Matthew Kemnitz
Adjunct Instructor
“Jesus Christ gave us a tremendous treasure in his Catholic Church. It is a great joy to echo his teachings to the faithful as we continue to make our pilgrimage together to our heavenly homeland.”
Matthew Kemnitz graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a Certified Master Catechist in the Archdiocese of KCK and taught in the Catechetical Institute at the St. Lawrence Center on KU’s campus. Matthew is in his seventh year working for the Church having served three years in Campus Ministry, two years in Youth Ministry, and two years in Adult Education. He is currently the Director of Adult Education, RCIA, and Marriage Preparation at St. Ann Catholic Church in Prairie Village, KS. He also teaches 7th Grade Religion at the parish school. Matthew is working toward his Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He spent a year in seminary formation and discerned that his call was to marriage and family. Matthew and his wife, Olivia, also a certified catechist, have two children.
Dr. Claude Sasso
Adjunct Instructor
“'For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.' (Heb. 4:12) I love God’s word and sharing it with others. It is a privilege and an honor to serve the people of the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph."
Dr. Claude Sasso has doctoral degree in history from Loyola University of Chicago and is currently completing a Masters degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Claude has 24 years experience in college teaching and has taught RCIA, apologetics and Bible studies at his parish for many years. He was a founder of the Catholic Faith and Reason Association and one of the founders of Catholic radio in Kansas City. He is married and has three children and four grandchildren.
Keith Jiron
Adjunct Instructor
Keith Jiron is the Director of the Vocation Office for the Diocese. He and his wife, Kate, have two children. He is currently completing his Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Jon Schauffhausen
Adjunct Instructor
Jon
Schaffhausen has been the Director of the Office of
Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Kansas City- St. Joseph
since August of 2006. Jon graduated from Franciscan
University of Steubenville in 2003 with a degree in Theology
and then spent 2 years discerning the priesthood at the St.
Paul Seminary for the Archdiocese of St.
Paul/Minneapolis. He is currently working on his Masters
degree in Theology from the St. Paul Seminary. Jon has been
involved in youth ministry and catechesis for more than ten
years and served with the National Evangelization Team,
Marlon Delatorre
Adjunct Instructor
Marlon Delatorre earned his Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Mental Health and Human Services from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He also earned a Master Degree in Theology and Catechesis from Franciscan University as well. His professional experiences involved being a parish DRE in the Diocese of Youngstown from 1997-1999; Diocesan Director of Religious Education for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis from 1999-2004; Headmaster and Chair of Catechetics for Sacred Heart of Jesus High School within the Catholic Diocese of Memphis from 2004-2007; from 2007-2008 DRE for Catholic Church of the Ascension; and his new post as Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph 2008-present.
Marlon has been happily married to his wife Amy for over eleven years and they have been blessed with three wonderful children, Miguel who is eight years old; Gabriella who is six-and-a-half; and Maria who is two-and-a-half.
Juliana Weber
Adjunct Instructor
Juliana Weber is a recent graduate of Ave Maria University with an M.A. in theology. She is currently working as a campus minister for the Newman Center in Warrensburg. Her master's thesis defended St. Theresa of Avila's title as a Doctor of the Church, and outside of spirituality, Juliana is especially interested by the Sacraments of Initiation, the liturgy, and the Trinity.
Dr. Mark Zia
Adjunct Instructor
Dr. Mark Zia received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in Marriage and the Family from the International Theological Institute in Austria and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology specializing in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy. He is a professor of theology at Benedictine College, as well as an active adjunct instructor for St. Meinrad School of Theology in the Deaconate Formation Program. Dr. Zia previously taught for Franciscan University and Ave Maria, and his publications include articles in Homiletic and Pastoral Review (Ignatius Press), Faith and Reason (Christendom Press),Columbia Magazine (The Knights of Columbus), and a book manuscript which is currently under publication review. He lives in Atchison with his wife and three children.
Dr. John Rziha
Adjunct Instructor
Dr. John Rziha teaches theology at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He has a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America, and his area of expertise is moral theology. His book on human participation in Eternal Law in the thought of Thomas Aquinas will be published by the Catholic University of America Press within the next year. He is married and has six boys with another child coming in May.
Jamie Blosser
Adjunct Instructor
Jamie Blosser is Assistant Professor of Theology at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, where he teaches courses in church history, ecclesiology and New Testament. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Historical Theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and is writing his dissertation on the theological anthropology of Origen of Alexandria. Before teaching at Benedictine College he worked at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC. His main interest is in the study of patristics, in particular Origen and Augustine of Hippo. He and his wife Danielle have three boys: Augustine, Ambrose and Cyprian.
Matt Karr
Adjunct Instructor
Diane Matous
Adjunct Instructor
