Meet the
Current SLMs
Meet the heart and hands of our mission! Our current Salesian Lay Missioners (SLMs) are living witnesses to faith in action, dedicating their time, talents, and hearts to serve youth and communities around the world. Discover their stories, their missions, and the inspiring work they do as part of the Salesian family!
Future SLM
Your mission could be next
- Hometown
- Your community
- Background
- Your gifts and experience
- Mission Site
- Wherever you are called
Can you see yourself here?
Mission begins with a simple yes. Salesian Lay Missioners come from different hometowns, schools, careers, and life experiences, united by a desire to live their faith through service.
You could bring your own gifts, compassion, and willingness to learn into a community that needs your presence. Your story—and the place where you are called to serve—could become part of the SLM story.
Ephraim Black
Stony Point, United States
- Hometown
- Hulett, WY
- Mission Site
- US, Stony Point - Marian Shrine
Stony Point, United States
"I’m a cowboy from the cowboy state (Wyoming). I like understanding how things work, and solving complex problems. My practical skills include: mechanics, welding, and construction, with a touch of agriculture knowledge. I was born and raised in a big Mormon family, and I converted to the Catholic Church and came home to Rome at 21 years old.
I have been inspired by the lives of the saints, and my goal is to be a saint. The saints became saints by staying close to Jesus in the sacraments, and imitating Christ in the way they lived. My intention, while serving on mission, and for the rest of my life, is to do the same. To stay close to Jesus, and our blessed mother, through prayer and sacramental life. To lay down my life in loving service, to the poor, and the young especially.
While on mission, I look for to using my gifts and talents to serve others where it is needed.
Glory to Jesus Christ, glory forever!"
Noelle Chmelik
Montero, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- Hometown
- Cottonwood, ID
- College
- Ave Maria University
- Mission Site
- Bolivia, Montero - Hogar Sagrado Corazón
Montero, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Rooted in Family and Faith
Noelle grew up in Cottonwood, Idaho, in a strong Catholic family and community that helped shape her prayer life and her desire to serve Christ generously. She has come to see her vocation as a call to walk alongside Christ and His Church, relying on the Eucharist, Mary, daily Mass, and confession. In this, she has grown in awareness of her need for the Lord’s mercy and grace, and of the quiet but essential role of the laity in the life of the Church.
Joy in Serving the Young
Noelle especially loves working with children and young people. She treasures the time she spends with her nieces and nephews and has further developed her love for working with children through her experience as a swim instructor. She has also led youth retreats and Bible studies for junior high and high school girls, experiences that have shown her the importance of enthusiasm, honesty, and vulnerability in inviting young people to grow in faith.
Answering the Call to Mission
After one year at university studying psychology, Noelle felt increasingly drawn to mission work and recognized that continuing on the college path would likely lead to debt that would not fit a missionary calling. She has served locally through food banks, nursing homes, pro-life organizations, and school projects, and she is ready to give herself fully wherever needed. Drawn to the Salesian spirit since first learning about SLM at SEEK, she hopes to grow through community life, flexibility, and service.
Veronica D'Andrea
Montero, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- Hometown
- Toronto
- College
- York University
- Mission Site
- Bolivia, Montero - Hogar Sagrado Corazón
Montero, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
A Salesian Parish, a Living Faith
Veronica grew up in Toronto, where her family and Salesian parish community gave her a strong foundation in a faith that was active, joyful, and rooted in service. Her family taught her not only what it meant to live the faith, but how to put it into practice within the Church. As her faith became more personal, weekly adoration became a source of peace and quiet prayer in her life, helping her grow in a personal relationship with Jesus. Through the church community, she has come to love the beauty of shared life and the way each person helps others on the journey toward holiness.
Serving the Young with Joy
Veronica’s gifts have long been shaped by service to children and youth. She has served as an altar server, kids liturgy leader, faith study leader, and university chaplaincy leader, helping others come to know the Lord more personally. She especially loves working with young children, listening to their honest questions and sharing the Gospel in a simple way. Her experience of caring for her niece in a motherly way, along with babysitting and church ministry, has deepened her desire to be a loving, steady presence for little ones.
Called to Go
As a Neuroscience graduate from York University, Veronica has developed resilience, adaptability, and a strong work ethic through her experiences in both academics and the workplace. Her desire for mission has grown over time, especially as she watched her sister serve in Haiti and later experienced the grace of being guided through changes in her own plans. She feels called to offer her gifts wherever God needs her, and she is drawn to becoming a Salesian Lay Missioner so she can serve children, catechize youth, and bring the love of Christ with humility and joy.
Matthew Heidenreich
Quito, Ecuador
- Hometown
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- College
- University of Alabama
- Mission Site
- Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
A Life Deepened in Prayer
Matthew grew up in the Catholic faith in Columbus, Ohio, and experienced a deepening conversion before high school that led him into a closer relationship with Christ. Since then, he has remained grounded in prayer, the sacraments, Eucharistic Adoration, daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Rosary. For Matthew, Jesus is teacher, friend, Lord, and King, and he seeks to live that relationship faithfully in ordinary life.
Teaching, Youth, and the Joy of Accompaniment
Matthew feels especially called to teaching and youth ministry, particularly in service of the underserved and the poor. He holds both a B.S. and M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Alabama and has used his gifts in catechism, Bible study, discipleship, and mathematics tutoring. His experience includes two summers as a camp counselor, one year teaching parish catechism, and leading young men in FOCUS discipleship. He values the power of play, relationship, and creativity in helping young people encounter Christ more deeply.
Drawn to the Salesian Way
Matthew is motivated to become a Salesian Lay Missioner because it brings together the elements he has been seeking: mission, teaching, shared life with religious, and immersion in a new culture. He has served in a variety of mission settings, including camp ministry, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, and a mission trip to Mexico City, where he engaged the poor and served in a foreign language. He believes the Salesian charism fits both his gifts and his desire to discern his vocation through a year of service, prayer, and close accompaniment with the poor.
August Konrad
Salelologa, Samoa
- College
- SonomaStateUniv.
- Mission Site
- Samoa, Salelologa - Don Bosco College and Vocational Technical Centre
Salelologa, Samoa
A Heart for Mission
My journey in mission began two decades ago with the Society of African Missions in 2003-04. Prior to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I served as an SLM Chemistry teacher in Sierra Leone 2019-2020…..an experience that renewed my desire to walk alongside youth in faith and service. As an older adult, many could consider this a time to slow down, yet I feel that I still have much to give. Mission isn’t just for the young—it’s for the willing.
Rooted in Faith
My Catholic faith is a primary source of my strength and joy. Daily prayer, Mass, and music ministry keep me grounded in Christ and open to whatever He asks of me. I approach each new opportunity with trust, offering my talents freely to serve our Church and those most in need.
Drawn to the Salesian Charism
The Salesian family captured my heart in Sierra Leone. There I witnessed a joyful commitment to young people. That same charism continues to inspire me to serve with simplicity, flexibility, and love. I’m honored to once again walk this path with the Salesians and the youth they uplift every day.
Richard Lytle
Quito, Ecuador
- Hometown
- Asheville, NC
- College
- Dartmouth College
- Mission Site
- Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
Growing Up in the Outdoors
Richard grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and found early joy in adventure, especially through summer camp and whitewater paddling. As a camper from ages 13 to 18, he came to know God’s love more deeply and later returned as a counselor, where he discovered how life-giving it was to pour into children and accompany their growth. Those experiences shaped his heart for ministry and gave him a practical foundation in working with youth.
Mission Across Borders
Through college and beyond, Richard’s Catholic faith took him to Ecuador, Argentina, Nepal, India, and other countries in service and travel. He served with the Missionaries of Charity, worked among indigenous communities in the Amazon, and taught kayaking to children in El Chaco, where a club still continues today. He also studied geography at Dartmouth College and developed Spanish fluency along the way. His Wilderness First Responder certification and experience in challenging settings have strengthened his ability to serve wherever needed.
Discerning a Call to Serve with the Salesians
Richard’s discernment has increasingly led him toward the Salesians. A visit confirmed for him the beauty of small, intentional encounters with young people. He is drawn to the Salesian Lay Missioner year as a way to serve children in a foreign country while continuing to listen for God’s call. For Richard, this is both a mission of self-gift and a step in deeper vocational discernment.
Joanne Maher
Tampa, United States
- Hometown
- Chicago, IL
- College
- San Francisco State University
- Mission Site
- US, FL, Tampa - Mary Help of Christians Center
Tampa, United States
A Faith Formed at Home
Joanne grew up in San Francisco in a traditional Catholic home shaped by the faith of her mother and grandmothers. Raised in Catholic schools, she learned early that service to the poor and the Church belonged together.
A Life of Service and Skill
Joanne brings years of experience in fundraising, office administration, and community support, including work in Catholic education and parish development. She also owns practical gifts from her own business, home renovation, sewing, gardening, childcare, and senior care. As a volunteer, she has long supported children through school projects, science fairs, performances, and sports events, always seeking to make each child feel included and valued.
Drawn to the Salesian Spirit
Joanne feels called to serve where young people need encouragement, hope, and guidance. Inspired by Don Bosco’s gentle approach and by her experience of Salesian communities, she desires to live more intentionally in the spirit of the Beatitudes. She is ready to serve with humility, flexibility, and joy, and hopes to deepen her relationship with Christ while helping build safe, welcoming communities of faith.
Keaton McCollum
Quito, Ecuador
- Hometown
- Cleves, OH
- College
- Miami University
- Mission Site
- Salesian Missionary Volunteer Program - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
Rooted in Prayer and Purpose
Keaton, from Cleves, Ohio, lives a deeply Catholic life marked by daily mass, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. His faith has shaped a strong desire to evangelize, lead Bible study, and disciple others, while helping him see the laity as vital members of the Body of Christ. He is drawn to a life of purpose and service, and he hopes mission will help him continue discerning God’s call.
Formed by Youth Ministry and Service
Keaton’s love for children has been confirmed through a Catholic summer camp, where he served in manual labor, led activities, and taught kids in one-on-one settings. He also spent a summer with FOCUS Summer Projects, helping run a camp for children whose families faced hardship. In these settings, he learned the value of patience, encouragement, and being present when a child is overwhelmed or in need of calm support.
Discerning a Salesian Calling
Keaton’s mission experience in Peru and his growing connection with the Salesians have stirred a desire to serve more intentionally. He is especially drawn to orphanage ministry because of its closeness, compassion, and opportunity to accompany children in every part of life. He hopes SLM will allow him to serve, learn the Salesian way, and continue discerning a possible vocation.
Sueshai Perez
Zaragoza, Spain
- Hometown
- Austin, TX
- College
- Oklahoma University
- Mission Site
- Colegio María Auxiliadora - Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Spain
Called to Serve with Joy and Purpose
My desire to serve has grown steadily over time, shaped by meaningful experiences in travel, ministry, and prayer. Backpacking across 12 countries after college taught me how to be present, flexible, and attuned to the dignity of every person I encountered. That journey awakened a longing to serve not just as a traveler, but as a vessel of God’s love. I began to sense that the Lord was inviting me to something deeper — a life of mission rooted in faith and joyful sacrifice.
Why the Salesians
The Salesian Lay Missioners stood out for their strong Catholic identity, focus on youth, and commitment to living in community. I was drawn to the charism of presence — being with the young in a way that is loving, consistent, and Christ-centered. The Salesians’ emphasis on accompaniment and formation mirrors my own desire to walk alongside children and help them grow in both faith and confidence. That they remove financial barriers and prioritize discernment confirmed that this was the right path for me.
Ready to Go Where God Leads
I bring a heart open to God’s will, a willingness to learn, and a deep love for the Church. My experience leading Bible studies, living simply, and adapting to new cultures has prepared me to serve wherever I am sent. While I know challenges will come, I trust the Lord will use every moment to shape me — and those I serve — for His glory. I am ready to go where He leads.