Debbie Barnes

Executive Board President

Debbie has a degree in math and computer science and experience in corporate management. She managed software development and computer support departments at AT&T Bell Labs, Honeywell, and General Motors.  After leaving the corporate world, she was the Director of Resurrection Catholic Preschool. Most of her adult life, though, has centered on helping those less fortunate than herself. She was involved in starting and continues to volunteer at a local food pantry. She held many volunteer positions at a Crisis Pregnancy Center, and continues her work in several nursing homes. 

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Maryanne Fox

Board Member

Maryanne Fox has lived in West Chicago for 30 years. She and her husband Bob had a general contracting business for 36 years until retirement last year. They raised four children and have two grandchildren. Maryanne taught catechism at Corpus Christi Parish for 10 years and was a founding member of their Respect Life Committee. She also volunteered for Woman’s Choice Services, a crisis pregnancy center in Joliet and Lombard from January of 2006 until September of 2010 where she helped in the office and assisted in their fund-raising events. She is president of the Association of Wayne Center, a homeowners group for unincorporated Wayne Township. 

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Tom Barnes

Board Member

Tom Barnes has 50 professional work experience in the insurance and claims industry.  Solid business background and experience in organizational design and human resource management, certified process improvement manager, budgets, contracts and vendor management, plus additional managerial certifications from the American Management Association. Over 35 years Catholic ministerial and community service including: former parish council president, worked in conjunction with DuPage County Health Dept. in providing furniture delivery to the poor, facilitated adult faith formation groups, and currently serves on pastoral care and nursing home ministries and is a member of the Respect Life ministry. Tom is also a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council # 10958, Corpus Christi. 

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Joanne Rempala

Board Member

Joanne has lived in the West Chicago area for over 32 years.  She is currently a parishioner at St. Mary’s Church.  Joanne has been in the order of the Catholic Daughters for over 20 years, and has extensively volunteered at nursing homes, assisting the poor, disabled and the elderly, and fondly loves animals.  She is a member of the Humane Society, Chicago Zoological Society and the Morton Arboretum.  Joanne previously owned her own business for 20 years. 

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Marie Snell

Board Member

Maria is a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and is currently a member of Resurrection Parish in Wayne, IL. She has been in church and community affairs for over 30 years.  During her employment, Maria was very active in nursing home administration, worked with the West Chicago School Boards, and the local township.  As a senior representative on our board, Maria is our primary Spanish translator.  

Rosa Varco

Board Member 

I am from Mexico and came to this country when I was 29 years old in search of the American dream. While I only spoke a few words in English, I managed to met my husband – who doesn’t speak Spanish. By now we have been married for over 20 years. Love doesn’t need languages! I attended English as a Second Language classes for about 2 years and worked as a baby sitter and waiter. After I got married, I worked as a Human Resources Representative for about five years until my only son was born, Joey. I wanted to spend every second with my him so I stopped working and enjoyed being a stay-home mom for about seven years. After Joey’s birth, I felt a rebirth in my Catholic faith. God has gifted me with this precious life and I wanted Joey to love and have a intimate relationship with God. I started to attend Sunday mass again and truly understood that God wanted me to use my Spanish to serve Him. I signed up to participate in Project Gabriel -helping mothers to understand that abortion is NOT and WILL NEVER be the solution. It was during that ministry I met Debbie Barnes. By then Debbie had the dream to start a ministry to serve the community of West Chicago. The majority of our clients are Spanish speakers so I fit right in! I have been with Debbie since the creation of Shining Light and planning to stay until God stops calling me to be part of His team!

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Carina Carrera 

Carina is 29 years old single mom of five children with two being special needs, of Hispanic origin, living in the West Chicago community. Through the  numerous crisis in her life, she has risen above them trying to do God‘s will every day. Carina offers a great insight into the many needs that single moms are facing today.

Fr. David Lawrence

Spiritual Director

Fr. David received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1997 and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Joliet on June 7, 1997.  He first served at St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge, and St. Petronille Parish in Glen Ellyn.  In May 2004, He received the degree of Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the University of St. Mary of the Lake.  In June 2005, Fr. David was the Pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Bolingbrook for 12 years and became more and more fluent in Spanish while serving the large Hispanic population there.  memories.  On June 21, 2017, and at St. Mary, he was assigned as a priest “in solidum” with Fr. John Balluff, and I was installed as pastor on August 8, 2018.