(San Antonio, TX) – Bishop Robert Schnase is pleased to announce an interim communication consultant for the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mary Catherine Phillips, current director of communications for the Alabama-West Florida (AWF) Conference, will serve in this role on a contractual basis. Phillips has served in this capacity in the AWF Conference for eleven years and will continue that responsibility.

“Mrs. Phillips was highly recommended to me from a trusted colleague and coach, and I am delighted that she will join our team,” said Bishop Schnase. “She is a life-long United Methodist and understands the challenges and opportunities in our denomination. Her primary duty will be assisting me with critical communications pieces, but I also anticipate she will offer a fresh perspective to our overall communications plans. While she will be working for two conferences, I am confident she will be able to give us both the attention we need to effectively communicate our mission and priorities. We welcome her into our Rio Texas family and offer her our prayers and support.”

Mary Catherine is a graduate of Methodist-affiliated Birmingham-Southern College and has worked for a national publisher and a regional advertising agency before her tenure at the Alabama-West Florida Conference. She received her on-boarding certification in 2017 and was awarded “Communicator of the Year” from United Methodist Communications in 2019. Her communications team has been honored with multiple awards the past eleven years for their creative and inspiring work.

Phillips resides in Montgomery, AL, with her husband, Scott, and their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth. Mary Catherine is an active member at First United Methodist Church, Montgomery and in her community. She enjoys walking, Crimson Tide sports, traveling and antique shopping.