CONTACT US!
Fill out the form below to contact our office staff and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call our office at (985) 951-2215.
Click here to meet our staff!
Click here to meet our Board of Directors!
Click here to meet our staff!
Click here to meet our Board of Directors!
OUR STAFF
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BRIAN BUTLER
Executive Director [email protected] Brian is executive director and co-founder of Echo Community, which cultivates chastity and authentic masculinity and femininity with teens, young adults and families via the lens of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Brian has authored several books and programs, including “YOU: Life, Love & Theology of the Body.” He has produced numerous initiatives as part of the New Evangelization, including the original productions of GARDEN, the musical. He is the founder of a dynamic retreat for teens and young adults called ECHO, and his latest book is entitled GARDEN Meditations. Brian’s bachelor’s degree is in Communications and he holds a Masters in Theology. He has 20+ years of ministry experience at the parish, school, diocesan and non-profit levels, and is a popular speaker and trainer around the country. Brian enjoys music, sports, the outdoors, and spending time with his wife, Lisa, and their four children. |
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ADAM FUSELIER
Managing Director [email protected] Adam has been with the Echo Community team since 2013. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Ave Maria University in 2011, and he completed his Master's degree in Theology at the Augustine Institute in August 2018. He was deeply impacted by St. John Paul II's teachings while studying at AMU, and he was left with a deep desire to share the life that Jesus Christ offers with as many people as possible. He enjoys being outdoors and having "conversations of eternal significance" with anyone who is willing. Adam is very grateful to God for the gift of serving on such an awesome team with Echo Community and looks forward to all that God has in store. |
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JANET HOWELL
Office Manager [email protected] Janet comes from a background of 20 + years of working in the corporate world as a Weapons Contract Analyst, Fleet Logistics Manager, and Wedding Coordinator. With this background, it may seem like a crazy fit for Echo Community, but she's excited to utilize all of her gifts she's acquired along the way to serve this ministry. From discovering more about the gift of the Theology of the Body, to working with the team, and being empowered in her vocation as a wife and mother, Janet is excited to see what more God has in store! Janet lives in Mandeville, Louisiana with her husband, Tim, and two children. |
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RITA GERNON
Creative Outreach [email protected] Rita joined the staff in 2020 after 7 years of partnering with Echo Community - from serving at ECHO retreats, to directing the summer missionary program, and providing music for parish missions. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Southeastern Louisiana University and over ten years of experience leading worship and speaking, both nationally and internationally. She’s written, recorded, and released 2 albums. She has also collaborated with other Catholic artists on collective recordings and is a founding artist of NOVUM Records. Rita enjoys the cozier things in life - a cup of freshly roasted coffee, flipping through magazines of beautiful houses, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Rita lives in the Houma-Thibodaux area with her husband, Roch. |
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LISA BUTLER
Administrative Assistant [email protected] Lisa is first and foremost, a daughter of God the Father, then the wife of Brian, (our Executive Director), mother to four wonderful children, and just began an official job as staff support in December of 2022; although, she has served the ministry in many varied capacities since its beginning. She uses her God-given gifts to assist wherever possible. Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University. She has a passion for serving and is happy to silently work behind the scenes. Lisa loves sports, board games, great movies, cooking, reading, especially if it’s a Michael O’Brien novel, and spending time with family and friends. |
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ROB STAMPER
Director of Young Adult Outreach [email protected] Rob is the Director of Young Adult Outreach for Echo Community. Rob, his beautiful bride Lauren, and son James moved to join the Echo Community from Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to joining the team, Rob worked for the Ruah Woods Institute bringing Theology of the Body curriculum and formation to Catholic schools across the United States and world. Before that, he worked in a regional young adult ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington DC, became certified as a high school English teacher, and tried his best to fix aircraft while serving in the US Marine Corps. Rob loves spending every moment he can with his family, being outdoors, and reading a good book. His greatest joy in ministry is helping people understand that every encounter with another person is an encounter with Christ and that every time we meet someone for the first time should be a great joy because that is hopefully the start of an eternal relationship with them. How cool is that!? Rob looks forward to serving the young adults on the North Shore for years to come! |
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GEMMA WILDSMITH
Missionary Team Director [email protected] Gemma has been a friend of Echo Community since 2015, and was part of the team that took ECHO Retreats to the UK in 2019, as well as leading our summer mission program in 2022. She holds a post graduate diploma in theology from the University of Chichester, and has over 20 years experience of youth and young adult ministry, including with diocese and national organizations in the UK. Her main focus has been on discipleship, formation, and spiritual accompaniment, particularly through the lens of Theology of the Body. The things that Gemma is most looking forward to about living in Louisiana are the people, the food, and the amazing sunsets. |
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MARY-GRACE LANDRENEAU
Intern Mary-Grace Landreneau is from Lafayette, Louisiana and has previously served with Echo Community as a missionary (Summer 2023) and intern (Summer 2024). Throughout her time with ECHO since her first retreat in 2021, she has grown to learn more and more about the heart of Christ and the uniqueness of His love for her. She firmly believed that it is only because of her exposure to the truths of Theology of the Body that she's been able to grow exponentially in her spiritual life and relationship with the Father. Since she has only served in the summer and focused primarily on week-long ECHO retreats, she anticipates this new experience to be much different in this season, but still just as full of life and freedom. |
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PATRICK THERIOT
Intern Patrick is a native of the Northshore and a lifelong member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Louisiana. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics. Throughout his life Patrick has developed a passion for helping others and has had the opportunity to assist others in many different areas of life; whether in the computer lab, on Confirmation retreats or "God incidences" of daily life. Patrick is a man of many adventurous talents; from medieval fencing, backpacking and hunting to leather crafting and motorcycle riding. Along with these unique hobbies he has a passion for spending quality time with family and friends, playing sports, and sharing his faith. Patrick feels deeply blessed and honored to be part of the Echo team and is excited to see what journey the Lord has planned for him. |
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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JEREMY REUTHER
Jeremy Reuther is the Assistant to the President for Mission at Jesuit High School, working with faculty and staff on curriculum and Catholic identity. He has been with Jesuit for 16 years serving as a theology teacher, campus minister, department chair, and communications director. Jeremy lives in New Orleans with his wife Kate and their three children, Charles, Julia, and Michael. Jeremy serves as Vice President of Echo Community’s Board of Directors. |
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ANGIE THOMAS
Angie Thomas serves as General Counsel for National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA). Prior to this position, she was the Associate Director for Louisiana Right to Life, specializing in development, legislative advocacy, and education about life issues. For the previous 18 years, she served at Woman’s New Life Clinic, a professional counseling and medical clinic offering life-affirming services for women in unplanned pregnancies, port-abortive men and women, and women’s health. She started as a volunteer and served on the Board then moved into the Director and CEO position. She led the effort to expand authentic women’s health services in south Louisiana, reclaiming reproductive healthcare and offering alternatives to Planned Parenthood. Her work at NIFLA includes legal education and training for pregnancy centers, The Life Choice Project, board trainings, and legal audits. She is passionate about helping pregnancy centers develop holistic, sustainable models and about implementing new programs in building a culture of life. She was trained through the Blackstone Fellowship, an intensive training in Christian worldview principles and how they apply to the study and interpretation of law. She worked for Americans United for Life and Bioethics Defense Fund during and following law school. Thomas has been featured in outlets such as NBC Nightly News, CBN, Newsmax, EWTN, The Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, NPR, and more. Angie is a graduate of the Manship School of Mass Communications at Louisiana State University (B.A. 2001, magna cum laude) and Loyola Law School (J.D. 2004, cum laude). She lives in New Orleans with her husband and four daughters. |
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RAECHELLE MUNNA
Raechelle Munna is a corporate and securities attorney practicing in New Orleans. She is also a certified public accountant in Louisiana. She currently serves on the Finance Council for the Archdiocese of New Orleans and chairs its Audit Subcommittee. Raechelle is a graduate of Spring Hill College (undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA) and Loyola Law School. |
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JORDAN HADDAD, Ph.D.
Jordan Haddad, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology and the Director of Lay Ministry Programs and Lay Formation at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, LA. In addition to his role at NDS, he is also a Co-Founder and Co-Director of The St. Louis IX Art Society, a Scholar Associate of the Society of Catholic Scientists, and the Director of Lay Formation and Parish Renewal at Divine Mercy Parish in Kenner, LA. He has previously served as an assistant campus minister at Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, LA, and a theology teacher at Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans. Jordan met his wife, Shannon, at ECHO in Summer 2012, and has benefited tremendously from the ministry of Echo Community ever since. He currently lives in Kenner, LA, with his wife, Shannon, and their two daughters, Lily and Elizabeth. |
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FR. MATTHEW JOHNSTON
Fr. Matthew is currently the pastor of St. Benilde Church in Metairie, La. He was humbled and excited to be asked to walk with Echo Community as God continues to lead us to serve the people of God. Fr. Matthew grew up in Mandeville, attended St. Pauls in Covington, and graduated in 2003. He went to college at Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech before entering the seminary in 2008. He spent two years at St. Joseph Abbey Seminary College and then four years at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained in 2014 and his first assignment was at St. Clement of Rome from 2014-2016. He was then assigned to St. Joan of Arc, where he served as Parochial Vicar from 2016-2019. Finally, he was named pastor of St. Benilde in 2019. In 2015, Fr. Matthew was asked to study Canon Law, completed his degree in 2021, and has been working part time for the Archdiocese as a Canon Lawyer. He is currently in the process of joining the National Guard as a Chaplain and will be serving the military and their family here in New Orleans. |
