Meet L’Arche St. Louis

The L’Arche community is much more than those in residence at our homes. We could not achieve our mission without our assistants, volunteers, friends, and board members.

Our Administrative Team

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Paula Kilcoyne, MSW
Executive Director & Community Leader

Paula started as Community Leader at L’Arche St. Louis in 2014. She formerly spent 25 years at the L’Arche Daybreak community in Canada where she was mentored in leadership by Fr. Henri Nouwen and Sr. Sue Mosteller, CSJ. She is happy to now be helping L’Arche grow in her hometown of St. Louis!

Woman plays a piano by a fireplace with a man sitting beside her. Both are smiling.

Maria Schroeder, MSW
Assistant Director

Maria first met L’Arche St. Louis at a lake in New Hampshire in 2013. She moved into Sunrise House as a Live-in Assistant shortly after, bringing with her several years of experience at L’Arche in Kansas City. She now guides and supports quality of care and daily life in our three homes.

Man smiles while sitting at a desk, behind a computer

Justin Lorenz, LMSW, MA
Operations Manager

Justin was one of the founding Live-in Assistants at L’Arche St. Louis. He has shared life with us in various roles over the past several years as well as being part of the communities in Jacksonville, FL and Mexico City. As the Operations Manager, he keeps our homes and budget in working order.

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Amy Hendricks
Office Administrator & Bookkeeper

Amy started at L’Arche St. Louis as a friend and volunteer then became a live-out Assistant before transitioning into her full-time administrative role. As the Office Administrator, she keeps the whole office as well as our homes running smoothly!

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Madeline Seefeldt, MSW
Development Coordinator

Madeline spent a summer with L’Arche St. Louis as an intern in 2013. After living at Sunrise, Joyful, and abroad at L’Arche in Lithuania, she now spends her time working alongside Emma in the office, sharing the mission of L’Arche daily!

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Sam Barrett
Human Resource Coordinator

Sam moved into St. James House in 2018 and later served as the live-in House Leader. He started in HR in 2021, bringing with him his love for L’Arche spirituality and his experience working in other area agencies.

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Emma Pieper
Director of Development

Emma came to L'Arche with 10+ years of fundraising and business development experience across sectors, including politics, higher ed, professional sports, and tech. Now, she is using her experience to raise awareness of L’Arche St. Louis and expand our reach!

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Kathie Grant, M.S.Ed.
Family Support Coordinator

Kathie has been a part of L’Arche St. Louis since 2017. She has shared life in our homes as both a live-in and live-out Assistant and as a House Leader. She is now using her creativity and organization to grow our Family Support Program and daytime activities.

A man and a woman sit at a desk together, smiling. A coffee cup and craft supplies are on the desk.

Chip Beers
Office Staff Volunteer

Chip has been a part of the L’Arche St. Louis community for many, many years. He enjoys helping Amy at the office three days a week making thank you cards, keeping things organized, and running errands. Stop by the office and say hello!

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Edward Stoller
Chief People Officer

Edward does it all! In the fall, he’s at career fairs around the region telling students about L’Arche. In the summer, he’s doing lawncare and grilling. All year long he’s an ambassador, helping others, and keeping our community tidy!

A man sits at a table, laughing, while another man stands and smiles, holding a silly picture behind the first man.

Mike Grigaitis
Property Maintenance Coordinator

“Maintenance Mike” works in the L’Arche office as well as in all of the L’Arche homes and vehicles. A/C broken? Call Mike. Check Engine light on? Call Mike. Need to fix a game you played in the 1970s? Call Mike.

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Meghan Katzenberger
HR Assistant

Meghan joined L'Arche St. Louis in 2017 after relocating from Chattanooga. She has been a live-in assistant, house leader, friend of the community, and is excited to now be working in the office. She primarily supports HR, but also helps everyone around the office! 

Our Board of Directors

Gregory Anderson, President
Law Office of Gregory Anderson, LLC, Attorney

Kathy Hagedorn, Vice President
Saint Louis University, retired Vice President for Human Resources

Philip Ludbrook, MD, Secretary
Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University,
Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Psychiatry

Mike Schaller, Treasurer
Ampersand Partners, Founding Partner and Controller

Fr. Len Kraus, SJ
White House Jesuit Retreat, Jesuit Priest

Jason Jacobi
Ameren, Substation Database Engineer

Sarah Legett
Cardinal Glennon, retired Pediatric Palliative Care

Julie Harter
Special School District of St. Louis County, Student Support Facilitator

Dan Shasserre
Catholic Charities and Nine Network, retired Vice President of Development

Christopher Worth
Coalition for Truth and Independence, Founder
University of Missouri - St. Louis, Professor and PhD candidate

Cathleen Albers
Mercy Hospital, retired Nurse Practitioner

Our Core Members

L’Arche communities have a unique culture and language that reflect our values and mission. People with intellectual disabilities in residence at our homes are our “core” members, from the French word coeur meaning “heart,” because they are the center of every L’Arche community.

Assistant Highlights

  • A woman stands between two men, arms linked, in front of a large, flowering bush.

    Sidney

    Sidney came as a Summer Intern during her time at St. Louis University. Now, she is using her experience living in L’Arche in her career as a nurse.

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  • Four people stand around a beached paddleboard. A sixth person sits cross-legged on the board, supported by the others. One person has their hand in the air.

    Julia

    Julia joined our team after graduating with a bachelors in Theological Studies and Spanish from Saint Louis University. Learn of all the ways L’Arche has and continues to help her grow.

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  • Two men wear suits, shaking hands and smiling. Behind them a gold banner reads "hooray"

    Erik

    Erik spent most of his time at L’Arche as House Leader at Sunrise. L’Arche pushed Erik to pursue a Masters in Social Work and now works as a case manager.

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  • Two women sit in parked go-cart, smiling at the camera.

    Lena

    Lena has been a faithful assistant at L’Arche for over 3 years. Between L’Arche St. Louis and L’Arche Chicago, Lena has experienced L’Arche life in many different aspects. Learn what L’Arche has taught Lena.

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  • Close up of two people leaning into each other, smiling at the camera, with blue sky behind them.

    Jenna

    After finishing her undergraduate degree at Sacred Heart University, Jenna was called to pursue a role at L’Arche St. Louis. She packed up her belonging and left the east coast to live out L’Arche life. Here is what she has experienced at L’Arche so far.

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  • Two men outside, wearing warm clothes and hats, holding pieces of freshly sawn wood, smiling at camera.

    Adam

    Adam joined our community in early 2019 and quickly found his niche. From an assistant role to assistant house leader, Adam has greatly contributed to our community. He even does some yard work at all our homes! Click to see what Adam has to say about L’Arche.

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The Heart of L’Arche

Heart of L’Arche members are the friends who make our mission possible. They announce their love of L’Arche as our ambassadors and provide financial stability to our community. Learn more about joining the Heart of L’Arche on our donate page