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.

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.

We have four homes in St. Louis county where up to four Core Members and live-in Assistants share life together.

Our Administrative Team

Sam Barrett

Human Resources Manager
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. Sam likes cheering on his favorite soccer teams, reading, and perfecting his pourover coffee.
Madeline Finucane, MSW

Development & Outreach Manager
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 the development team in the office, sharing the mission of L’Arche daily!
Amy Hendricks, DPT

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! Amy is an avid reader and enjoys hiking and gardening.
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 with grant writing! Meghan enjoys reading, running, and cooking when she has free time.
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!
Jackie Lee, MDiv

Development & Finance Associate
Jackie started as a live-out assistant at Sunrise House back in 2015 and was a long-time friend of L'Arche before pivoting careers from the private sector. In the office she helps with development, IT, and and social media management. Jackie loves to travel with a film camera whenever she can.
Justin Lorenz, LMSW, MA

Operations Manager
Justin was one of the founding live-in Assistants at L’Arche St. Louis. He has been a part of the communities in Jacksonville, FL and Mexico City. As the Operations Manager, he keeps our homes and budget in working order. You’ll often find Justin doing one of his active hobbies: rock climbing, cycling, or playing league sports with his L’Arche friends.
Edward Stoller

Chief People Officer
Edward moved into St. James House in 2019 and had a long career at Dierbergs before coming back to work at the L’Arche office. He helps with interviewing, networking with local politicians, and is ready for any helpful task around the office. He loves telling people about L’Arche at career fairs, so make sure to say hello if you see him at one!
Peggy Welker, LMSW

Administrative Assistant
Peggy has been a part of our community with her daughter since 2014, and officially joined our office staff in 2025. She brings her expertise to help with Core Member Finances and HR responsibilities. In her free time, Peggy loves to cheer on her daughter’s swim team, garden, and read the various adaptations of Pride and Prejudice.

Our Programs Team

Ellyse Amsler

House Leader, Joyful
Originally from St. Louis, Ellyse found L’Arche through social media in 2020! Her L’Arche family has supported her through many life stages: engagement, marriage, and most recently, motherhood to baby Maria, who already has a vast fan club. Ellyse loves spending time with her family, friends, and two corgis, Cheddar and Handsome.
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.
Giovanni Komyatte

House Leader, St. James
Gio discovered L’Arche through a summer internship in Jacksonville and made his way to L’Arche St. Louis in 2024 after graduating with a degree in Biochemistry. He says our Core Members are the best people he’s ever met and loves spending time with them. For fun Gio likes to rock climb, cook, and build legos!
Adien Kupka, MSW

House Leader, Sunrise
Originally from Chicago, Adien started at L’Arche as a summer intern in 2022. Since then, she’s graduated with her MSW and became the House Leader at Sunrise House. She loves most the small moments - sharing meals and laughing with friends in the community. Adien’s spare time is given to aerial arts, improv, and reading.
Julia Nouse, MPH

Quality Coordinator
Julia started at L’Arche St. Louis in 2020 as a live-in Assistant at Joyful House. Julia now spends time helping out at the office and supporting quality care across all of our homes! She graduated with her Master of Public Health in 2026. Julia loves to play soccer, tennis, and spend time with her cats.
Clara Reyes

Assistant House Leader, Joyful
Clara started as volunteer, cooking dinner at St. James house, became an intern, and is now serving as a co-leader of Joyful house. She loves moving through the world with our Core Members and discovering their passions. Clara is a talented artist and musician and loves spoiling her dog, Andy.
Jess Richmeyer

Assistant House Leader, St. James
Jess discovered L’Arche through a Jesuit volunteer program in Spokane before she came back to her hometown of St. Louis in 2018 to join our community here. She enjoys improv, being active, reading memoires, and spending time with her friends, many of whom she met through L’Arche!
Maria Schroeder, MSW

Senior Quality Advisor
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 homes.
Alyssa Stephens

Assistant House Leader, Sunrise
Alyssa discovered L’Arche through the writings of Henri Nouwen and visited L’Arche Uganda before landing in St. Louis in 2024. These days, she’s busy working on a Masters of Social Work but loves to take time for family, going on walks, and yoga. Her favorite part of L’Arche is the beauty of community in the homes.
Erik Strange, LCSW

Director of Programs
Erik returned to L’Arche St. Louis in 2025 as Director of Programs, bringing his heart and love for community back with him! He first joined L’Arche in 2017 as a live-in Assistant and House Leader at Sunrise House. A former Army officer and WashU social work grad, Erik most recently worked at the VA—and now he’s thrilled to be home at L’Arche!
Adam Witzig

Assistant House Leader, Rainbow
A St. Louis native, Adam heard of L’Arche through the books of Henri Nouwen and joined L’Arche in 2019. He’s loves to kick it back over a can of O’Doul’s with our Core Members Edward and Richard during Man’s Night (™). Adam is compelled by a sense of community and passion that he witnesses in his friends at L’Arche.

Our Board of Directors

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

Kathy Hagedorn
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, MD
Cardinal Glennon, retired Pediatric Palliative Care

Don Schreiber
Kirkwood Pharmacy Group, Owner

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

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

Bryan Sokol, Ph. D.
Saint Louis University Department of Psychology, Associate Professor

Nancy Parker Tice
City of Brentwood Ward 1, Alderwoman

Liz Westerhaus, MA
Washington University School of Medicine, Manager of Clinical Trials

Cathleen Albers
Mercy Hospital, retired Nurse Practitioner

Francis Chmelir
PerformLine LLC, Vice President of Email Solutions

Hannah Talley Fiebig, MPA
St. Louis County Board of Elections, Supervisor

Assistant Highlights

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.

Click Here
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.

Click Here
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Click Here
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.

Read More