Meet the Team
REVEREND MICHAEL BECHARD
Pastor/Chaplain
Michael Béchard was born in Woodslee, Ontario and after graduating from King's University College (BA, 1991), he studied theology at St. Peter's Seminary (M.Div., 1994). Ordained a deacon for the Diocese of London in 1994 and a presbyter in 1995, Father Béchard has served at various parishes in the Diocese of London. Completing studies at the University of Notre Dame (MA, 2000), Michael took up his current position at King's University College and The University of Western Ontario. While at King’s he completed additional qualifications (DMin 2012) at the Graduate Theological Foundation.
Father Béchard is the Director of the Office of Campus Ministry and the Pastor of Christ the King University Parish. He has taught a number of different courses at St. Peter's Seminary and continues to lecture at King's University College. He is the Chair of the Centre for Jewish-Catholic-Muslim Learning.
Outside of his commitments at King's, he has served as the Master of Ceremonies of the Diocese of London (www.dol.ca) and as Chair of the Board of Directors for Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry (http://www.cccm.ca).
He has been interviewed on a number of occasions by CTV, CBC and The London Free Press on issues related to the church, liturgy and the ministry of the Holy Father.
His four-legged companion, Audrey, can often be found in the halls of the Wemple Building. You can follow her exploits on Twitter.
LISA CAEIRO
Administrative Assistant
Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Commerce and Child Psychology. She has a strong background human resources, administration, accounting and case management and had been employed in the Public Healthcare sector for the past several years. She has also been responsible for event planning at conventions, special events and trade shows. Lisa is known for her outgoing personality and sunny disposition.
Presently, Lisa is the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Campus Ministry and the Secretary for the Centre for Jewish-Catholic-Muslim Learning.
ANNETTE DONOVAN PANCHAUD
Campus Minister
Annette was born in Toronto. She completed her undergraduate studies with an Honours in English and a minor in Christianity and Culture at St. Michael’s College, Toronto. During her time as an undergraduate she was involved in campus ministry. After a short period as a high school campus minister she returned to St. Michael’s College (Toronto School of Theology) to complete her Master of Divinity (1995).
In 1994 she married her husband Jim. After completing her theology degree they moved to North Vancouver where Annette coordinated parish outreach efforts to youth and collaborated at a diocesan level to promote comprehensive youth ministry and the pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2002. Six years later, they moved to London where they now reside with their 3 children. Along with Jim, she has facilitated Parish Mission and Retreat experiences, and liturgical workshops.
Annette has also coordinated two diocesan youth events in London and was the chair of the planning committee for the Jean Vanier “Messengers of Hope” conference at King's University College in 2006.
Presently, Annette coordinates the Development and Peace group at King’s University College, and is responsible for candidates formation for baptism, first communion, and confirmation (RCIA). She is also responsible for liturgical preparations and assists with the ongoing formation of Ministers for Eucharistic Liturgies.
JIM DONOVAN PANCHAUD
Permanent Deacon
Jim came to Canada from Bermuda along with his parents and five brothers in 1973. His family settled in Kitchener, Ontario and, in 1991, he completed a BA in English at St. Jerome's University College, Waterloo while in formation with the Congregation of the Resurrection. After leaving the Resurrectionists, he lived in a L'Arche community in Stratford where he made the decision to pursue a career in Social Work.
He completed his Master of Social Work degree at the University of Toronto in 1996. Professionally, he is a social worker at the London Regional Cancer Program and he maintains a small private practice focused on couples work, marriage preparation and online counselling.
Jim is married to Annette. They have three children, Julian, Kathryn, and Miriam all of whom contribute to the “joyful messiness that is life as a family!” Shortly after moving to London in 2002, Jim was accepted into the formation program for the Permanent Diaconate. He was ordained to the Order of Deacon in 2007 and was assigned to St. George's Parish in Byron for his ministry of Word and Liturgy. We welcomed him to our community in August, 2011. He continues his ministry of Service assignment as part of the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program for the London Diocese.
SISTER SUSAN GLAAB, CSJ
Campus Minister
Susan graduated with a B.A. from King’s University College in 1987 and a B.Ed. from Lakehead University, Thunder Bay in 1988. For a number of years Susan taught elementary school for the Huron-Perth District School Board and then served as Vocation Director for her community, The Sisters of St. Joseph of London, for six years. She received her Spiritual Direction qualification from the Haden Institute, North Carolina in 2006 and is now working on a Masters programme in Spiritual Care and Pastoral Counselling from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary at Laurier University. As a member of the Campus Ministry Team, Susan coordinates the Religious Life Lecture Series and provides Spiritual Direction to both King’s University College and the wider community.
JANET LOO
Campus Minister/Director of KUC Chamber Choir
Janet Loo's area of responsibility is in music ministry and liturgical facilitation, which involves working with the choirs, working with wedding couples to assist in selecting readings and music, and leading a bi-weekly prayer with the songs of Taizé. In addition, she also serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the King’s University College Chamber Choir.
A native of Toronto, Janet has been actively involved in music ministry leadership since 1995. She has directed choirs at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, Holy Rosary Church in Toronto, and at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London. Her music ministry outreach has also extended to the medium of television as she worked for several years with the Redemptorist Community on the Perpetual Help Devotions program on Vision TV.
Janet has a close connection with the prayer and music of the Ecumenical Monastic Community of Taizé, having recorded on one of their CDs and directed choirs in their community in France. In recent years, she has directed music at their larger prayer gatherings in North America, including World Youth Days in Toronto, the North America Taizé Meeting in Montréal, and the Archdiocese of Detroit Jubilee Celebration.
As a music educator, she is currently an adjunct faculty member at Western’s Don Wright Faculty of Music. She has also led numerous music workshops at conferences, parishes and faculties of theology, including being on faculty at the Ontario Liturgical Conference Summer School for Musicians. Janet holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Western Ontario.
MAIJA WILSON
Campus Minister
Maija (Chalut) Wilson was born in Windsor, Ontario and graduated from King’s University College with an Honor Specialization in Social Justice and Peace Studies and a Minor in Religious Studies. Maija has been involved in numerous co-curricular activities that have developed her skills in working with young people. Before entering University she lived in community at the Servant Retreat and Training Centre as a member of the SERVANT Ministry Team. Together they organized and facilitated several retreats, presentations and conferences for kids ages seven through eighteen discussing issues of self-worth, social justice and sacramental preparation through the Diocese of London.
Maija believes there is a great importance in learning from other cultures and understanding each others’ differences. She has learned this through working with the L’Arche community and the message of Jean Vanier. In addition, she spent some time in Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, and recently along her husband, lived in South Korea for a year and travelled extensively through some countries in South East Asia.
It is her hope to constantly learn and build relationships with young people and empower them to learn and grow in Christ. Maija also continues her studies, currently working towards her Masters of Divinity.
