Pedro comes to Salt+Light after being the artistic director for World Youth Day 2002. He has a background in the performing arts: theatre, music and dance, and has been working with young people since he was a teenager himself. He has been a youth worker and job coach at Covenant House - Toronto and a youth leader with Children’s International Summer Villages and Confirmation retreat facilitator at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Pedro has also been a music minister for 20 years, most recently directing the Children’s Choir at Our Lady of Lourdes. Originally from Panama, Pedro now lives north of Toronto, with his wife, Sheri, and their two sons, Nicolas and Daniel.

Pedro Guevara-Mann was born on January 31st, 1969.

In Pedro's own words:

"I wanted to be a private investigator, a forest ranger, a paramedic, a forensic doctor… so I settled for being an actor. I also always wanted to travel and once I even wished one day I would win the Nobel Peace Prize. I always saw myself as a Grandfather. That was never a question. I wanted to have a family: to be a Dad and then a Granddad with lots of Grandkids."

"I spent a lot of time watching TV - and my role models would have been Starsky and Hutch, Quincy or Grizzly Adams. There were several good priests in my life growing up who influenced me greatly by showing me how cool the Church can be - to that I can add my grandmother - she was a pretty cool and classy lady."

" I know I should say David Naglieri as one of my modern day heroes - but in truth I don't really think of others as role models. There are great people whom I look up to. I've had some great professors and some great supervisors - I've worked with excellent directors and have some very good friends whom I wouldn't trade for anything - but heroes? I don’t know. I look up to Jean Vanier and I admire greatly the work and approach of John Paul II. I also admire people who stand up to injustice and do something to make the world a better place: like Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desomnd Tutu. There are also great authors like M. Scott Peck and Madeleine L'Engle whose ideas I respect greatly."

"I have done A LOT of community service. I used to volunteer for Amnesty International, Children's International Summer Villages, Covenant House, youth ministry and music ministry at OLOL. Now I spend time with my wife and kids. I suspect that I will continue to do community service when the time is right.

"About my favourite movies and music: It's a Wonderful Life - the Star Wars Trilogy (the new ones are not bad) - E.T., and of course, The Princess Bride!

Music - I listen to pretty much everything except heavy metal. I love (still) Amy Grant and Ruben Blades. Some of my favourite Catholic Artists are Sarah Hart, Magda Aniol, Hermana Glenda, Martin Valverde and John Michael Talbot."

"We have some pretty good stories from working on WYD2002. But those will have to wait… Recently I had the oddest experience at work, in the middle of a Catholic Focus shoot: I got emotional talking about JPII and his love for young people. I know that his example moved me, but it surprised me that I was moved so much."

"In Elementary and High School I was the funny one. In theatre school I was known as really intense - David Naglieri and John "Iggy" say I am a “straight-shooter”: I say it like it is. But why don’t we just settle for “The really, cool, amazing, wise one?”

"One phrase I use far too often is: "Hello, I'm Pedro and this is Catholic Focus! If I had to summarize my life in 30 words or less, I would say: "Born in Panama; youngest of two sisters and one brother; I had a great childhood; lot's of good memories and friends; studied lots of music; started singing in Church at age 12; left when I was 16 to go to BC. From there came to Toronto to go to York theatre; Did the acting thing; taught actors; worked at Covenant House; Worked for WYD2002 (loved it - changed my life); married the most amazing and beautiful woman in the world; have two great kids with her."

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