AJ Blodgett
Hi! My name is AJ Blodgett. My family and I have been members of St. James for 23 years, ever since I was six weeks old. Over the years, St. James has become my home away from home and her parishioners (that’s you!) have become like family. 
 
All through high school I was a member of IMPACT Catholic Youth Group, attending most weekly meetings and enjoying the many volunteer opportunities IMPACT provided. Since graduation, I have stayed on as a Core Team member, trying to give today’s IMPACT generation a similar experience to what I had.
 
In 2016 I began what became three years of mission work with NET Ministries, a Catholic organization dedicated to spreading the Gospel to today’s youth. My St. James family was one of my biggest support systems in every way imaginable.
 
And now, I want to give back to show my appreciation for everything that St. James has done. 
 
Along with giving back, I believe I would make a good candidate for Parish Council because I am a young voice in a time when young voices in the Church need to be found and need to be heard. 
 
Thank you for considering me for Parish Council!



Virginia Boyle
My name is Virginia Boyle and I have been nominated for the church council. My husband and I have been members of St. James Church since 2010. I have been a Catholic since I was born. My home church is St. Anthony of Padua in Ambler, PA. My two daughters, Mercedes and Lillian are a part of the religious education at St. James Church. I also have taught preschool classes for the last three years on Sundays. My husband, Greg Boyle is a member of the Knights of Columbus and was confirmed a Catholic in 2014. We live here in Lititz and love this small town. I work at Moravian Manor Communities as the Director of Social Services and I am very active with a program called, No Resident Dies Alone. I am grateful for the nomination and hope to be able to support the needs of the church members and Father.

John Cardos

Thank you for nominating me to serve on Parish Council.  I served on the Parish Council for a year, about 12 years ago.  Kathryn and I have been members and attended St. James since we moved here in March 2000. I am an RCIA led Catholic, becoming part of the Catholic Church in 1989 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Macomb, IL. I have enjoyed having St. James as my parish home, especially meeting a wide variety of personalities who each bring a special talent and temprament to our community.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve from time to time as Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, or weekday Sacristan.  I am a 3^rd Degree Knight. I have participated on the Scout Committee for a number of years in the past, as well as the That Man is You program more recently. I have attended a number of Bible Study opportunities over the years. If chosen, I will work to serve the parish community on the Parish Council.


 James Crooks
Jim retired in 2015, after 40 years of service as a Public Works Superintendent at Springettsbury Township in York, PA. Jim has been married for 36 years to the love of his life, Susan. They have one son, Ryan and 3 grandchildren. Jim and Susan moved to Lititz, Pa in March of 2018. Jim converted to Catholicism in the mid-1990’s, after a miraculous experience in a perpetual adoration chapel in St. Patrick’s, York, Pa. Susan formed a team of adorers and led the group for several years.  Later, after moving to East York, they joined St Joseph’s parish, where Jim began a men’s small prayer group which is still active today.  He organized a ministry for nights of praise and music, which consisted of contemporary praise and ice cream social.  In addition, he led a Landings group for returning Catholics for several years.  As a new member of St. James he would like to become active in enhancing parish life and would be honored if chosen to serve on the parish council.



Anita Discavage
My name is Anita Discavage. From the time my family and I joined St. James in 1972 we
have met many caring people who made us feel welcome and have since become wonderful
friends. During our time in the parish, I have had the opportunity to offer my services in different
ways: as a member of the Religious Education Committee and as a catechist, focusing on the
pre-school age group.
l Beside helping with St. James Bingo, I am also a member of the St. James Quilting
Ministry and have spent time making crafts for our yearly Bazaar.
Outside of the parish, my work included 10 years as a teacher at St. Paul Community
Nursery School and 27 years as a Spanish teacher at Lancaster Catholic High School, serving as
Department chair for a number of years. During this time I also headed the Spanish Summer
Immersion program for high school students at Millersville University.
Hopefully my background and my experiences will be an asset to the Parish Council and
to the parish itself in whatever capacity I am needed.



Andrew Gillott
Originally from Mifflinburg, PA, I am a lifelong Catholic.  My wife, Rachel, and I enjoy time with family, especially our four boys.  I’m an engineer in the food industry and have enjoyed working in Minnesota, Michigan, and now back in beautiful PA.  Lititz has been our home since 2015 and we still cannot get enough whoopie pies.  It would be an honor to serve St. James on Parish Council. Thank you.



Alicia Kowitz
My husband, Matt, and I live in Lititz with our 3 children: Charlotte (13), Lucy (11), and Martin (8). I grew up in New Holland and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish through college. I graduated from Our Mother of Perpetual Help School, Lancaster Catholic High School, and Marywood University. Catholic schools played a large role in my faith formation. My children now attend Our Mother of Perpetual Help and our oldest daughter will start at Lancaster Catholic in the fall.

Professionally, I am a school administrator in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District. Prior to my role as an administrator, I spent 19 years as a mathematics teacher in middle and senior high schools in York, PA and suburban Chicago, IL.

We have been members of St. James Parish since 2013 when we returned to Lancaster County after living in the Chicago area. I have served my community in a variety of roles as a Girl Scout leader, volunteer with the St. James Social Justice Network, parish representative on the OMPH PTO Board, and as a member of the OMPH School Board. I wish to deepen my involvement in my parish community and have been seeking a way to become more involved here at St James. I want to learn more about our parish family and engage young adults and families in their Catholic faith. I am eager to meet new people and serve my parish as I raise my children to be faith-filled servants to their community.



Bill List
Hi – I am Bill List. Our family has been in the parish about 28 years. Our four children all attended OMPH and Catholic High. I retired three years ago from Woodstream so I now have some time to get involved more. If elected I would be a voice on council advocating for reaching out to Catholics in the area who don’t attend church. What can we do differently to appeal to these people? I would also like to see our parish more involved in the social justice issues that will shape the future of our children and grandchildren. I believe that this is a great way to get more young people involved in the life of the parish.



Dr. John Miller
John Miller has been a member of St. James since 1998. John attended Washington & Lee
University and completed his graduate studies at the University of Virginia. He is a member of
the Knights of Columbus and participates in That Man is You. Professionally, John is an Otolaryngologist in private practice, serving Lancaster and Ephrata. John currently lives in Manheim with his wife and two children, Joan and Claire. His interests include spending time with his family, golf and theological studies. If elected, John looks forward to serving the parish council.


Lindsay Podraza
Hello! I’m Lindsay Podraza, and I’ve been a parishioner at St. James since my husband, Kane, and I moved to Lititz in June 2016. We’re both from North Carolina and met in college at UNC-Chapel Hill. Professionally, I’m a recovered newspaper reporter, and for the past six years I’ve worked as the staff writer for Penn Law’s alumni magazine. Personally, I’m the lucky Mom to Russ (3) and Leo (1), who are equal parts hilarious, sweet and exhausting.

At St. James, I’ve participated in several Bible studies and am particularly grateful for the ladies in my Walking with Purpose Zoom group, who made this very long winter and spring more bearable and meaningful. I also helped start St. Jimmy’s Jamboree and Pray & Play for St. James’s youngest parishioners (and parents and grandparents!). I’d be honored to serve St. James and represent our parish’s young families on Parish Council.



Mark Poliski
My name is Mark Poliski and I am humbled to be nominated to serve you on Parish Council.  I am a lifelong catholic, having grown up in St. Agnes Parish in West Chester, PA.  My wife, Lisa, and I moved to Lititz in 1998 and have been members of St. James since then.  We have raised our three children, Sarah, Stephen, and Maria in our parish and our faith has grown tremendously over the past 23 years.  I had the honor of serving on Parish Council for three years a few years ago and I would welcome the opportunity to serve all of you again. 



Jill Scheneman
I have been a member of St. James parish for 16 years and was married in St. James Church to John Scheneman.  We regularly attend the 7:30 am mass on Sundays. 
As a lifelong learner, I regularly participate in adult Faith formation offerings and am currently participating in the Walking with Purpose Bible study for Women.
I am a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University.  My working experience of 34 years requires an understanding of customer needs and requirements as well as the ability to work with many different functions, which would be beneficial to serving on Parish Council.   I am currently employed at the Hershey Company, developing packaging for a variety of products.   In addition to my work responsibilities, I  coordinate employee activities with Milton Hershey school students as well as internal team building/networking activities. 
At St. James, I serve on the Floral committee to support the Christmas Bazaar as well as Parish events.   I was a volunteer to support the online bazaar by creating descriptions for the items on the website, assisting with set-up/clean-up as well as serving as a runner during the bazaar.  Additionally, I volunteered to assist with meals at the Tree House project, in support of the Lititz Ministerium as well as served on a Parish communications committee. 
As a member of Parish Council, I would like to apply my experience to serve our Parish and help to keep St. James a welcoming, thriving, Eucharistic Community that serves the needs of our members. 



Tim Siegrist
Hi, I’m Tim Siegrist.  I have been a member of St. James Catholic Church since 1981, settling here with my wife Trina as a newlywed.  I have attended various Bible studies, Forty Hours, and many weekend retreats at St. Joseph’s in the Hills Retreat House at Malvern with other men from our parish as part of their Palm Sunday Group. 
I attend the Monday morning prayer group and Saturday mornings This Man Is You (TMIY).  I serve as a member of the RCIA team, a Sunday usher and an EM.  I am also a bingo worker and a member of the Men’s Club.  I retired from Armstrong Flooring in December 2018 as a welder/maintenance person.



Mike Squierdo
My wife Mary Theresa and I have been parishioners of Saint James since July 1991. We are the parents of Theresa and Paul, who have blessed us with seven grandchildren. I am the Treasurer and Board Member of A Woman’s Concern, (a pregnancy resource center in Lancaster). I am a current member of the Saint James Parish Finance Committee. I am a past member of Saint James Parish Council, as well as past Chairperson. I am a founding member of the Parish TMIY (That Man Is You) group.

Some past projects I was instrumental in accomplishing during my tenure on Parish Council: new signs on Woodcrest Avenue; sanctuary sound system; completion of furnishings for the church sanctuary and narthex; parish 100 year celebration. Most recently, I was instrumental in organizing the outdoor Stations of the Cross.

I would appreciate your consideration of me for parish council.