Staff

Rev. Gary J. Malin

Pastor

Father Gary is from Cleveland’s east-side and was ordained a priest on June 7, 1986. After ordination he served as Co-Pastor and Member of the Pastoral Team at Our Lady Help of Christians in Litchfield. Next, he was Associate Pastor and Administrator at St. Mary in Elyria for ten years. Before coming to St Joan of Arc he was Associate Pastor at St. Gabriel in Concord Township and St. Francis of Assisi in Gates Mills. Father Gary has a doctoral degree in Biblical Theology and Homiletics and is an adjunct professor at St Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology. In his spare time, he enjoys music, traveling, reading, exercise, and relaxing with friends. Father Gary joined St. Joan of Arc in 2011 and was named pastor in June 2013.

Rev. Jeff Dunlop

Permanent Deacon

Jeff spent most of his formative years in the Chagrin area. Growing up, his family were members of St Joan's Parish where he was active in the Boy Scouts and as an altar server. He attended St. Rita’s school and Gilmour Academy. He received a Bachelors Degree in Business from Georgetown University and is a CPA. Currently Jeff is employed as the Chief Financial Officer for Frantz Medical Development, Ltd and Subsidiaries in Mentor, Ohio. He was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in the Cleveland Diocese in May, 2000. As a deacon, Jeff assists at Masses, presides at baptisms, performs marriages and officiates at burial services. He is also the OCIA Coordinator. In his free time, he enjoys reading, walking/hiking, the theater and cooking.

Rev. Dennis Guritza

Permanent Deacon

Denny Guritza was ordained as a permanent Deacon in 2005 and serves his diaconal ministry St. Joan of Arc. Deacon Denny and his wife Diana (bride of 50 years) have 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Members of the St. Joan family since 1984, Deacon Denny & Diana lead the Pre-Baptismal Preparation Program at St. Joan’s for the local region. His was educated at Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Aquatic Biology along with an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati. Currently project work in developing Aquaculture opportunities, “ocean farming for families”, keeps Deacon Denny traveling to project sites. His favorite pastime, after centering prayer, is fly fishing on a quiet trout stream.

Ms. Allie Gall

Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Allie is the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Joan of Arc Parish. A Cleveland native, she grew up in Solon and recently moved to Bainbridge. She is a graduate of John Carroll University (undergraduate), and Ohio University, where she earned a Master of Communication degree. While this is her first full-time ministry position, Allie has many years of experience volunteering in many youth ministry roles at Church of the Resurrection. Allie's vision for youth ministry at SJA includes helping teens be able to use and express their faith in real-life situations and teaching them how to live a prayerful, spiritual life and how to understand events in their life through the lens of their faith. In her spare time, Allie enjoys playing violin, singing, crocheting, and art projects. She also enjoys spending time with her dog Ricky and going to musicals and Cleveland Orchestra concerts.

Ms. Mary Horvath

Pastoral Minister

Mr. Jon Thibo

Director of Music

Having no formal training at the time, Jon began serving the church as an organist; cantor and choir member in 1977 at his home parish, St. Ann in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jon is now celebrating forty-five years of music ministry within the church. After 15 years at St. Columbkille Church, Parma, Jon was selected to lead the music ministry of St. Joan of Arc in the fall of 2022. Jon graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the University of Indianapolis, Cum Laude, “With Distinction.” Jon have studied voice under Elaine Norwood and Jena Adrianson, piano with Dr. Richard Ratliff and Dale Reith as well as conducting with Dr. Paul Krasnovky and Dr. George Weimer. Jon was a choral director in high schools, middle school and elementary for sixteen years before finally taking up the role of full-time church Director of Music in 2002. Jon have performed in The Stephen Foster Story, The Fantasticks, The Music Man, South Pacific, Cosi Fan Tutte, La Boheme, and The Marriage of Figaro, as well as many other school and community theater and opera productions. Jon is currently treasurer of the Cleveland Chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians and DMMD Division of that professional organization as well as past member of ACDA and MENC. In 2014, Jon took our choirs and guests on tour to Ireland. In 2018, we landed in Rome and Jon became a rare person, having started his organ skills on a pink tabletop organ his mother purchased for herself and moving up to playing Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, in Rome. It was a highlight of my career for certain. In Jon’s spare time, he enjoys scary movies and good thrilling fiction books as well as spending time with family and friends. 

Ms. Helena Conacher

Parish Administrative Assistant

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Mr. Mike Burrows

Parish Custodian

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