JUBILATE AMBASSADORS
Our Ambassadors help to advise Jubilate’s mission of pilgrimage travel through Catholic Faith, Music & Art.
These faith-filled pastoral leaders and music ministers are renowned for their love of spiritual formation, sacred music, liturgical expertise, and commitment to mission-focused travel. Jubilate Ambassadors are passionate about travel that forms missionary disciples of Jesus Christ!
Keep in mind that, even more than the beauty of your songs,
Pope Francis
Meredith is the Director of Music at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. A native of Morgantown, West Virginia, currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, she holds a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from West Virginia University. Meredith started singing at an early age, and her styles run…
Samuel currently serves as Director of Sacred Music at Holy Cross Catholic Church, where he chairs a multi-faceted music program across three campuses, functioning as principal organist and director of choirs. During his first year at Holy Cross, he founded the Holy Cross Choir and launched a series of concerts and musical offerings. In addition…
Kathy currently serves as the Director of Liturgical Ministries and Music for St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC, the largest Catholic church in the US with over 11,000+ families on 2 campuses. Her background includes leadership as a Corporate VP with proven expertise in Organizational Development, Human Resources, Training and Development, Total Quality Management,…
Anna Betancourt is a supremely talented vocalist, cantor and choir director. She has more than 20 years experience directing choirs, from Spanish and traditional choirs to handbell, children’s and contemporary ensembles. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, she later returned to her alma mater to work as assistant director of liturgy and music. At the…
Josh Blakesley has acknowledged a simple calling: To make music that moves people into prayer and action. Josh has been stirred by the rhythms, melodies and chord progressions of contemporary songs long before he was old enough to know what these words meant. As he learned about Mozart, Bach and others, he began to realize that…
Tom Booth is an internationally recognized performer and composer. He has traveled internationally giving concerts, parish missions, retreats and workshops. Tom’s background of study and experience is rooted in music, liturgy, youth ministry, campus ministry and prayer/spirituality. He is also a certified Spiritual Director. Tom works for Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) and currently serves as the music…
Born and raised in Colombia, Javier Iván Díaz is a musician, on-air personality and teacher who has been composing music since he was just 17. Holding a master of arts in choral conducting and bachelor of music, Iván began his college career at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. After moving to the US, he…
Santiago Fernández has been active in parish music ministry for the past 35 years and is currently Music Minister at Church of the Holy Family in Novi, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Wayne State University in Detroit and is certified in both Pastoral Ministry and Liturgical Ministry, locally by the Archdiocese…
Sarah Hart is one of the leading figures in contemporary Catholic music today. Her songs of faith, spirit of joy, and love for teaching and leading workshops have touched the lives of thousands. Originally from Lancaster, Ohio, and from a musical family, Sarah cut her teeth on the musical styles of Southeastern Ohio. She fell…
Zack Stachowski is currently the Director of Music at St. Ignatius of Loyola, Ijamsville, MD. As a liturgical composer with GIA Publications, Zack released his first collection in 2017. In May of 2017, Zack, along with Matthew Reichert, launched the successful podcast “Open Your Hymnal” which breaks open the most enduring and consequential songs of…
In less than 15 years, Curtis Stephan has leapfrogged from promising young songwriter to one of the most productive forces in liturgical music today. A lifelong musician, he received his bachelor’s in music and his master’s in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. He is a parish music director, composer, concert and recording…
Patrick Zubiate is an accomplished singer, conductor, and educator who has served in music ministry in the archdiocese of Los Angeles for more than 20 years. His choirs have concertized in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Italy and Ireland. He has also given workshops and directed music in the Diocese’s of Orange and San Bernardino.…
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Janèt Sullivan Whitaker is a singer, composer, recording artist, and veteran pastoral musician, having served in parishes of the Oakland Diocese for 40 years before her semi-retirement in 2020. Janèt’s music for the church is published by Oregon Catholic Press in Portland, OR and GIA/WLP Publications in…
Chris Estrella is a Roman Catholic-Christian music artist and inspirational faith speaker. From his home of Southern California, Chris presents inspiring talks, moving retreats, worship experiences, and fun workshops, all with a splash of down-to-earth realism, a plethora of funny voices, impromptu beatboxing, corny jokes, poor dance moves, and energetic flair that has made Chris…