CATHOLIC CHURCH
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
Parish Staff
Parochial Administrator
Very Rev. Shoby M. Chettiyath JCL V.G.
Very Rev. Shoby M. Chettiyath celebrated 16 years of priesthood in 2022 and become the parochial administrator of St. Francis of Assisi in July 2022. Originally from India, Father Shoby, as he is known, did pastorial ministry in India and Brazil before immigrating to the United States in 2011 when he joined the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. In addition to being assigned to our parish he is also the Vicar General of the Diocese.
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Parochial Vicar
Reverend Pompeyo C. Tan
Please join in welcoming Fr. Pompeyo Tan as our shepherd here at St. Francis of Assisi's Parish.
Fr. Pompeyo Tan was ordained in 1985. Born in the Philippines, Father spent nine years as a pastor in Australia before coming to America in 2022. He spent just under a year as an associate pastor at Holy Trinity Parish, before being appointed to St. Joseph’s in 2023.
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Please introduce yourself and say hello.
Deacon & Director of Religious Education
Deacon Gary Steffes
Deacon Gary Steffes was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2013 in the Diocese of Jefferson City. After first serving at St. Pius X Parish, Moberly, he and his wife Joy moved to Nixa where Bishop Edward Rice assigned him to St. Francis on September 1, 2017. For more than three decades, Deacon Gary was Chief Financial Officer of Moberly Area Community College. He and Joy enjoy time with their three children and eight grandchildren.
Office Manager
Amanda Floer
Amanda Floer works as St. Francis of Assisi's office manager.
Music Director
Debbie Durham
Involved in music ministry since age nine, Debbie Durham has been a music leader in several parishes in Iowa and Missouri and has served as music director at St. Francis of Assisi (SFA) since its founding in 2004. Debbie holds a BS degree in Speech and Hearing Science and an MA degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Iowa (UI). She grew up on a dairy farm in Bernard, IA, and worked in Iowa City, IA, as managing editor of a medical journal as well as various public relations positions for both the UI and UI Foundation for nearly 20 years. Since moving to Nixa in 2001, Debbie has volunteered for many community needs, including co-chairing bond issue campaigns for Nixa Public Schools and serving as a catechist and youth program director at SFA. Debbie, her husband, Paul, and their family are founding members of SFA parish.
RCIA Coordinator
Sophia Mitchell
I am thrilled to be leading the RCIA program this fall at St. Francis of Assisi's. Though I moved to Nixa in 2022, I am a local to the Springfield area and a proud graduate of Missouri State University where I double majored in broadcast journalism and Spanish.
Currently, I am pursuing a Master's in Theology (Augustine Institute).
Youth Minister
Sabrina Bennink
I grew up in Clever, MO. So I am very familiar with the Southwest Missouri area. I am married to my husband Tyler and we have one daughter, Olive. I was baptized Catholic and finished receiving my sacraments through RCIA in 2021. I am so incredibly honored to be working with the youth of our wonderful parish! My ultimate goal as youth minister is to have your children develop a closer relationship with our Lord, Jesus, and teach them all that our beautiful faith has to offer them and those around us!
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Custodian
Randy Sehie
Randy Sehie is a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Randy is an active parish member and provides stewardship assistance weekly for mass and facility needs.
SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS
All parishioners are encouraged to share their time and talents to support and grow our parish community.
The list of volunteers is countless, but to highlight a few:
RCIA Coordinator: Tracy King, Deacon Gary Steffes
Youth Director: Deacon Gary Steffes
Liturgical Decorating Coordinator: Debbie Harris
Technology Adminstrator: John Rispoli
Web Administrator: Janet Morehead (webmaster@stfrancisnixa.org)
Three Advisory Councils made up of parishioners act as consulting bodies to our Pastor:
Parish Pastoral Council
Finance Council
Stewardship Council