Pastor Maria grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Monmouth University in New Jersey and graduated with a degree in English education. She received her M.Div. from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.

 

Pastor Maria answered the call to fulltime ministry in the United Methodist Church in 2002. She has served churches in Wyandotte, Douglas, and Shawnee Counties. She has been involved in mercy and justice ministries throughout her adulthood.

 

She started served as Senior Pastor at Heritage United Methodist Church in Overland Park in July 2019 and recently retired in 2024. She continues on with Good Faith Network as one of the founding co-Presidents.