Our Amazing Staff

Dr. Kevin J. Cummings was ordained as a Deacon on June 3, 2011, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, but is currently assigned to the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. Concentrating much of his efforts in the Ministry of Respect Life issues, alongside two other non-profits that he is a part of, he co-founded Deacons of Hope with the aim of organizing the Ministries of Deacons into a community of Deacons who emphasize pro-life initiatives. This initiative was sprung out of a desire to serve homeless mothers in need, with an emphasis on those under the care of pregnancy resource centers. This came to fruition in the form of an 18-bedroom St. Mary's Home for Mothers, on 14 acres in Liberty, Missouri.

His faith life is based around family, having chosen holy matrimony over being a priest. He felt called to be a spouse first in his life - to be a husband and a father and lead a family. Two of his six brothers were also in the seminary. Dr. Cummings attended Rockhurst High School, a Catholic school in Kansas City, Missouri, founded by the Jesuits. In 2023 he was awarded their Alumnus of the Year.

A retired dentist of 40 years, he provided complimentary services to City Union Mission (which served homeless men in Kansas City) to help with their confidence and appearance in job seeking efforts. He also opened a dental clinic for St. Vincent's Operation Breakthrough, a daycare operated by Vincentian Sisters. Later, out of diaconate formation he was involved with prison ministry at Jackson County Jail for several years. At St. Thomas More in Kansas City he did ministry with men's group (Bible study, catechesis, That Man Is You, and more). In addition, he has provided dental care to communities in Guatemala, Panama City, Jamaica, Nepal, and Madagascar (Mercy Ships).

When Michael Hill married his wife, Virginia, with her job being in Des Moines, Iowa, he moved there.  They both became active in parish life and continued this upon being transferred to Fort Dodge, Iowa.  While there, Michael joined the Knights of Columbus, becoming a 4th degree member.  Later he was approached about becoming a deacon.

They returned to the Kansas City area in 1987 and became active in Prince of Peace parish and St. Paul parish in Olathe.  Michael served as a Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and Sacristan.  He was part of the first cohort of Deacons in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.  He received the Sacrament of Holy Orders in April of 2011 and was assigned to St. Paul in Olathe.

Michael and Virginia moved to Kansas City, Kansas, in 2012 and Archbishop Naumann reassigned Deacon Michael to the Cathedral of St. Peter.  In 2024, Deacon Michael was awarded a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, along with a certificate in Child Protection and Child Safety.

Deacon Michael is proud to be a member of Deacons of Hope and plans to use his talents from God to serve the Catholic Church and all God’s people to bring the message of the Gospel where there is pain and suffering.

Since 1988 Deacon Charles Koesterer and his family have been members of St. James, one of the largest parishes in Liberty, Missouri, which is also one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.  Deacon Chuck was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in 2011 and has served the St. James Community since.

A Charter Member of Deacons Of Hope and on the Board of Directors of DOH, Deacon Chuck works at St James, which serves over 3,000 families and is a large contributor to the St. Mary’s Home For Mothers.  (He also volunteers there at Wednesday Masses when a priest isn’t available and will give a Eucharistic service at the Home.)

Along with his Pro-Life Ministry, Deacon Chuck is also very involved with the Suicide Prevention Hot Line and associated Pastoral Ministry at St James Parish.  As a permanent Deacon, he is able to baptize, witness weddings, and preside over funerals and public prayer.  He leads a faith sharing group on Saturday mornings in the school library.

Dr. Matthew Loehr holds a Ph.D. in Family Studies from Kansas State University and an M.S. in Social Work from the University of Kansas. He had graduated from Benedictine College with both a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Political Science.  In addition, he is a graduate of the Marriage and Family Training Program from Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry and Mental Health Sciences in Topeka, Kansas.

Dr. Loehr is licensed at the clinical level in Kansas (L.S.C.S.W.) and in Missouri (L.C.S.W.) with over 30 years of clinical experience.

Upon taking his position with the St. Mary's Home for Mothers, Dr. Loehr developed clinical program approaches that are evidence-based, including how, internally, to track improvement in the women and children served.  He also established a strong commitment to serve people of all faiths or no faith while keeping Catholic traditions present.