Rev. James J. Chepponis, MDiv, MA
Director of the Office for Music Ministry, Diocese of Pittsburgh
Senior Parochial Vicar, Resurrection Parrish
Fr. James Chepponis is a priest of the Pittsburgh Diocese, ordained in 1985. Since 1996, Fr. Jim has served the Pittsburgh Diocese as Director of the Office for Music Ministry. His work includes providing music for all of the primary Diocesan liturgies, directing the Diocesan Choir, and serving as music resource person for parishes throughout the Pittsburgh Diocese. From 2003‐2019, Fr. Jim was pastor of St. John Capistran Parish in Upper St. Clair, and currently serves as senior parochial vicar of Resurrection Parish, a merger of St. John
Capistran and St. Thomas More churches. Fr. Jim has over 100 published compositions. His music has been performed in Carnegie Hall, New York City, as well as in Masses celebrated by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. Fr. Jim served as deacon at Holy Trinity in 1985 and was parochial vicar at St. Malachy from 1995‐1999, and is looking forward to returning for this evening’s presentation.

Rev. Joseph M. Mele
Retired Priest
Diocese of Pittsburgh
Father Joe Mele was ordained a priest in 1973. He served in parishes for 35 years and then was assigned to leadership of ongoing formation of seminarians, deacons, priests, and lay ecclesial ministers for 11 years. Before he retired in 2022, he joyfully returned to parish ministry and became the founding pastor of Saint Jude Parish in Pittsburgh. Father currently assists in sacramental ministry at local parishes and occasionally directs retreats for clergy and religious, but he feels called to intercessory prayer, which he truly loves most of all. Father enjoys substituting twice a year for priest-friends in South Carolina and leads parish missions there as well. He loves walking, reading, amateur gardening, and visiting with friends, and he ‘intends’ to slow down long enough to take up golfing and water-color classes and return to playing his bag pipes.

Rev. Richard S. Jones, MDiv, MA
Diocese of Pittsburgh Priest &
UPMC Mercy Hospital Chaplain
Fr. Richard S. Jones was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh on May 21, 1988. He is currently serving as Chaplain at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh and assists on weekends with Masses and confessions at Divine Redeemer Parish in Sewickley and Regina Coeli Parish in Emsworth.
The 6th of 7 children, Fr. Rich grew up in the Greentree area of Pittsburgh. He has served in various communities as pastor and priest and now trains and mentors seminarians and deacon candidates and serves on the ethics board at UPMC Mercy Hospital. He has written several articles for the Pittsburgh Catholic and has authored four books: The Path I Walk (2013), Spiritual Stretches (2015), Graces Wash Over the Sands of Time (2017), and Faith Lights the Way (2018). He also sends weekly messages to over 600 email companions.

Rev. Zachary A. Galiyas
Parochial Vicar
Blessed Trinity Parish
Fr. Zach Galiyas was born in 1984 and  grew up in Kennedy Township. He and his family (parents Mitchell and Mary Jo Galiyas and siblings Julianna, Nathan, and Moira) were members of St. Malachy Parish (now Archangel Gabriel Parish). After graduating from Montour High School in 2003, he obtained a bachelor's degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2007. In 2015, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He has served at various parishes in Ellwood City, New Castle, Imperial, and elsewhere. He is currently the Parochial Vicar of Blessed Trinity Parish in Baldwin.

Rev. Carmen A. D'Amico, MDiv
Senior Parochial Vicar
Archangel Gabriel Parish
Father Carmen D'Amico was born in Pittsburgh on January 3, 1955, son of the late Anthony and Mary Semplice-D’Amico. The youngest of four children, he grew up in Brookline and attended Our Lady of Loreto Elementary School, South Hills Catholic High School, CCAC, the University of Pittsburgh, and Duquesne University, where he received a B.A. in U.S. History in 1978. He attended St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh and Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on June 26, 1982. He has served as parochial vicar at Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Ellwood City, PA (1982-87); parochial vicar at St. Paul Cathedral (1987-91); pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Parish in the Hill District (1991-2011); administrator (2003) and pastor (2006) of the Church of Epiphany; and administrator of St. Mary of Mercy Parish (2008). While at St. Benedict, he founded AJAPO (Acculturation, Justice, Access, and Peace Outreach) which assists refugees and immigrants from Africa, the Afro-Caribbean Islands, and other immigrant/refugee populations. He became pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Meadowlands (2011-20). During that time, the parish became the center of worship, religious education, and social services for the Latino Community in Washington County. He served for two years as administrator of the parishes of St. Patrick in Canonsburg, Holy Rosary in Muse, and Miraculous Medal, which became Oscar Romero Parish, where I served as pastor from 2020-July 10, 2023, when he arrived at Archangel Gabriel Parish as senior parochial vicar. He has a passion for learning about the culture of others and truly believes that our cultural diversity is a refl ection of the majesty and greatness of our God.

Dr. Janet M. Puppo, Ph.D.
Author and Educator
Janet M. Puppo, Ph.D., received her Doctorate in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University. As an adjunct professor of Theology, Dr. Puppo has served on the faculties of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Carlow University, and Wheeling Jesuit University. She has taught courses in Sacramental Theology, Ecclesiology, Church Doctrine, and the Theology of the Cross and Resurrection. As an educator for 35 years, Dr. Puppo also taught French language and literature, Italian, and Theology at two Catholic high schools in Pittsburgh: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis and Bishop Canevin High School in Crafton. Dr. Puppo is the author of two books: Suffering Makes You Beautiful: A Theology of Suffering Flowing From the WORD; and Who Do You Say That I AM? Intimations in the Divine Names. She has also written a guide for Eucharistic Adoration entitled Behold the Lamb of God: Guidelines and Reflections for Eucharistic Adoration. Dr. Puppo and her husband reside in Robinson Township where they raised their three children. They have been members of Archangel Gabriel Parish for 40 years.