Jim - 510-471-7766 ext 22 - ym@saintannecatholic.org

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read these bio’s!!  My name is Jim Soltau and this will be my forty-second year of being a Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator (thirty-nine at St. Anne’s).  I’m most looking forward to this year because of the challenges we face and how we will overcome them.  We (myself and the staff) are going to do our very best to provide a Confirmation experience that will allow you to love and learn about your faith in unique ways.

My wife Lucy, who is the Director of Religious Education in Menlo Park, and I have been married for 37 years. We live in Union City and have two children, Mike and Becky who are both married, and a Grandson, Greyson.  I’m an avid Giants and 49ers fan since I grew up in San Francisco.  When time allows, I love playing golf.

Most of all I want to brag about this Confirmation Staff...they are the best!!!  Each one and collectively as a group are passionate about their faith and live that out every single day.  I am so proud to work with them and call them my friends as well.

My favorite Saint, Saint Francis, wrote and closed his letters with how I will do so here...a wish for you and your families throughout this year:  Peace and all good!

 

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Kathryn (Kat) & Vincent - vak@stanneconfirmation.com

Kathryn

Hi everyone!! I’m Kat and I’m happy and grateful to be teaching again. This is my 8th year teaching Confirmation at St. Anne’s and my 21st year teaching from different parishes within the Oakland diocese.  

When I’m not teaching at St. Anne, I’m out and about caring for my family and friends.  I have 4 kids; AJ (25), Isaiah (16), Kamryn (15) and Gregory Jr. (13).  On a daily basis, you can usually find me out and about doing pick-up and drop-offs for my kids or at their extra-curricular activities.

With God and my faith as my focus, I believe I can do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I put my mind and determination towards.  Ministry is a part of my life and I am blessed to have an opportunity to share it with our community.  

I’m excited and looking forward to this year of Confirmation and sharing this faith journey with all of you!

Vincent

Aloha! My name is Vincent and you can call me Vince! I’m always down for good laughs or puns, so if you have a good one send it my way y’all! This is my fifth year as a confirmation staff member and I am always excited to share my faith with you.  I am also a 7th grade faith formation catechist entering my 8th year, so I might see some familiar faces and hopefully remembered names which I’m terrible at fyi so apologies beforehand. I serve on the eucharistic, lector and liturgical ministries here at St. Anne’s church which I am blessed. God is love and our Catholic faith calls us to serve one another in Jesus name and to love God above all things! HE>i

A little bit about myself. I grew up most of my young life in Hayward and moved to Union City in 2001. I lived in Hawaii for 3 years. My favorite food is spam musubi, so send some my way and I will love you forever! My education/work background; attended James Logan High School, San Jose State University with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and currently work for Synnex Corp. I enjoy playing basketball, watching the Golden State Warriors, action and comedy movies, hiking/outdoor activities, going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Traveling is something I look to do more of once this pandemic is over. I’ve  been to the Philippines, Australia and Japan. My deepest passion is to serve God and through my thoughts and actions I hope to be a spark of light to you on your faith journey. I’m really down to earth and take the laid back approach to things, so please send some positive vibes my way! I’d really love to get to know each and everyone of you! Let me know how I can pray for you today?  ALOHA & MAHALO! \m/

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! :

 

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Janine, Alfred, & Sally - jas@stanneconfirmation.com

Sally

Greetings!  My name is Sally Oto.  It has been a pleasure to be part of the Confirmation staff here at St. Anne's parish for 5 years.  I have been active in ministry throughout the Oakland Diocese for over 28 years.  I am excited to be a part of your faith journey.  The young people inspire me to be a better me.  I hope to be an inspiration to each of you. Together, we will grow and learn more about our beautiful faith through studies, service, community, and the Word.  We are challenged this year given the health and safety crisis we face but I am certain that together we will rise and be the Light.  

I live in Dublin with my family; my amazing husband, Ronald (we just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary!) and our two terrific children, Janelle and Nicholas.  I have been so fortunate to be blessed with their unconditional love and support. Some of my favorite things are trips to Disneyland/World (actually everything Disney!), sunrises/sunsets, walks at the beach/sightseeing, and being around my family and friends. The last several months haven't allowed me to do many of my favorite things so I am in the kitchen trying out new recipes.  Cooking is not one of my favorite activities but I am getting better at it.  

I look forward to getting to know each other, sharing our stories, and living our faith! You are in my prayers. 

Let us be the Light!
 

Alfred

Hi everyone! I’ve been involved with the Saint Anne Confirmation Program for as long as I’ve had a driver’s license. (When you realize how old I am, you'll realize that's a long time!) I was on the retreat staff as I finished high school, college, and grad school. I’ve been teaching confirmation for about twenty years. It’s great to watch young people grow, develop, learn about themselves, and witness them go on to various ministries and live out their faith. I look forward to getting to know you and seeing the people all of you grow into becoming.
 

Janine

 

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Bridget, JJ, & Jerico - asapio@stanneconfirmation.com

 

Bridget

Hey all! My name is Bridget Panopio and this will be my fourth year teaching Confirmation! I’ve grown a lot in my faith and as a person here at St. Anne’s. I’ve participated and continue to still be very active in the Parish. 


Just a little bit of personal information about me: I really enjoy cooking and baking! I actually have too many cookbooks that I really want to try some recipes out! I really miss traveling and hope to start traveling again very soon. 

I am looking forward to being with you during your faith journey. We’re in this together and I can’t wait to take this ride with you. Can’t wait to get to know, learn and grow with every single one of you!

 

JJ

Hi! My name is JJ, one of the Confirmation teachers here at St. Anne’s. I’ve been teaching catechism and serving in the church pretty much all my life starting at St. Joachim’s in Hayward. I’m now starting my 3rd year of teaching confirmation here at St. Anne’s. Teaching confirmation has always been something that I wanted to do more than any other ministry. It’s my way of making sure that the youth of our community know about our faith and that our faith is much more than just going to church. It’s about service to others, leadership, humility and overall just being a good person.

To me, teaching the youth is dual purpose. It doesn’t just teach the youth, it involves the entire family, Parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. When one learns, everyone learns. As adults, we get caught up in our everyday lives and sometimes we forget about our faith. Sometimes it takes our youth to help us get back on track.

A unique aspect that impressed me about the St. Anne’s Program is that many of our Confirmation students move on after confirmation and join our peer youth leadership group, Emmaus. These individuals choose to join, they are not asked, and that inspires even myself that many of our youth want to be leaders and mentors and serve their community. That’s what moves me!

As for myself, I have a degree in Health Science, from Cal State HAYWARD!!!! but don’t work in the industry. I'm a realtor and I work at UC Berkeley as an IT Systems Admin. I grew up in Hayward, where we still live. One tidbit about myself, is that I spent much of my life as a parishioner of St. Joachim’s church which also happens to be my name. Yes, JJ stands for Joachim John. Peace be with you all.

 

Jerico

 

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Collins & Sammi - cosa@stanneconfirmation.com

Collins

Hi,  I am Collins. I am so happy that get to be part of this awesome confirmation staff this year. This year marks my   eighth year with the Confirmation program. I am on this journey of learning more about all of you and myself. I grew up at St Anne’s and most people recognize me from the Altar. I really discovered my faith through this Youth Ministry program. The last few years of my life I have dedicated a good portion of my life back to the church and I have been more than blessed to be part of Emmaus peer ministry. I have also been a First Communion teacher and involved with every liturgical ministry with the exception of the Music Ministry (I can’t sing). Needless to say you will see me all around the church grounds and beyond feel free to say hello. St. Anne’s has been home for me in the highlights of my life as well as the low times of my life. I have been some of the greatest people because of my involvement with this program. I am so excited to give back to it in any way I possibly can. Confirmation is where you get the chance to say that you want to be Catholic for your life and that decision should be made with great pride and honor. I hope to see all of you proudly say Amen when you become sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I look forward to working with all of you in one way or another throughout this coming year. 
 

Sammi

Hey there! My name is Sammi and I am a '97 baby who grew up right here in Union City. As a Bay Area native I have a love for all things edible and all things odd. 

If I'm not at work taking care of Tech-Heads or here at church messing with my teaching partner/big bro Collins, you can find me lazing around in bed, sunbathing by the bay, or annoying my Gerbian Shepsky, Aiko. 

I have been a part of the Saint Anne's community since I was old enough to be a part of CCD classes. I started my ministry with Saint Anne's as an Emmaus Peer Ministry leader and joined the Confirmation staff in 2021. I am so blessed to say I was raised by this Youth Ministry program and am happy to continue cultivating our youth to be amazing people of faith in our community. 

 

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Teddy, Quynh-Vy, & Jeffy

Teddy

Hi! My name is Teddy, and this is my eighth year on the Confirmation staff at St. Anne. I grew up involved with many different ministries at St. Anne including Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Confirmation, and Emmaus Peer Ministry. I currently also direct the Young Adult Choir.

A little about me: I graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from Cal State East Bay and currently work as an iOS Software Engineer. I absolutely love music! I play the alto saxophone, a bit of piano and guitar, and I love randomly singing wherever I go. I'm also in a band with some good friends, and we call ourselves Sundays@Ten. Volleyball is one of my favorite sports to play, and I used to help coach at James Logan High School, where I also played. I’m an avid moviegoer, and I watch way too many TV shows to count. I’m also a huge fan of all things Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars.

A large part of who I am today is due to the faith-filled, inspirational, unconditionally loving people I have crossed paths with while doing ministry at St. Anne. I hope to provide that same love and support for the young people I teach. My involvement at St. Anne has given me a deep passion for my faith and the community, and I am looking forward to sharing and learning with everyone on our journey of faith together.
 

Quynh-Vy

Hello! My name is Quynh-Vy. This will be my first year teaching Confirmation at St. Anne. Unfortunately I didn't receive my confirmation at St. Anne, but at St. Bede, my home parish. I immediately started helping and teaching Confirmation at St. Bede right after my Confirmation.  I am blessed to be a part of the St. Anne Confirmation Staff as my time as a Confirmation Teacher at St. Bede has come to a close.

When I am not teaching confirmation, you will probably see me on the piano at different times for different parishes within the Oakland Diocese. And when I'm not playing piano, I am probably stuck in my lab at work researching or out and about trying to enjoy any free time I can get!

Some fun facts about me! I am an only child born and raised in Union City. I went to St. Bede K-8, attended James Logan High School, I have my Bachelor's from UCSC, and will be receiving my Master's from CSUEB. I love playing video games, watching anime (currently behind) and streamers, napping, and eating ice cream! My favorite colors are ice blue and seafoam green. 

I can't wait to help and teach each and everyone of you to grow in faith. <3
 

Jeffy

Hello, my name is Jeff, but I’m known as Jeffy (Jeff A.). I have been involved in the Youth Ministry program here at St. Anne since 1989. I have watched this wonderful program grow through the years and I know Jim didn’t think it would be like this.

When I’m not teaching confirmation, I’m a eucharistic minister, I sing in the choir on the 4th Sunday, I coached CYO for St. Anne (boys and girls) for the past 15 years.

I tell my students that music is how I pray: listen to the lyrics and GOD is speaking to you. I look forward to helping the young church of today in their faith journey.