience, cross-cultural ministry, stewardship and development, young adult faith formation, administration, public speaking, leadership and a special devotion to the Eucharist.
Father Bruce Wilkinson
Bio TBA
Father William Norvell
Bio TBA
Father Giles Conwill, Ph.D
Father Giles Conwill, the Chaplain of Xavier University, will again be the celebrant for our Saturday Vigil and Sunday 10:30 am Masses this weekend. As many of you will remember, Father Conwill is a native of Louisville, KY, and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of San Diego in 1973. He holds a B.A. degree in Philosophy from the University of San Diego, a M.Div. from the Athenaeum of Ohio, and a Ph.D. degree in Cultural Anthropology & History from Emory. Father Conwill came to Xavier from Morehouse College, where he began teaching in 1987 and eventually served as Chair of the History Department. Father Conwill was the Director of the Department of Church Vocations for the National Office for Black Catholics in Washington, DC from 1976-1980. He has also served as adjunct or visiting professor at Xavier, Spalding University in Louisville, Clark Atlanta University, and Clayton State University. Fr. Conwill is a former sermon-writer for a national interdenominational homily service, and a winner in a nation-wide interdenominational sermon-writing contest. Fr. Conwill’s scholarly works and publications have been in the areas of Black Catholic Catechesis, History, Evangelization, Spirituality, and Preaching.
Four of his most proud moments include:
1) When I presented the Keynote Address to 7,500 persons attending the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress.
2) When I was inducted into the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. International Board of Preachers. (So was Wilton Gregory.)
3) When I was presented the Key to the City of Selma, Alabama by long-time Mayor Joe Smitherman for preaching the first Black Catholic Revival there.
4) When I preached at the Black History Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York with the Morehouse College Glee Club singing, who also presented at the famous Apollo Theater later that evening.
During my 23 years teaching at Morehouse I actually had over 4000 students in my classes!
Including Senator Raphael Warnock; South Carolina Congressman Bakari Sellers; and Dr. Ricky Jones (Professor and Chair of African American Studies Department at Univ. of Louisville).
Two Black priests were also among my former Morehouse students: Fr. Desmond Drummer of Atlanta and Fr. Christopher Rhodes of Louisville.
Monsignor Edward Branch
Bio TBA
Father Dasmond Drummer
Birthdate: May 22, 1983
Birthplace: Petersburg, Virginia
Parents: Darlyne McClinton Drummer of San Antonio, Texas, and Donald and Sharon Rogers Drummer of New Jersey.
Family: Father Drummer has a twin brother, Demond, and an older stepsister, Nikki.
Education: Studied economics and public health at Morehouse College, Atlanta.
Seminary: Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois
Hobbies: An “unapologetic political junkie.”
Call to the priesthood: “I’ve been blessed to have incredible pastors throughout my life, both as a Protestant and a Catholic. I’m especially inspired by my former Pentecostal pastor in San Antonio, Rev. Dr. Claudette A. Copeland. I met Msgr. Edward Branch in the spring of 2003 when I sought to learn more about the Catholic Church. Father Branch was there for me at a most critical time in my life. Looking back, it was not only his insight in matters spiritual and religious that made him relevant. Father Branch possessed a keen awareness of history, culture, politics, and psychology. He was a global citizen. His ministry involved the entire scope of human affairs—and he was intentional about this. Father Branch made the priesthood look good!”
How have you changed since entering seminary? “I’ve become more aware of how religion can harm people. Many Catholics I have encountered have been harmed or discouraged by the way Christian teaching is presented to them. We can do better. We must do better! I think Pope Francis is helping us with this.”
First assignment: Parochial vicar at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell.
Deacon Nick Goodly
Deacon Nick Goodly, ordained January 26, 2019, is a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hapeville, Georgia. Parishioners since 1990, Deacon Nick and his wife, Iris, are from Louisiana and have been married for 33 years. They have two sons, Nicholas and Jarrett, who are graduates of St. John the Evangelist School and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School. At St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, he has served in the parish ministries for Baptism Preparation, Altar Server Training and Tribunal Case Sponsor. Deacon Nick graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Tulane University and works for the Federal Aviation Administration, in the Department of Transportation. Deacon Nick taught judo for 20 years at Warren Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta, Georgia and currently volunteers at Crawford Long Middle School in Atlanta, GA.
Deacon Chester Griffin
Deacon Chester is usually seen participating and leading Saturday and Sunday Masses. During the week, he handles several ministries. His area of focus is pastoral care and marriage prep. He is a member of the Simon’s Call AIDS Ministry and the Haiti Ministry. Chester is active in interfaith and Archdiocesan organizations and is a member of the Archdiocesan Task Force to End the Death Penalty and the National Black Clergy Caucus.
He is a native of Lubbock, Texas and has been at Lourdes since 1977. He was ordained a deacon in February of 2003 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. He is married to Janis Griffin and they have one daughter, Kenya Griffin who directs the Amazing Grace dancers, and a son.
Fun Fact About Chester: He is a professional musician and has performed with the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra.
Deacon Al Douglas Turner, MTS
Deacon Turner was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Washington in 2000. He served in two parishes, Church of the Nativity in DC and St. Joseph in Largo, Maryland. He served as the Coordinator of Liturgy in the Office of Worship of the Archdiocese of Washington from May of 2007 until March of 2009 when he was named Director of the Office of Black Catholics where he served from that time until May 31, 2015. He received a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Washington Theological Union in Washington DC in 2006. He also holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from that same institution which he completed in 2007. In 2007, he was appointed to the Maryland Catholic Conference, Respect Life Committee by Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl. Before his retirement in 2007, Deacon Turner was employed for more than 28 years by ABC News as a broadcast technician/ cameraman covering the White House, Capitol Hill, and news events around the world. Deacon Turner has been active in Pro-Life ministries for many years. He served as a volunteer at the Northwest Pregnancy Center in Washington DC from 1999 to 2002. He was a member of its the Board of Directors from 2002 until 2011. From 2003 until 2011, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner, Maryland. Deacon Turner was the recipient of the 2014 Faith Does Justice Award, given by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. The award is given to someone in the Archdiocese who has produced a meaningful result in social justice, community inclusiveness, and race relations. The award also recognizes that person’s actions in improving the lives of those who live in poverty within the Archdiocese. He is a member of the Mother Lange Guild, which is promoting the cause for canonization of the founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence.
He recently was asked to serve on the National Board of Directors of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. He now has facilities in the Archdiocese of Atlanta and is assigned to St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Lithia Springs. He is married to the former Jane Singleton and has five adult children and 16 grandchildren.
Deacon Jerry Lett
Rev. Mr. Jerry Lett
Jerry Lett has been a Principal Research Associate and member of the Research Faculty at the Georgia Tech Research Institute for 37 years. Jerry served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years and was a commissioned officer and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Georgia Tech.
Jerry grew up in Mobile, Ala., but traveled a great deal with the military. He earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE.; MBA in Operations Research from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI., and MBA in Accounting from Western New England University in Springfield, MA. He has postgraduate studies at Kennesaw State University. He is a CPA licensed in the state of Georgia. He has served as President of the Hunters Hill Homeowners Association and the Southeast Dekalb Neighborhood Coalition.
Jerry and his wife, Patricia will celebrate for 55 years of marriage in 2021, have three children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in June 1990. He is a member of Saints Peter and Paul and Christ Our Hope Catholic Churches. For years, Jerry has graciously served as treasurer to both the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and National Association of Black Catholic Deacons. In recent years, he’s also helped secure technology updates for the NBCCC and NABCD websites. He is assigned to ministry at Saints Peter and Paul, Christ Our Hope and the Catholic Center at Georgia Tech.
Deacon Lenny Alexander
Deacon Lenny joins Lourdes as its newest permanent deacon. He was ordained February 4, 2017 as the Cathedral of Christ the King. His areas of focus are adult faith formation, men’s ministry and Stephen Ministry. He also has an interest in homeless and hunger ministries.
Lenny was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago but spent his teenage years in New York City. He holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York.
He has been married to his wife Maureen for 41 years. They have two daughters, one son and three grandchildren.
Fun Fact About Lenny: He speaks a little French.
Deacon Levi Wiard-Jelks
Bio TBA
Deacon Tony King
Date and place of birth: April 28, 1968 in Atlanta.
Family: He and his wife, Alanna Hicks-King, have been married for 22 years.
Education: University of Georgia, bachelor of arts in political science; Troy University, master of business administration.
Work experience: Turner Broadcasting System, media and audience research.
Hobbies and interests: Golf, sports.
Service in parish ministries: Acolyte, lector, prison ministry, retreat speaker, extraordinary minister of holy Communion and minister to the sick, hospital ministry, Christ Renews His Parish, welcome minister, food pantry.
Ministries of interest in future: Social justice, Scripture study, teaching.
Parish assignment: Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Decatur.
Favorite quote: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).
Most admired person: Barack Obama
Deacon William Simmons
Date of Birth: April 7, 1957
Place of Birth: Atlanta
Family: He and his wife Pamela have been married for 23 years and have two sons, W. Ashton and Taylor, and a daughter Mauri.
Education: Bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Georgia Tech and master of science degree in organic chemistry from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, La.
Work Experience: He has worked for PPG Industries as a research chemist in chlor-alkali; Dionex Corp. as an HPLC analyst, trainer; Bronner Brothers as a cosmetic research chemist dealing with formulations, production, manufacturing, and design; Searles Corp. as a cosmetic research chemist dealing with formulations, production, manufacturing, and design; and now with Metrohm-Peak as a HPLC analyst, trainer.
Hobbies and Interests: Computers, cosmetic formulation, home fix-it projects.
Parish Ministries: Liturgy, OCIA, teens, baptism preparation, Pre-Cana.
Particular Ministries of Interest: Any ministry where asked to serve.
Parish Assignment: St. Anthony of Padua Church, Atlanta, where Father Timothy Gadziala is pastor.
Deacon Kenny Bell
Kenneth R. Bell joined Our Lady of Lourdes staff in the fall of 2017. He is a native of Louisville, Kentucky where he was ordained a deacon in 1999. In his last assignment, he presided at both St. Martin De Porres and St. Augustine Parishes in Louisville, KY.
From 2015-2017, he worked at the Archdiocese of Louisville as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Kenneth retired from the Jefferson County Police Department in 2002 after 20 years of service.
He is married to Detrie and they have two daughters and four grandchildren. Kenneth enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family.
Deacon Carl Taylor
Parishioners at Saint Theresa in Douglasville since 2008, Deacon Carl Taylor and his wife Angela met while Morehouse & Spelman College students. They have two children, Carl Ashley and Erica, four biological grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren. An Atlanta resident since 1982, Deacon Carl was born November 1960, in Columbus, Mississippi. Deacon Carl is the middle child of five children. As part of the "Great Migration," Deacon Carl's family moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1965, but he spent summers in Mississippi.
Deacon Carl says his life in Chicago was a study in the contrasts of wealth & poverty. Deacon Carl lived in the infamous Cabrini-Green housing projects, but as he delivered newspapers in Chicago's Gold Coast, he saw the impact of old money wealth and new money riches. Some of his wealthy newspaper clients were interested in him and exposed him to an otherwise inaccessible culture. Deacon Carl was blessed to attend & graduate from Lane Technical High School, which at that time was Chicago's most prestigious public high school. Despite living in the housing projects, Deacon Carl took full advantage of being within walking distance to Chicago's Magnificent Mile – Michigan Avenue, Downtown Chicago, Chicago's Art Museum, Chicago Historical Society, Lincoln Park Zoo, historic Old Town neighborhood, Second City Theatre, and the beautiful Oak Street Beach with its breathtaking views of the iconic Chicago skyline & lakefront. His wealthy newspaper clients' commitment to philanthropy and their interest in his development had a lasting impact on Deacon Carl. Throughout college and a Fortune 100 mid-level management career, Deacon Carl was committed to service to the community.
The most significant influence on Deacon Carl was his mother, Celevia Gordon Taylor, who taught her children, "God first, baby, then everyone and everything else, but God first." While raising five children, Deacon Carl's mother earned a Bachelor's degree, became a State of Illinois caseworker, and moved her family out of the notorious Cabrini-Green housing project into a neighborhood on Chicago's Near northside.
Deacon Carl's Christ-level ministries are jail ministry and visits with the elderly in eldercare facilities. For years Deacon Carl was a Vincentian in the Saint Vincent DePaul Society. Post-pandemic lockdown, Deacon Carl looks forward to returning to active duty as a Vincentian alongside his wife, Angela. Deacon Carl believes, where there is great suffering, there is Christ, always. For Deacon Carl, no feeling can match the incredible warmth of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and preaching the gospel by works rather than words.
Deacon Dr. Henry Ohaya, PharmD
Place of Birth: Amaigbo, Nigeria.
Family: He and wife Ihuoma have been married for 15 years. They have two daughters, Amarachi and Akunna, and a son, Arinze.
Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, University of Benin, Nigeria (1990). Master’s in Public Administration, University of Lagos, Nigeria (1997). Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Atlanta (2007).
Work experience: Operated own pharmacy business in Nigeria for seven years before emigrating to the United States. Practiced as a pharmacist in retail and clinical settings in Georgia for 21 years. Currently a practicing pharmacist and pharmacy manager with the Kroger Company.
Hobbies and interests: Coaching youth soccer and watching competitive sports. Traveling and experiencing different cultures. Reading inspirational books, journaling, teaching and time with family and friends.
Ministries of interest: Marriage and family and pastoral care of the sick.
Additional languages: Ibo and Yoruba.
Parish assignment: St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro.
Transitional Deacon Avery Daniels
I was born in Stone Mountain and spent my whole life until college there. I was baptized in Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Decatur and that has always been my home parish! I attended St. Thomas More School for grade school, and graduated from St. Pius X Catholic High School. In short, I’m a through and through hometown kid! I’m an only child in a single parent home; my mom is a retired DeKalb County educator, and my grandmother and aunt also lived with us. My grandma was born on Auburn Avenue, as were her parents and grandparents. When they were children, my grandma (who was born on Auburn Avenue in downtown) used to take my mom and aunt to Mass at Sacred Heart! My life and my family are both deeply rooted in Georgia and that is something I’m very proud of. It is at the heart of my love for our archdiocese!
What are your hobbies and interests?
Music is my first love. I have played the piano since I was two years old, and I also play drums and any other percussion instrument. I also love to work out in the gym, boxing (anywhere anytime!), lacrosse, and swimming. I am a huge football fan (go Falcons)! Another big passion of mine is reading; I love any kind of history (especially European and military history), Russian literature, law, philosophy, and theology. Lastly, I am incredibly interested in the classical temperaments and the different personalities of people!
What is one of your favorite scriptures?
Acts 9:31-“ The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers.” To me it evokes such a beautiful vision of God’s plan for the Church, even now here on earth. I also love the missionary dimension it brings to mind; the whole idea is to have the number of those being saved to be huge!
Deacon Joseph Thibiceaux Barker
Bio TBA