Br. Ephrem Upart, OP

Hailing from Skokie, Illinois (the jewel of the north suburbs of Chicago), Br. Ephrem grew up in a Russian-Jewish family, while going to church with his Catholic father. From an early age, Br. Ephrem loved music and art, which led him to study music formally throughout his childhood through his church choir and eventual organ lessons. By the end of high school, he decided that he wanted to be a music director or accompanist at a church, so he went to Indiana University to study organ performance. Through the witness of the Dominican Friars at St. Paul’s Catholic center, Br. Ephrem discerned a call to religious life. After a brief gap year in Chicago, Br. Ephrem entered the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great in 2021. For the last few years, he has been studying theology/philosophy in St. Louis, and is now excited to serve at St. Thomas for his pastoral year, involving himself in campus ministry, religious education, and music ministry.