Biography
From Puerto Rico to faith communities throughout the United States and the Caribbean, Damaris Thillet has transformed her musical vocation into a life of service, formation and evangelization.
From Ponce to a life of service
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Damaris Thillet has devoted much of her life to pastoral music, liturgical formation, education and service to the Church.
With more than 45 years of ministerial experience, she has become a recognized composer, presenter, educator and recording artist, serving communities throughout the United States and the Caribbean.
Throughout her career, her Puerto Rican identity, spirituality, music and commitment to Hispanic communities have remained deeply connected.
Ministry
Co-Founder
of Families
Roots
Music, education and liturgy
Damaris studied Music Education with a concentration in voice at Temple University , developing a strong musical foundation that would later become closely connected to her pastoral ministry.
She continued her graduate studies in Liturgy at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, deepening her understanding of music within the liturgical life of the Church.
This combination of musical education, liturgical study and ministerial experience has shaped her work for decades, allowing her to form musicians and faith communities from both artistic and pastoral perspectives.
A life of service to the Church
Damaris served as Director of the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and also served in other worship offices along the East Coast of the United States.
During her service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she developed a music education program for children, teenagers and young adults through the Archdiocese’s Catholic Institute.
Her ministry has consistently emphasized that musical formation should be accompanied by a deeper understanding of liturgy, spirituality and the pastoral responsibility of musicians serving the Church.
A contribution reaching entire communities
As a composer and specialist in liturgical music, Damaris was part of the team that developed the musical settings accompanying the new Spanish-language Roman Missal for the United States.
Her participation in this project represents a natural extension of a career devoted to creating music that does more than simply accompany worship — it encourages prayer and active participation by faith communities.
Her music has become part of the liturgical experience of Hispanic communities within and beyond the United States, connecting contemporary musical language with the tradition and spirituality of the Church.
The World Meeting of Families
In 2015, Damaris was invited to direct the Hispanic Archdiocesan Choir for the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
The celebration took place during the historic visit of Pope Francis, becoming one of the most significant moments in her long career of musical and pastoral service.
The event gathered thousands of faithful and highlighted the vitality, diversity and richness of Hispanic musical expression within the Catholic Church.
A voice for Hispanic pastoral musicians
Damaris Thillet is President and Co-Founder of the Asociación de Músicos Pastorales Hispanos de Estados Unidos (AMPHE) .
Through this leadership, she has contributed to the development of networks for collaboration, formation and support for Hispanic pastoral musicians from different regions throughout the United States.
This ministry reflects one of the enduring themes of her career: forming, accompanying and creating opportunities for new generations to place their gifts at the service of the Church.
A career recognized for service
Over the years, her contributions to music, education, the arts and community life have been recognized at different moments throughout her career.
Arts, Education & Service
She was recognized for her contributions and dedication to the community through the arts, music education and service to the Church.
Regional Recognition
Damaris and her late husband, Diego Correa , were selected among the most notable Hispanics of southeastern New Jersey in recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Adelante Award
She received the Adelante Hispanic Heritage Award in Vineland, New Jersey, recognizing her contributions to the community.
Always connected to Puerto Rico
Damaris currently resides in San Antonio, Texas, where she continues her ministry and remains active within the pastoral and musical community.
Despite the distance, she remains deeply connected to her roots, her beloved Puerto Rico, her extended family along the East Coast, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This connection between places, cultures, family and faith communities remains an essential part of her identity as an artist and minister.
Music with purpose.
Composer, educator, recording artist and pastoral leader, her journey continues to bear witness to a life in which faith, culture and music come together in service to community.
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