About our Chaplains

Seton Medical Center Austin:

Rev. Cecile Adam

Cecile was born in the Pacific Northwest, the home of quiet rain, tall trees and mountains. After receiving a graduate degree in Romance Languages, Cecile moved to Houston, Texas, where she raised her family. At age 48, Cecile received her law degree from the University of Houston, and she taught medical law and patient rights to medical, dental, and nursing students for 11 years. At age 59, she enrolled in a seminary program here in Austin. She is an ordained Congregational UCC minister. Cecile has worked for the Seton Family of Hospitals for five years. Cecile serves as the department educator for Chaplain Services. She is married to her husband David, and her interests include their eight shared children and grandchildren, poetry, reading, writing, and pulling weeds.

 

Fr. Cosmas Archibong

Cosmas was born in Nigeria and is the oldest of twelve children. He received his Theological training in Nigeria, receiving a Diploma in Philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary in 1982, and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology in 1987. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1988. Cosmas spent six years in Belgium where he earned Master’s degrees in Theology and Applied Ethics from the Catholic University of Leuven. After arriving in the United States in 1999, Cosmas spent a year in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at the Veterans Affairs Hospital. He served as a Priest/Chaplain at Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon, Michigan for three years before relocating to Austin. Father Cosmas has worked as a Priest/Chaplain for the Seton Family of Hospitals since 2003. During his free time, he enjoys gardening, cooking, retreats, traveling and reading.

 

Chaplain Nancy Jensen-Case

Nancy received a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Dallas, and she is earned her Master’s of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in 1994. She spent two years in a Clinical Pastoral Education program at Austin State Hospital. After her residency, Nancy worked as a hospice chaplain for six years. She has been a Staff Chaplain with the Seton Family of Hospitals since 2002, beginning her ministry at the University Medical Center at Brackenridge, later moving to Seton Medical Center Austin. Nancy is an active member of the Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop. During her free time, she runs a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Elgin, where she cares for a variety of farm animals. She credits her animals as being among her best teachers of life skills and caring for one another. Nancy has two adult daughters.

Rev. James Mahan

Jim was born in Dayton, Ohio, but moved to Texas at age five. He is the fifth son of nine children. He received his Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Dallas in 1977. Jim graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston in 1983. Following seminary, he returned to Texas and taught English and Religion at Trinity Christian Academy in Dallas. In 1987, he moved to Austin where he taught in the public school system. Jim was ordained in 1999, the same year he entered a Clinical Pastoral Education program at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. He returned to Austin and was hired as the evening chaplain for the Seton Family of Hospitals. Jim has four grown children, and his interests include reading, jogging, ceramics, and traveling.

 

Chaplain Kevin Sheehan

Kevin was born in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Cloud State University. After three years in the Army, he attended St. Johns University in Collegeville, Minnesota and earned his Masters of Divinity. For two years, Kevin worked in Leon Springs, Texas as the Director of Religious Education and Ministries for a local parish. He left Leon Springs to go the Ciudad Juarez, Mexico where he worked for a year as a missionary with a small religious community. After learning to speak fluent Spanish, Kevin moved to El Paso and spent the next fourteen years as a teacher of Religion and an administrator for a Catholic school. In 2004, wishing to return to pastoral ministry, he enrolled in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at the Seton Family of Hospitals. After graduation, Kevin was hired as a full time Chaplain at the Seton Family of Hospitals. He is currently assigned to Seton Medical Center.

University Medical Center at Brackenridge:

Rev. Luis Cabrera

Luis was born in Cuba and immigrated to US in 1967. He is the eldest of two children and he was raised in Miami, Florida. Luis received his Bachelor’s degree from Florida International University, and he worked as Social Worker for nearly twenty years. He obtained his Masters of Divinity from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2005. Luis was ordained in 1996 by a local church in south Florida. He is married and has no children. In his leisure time he enjoys running, accompanied by his wife.

Rev. Enid Ross

Enid was born in the Lake George area of upstate New York and is the oldest of seven children. She received a bachelor’s degree in Music and Literature from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She and her husband moved to Austin to attend graduate school at the University of Texas, and they have lived in Austin for the past thirty-one years. Enid received a Masters of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2000, and was later ordained the United Church of Christ. She has a lifelong passion for music and she is interested in the outdoors, math, the history of medicine, needlework, and her three children. Enid is a Staff Chaplain assigned to Brackenridge Hospital.

 

 

Rev. Tim Sherman

Tim was born in Africa and lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo until the age of six. After returning to the United States, Tim and his family settled in Rockford, Illinois, located 90 miles northwest of Chicago. After high school, he attended the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where he met his wife. He also studied Biblical Languages at Grace College in Winona, Indiana before beginning his graduate work at Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a hospital chaplain for two years and later was a pastor for three churches. Tim and his family moved to Moscow, Russia in 1996 where he served as the Eurasia Area Director for the international ministries of the Evangelical Free Church of America. In 2004, Tim and his family moved to Austin, Texas where he completed his residency in Clinical Pastoral Education with the Seton Family of Hospitals. Tim was hired as a staff chaplain in August 2006. Whenever he has the time, Tim enjoys archery. He loves playing with the family dog, Alonka, and is involved in a small group community bible study.

Fr. Frank Zlotkowski, CSC

Frank is a Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross who lives at St. Edward’s University. He has been a Priest/Chaplain with the Seton Family of Hospitals since 2005. A transplant from the Northeast (Connecticut), Frank loves cold weather. He also enjoys baking and hiking in the outdoors.

 

 

 

Seton Northwest Hospital

Rev. Ed Banarsi

Ed was born and raised in Pakistan. He completed his Theological studies at Christ the King Theological Seminary in Karachi, Pakistan in June of 1981, and he was later ordained as a minister in the Lutheran Church. He arrived in New York in 1986 where he worked in a local parish. In June of 1998, Ed started to work for the Seton Family of Hospitals. Ed is married and has two children.

 

 

 

Dell Children's Medical Center

Rev. David Bieniek

A Texas native, Dave was born in Corpus Christi. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Corpus Christi State University and Master’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. He has lived in Austin for the last ten years, and he is an active member of the Metropolitan Community Church. Dave, his partner, and their three dogs live within walking distance of the Children's hospital. In his free time, he enjoys bike riding, yard work, backpacking or simply enjoying nature. He is also interested in learning about other religions and spiritual paths.

 

 

Rev. Dale Wratchford

Dale is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary where he received the Goodlin Prize for Clinical Training in Pastoral Care. He trained as a Pediatric Chaplain at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. He is a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP), practicing the art and science of therapeutic music at the bedside, and he recently received his Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. Dale is a Pediatric Staff Chaplain at Dell Children's Medical Center. A former professional singer, Dale plays the guitar and listens to music in his free time. He is also interested in baseball, movies, theater, Zen Buddhist meditation and Christian contemplative practice. Dale is married and has three young children.

 

Seton Medical Center Williamson

Rev. Leslie Irwin

Leslie grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and moved to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in 1980. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Texas in 1982. After several careers, including teaching, mission work abroad, computer programming and writing legal contracts, she entered seminary. She graduated with a Masters in Divinity from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 2005 and was ordained as a minister in the Disciples of Christ that same year. Following graduation, she became the pastor of a small congregation in southwest Missouri. Leslie accepted a position as a Chaplain at Dell Children's Medical Center in 2007, and later transferred to the Williamson County facility. She has two grown children. In her free time, she enjoys reading-especially with her two cats, designing and sewing quilts, and driving through the countryside. Her favorite spiritual practices are walking the labyrinth, Taizé worship, and listening to music.

 

Seton Family of Hospitals

Fr. Richard Tijerina

Richard was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated with a B.S. in Geology from the University of Texas, Austin. After graduation, he worked for six years as a Uranium Exploration Geologist for the Continental Oil Company. In 1980, he left his job and entered seminary. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1985. Since that time, he has held a number of positions within the Diocese of Austin. Fr. Richard currently serves as the evening priest for the Seton Family of Hospitals. In his free time, he enjoys reading and playing golf.