Meet Our Team
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FOUNDERGary Thome is a husband, father of five children, and a lifelong Catholic living in northwest Houston. After a successful 32-year career building several billion-dollar technology businesses, Gary left his corporate VP role to found LOVING STONES. He also has served for eight years on the board of directors for the Christian nonprofit, Heartbeat International, providing expertise in strategy, technology, marketing, and finance. He is active in his parish, Prince of Peace Catholic Community, where he has served and led numerous ministries. Pam, Gary’s wife, also is a LOVING STONES of CHRIST Team member. You can find her bio below.
Favorite Scripture: "Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart’s desire." (Ps 37:4)
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Bob Zerda was married in 1979 and has three children, one of whom he lost to suicide at the age of 24. Bob grew up in San Antonio, TX. He is a cradle Catholic and met his wife, Kathy, at the University of Notre Dame where Bob earned a degree in electrical engineering. Bob started his 38-year career as a power system and automation engineer in the oil and gas industry. He is now enjoying retirement and grandchildren. He and Kathy have been members of Prince of Peace Catholic Community since 1985 and have served in numerous ministries. In addition to LOVING STONES, Bob currently volunteers in Pastoral Care ministry. Bob and Kathy also actively support suicide prevention and mental health initiatives, and are past board members of the Guardian Angel Educational Fund that supports the education of indigenous Mayan children in Guatemala.
Bob’s Favorite Scripture: “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’” (Jn 20:29)
info@lovingstonesofchrist.org
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Cynthia Cardenas-Kolak is a lifelong learner, teacher, independent scholar, and author who has trained other trainers, teachers, and administrators on best instructional practices for diverse learners. She has been a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Community for seven years and resides in northwest Houston with her husband and son. As an active participant in her parish, she has served in multiple roles including pastoral care volunteer, funeral coordinator, small group facilitator of book studies with Catholic WE and the parish at large, LOVING STONES, and has a strong calling to the New Evangelization.Favorite Scriptures: “Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. Sing to him a new song; skillfully play with joyous chant.” (Ps 33:3)
“Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you things beyond the reach of your knowledge.” (Jer 33:3)
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Co-Founder / BloggerAn Okie from birth and cradle Catholic, Kerry McGuire has a Texas-sized heart as she “empty-nests” in northwest Houston alongside her husband of 27 years (son is at A&M and daughter, UT-Austin; house-divided!). A member of Prince of Peace Catholic Community since 2005, she helped found LOVING STONES and Catholic WE (Catholic Women Experience), two lay apostolates focused on evangelization and apostleship. A professional communications strategist for a variety of businesses and non-profits with over 30 years of experience, she currently freelances and writes for the Texas Catholic Herald, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston newspaper.
Favorite Scripture: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28)
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Tammy Lee is a nature-loving wife and boy-mom that enjoys her early morning prayer time, cup of creamer with a little coffee, and 3-mile jog alongside her devoted pup. She and her family divide their time between Cypress, TX, and their peaceful rolling-acre farmland in eastern Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Texas and a master’s in Occupational Therapy from Texas Women’s in Houston. Her compassionate, caring, and servant’s heart is evident in her work at her parish of 16 years, Prince of Peace Catholic Community, including Pastoral Care Ministry, food pantry, youth group, faith formation, and LOVING STONES.
Favorite Scripture: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:2)
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Co-FoundersKathy Zerda was married in 1979 and has three children, one of whom was lost to suicide at the age of 24. Kathy grew up in Columbus, OH. She is a cradle Catholic and met her husband, Bob, at the University of Notre Dame where Kathy earned a degree in microbiology. After graduation, Kathy went on to earn a doctorate in virology at the Baylor College of Medicine and worked careers as a research scientist, an engineering manager, and a university professor. She is now enjoying retirement and grandchildren. Kathy and Bob have been members of Prince of Peace Catholic Community since 1985 and have served in numerous ministries. In addition to LOVING STONES, Kathy serves as a certified spiritual director. Kathy and Bob also actively support suicide prevention and mental health initiatives, and are past board members of the Guardian Angel Educational Fund that supports the education of indigenous Mayan children in Guatemala.
Kathy’s Favorite Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11)
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Laura Hebert is a mother of five who homeschooled her children through high school. She and her husband, Mike, joined the Prince of Peace Catholic Community in 2000 after moving to the Houston area. Laura has facilitated or participated in several ministries over the years. She is grateful for the many lessons learned from those experiences and is honored to be working with the LSOC team. In her free time, Laura enjoys gardening, traveling with her family, and loves spending time with her grandchildren.Favorite Scripture: “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.” (Jl 2:12-13)
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Marie Thome is a wife, mother of four, grandmother of nine, and recent widow. She has been a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in West Houston for 50 years where she has served in numerous ministries. She is a retired teacher, graduate of the Spiritual Direction Institute of the Cenacle, and is currently on staff as a spiritual director at the Emmaus Spirituality Center. She also received FTCM certification and took advantage of many spiritual courses. Marie has facilitated faith formation classes for youth and adults. She continues to be active in the ACTS retreats and has served as spiritual director and advisor to the leadership team, and most recently, LOVING STONES.Favorite Scripture: “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:5)
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Pam Thome is a wife, mother of five, and a disciple of Jesus trying to grow into an apostle. She has worked on the space shuttle program as an electrical engineer, on the night shift as a factory engineer, on a keyboard as an award-winning technical writer, and as a home educator at the dining room table. Her journey into the Catholic Church started when she married into a beautiful Catholic family and was clinched when she realized she couldn't out-argue St. Thomas Aquinas. She was welcomed into the Church in 1997 at Prince of Peace Catholic Community in Houston where she continues to volunteer in various ministries. She loves a good IPA, dreads cleaning house, and can't put down a mystery novel, even a bad one.Favorite Scripture: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28)
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Karen Hardin, a parishioner of Prince of Peace Catholic Community for 21 years, is a proud Longhorn who married an Aggie 33 years ago, and now has three adult Aggie children! In addition to her role with LOVING STONES of CHRIST, her favorite ministries include leading Children’s Liturgy of the Word and serving as a Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC). After her career as an Elementary Math Teacher once her children were born, she was blessed to balance raising three children with delivering part-time Professional Development for teachers. She is forever thankful to her parents who gave her and her four sisters the gift of a rich Catholic faith by modeling Christian living, loving, and serving that she strives to imitate. Currently, she shares her time between Houston and her home in Galveston where she loves to walk the beach and witness God’s beauty in nature.Favorite Scripture: 1 Thes 5: 16-18 - “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you.”
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Mike Hebert was married in 1991 after finishing pilot training in the Air Force. A father of five children, he retired from instructor flying in the military and has enjoyed flying to international destinations with a major airline for over two decades. He has been involved in parish ministries including ACTS and serving as an EMHC. He enjoyed his time with his sons as a leader in the parish Boy Scout troop for 20 years and currently fills his day completing honey-dos, babysitting his grandkids, woodworking and editing media for the Loving Stones website.Favorite Scripture: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Jn 3:30
abear756@gmail.com
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Theresa Thalken has been married for over married for over twenty years and is the mother of a sweet teenage son. She is a lifelong Catholic and began attending Prince of Peace Catholic Community before the church was built when Mass was held at a nearby junior high school.
Theresa’s professional experience is in Human Resources where she loves to help individuals and teams be their best. She volunteers with several ministries at church, school, and scouts, and loves working with the WE Book Club and LOVING STONES.
Favorite Scripture: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 Jn 4:7-8)