Paul Shafer, Chapter Director

Paul Shafer is the Music Director at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Garden City, MI. Paul earned his BMus with concentration in Organ Performance and Church Music with full scholarship under Professor Ray Ferguson at Wayne State University. Paul maintains a private teaching studio, President of the St. Clair Cultural Series, The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica organist, and Director of Worship for the Nankin Family of Parishes. Paul continues to perform throughout the Metro Detroit area and has been serving as NPM Detroit board member since 2015.

Rubi Martinez-Bernat, Board Member

Rubi Martinez-Bernat has 40+ years serving in the music ministry for the Archdiocese of Detroit. She has

worked extensively with Spanish speaking communities. She is a long-time member if El Instituto Nacional

Hispano de Liturgia.

Currently, she is the Associate Director of Music Ministries for the Basilica of Ste. Anne. Her responsibilities

are primarily for the Spanish language liturgies, including directing the adult and children’s Spanish choirs.

There are several instrumentalists that serve for the Spanish mass and Rubi has plans to begin beginner

instrumental ministry with the children of the parish.

Rubi also works with the children at Most Holy Trinity Academy. There is a small choir that leads the music for

the school mass each work. For the past ten years, she has directed the Spanish choir at Sacred Heart Major

Seminary. This choir is comprised of seminarians and transitional deacons that lead music for the Seminary’s

weekly Spanish mass.

She has given several workshops over the years, including events for NPM, The Southwest Liturgical

Conference, North Park Academy-Chicago, and Church Women United.

She has worked extensively with children and Latina women over the years. Her creative work with Cantico de

la Mujer Latina led to an invitation (which was accepted) to lead music for mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of

Guadalupe in Mexico City. This group, Cantico, was featured in Latinas of the United States: A Historical

Encyclopedia.

As a pastoral musician, Rubi is adamant about creating the musicians that will one day replace us. This is not

only about forming musicians that already exist, but in actually creating the musician. As such, she has taught

piano over the years at a number of places, including COMPAS (Center of Music and Performing Arts

Southwest) and Garage Cultural. Both centers are located in southwest Detroit and dedicated to creating

musicians in families that could otherwise not afford private music instruction. Rubi currently teaches piano at

Island Music, located in Grosse Ile.

Rubi makes her home in Wyandotte with her husband and three cats. Rubi has three adult children, one of which

is in Heaven.

Dr. Richard Schneider, Board Member

Dr. Richard Schneider is the music director at St. Mary in Wayne, Michigan.  He received his B.M.A. and M.A. in organ performance and music education from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and his D.M.A. in organ performance from the University of Michigan.  He has studied organ with Arden Whitacre, Marilyn Mason, and Flor Peeters in Mechelen, Belgium.  His Children’s choirs have performed at N.P.M. conventions in Cincinnati and Indianapolis as well as performing at Epcot under the direction of Bob Chilcott and at Carnegie Hall and Canterbury Cathedral under the direction of Henry Leck.  He has performed organ concerts in the U.S. and Europe.

Mandy Gerstenbrand, Board Member - Treasurer

Mandy joined the board of NPM Detroit as the treasurer in 2017. She has over 20 years of experience in music ministry as a choir member, cantor, and instrumentalist. When she’s not involved in music, she’s busy with her three children, Kate (18), David (13), and Andrew (11), who keep her occupied with robotics, hockey, marching band and various school activities. Mandy has volunteered at their schools and served on PTA boards at the unit, Council and state level for the past 15 years.

Fr. James Commyn, Chaplain of NPM Detroit

Father Jim has been a member of NPM since 1985, prior to his ordination to the priesthood. His love of liturgy and liturgical music has always been part of his life, and a component of his ordained ministry and as a priest of the AOD for the past 40 years. Together with another NPM colleague, he coordinated transportation for the national convention in Washington DC in 1999, NPM’s 25th anniversary. He served on the NPM Detroit Board as Chaplain and a committee leader for the national convention in Detroit in 2010. Since 2005, he has been the priest present at St. Lucy Parish, St. Clair Shores. Continuing to support and participate in Detroit chapter events, he stepped down from the board while serving as Vicar for the SERF Vicariate and later as Moderator of the Thresholds of Hope Family of Parishes. He returned to the Board in 2023 and continues to work “behind the scenes” on various NPM Detroit projects.

Kelly Rizzo-McLain, Board Member

Kelly Rizzo-McLain is a professional pianist and vocalist and has worked as a liturgical musician and choir director in the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Lansing since 2010.  She has served as director of music at Resurrection Parish in Canton, St. Joseph Parish in Dexter (Diocese of Lansing), Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, and currently serves at St. Thomas a’Becket in Canton. During her undergraduate studies, she was the accompanist at Bread of Life Lutheran Church in Hudsonville, Michigan and at St. Luke’s University Parish in Allendale, Michigan. She has also worked as an accompanist for local choirs throughout the Metro Detroit area, including BeckRidge Chorale and Harmony Singers in Plymouth, Michigan.  In addition to her work as music director, pianist and vocalist, she maintains a small studio of private piano and voice students. She also currently serves on the board of directors for the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

Kelly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Grand Valley State University.  During her time at GVSU she studied with Van Cliburn medalist Aviram Reichert.  She also was a founding member of the GVSU New Music Ensemble and can be heard on their recording of Steve Reich’s composition Music for 18 Musicians.  The ensemble performed at the 2007 “Bang on a Can” New Music Festival at the World Financial Center in New York City, and they have been featured on National Public Radio.  Kelly also earned a Master’s of Music Degree from Michigan State University where she studied Music Theory Pedagogy.

In addition to her work in liturgical and classical music, Kelly is a lover of musical theater. She and an active member of Spotlight Players of Canton and currently sits on their board. If she is not on stage performing you can find her music directing or playing in the pit orchestra. Kelly is also a local crafter that makes her own jewelry, which she sells at local craft shows and she currently maintains a booth at the Town Peddler in Livonia. Kelly lives in Canton with her husband, Dan, and their two children. 

Amy Righi, Board Member

Music and Liturgy Director at St. Isidore Church. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Amy has treasured her eclectic experiences in sacred music from urban to suburban parishes and beyond, spanning the last 50 years. Early contributions in sacred music include Responsorial Psalms with “Psalms in His Presence” collections for the church years A, B and C and Feasts and Solemnities. Published with International Liturgy Publications, her Lenten Mass setting “Mass of Wondrous Love” and other compositions and recordings can be found at ILPMusic.org. Amy is also a member of the Liturgical Composer’s Forum started by John Foley, S.J. dedicated to the on-going formation and collaboration of published composers of sacred music. With a B.S. in Vocal music Education and an M.A. in English and Literature from Oakland University, she has enjoyed mentoring youth as a high school choral director, English teacher, parish youth ensemble director and private voice and piano instructor. Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Isidore church in Macomb, MI since 2008, Amy cherishes crafting music and worship experiences with her talented colleagues, ensembles and parish family for the glory of God and the sanctification of his people. Amy also enjoys singing professionally with the Michigan Caroling Co. and a recently formed a cappella women’s quartet, Came. Favorite activities include windsurfing, snowboarding, tennis, hiking and golfing with her handsome husband and three amazing (and eligible) sons. Amy has served on the NPM Detroit Board since 2023.

Jill Goryca, Board Member-Secretary

Jill Goryca serves as Director of Music Ministry at St. Colette Catholic Church in Livonia, MI. Previously, she ministered at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center in Detroit, MI and acted as substitute musician for various churches in the area.  

She holds a Piano Teacher's Certificate from Schoolcraft College, and is currently pursuing graduate studies with the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, CA. 

Prior to switching to a full-time music career, Jill spent many years as a mechanical engineer in military vehicle dynamics. She also plays volleyball, sings with the Farmington Community Chorus, and is an avid flower and vegetable gardener.

Rev. Gary Michalik, Chaplain of NPM Detroit

Gary was born and raised in the City of Detroit. He holds a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Detroit and a MDiv from St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth Michigan. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 21, 1980 and served for 43 years in parish ministry in the Michigan cities of Redford, Hamtramck, Warren, Detroit, Westland and Livonia. He was granted Senior Priest status in 2023.

He has served as a member of the Council of Vicars, Presbyteral Council and Priests’ Assignment Board. Currently he serves as sacramental minister for parishes in western Wayne County and chaplain for the Felician Sisters in Livonia. Gary enjoys time with family and friends, movies and theater, music, history, travel, and Polish heritage and culture.

Matthew Engler, Board Member

Matthew Engler is the Music Director at St Alfred Catholic Church in Taylor, MI.  He has been involved in church ministry as a pianist, organist, and cantor for the past 35 years. Matt has also participated with several local choirs for performances both religious and secular. During the day, he works for an IT services company as a global director of risk and compliance.