Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony is a deacon at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainsville, Virginia. He is a theologian, author, apologist, and religion/bioethics teacher and has taught the faith for over 20 years. He has an M.A. in Theology, as well as Green Cross Trauma certification including H.E.A.R.T. Model training for Treating Complex Trauma. 

As the Spiritual Director of A M.O.M.S Peace, an apostolate that helps accompany those who are experiencing miscarriages or stillbirths, Deacon Gerard has counseled many families and assisted in more than a hundred burials.  He has given workshops and Days of Reflections on the topic of healing from miscarriage and has written a book on the topic called The Deacon and the Doctor:  A Prescription for Navigating Child Loss. 

Some of his notable written work includes pieces in  Deacon Digest, Lay Witness, Our Sunday Visitor, Ethics & Medics, Homiletics and Pastoral Review, The Catholic Stand, The Arlington Catholic Herald, as well as Mind and Spirit magazine, and Immaculate Heart Messenger magazines. He also has been on EWTN radio on numerous occasions with guest appearances with Catholic Drive Time, Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo and the SonRise Morning Show and is the special guest on EWTN show “The Church Universal.”

Dr. Majel Braden is an educator with curriculum development, and a counselor specializing in both grief and trauma therapy. She has worked with several universities and school systems in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as serving as a bereavement volunteer with both military and civilian organizations. 

Married at the age of 32, she and her late husband have three living children and two little saints in heaven. In 2016, Dr. Majel accepted an honorary position to the Board of Directors for the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers Apostolate. As a consecrated widow, she guides the growth and development of the Association and helps facilitate Special Needs Pilgrimages twice a year. The entire Braden family, including her adult children and Godchildren, have served with the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes as Youth Volunteers and on Special Needs Pilgrimages since 2003. 

After the creation of God’s Comfort in Loss in 2021, Dr. Majel graciously volunteered her time to facilitate a monthly zoom miscarriage support group. While the support groups dissolved in January of 2023, Dr. Majel continues to be a resource for counseling for our ministry.

Reverend Jon C. Jenkins is the current Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church, a parish in the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, located in San Antonio, TX.  He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and a Masters of Divinity. He has been a parish priest for  17 years and has served in youth ministry for  27 years. 

Fr. Jenkins served as the chaplain at Parkland Hospital's Neonatal unit where he experienced a profound interaction with dozens of mothers who lost children. He recalls one interaction in particular which he later shared with Marcela Elsner. The result of that conversation helped inspire her to start God’s Comfort in Loss Miscarriage Ministry. 

Fr. Jenkins and his wife, Claire have three living children ages 6, 4, and 9 months and have one little saint in Heaven, Sarah Elizabeth Jenkins. Claire serves on the God’s Comfort in Loss Miscarriage Ministry team. 

Marcela Elsner is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX. She and her husband, Jack will celebrate their 10 year wedding anniversary in March of 2024.  After experiencing two miscarriages in 2016 and 2018, Marcela felt the Holy Spirit calling her to create a miscarriage ministry. With spiritual guidance from Fr. Jenkins and her supportive husband, she  became the founder of God’s Comfort in Loss Miscarraige Ministry in June of 2021 and currently serves as the President for the ministry. 

Marcela has been instrumental in spreading the mission of God’s Comfort in Loss. She has been interviewed multiple times on Catholic Television of San Antonio (CTSA) including in the series, “Food For Thought” with Father Jim Schellenberg. She has discussed the work of the ministry on the South and Central Texas Guadalupe Radio Network series, “In His Vineyard,” with Shaun Rice and was featured in the Couple to Couple League Family Foundations Magazine. Marcela has also traveled for speaking events at various parishes in and outside of San Antonio and is able to share our ministry in both English and Spanish.

Clair Hicks

Clair is a parishioner of St. Pius X Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX. She and her husband Kenny Hicks have been married for 11 years  and have two little saints in heaven and four living children ages 8, 6, 4, and 2. Clair serves as the Social Media Leader for God’s Comfort in Loss and has helped to brand the ministry and assist in advertising and content. She is heavily involved at her church and St. Pius X Catholic School where her two oldest children attend. 

Over the years Clair has volunteered her time with many pro-life organizations and worked for several nonprofits including the Elizabeth House Maternity Home in College Station, TX and Natural Womanhood based in San Antonio.  She enjoys being a part of Mothering with Grace, an active Catholic Moms Group at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and spending time with her book club friends and small faith community. Clair is continuously humbled and amazed by the people she has met through God’s Comfort in Loss and God’s master plan for her family.