Before coming to Marymount College, Fr. Mark Villano was no stranger to the world of Campus Ministry. In Austin, Texas, he served at an urban parish and with students from the University of Texas. In Los Angeles, he worked at parishes and the campus ministry centers at U.S.C. and U.C.L.A. After several years as Associate Director of Campus Ministry at the Newman Center at Ohio State University in Columbus, Fr. Mark has most recently served as Associate Chaplain at St. Thomas More Catholic Center at Yale and as Director of Campus Ministry at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

While in Los Angeles, he was Director of Creative Development at Paulist Productions, a film and television production company, working with writers and producers on various media projects. He was also Documentary Director for the “Humanitas Prize,” an annual series of awards given to television and film writers who show “humanizing achievement in writing.” At Ohio State, he taught Screenwriting as an Adjunct in the Department of Theatre. At Yale, he taught as a Visiting Lecturer in Religion and the Arts at the Yale Divinity School. He maintains a strong interest in media and in filmmaking as a contemporary way of expressing faith experience.

Fr. Mark holds a B.A in Social Work and a Master of Divinity degree, both from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. In 1994, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Besides his role as College Chaplain, Fr. Mark also serves as “Special Assistant to the President for Mission and Catholic Identity.” He chairs the “Mission and Catholic Identity Council,” which fosters communal and academic awareness of the Catholic intellectual and faith traditions.

Gilbert Marques
Campus Ministry Intern

Mr. Gilbert Marquez is our 2011-2012 Campus Ministry Intern. He is currently working on a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University. He also holds a part time position as Director of Christian Initiation and Adult Faith Formation at St. Vincent De Paul Church in Huntington Beach,  He will be assisting with Campus Ministry programming, helping ensure that there are plenty of activities that enrich our students’ understanding of the Catholic faith, promote Christian unity and support inter-faith dialogue. Before coming to Marymount College, Gilbert spent four years with “L’Arche Wavecrest,” which promotes community living among people with developmental disabilities. He holds a BA in Politics from the University of San Francisco, and also spent one year in the novitiate for the Society of Jesus, California Province. In his spare time, Gilbert enjoys road biking, reflecting, eating out, and hanging out in scenic areas with friends.

Sr. Ban and Sr. Tuyet are guests in the English as a Second Language Program (FLS). They come to us from the Hung Hao diocese, which is north of Hanoi in Vietnam, and are part of our continued partnership with this diocese. Besides sharing their joyful presence with us, they assist Campus Ministry as chapel sacristans and leaders of prayer, especially during Friday Adoration.

Mezzo soprano Melinda Becker is a professional vocalist, music professor, and liturgical music director. She brings with her several years of experience as a lead cantor at St. John Fisher Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, and a host of other churches in California, including Mission Santa Clara de Asis in Santa Clara, CA. Anyone who hears Melinda sing appreciates the beauty of music in serice to ur Creator. She is always ready to welcome student singers and instrumentalists into our liturgical music ministry. 

As a professional singer, Melinda performs a multi language repertoire across many musical genres, from Spanish song, to French chansons, to R&B, Jazz and other popular music styles. Recently, she has performed international concerts with Duo Fado, a classical voice and guitar collaboration with guitarist Thomas Walsh. Specializing in music from the Iberian Peninsula, the duo have presented recitals for audiences throughout California, Cairo, Madrid, Lisbon and London. Operatic performances include the role of Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with San Francisco Conservatory Opera Theater and Nireno in Giulio Cesare with the San Francisco Conservatory Baroque Ensemble . A variety of other roles include the Page in Rigoletto and First Spirit in The Magic Flute with Opera San Jose. Her awards include a scholarship to attend the Tyrolean Opera Program in Maurach, Austria.

Melinda received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a Masters of Arts degree in Education from Santa Clara University.  She also earned her Master of Fine Arts Degree in Vocal Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.