This is something of a frightening and unprecedented era to be witness to. Myself and the Wexford community had a very difficult week, involving an email notice that we needed to leave Ireland as soon as possible, a few morning masses in an empty church to be broadcast over the radio, and a lot of tears and not enough time to say goodbye. The novel coronavirus is affecting our global community in ways we couldn’t have foreseen, and is teaching us new strategies for remaining connected and reminding us how to love one another well in the midst of trauma.
In this chaotic and unsure moment in the life of our global community, it is important to hold on to the things in which we can place our trust. Some of the things we know to be sure: God is love, community is still the most important thing we have, and Teach Bhríde will be back in Ireland as soon as we can be. Therefore, in the spirit of this trust, here are the bios of the Teach Bhríde XII communities, hoping to be in Wexford and Dublin in late August!
We are so grateful for the love of our Irish communities in Clonard and at Newman University Church; know that Teach Bhride XI is thinking of and praying for you as we hope to be back with you soon as well, please God. In the meantime, know of our love and our gratitude for the way you have cared for us this past year. Praying that St. Brigid pulls some strings for us, and maybe her newly minted friend St. John Henry Newman could help too.
Wishing you all the best,
Clare
Teach Bhríde Wexford
Clare Driscoll – House Director
Clare is looking forward to returning for her second year in Ireland as a member of the Clonard Parish community and house director of Teach Bhríde Wexford. Clare graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2019, where she studied in the Program of Liberal Studies, a Great Books program in which she read, wrote, and talked her way to a profound love of learning and of community life. She grew up in a household of Montessori educators as the second-oldest of five children, and therefore is passionate about catechesis, child-oriented education, and education for peace. Clare can now be found trying to learn the Irish language from an app (very hard, stay tuned), listening to podcasts, reading anything she can get her hands on, and spending time in the Irish countryside on long bike rides and runs. She plays guitar, sings, and has most recently been trying her hand at knitting (also hard). Clare loves people, especially the people of Clonard Parish, and is eager to continue her growth as a part of the community there.
Emma Beaudoin
Emma will graduate from Saint Mary’s College this May with a B.A. in Elementary Education and minor in History. She is overjoyed to be returning to Ireland, having fallen in love with the country while studying abroad at Maynooth University in the spring of 2018. Emma is originally from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and is the oldest of three girls. She has been a proud member of the Notre Dame Folk Choir for the last four years, and has been singing in choirs since she was nine years old. In her free time, Emma loves to listen to music, read, watch movies and TV shows, travel, and have deep conversations about life with her friends. As an educator, she is a proponent of lifelong learning, and loves any opportunity to learn something new. Emma is excited to grow in her faith and live in community over the next year in Wexford!
Joseph Larson
Joseph grew up in Southern California as the second of seven children. He will graduate from the University of Notre Dame in May 2020 with a B.A. in Film, Television, and Theatre, concentrating in Theatre, and a supplementary major in Theology. At Notre Dame, he worked on a number of different theatrical productions in positions ranging from lighting and costume design to stage manager and director. His senior year, he got involved in the McGrath Institute for Church Life’s Catechist Academy program, for which he has co-taught 7th grade CCD at St. Joseph School in South Bend. Additionally, he has been a constant member of his home parish St. Anthony’s Confirmation formation ministry, working to prepare youths to receive the sacrament of Confirmation through retreats, the sacraments, and catechism. He loves alpine skiing, reading for fun, playwriting, and traveling. As much as he will miss the Golden Dome, he looks forward to a productive and fruitful year of service in Wexford, Ireland.
Anibee Zingalis
From a young age, Anibee has exhibited a deep passion for both music and ministry. Born in Cleveland, OH, she volunteered many hours at her home parish, St. Clarence. Her roles at the parish included music ministry, PSR teaching assistant, liturgical ministry, eucharistic ministry, and youth ministry. Her love for music has always played a great role in her participation in both academia and ministry. In highschool, Anibee was a proud member of the show choir, concert choir, advanced concert choir, and the academy chorale as well as participated in both jazz and concert bands. In local ministry, she also sang in the youth choir at Saint Clarence as was the choral librarian for the choir. These passions followed Anibee to Saint Mary’s College, where she is getting her BA in Computing and Applied Mathematics. At Saint Mary’s she sings in the collegiate choir as well as the women’s choir and was a member of Saint Mary’s acapella group, Bellacappella, since her freshman year. Anibee also kept her passion for ministry strong in college by attending daily services at the Convent on Campus, home to the Sisters of the Holy Cross. There she met an incredible leader and role model Sr. Perpetua. Leadership in ministry is a passion that Anibee foresees herself continuing throughout her life in any capacity she is able to. The incredible opportunity to serve the community of Wexford, Ireland with House of Brigid is a culmination of all of Anibee’s passions and her heart is full with the prospect of the service she will be able to provide to the community as well as the profound relationships she will make and spiritual journey she is about to embark on.
Teach Bhríde Dublin
Maddie Loftin – House Director
Maddie was born in Savannah, Georgia and studied English and Italian at the University of Notre Dame as a member of the Class of 2019. She sang with the Notre Dame Folk Choir for all four years of her undergraduate career and planned music for Sunday Mass in her dorm, Welsh Family Hall. Maddie also participated in Notre Dame Vision for two years as a mentor-in-faith, and she’s incredibly excited to continue her love for music ministry in Dublin. In fact, she first fell in love with the city while on tour with Folk Choir in 2016. She has a soft spot for coffee shops, the beach, and her family’s one-eyed cat. She’s scared of heights and bears, but she loves writing, swimming, kayaking, and exploring.
Matt Davis
Matt Davis was born in Howell, New Jersey and studied Political Science with minors in Biology, Medical Humanities, and Managing for Social Impact as a member of the Boston College class of 2020. He grew up near the Jersey Shore with his parents, two older sisters, and dog, Toby. He served as a youth music minister for his local church for five years. At Boston College, Matt was a member and instrumentalist for the Liturgy Arts Group, playing guitar, ukulele, rhythm, and singing for the group. He served as an executive board member for two years, including as President his senior year. He was also the musical director for the BC HandBells Choir, musical facilitator for the Taizé Prayer services, and Student Director of the Jenks Leadership Program. In his free time, Matt loves playing board games, reading books, watching the Mets, and petting dogs. He is excited to continue doing what he loves in his now tenth year of music ministry at the Newman University Church in Dublin next year.
Katy Stalter
Katy will be a 2020 graduate from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana with degrees in Religious Studies & Communication Studies! Although she truly loves her hometown, Pittsburgh, PA, she is beyond excited to return to the country of Ireland after three years of being away (she studied abroad in Maynooth back in 2017)!! Throughout her time at SMC, Katy was actively involved in music ministry through Campus Ministry at both Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame. Whether she was offering music at SMC Campus Ministry events/Masses, at monthly EXALT Adorations with her ND worship band, Totus Tuus, or with the Band of Saint Cecilia during her two summers spent with Notre Dame Vision, she was always desiring to offer prayerful opportunities through music in her communities. Aside from music, Katy loves to make videos, journal, paint canvases, and share in fellowship with friends and family — whether that be over a Jameson & Ginger or nice cup of hot tea (do you sense her love for Ireland yet?!). Katy is thrilled to head to Dublin to continue to deepen her faith and witness how the Lord works through the House of Brigid community!
Katheryn (Katie) Wethli
Katie is excited to begin her year of ministry in Ireland with the House of Brigid’s Dublin community. Katie is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (where she highly recommends everyone visit)! She currently studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. In May of 2020, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance. She will also have a minor in Theology and Religious Studies, a minor in Media and Communication Studies, and a certificate in Film Production and Digital Storytelling. Katie loves traveling, singing, watching movies, exploring new cafes, and hiking. She loves storytelling and believes that an individual’s story is the most powerful tool of evangelization! She looks forward to getting to know others’ stories in Ireland, while also growing in faith and friendship! She is incredibly thankful and honored to have this opportunity, and to return to the birthplace of her great grandparents where her family’s Catholic faith originated!
