MEET OUR STAFF
Friar Marcos A. Ramos, O.P.
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Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Friar Marcos is a member of the Province of Saint Martin de Porres in the United States, presently serving as coordinator of spiritual life, director of liturgy, director of music, and formator at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio. He has a MA-M.Div. from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in Saint Louis , Missouri, as well as a Th.M. and Ph.D. in historical theology from the University of Saint Michael’s College in Toronto, Canada.
Fr. Marcos has years of pastoral and musical experience in different venues of North America, was co-chair of the Patristics Seminar of the Toronto School of Theology from 2010 until 2014, and has presented lectures in conferences and classrooms in North America and Europe.
At this moment Fr. Ramos also teaches courses in preaching at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio.
Deacon Ray Jimenez
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Pastoral Delegate
Deacon Ray Jimenez is a native San Antonian who attended St. Leo the Great Elementary School and Central Catholic Marianist High School. He received his BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. After working 25 years as an Adult Probation officer and Resource Training Officer (conducting training throughout the state) he retired from the Bexar County Community and Supervision Department as an Assistant Chief and currently works as a chaplain for Embrace Hospice.
Ray was ordained a Deacon for the Archdiocese of San Antonio in 2004 and is currently assigned to Mission Concepción where he assists with Baptism and Marriage preparation classes, conducts Vigil Services/Rosaries, Quinceañeras, as well as coordinating the Rite for Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Program.
In 1989, Ray married Rosemary Salinas at Mission Concepción, and in 2019 they will celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary. They enjoy traveling, having been to Germany, the Holy Land, Italy, and most recently Spain, where they walked part of the Camino Pilgrimage Walk to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
For recreation, Deacon Ray enjoys playing the guitar, running, and has completed several marathons and half marathons.
Candace R. Velasquez
Bookkeeper
Originally from Del Rio, Tx, a graduate from Del Rio High School, Candace earned her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from The University of Texas at San
Antonio. For 17 years, Candace was an elementary teacher in both San Antonio and Chicago Il. With several years being devoted to bilingual education.
After her teaching career Candace, alongside her husband Rene Velasquez, opened their own business. Which allowed her to share her passion for faith, fashion and culture with the community.
Candace and her husband Rene have been parishioners of Mission Concepción for the past 10 years and were also married at Mission Concepción in 2016. They enjoy
traveling, running their business, supporting other local businesses & playing with their 3 dogs.
Candace is honored to be a part of the team at Mission Concepción.
Mary Moncivais
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Choir Director
Mary T. Moncivais grew up in San Antonio, TX, and attended Incarnate Word from elementary through high school graduation. She received her B.S.W. and M.S.W. from Our Lady of the Lake University. She is a licensed social worker for the State of Texas. Her 34 year Criminal Justice career has been as a Juvenile Probation Officer and Assistant Chief at Bexar County Adult Probation. She also serves as a Board member with the Ministry of the Third Cross and coordinates retreats for men and women in the criminal justice system.
Mary has been involved with the music ministry since 2002 and directing the choir with principal musician, Ricardo Valdez for the past four years. Together they plan weekly liturgical, Holy Days and special occasion music for weddings and First Holy Communion and were able to plan the music for a Priest Ordination. Continuing education provides opportunities to keep abreast of new liturgical music and other content. Travel is a favorite pastime.
Albert Rios
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Caretaker
Albert Rios is the youngest of three siblings. He has a sister, Anita and a brother, Domingo. Albert is a cradle Catholic being born, raised and still serving the St. Cecilia/ Mission Concepción Community. He attended Riverside Elementary, Page Middle School, and graduated from Wheatley High School.
Albert was an all-star athlete beginning at St. Cecilia’s CYO and all through high school. Albert has been a member of the Mission Concepción community since attending his first A.C.T.S. retreat in 2007 and has been the caretaker for Mission Concepción since 2009. He and Ethel, his wife, were married on August 10, 2001 and were blessed to have entered the bonds of holy matrimony on January 12, 2013. He and Ethel are blessed with a beautiful family consisting of six children and six grandchildren. Albert serves as a Eucharistic minister, lector, ACTS Core member, and supports the Rite for Christian Initiation for Adults (i.e., R.C.I.A.) program and its students by attending classes and providing testimony for those wanting to complete their sacraments of baptism, first communion and/or confirmation.
Laura Peña Cuellar
Administrative Assistant
Laura Peña Cuellar is a native San Antonian who attended St. Leo the Great Elementary School and went on to graduate from Blessed Sacrament Academy. She has a son Roger, daughter in law Natalie and two grandchildren, Alexis and Roger Jr.
After a 40 plus year career with the
H-E-B Grocery Company in a leadership role she retired in March of 2022.
Laura has always found it important to live a life of service while her son attended Catholic School and in the Parishes of St. James and Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
Laura joined the Mission Concepcion Church Community in August of 2022 and joined the Mission Concepción staff the following November.