2024 FELLOWS

Between September 2024 and May 2025, our inaugural cohort of Lumen Gentium Fellows underwent an adventure of intellectual, spiritual, apostolic, and human formation—exploring the truth, goodness, and beauty of Catholic social doctrine and virtuous leadership principles.

  • As the Vice President of a distinguished real estate team recognized in the Top 35 Under 35 list of Realtors in Canada and ranked in the Top 1% nationally, Anthony brings a wealth of experience to both commercial and residential real estate investment. His background includes working in corporate real estate for one of Canada’s largest publicly traded REITs, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of property management, asset management & leasing.

    Anthony holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University, specializing in Real Estate Management and Finance, whereby his understanding of the asset class is complemented by a strong proficiency in financial analysis. Fluent in both English and French, he is known for his commitment to delivering exceptional service and unparalleled value in every transaction. A lifelong student of the industry, with a true passion for his profession, Anthony’s commitment toward mastering his craft has provided him with the arsenal of tools to best serve his clients today.

  • Caroline is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience in human services and community development, specializing in advocacy, policy development, and fostering inclusivity. As a co-founder of Action for Youth Development Uganda (ACOYDE) and the Network for Active Citizens Uganda, and the founder of ChaCha Social Enterprise, she has made significant contributions to sustainable community growth and social justice. Caroline's work focuses on creating impactful, locally-driven solutions to poverty, gender inequality, and economic empowerment, particularly within marginalized communities in the global south.

  • Émilie graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2011 after studying Theatre and French Literature. Her professional journey has taken many unexpected turns, giving her the opportunity to try on many hats, sharpen natural skills, and pursue exciting projects. After her undergrad, she served as a lay missionary with Catholic Christian Outreach for three years in Quebec City. She then worked as a TV producer for Salt + Light Media where she was in charge of overseeing various productions, including being an on-camera host. She stayed at the media company for six years. In 2018, Émilie had the opportunity to participate as an auditor in the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment at the Vatican. In 2022, she joined the Programs team planning the Papal Visit to Canada, as Programs and Production Lead for Quebec. She is now managing Public Affairs and Communications at the Association of French Catholic school boards in Ontario (Association franco-ontarienne des conseils scolaires catholiques) since joining them in 2020. In the last few years, Émilie has also become a mother and has two little girls.

  • Fernanda has over 10 years of experience in administration and teaching techniques. She worked in the Toronto District School Board as a kindergarten educator, supported the Bachelor of Education Program at Tyndale University as a Program Coordinator, and is currently assisting the Office of Catholic Youth as an administrator. When she is not engaged in her work, Fernanda enjoys walking on the trails and parks near home, attending Mass, reading, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

  • Hugo is a sales manager at Procter & Gamble (P&G) with over 10 years of experience in the field. Throughout his career at P&G, Hugo has held different roles and has worked in Guatemala, Panama and Canada, and has overseen various company categories as well as markets. He was born and raised in Guatemala, studied a Bachelors of Electronic Engineering and is a graduate of the Ohio State University —where he pursued a Masters in Operations Research under the Fulbright Scholarship. Prior to joining P&G, Hugo taught math, statistics and operations research at one of Guatemala's Universities. Outside of work you will find Hugo spending time with his wife and dog, enjoying walks on the trails and parks, exploring the city, travelling around the world, as well as attending mass and volunteering at his local parish. He also enjoys reading, playing the guitar, spending time with friends, watching sports and playing futbol (aka soccer).

  • John is a healthcare administration professional with over 12 years of experience in program and project implementation. He has worked in a variety of policy, clinical and professional member settings. John currently works at the Ontario Medical Association where he supports physician leaders across the province. In 2022, he began studies in the Master of Divinity program at Tyndale University in Toronto, concentrating in clinical counselling. John holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Carleton University in Ottawa.

  • John Tomory, along with three of his brothers, owns and operates a commercial maple syrup production and marketing enterprise, Pefferlaw Creek Farms. John is the president of the company and has devoted the last eight years of his professional life to building the business. He studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto, where he also received a Masters of Chemical Engineering degree shortly thereafter. John worked in his field for four years with Miller Waste Systems, occupied primarily with municipal organic waste management. After these four valuable years, he made the transition to the family business, where he has been able to follow his passion for entrepreneurship, leadership, business development, and of course, maple syrup.

  • Jordan Patterson is a librarian at St. Peter’s Seminary, the Roman Catholic seminary of the Diocese of London. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and holds a Master of Information degree from the University of Toronto’s iSchool. Jordan previously held positions at Memorial University of Newfoundland Libraries and the Osgoode Hall Law School Library at York University. In his ten years in academic libraries, he has become a generalist librarian with experience at the front desk, in the stacks, in technical services, and even in the rare book room. An informational omnivore, Jordan’s reading interests shift and accumulate from month to month, but he has a particular professional interest in the interaction between Catholic doctrine and the traditional liberal democratic values of the library. At St. Peter’s, Jordan maintains an annotated bibliography collecting materials on the historical relationship between the Catholic Church and the Indigenous people of North America (https://kings.uwo.libguides.com/c.php?g=726153).

  • Karen is a Doctor of Pharmacy student currently in her third year of the program at the University of Toronto. She completed her undergraduate degree in pharmacology and biomedical toxicology in 2022, also at U of T. Outside of school, she has a collection of healthcare-adjacent work experiences, having spent some time as a clinical research assistant at St. Michael’s Hospital, working on a variety of epidemiology studies. More recently, she has also delved into the regulatory side of pharmacy, working for the Ontario Ministry of Health. However, it is clinical practice of pharmacy that brings her the most joy and she looks forward to serving God’s people as a full-fledged pharmacist someday soon.

  • Kathleen is an experienced behaviour therapist with over 10 years of expertise working with children and adults with special needs.  She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo and a degree in Autism and Behavioural Sciences from George Brown College.  Currently, Kathleen is a teacher at a private school in Thornhill, focusing on teaching pre-teens daily living skills and community-based skills.  Her passion for helping others, along with the importance she place on family life and her marriage, drives her commitment to live out her Catholic values of compassion, integrity, and respect for all individuals.  During her free time, Kathleen enjoys baking, playing soccer, traveling and geocaching.

  • Mahlon Akhtar has ten years of experience as a psychiatric nurse and is currently working in hospital leadership as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Mahlon also serves as the Treasurer of the National Association of Catholic Nurses - Canada. Mahlon's career interests include nursing education and understanding mental health nursing from a Catholic Philosophical Tradition. As a psychiatric nurse, Mahlon has a strong appreciation for the current mental healthcare system but also recognizes that more needs to be done to improve the quality of mental health care for Canadians. In participating in the Lumen Gentium Forum, Mahlon hopes to connect with like-minded Catholics and delve deeper into the Churches' teachings and traditions with the hopes of integrating the Catholic faith in his career as a psychiatric nurse.

  • Maria Madana-Hu is a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto. She has always been in love with the field of medicine. She completed an Honours Bachelor program in Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and later completed a thesis-based Masters in Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

    During this time, Maria was deeply involved in research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), where she successfully validated two potential therapeutic treatments using cells from DMD patients.

    Following her Masters, Maria went on to start her medical training at the University of Toronto to continue making a meaningful impact in patients' lives.

    As a Fellow of the Lumen Gentium Forum and future physician, Maria would like to integrate the principles of Catholic social teaching into her daily work and strive to bring Christ's Light to every patient she meets, every relationship she forms, and every task she undertakes.

  • Matt Brooker is a corporate lawyer based in Toronto. Matt's practice focuses on M&A and securities. He assists clients with public and private M&A transactions, securities offerings, negotiating various commercial agreements and complying with continuous disclosure requirements applicable to publicly listed companies. Matt completed law school at the University of Toronto and studied legal philosophy and history as an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo. During the 2023 Easter Vigil Liturgy at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, Matt received the sacrament of baptism and confirmation.

  • Monika is a young professional working in advocacy and government relations. After 4 years at Queen’s Park, Monika managed to work her way up from a volunteer on the 2018 provincial election to candidate of record in 2022. During her time at Queen’s Park, she realized she wanted to be more involved in a community environment; which eventually led her to join her parish's youth group and become their social media coordinator. Rooted in her desire to learn more about the Oblate charism, Monika spent the summer on pilgrimage in France to live in the footsteps of St. Eugene de Mazenod and on mission in Madagascar, where the Polish Oblates have worked for over 40 years. Now back in Canada, Monika is excited to join the Lumen Gentium Forum to study the doctrine of the church. St. Jude, pray for us! 

  • Ramuel Villardo, also known as "The Fighting Minister," is the Pastoral and Spiritual Care Advisor at Covenant House Toronto, Canada's largest shelter supporting at-risk youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of sex trafficking. With a strong foundation in Catholic education, he holds a master's degree in religious education. He is completing a second master's in Psychospiritual Studies, along with a certificate in Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care. Guided by Catholic principles, Ramuel integrates pastoral care with a focus on healing and spiritual growth inspired by the teachings of Christ. He is dedicated to becoming a registered psychotherapist specializing in psychospiritual therapy. Also, a professional Muay Thai and Kickboxing coach and multiple-time national and provincial champion, he uniquely uses his martial arts expertise to ignite the spirit and foster discipline and empowerment in those he serves. Ramuel is committed to fostering harmony between body, mind, and spirit, anchored in faith, hope, and love, which he believes is key to a purposeful and meaningful life.

  • Shakira is a highly experienced administrator and marketing professional with over seven years of experience in office management, human resource assistant, and customer relationship management. She is a Young Professional Committee member, EmpowherTO's Senior Project Manager, and Toronto Community Centre's Executive Assistant. For more than 14 years, Shakira has volunteered and worked in the not-for-profit sector with youth, unhoused and vulnerable communities. Shakira is well-prepared for any challenge, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and certifications in coaching and project management. Shakira enjoys spending time with her family, reading, adoring her fur-nieces & nephews, and traveling.

  • Alexander McPherson is a lawyer with the Region of Durham’s Legal Services, where he has worked since 2020. As counsel and public servant, Alex puts legal knowledge to work to help local government advance its strategy and legislated mandate. With a team of talented professionals dedicated to helping fast-growing communities to adapt and thrive, Alex provides advice in real estate, contracts, civil litigation and labour and employment matters. Outside work, Alex is happiest with his family and friends. He enjoys trying new restaurants, composing the perfect photo and trying to learn Italian.

  • Alessia graduated from Queen's School of Medicine in 2017 and went on to complete her residency training in Family Medicine at McMaster University. She currently practices comprehensive Family Medicine at her clinic in Vaughan. She is very excited to be joining the inaugural cohort of the Lumen Gentium Forum.

  • Silvia Guerchon is a Modernization & Strategic Projects Manager for a Big 5 Bank in Toronto. She works with IT projects and everything related to it—from Governance to Cloud.  She is the Young Professional Chair for an all-women organization. Always seeing the beauty in life, she loves talking about philosophy, decoration, politics and fashion. She enjoys travelling around the world and is always ready for a good live music pub.