From time to time, we feature a profile of one of the Saint Benedict Parish staff members so parishioners can get to know them a little better and get a better sense of what they do at the parish. This month, we’re featuring our new Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Camila Notari. 

What’s your job title?
CAMILA: I am the Children’s Ministry Coordinator. 

When did you start working at Saint Benedict Parish?
January 29th, 2024. 

What does your work here entail? 
At Saint Benedict, SBPkids ministry helps children encounter Jesus and establish a personal relationship with him through the process of evangelization. We want to make it easier for families to attend Mass by providing age-appropriate activities for their little ones. The Encounter, our pre-teen program, offers a fun and unique way for young people to experience God's love. With SBPkids, we hope to inspire a new generation of faithful and devoted disciples of Jesus. SBPkids is for children from birth to Grade 6! I work with volunteers, and I am responsible for recruiting, training, and coordinating them. I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate the SBPkids volunteer team. We strive to create a warm and welcoming community where everyone feels at home. 

Where are you from originally? 
I’m from Brazil. 

What did you do before you worked at Saint Benedict Parish? 
I work here on a part-time basis. In my other job, I work in the field of Adult Education, where I am an academic lead. My background is in the cosmetic industry, where I have worked for over 20 years. 

What was a key moment in your faith life that you can share with us? 
I spent almost four years living in a Franciscan convent, discerning about being a nun. This experience profoundly impacted my faith and helped shape me into who I am today. My Catholic faith has brought me so many blessings. When my family found out that we would move from Ontario to Nova Scotia, I started searching for a church and came across the website for Saint Benedict. Even though the church was closed, we were given a tour by a very kind volunteer, and we felt that this place would become our home. Four years later, Saint Benedict is not just the parish where we attend Mass, but also the first place we heard about Alpha. We learned how to pray in English as a family, our son was baptized here, and our daughter will soon be confirmed here as well. Thanks to God, I am now blessed to have Jesus as my boss! 

What do you like to do outside of work? 
I love reading, eating, and spending time with my family and friends.