Pastoral Staff

FR. JOSEPH REED  was born and raised in Knoxville. He attended Sacred Heart School, then Farragut Middle and High Schools. He was a seminarian for the Diocese before joining Conception Abbey as a monk for almost twenty years. Fr. Joe earned additional degrees in theology from St. John’s Seminary [Minnesota] and St. Vincent Seminary [Pennsylvania]. Over the years, Fr. Joe has taught and served as an academic advisor, spiritual director and director of liturgy at Conception Seminary College, worked in the business and vocations offices at Conception Abbey, and as a master of ceremonies while living and studying in Rome. Since his return to Knoxville, Fr. Joe has served as parochial vicar and school chaplain at Sacred Heart Cathedral . In addition to being the pastor of St. John Neumann Catholic Church and School, he continues to serve as the Diocesan Vocation Director, Co-Director of the Office of Worship and Liturgy, and Master of Ceremonies. Fr. Joe has a strong passion for Catholic education and for the Church’s evangelizing mission. He also serves as a Missionary of Mercy.

FR. MICHAEL MAPLES serves as a part-time parochial vicar at St. John Neumann Parish. He is a licensed psychologist who provides counseling to adult individuals and couples at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. Fr. Maples was raised in Maryville. He completed undergraduate degrees in Psychology and English Literature at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and earned a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa. He attended seminary at Saint Meinrad School of Theology [Indiana]. Prior to his assignment at St. John Neumann, Fr. Maples served at Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, and Holy Resurrection Catholic Mission in Seymour. He is an active member of local and national psychological associations. He has special interest in the interactions of religious faith with mental health and with literature, film, and art. Fr. Maples is a Benedictine oblate of Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

FR. BO BEATY is an only child, born and raised in Jamestown, Tennessee. His upbringing was rooted in the Baptist church, where he was baptized and actively participated in the community. It wasn’t until his college years at Carson-Newman University that I began to explore the Catholic Faith. After regularly attending Mass, engaging in self-study, having discussions with the pastor, and participating in the RCIA process, he joined the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 2008 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Morristown.

The idea of priesthood first entered his mind soon after his communion with the Catholic Church. Influenced by his love for the Church and witnessing the dedication of Monsignor Garrity and Father Michael Sweeney, he began contemplating a life of priestly service. For the next ten years, he discerned the
idea of priesthood with a growing career at McDonalds, where he started as a teenager and progressed to an Area Supervisor managing three locations.

Ultimately, heeding God’s Will, he decided to pursue the priesthood and, in 2017, entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas, where he completed his undergraduate seminary formation and earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Dallas. In 2020, he entered Saint Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana, for his theological priestly formation, completing a M.A. in Divinity..

In his free time, he enjoys reading. His favorite genres are theology, mystery, and science fiction. He also likes gardening, both inside with potted plants and outside in the garden. Walking outdoors is another activity he enjoys and finds refreshing.He also loves spending time with friends, family, and his cat back home. Additionally, he has a deep devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux and loves learning more about her life and teachings.

SISTER RESTITUTA NYINOWEITU (Sr. Resty) is a member of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary Community and has a BA in Missionary Catechesis from Urbanian University in Rome, a BA in Psychology from Alvernia University in Pennsylvania, and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Neumann University, also in Pennsylvania. She completed a Residence program in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) in Akron, Ohio. Sr. Resty serves as our Pastoral Associate; doing individual and family counseling, working with engaged couples for marriage preparation, and facilitating seminars for marriage enrichment for the various groups. She also assists with the marriage annulment process. She facilitates groups on a variety of topics regarding spiritual and emotional development and healing which profoundly touch the lives of each one of us.

SISTER ELIZABETH W. WANYOIKE is a member of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary Community and holds a Masters Degree in Religious Sciences from Gregorian University in Rome and a PhD in Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She has had a broad experience in giving seminars and retreats to different groups of adults. Sr. Elizabeth is our Coordinator for Adult Faith Formation, responsible for organizing, coordinating, and facilitating Adult Faith Formation programs. She also coordinates the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the parish.

DEACON SHAWN BALLARD has been a parishioner of St. John Neumann since June 2010, and has participated in various roles and ministries in the parish, including being a member of the Welcoming Committee, an Adult Faith Formation & RCIA facilitator, and the Spiritual Advisor of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Deacon Shawn grew up in Panama City, FL before joining the U.S. Navy after high school. Raised in the Baptist and Presbyterian churches, Deacon Shawn converted to Catholicism in 1982 while attending University of Florida, where he graduated in 1984 with a B.S. in Mathematics, specializing in Secondary Education. He later completed his M.B.A. through City University in 1992 while serving on active duty in the U.S. Navy. Married to his wife Ann since 1983, he has two grown sons and now enjoys the life of being an “empty nester” along with his cats and dogs. Deacon Shawn retired from the military and business world in 2017 to devote his time to serving in the Catholic Church. He was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate and assigned to SJN in June 2022.

DEACON DON AMELSE was ordained in 1985 and assigned to St, John Neumann in 1987. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Loyola University Chicago and a Masters in Pastoral Studies with a concentration in Spirituality from Loyola University New Orleans. He worked as parish bookkeeper from 1988 – 2010 and was involved in Confirmation Preparation from 1988 to 2008. He took a sabbatical from ministry in 2010 to care for his wife Rickie who had ovarian cancer. Shortly after her passing in June 2013, he joined the RCIA team with Sr. Elizabeth and now heads the Confirmation Preparation process. Deacon Don also founded SJN’s Claver Ministries to provide emotional support for caregivers.

DEACON MARK SYLER was ordained in November 1985. He graduated from Wright State University in 1979 with a BA in Urban Studies and a core curriculum in Public Administration. Upon his ordination, he was signed to St. Thomas Parish in Lenoir City, where he served as DRE and religious education teacher, as well as in several ministries, including prison ministry, and on the board of the Lenoir City Crisis Pregnancy Center. He was assigned to SJN in 1988 and since then, has taught religious education, was assistant DRE, made communion visits to the hospital, nursing homes, and private homes, and has given spiritual guide talks on the Sacraments at Cursillo weekends and on the Lord’s Prayer at an RE day retreat. He has presided over enthronements of The Scared Heart of Jesus and is a spiritual director and a mentor to deacon candidates.