VOTF Board of Trustees

Trustees serve terms of three years, and may serve for two consecutive three-year terms. A total of 11 trustees may be appointed and elected.

Some seats are reserved for specific functions. Thus, the current President and immediate Past President of VOTF fill two positions.

Bylaws (as amended March 2010)

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

Dues

In alphabetical order, Board members serving today are: 

Dan Bartley

John Hushon

William Casey

Elia Marnik

Ron DuBois

Mark Mullaney

Mary Pat Fox

Jayne O’Donnell

Mary Freeman

Ed Wilson

Patricia T. Gomez

 


Dan Bartley

I have been happily married to my wife, Ellen, for over 21 years. We have three children, Kris (19), Carolyn (17), and Paul (14). I joined VOTF on Long Island in October 2002 because of a deep desire to see our Church become something that our children and grandchildren will want to belong to. I still feel that way. In November 2002, I became Co-Chair of LIVOTF and have been re- elected three times.

Although a CPA by training, my passion for the church led me to earn my Master’s degree in theology at my local seminary. I am also a graduate of the Pastoral Formation Institute, an intensive, two-year program that integrated theology, spirituality, human development and psychology. Additionally, I completed an optional third-year Pastoral Formation track in evangelization. Prior to becoming “unwelcome” due to my involvement with VOTF, my wife and I were very active in ministry on both a local and diocesan level. We helped design the diocesan training program for leaders of marriage preparation programs, and subsequently served as instructors for the program. We also facilitated groups and served on the coordinating team for marriage preparation in our parish. We helped to pilot a diocesan interfaith marriage preparation program. My wife and I also designed and presented workshops and retreats based on the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) for which we are both qualified administrators. The workshops have centered on various topics such as conflict resolution, communication and spirituality. I served on the Diocesan vocations committee and was my parish coordinator for RENEW 2000.

My focus on Long Island, which I also bring to my work at the National VOTF level, is to develop a truly grass-roots organization. I am a strong proponent of servant leadership. I believe that we should be spending a significant portion of our time encouraging and supporting the growth of our affiliates. I believe that if we do this well we will have a chance to “Keep the faith and change the Church.” If not, we will not. I believe it is essential that we keep our membership energized and engaged in the conversation. This has been my primary focus on Long Island and remains my primary focus at National.  (back to top)


William R. Casey

Bill Casey and his wife Kris have three adult daughters and reside in Alexandria, VA. They worship at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, a small multi-cultural parish formed by and for African-Americans in the 1940s when they were relegated to back pews and choir lofts in local Catholic churches.

Bill has co-chaired the Northern Virginia affiliate of VOTF (corresponding to the Diocese of Arlington, VA) since its inception in August 2002, and he has served on several regional and national VOTF committees, including the 2006 National Officers’ Elections Committee (chair) and the current Governance Committee (member). He has been a spokesperson at VOTF press conferences held in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the annual meetings of the USCCB. He participated along with VOTF Executive Director Ray Joyce in a radio interview on Interfaith Voices in 2006.

Bill holds Masters degrees in Theology (Augustinian College) and Public Administration (University of Southern California), and he is a certified mediator in the Virginia judicial system. Bill worked for 34 years as an executive and manager for the Federal Government’s financial regulator of the Savings and Loan industry, predominantly in Management, Human Resources, and Professional Development, until he retired in 2004.

Bill currently serves as a volunteer mediator, Restorative Justice facilitator, and jail Bible Study leader. The needs of survivors of clergy sexual abuse, along with VOTF’s inspired response to the crisis through the lens of survivors, initially drew Bill into VOTF, and he is committed to fostering and advancing its core goals through his role of the Board of Trustees.  (back to top)


Ronald L. Dubois

I was a Maryknoll priest for 13 years, teaching in seminaries in this country and working as a missioner in Jakarta, Indonesia, before I resigned. I have a Master's degree in Theology from Maryknoll Seminary and a Doctorate in Philosophy from St. Louis University. I worked for 23 years in Human Resources at State Street Bank before retiring in 2002. I am married to Kay Doherty, who has three daughters. We are enjoying our four-year old twin grandchildren, Rosalie and Jenson.

I have been involved with VOTF since the Convention in July of 2002. I am chair of the Paulist Center Affiliate in Boston. I have been active with the VOTF Council since early 2003 and was a member of the Steering Committee of the previous Council. I am fully committed to the Mission and Goals of VOTF, and work to see that the Voice of the Faithful is heard in the Catholic Church. It is essential that we continue to focus on accountability and transparency of the hierarchy, the clergy, and the laity as we work to build the Church as the People of God.

I have over 20 years experience with non-profit Boards of Directors. I am currently President of two non-profit Boards and secretary of a third. I am familiar with the Guidebook for Directors of Nonprofit Corporations and fully understand the duties of care and loyalty that are expected of Directors. As a Representative of VOTF’s national council, I participated in the revision of the by-laws.  (back to top)


Mary Pat Fox

Mary Pat Fox is a member of St. Ignatius of Loyola parish in New York City, NY. She attended Catholic grammar school. She received her college education at St. Michael’s College in Winooski, VT where she was educated by the Eudmandite order. Mary Pat has been a lector, parish council member and chairperson of the capital campaign for Church of Our Saviour in midtown Manhattan.

Mary Pat has served as the chairperson of the local VOTF affiliate in Manhattan, on the National Representative Council, the Convocation Implementation Team, the Tri-State Leadership Team, and the MANY Hearts and MANY Hands team that provided leadership training to affiliate leaders.

Mary Pat says “I joined VOTF and ran for office because I believe that VOTF is the organization to mobilize Catholics in the pews. I firmly believe that in order for our Church to be a healthy sustainable Church the laity must re-examine our role and take on greater responsibility in the governance and guidance of the Church. Our Church must be a loving community where we can find spiritual, emotional, and intellectual nourishment. We cannot expect this to be delivered to us—we need to create it. We have an obligation to learn from the many survivors who have been so brave in showing us the problems and issues our church must address.”   (back to top)


Mary Freeman

A resident of Saunderstown RI, Mary has been a member of VOTF since the 2002 convention. She co-founded the southern RI affiliate, was a charter member of the Structural Change working group, and has served as treasurer of the Indianapolis convention, as national treasurer from 2006 – 2008, and as chair of the 2008 convention in Providence RI. Presently Mary is a member of the committee Emily & Rosemary Fund for Women in the Church.

Mary is a member of Christ the King Parish in Kingston RI where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister, was a member of the parish council, and has served as chair of the council.

Mary is a former Sister of Saint Joseph and taught secondary math for 19 years. She has a master degree in computers and worked in the hi-tech industry before retiring.  (back to top)


Patricia T. Gomez

Pat is a member of Holy Family Parish in Concord, MA. Originally from Wisconsin, she has lived in Colombia, S.A., New Orleans, and New Jersey, and in Massachusetts for the past 17 years. Pat has served many faith communities on parish councils and planning teams and has taught every level of religious education from pre-school to adult. At Holy Family, she currently teaches Baptism preparation classes, sings in the choir, and serves as Eucharistic minister. She also makes pastoral visits to patients at a local hospital.

Pat was co-founder of the Concord MA Area VOTF affiliate and served as affiliate leader for five years. The Concord MA group was the first affiliate to formally gather after the founding of VOTF in March of 2002. Passionately believing that raising awareness and education are key components to abuse prevention, Pat joined the Protecting Our Children working group in 2004. She continues to promote parish safe environment programs to ensure the protection of all vulnerable populations in our communities.
 
Pat holds a doctorate in developmental psychology from Boston University and a masters in counseling psychology from Boston College, where she has also completed coursework in pastoral ministry. Strongly supporting the mission and goals of VOTF, Pat continues working to energize VOTF membership through local and diocesan actions.   (back to top)
 

John Hushon

John was an international corporate lawyer with a large Washington, D.C., law firm, until 1995, after graduating from Brown University in 1967 and Harvard Law School in 1970. He and Judy moved to Houston and then London as John became CEO of ElPaso Energy International. Upon retirement in 2002, they moved to Naples FL.

During his tenure with ElPaso, John managed its expansion into energy infrastructure projects in more than 20 countries in the developing world. John continues as a management consultant, but his principal “occupation” since retirement has been working on a graduate degree in theology. He completed the work for a Masters Degree in Theology-Sacred Scripture in December 2005 at Washington Theological Union (WTU). He has been teaching in Naples and Washington throughout this period, is the organizer and co-chair of the FaithJustice program and various adult educational programs at St. John the Evangelist in Naples.

John is a trustee/board member of the WTU where he is active in finance and strategic planning (particularly the revision of the curriculum to accommodate the demands of collaborative ministry and the education of those who are or will be non-ordained ministers in our Church). He also is active in the Center of Concern (a social justice “think tank” in Washington), VOTF Southwest Florida (also Treasurer), and Hope for Haiti (also co-chair of the annual “Airlift” gala).

John is a member of St John the Evangelist parish in Naples and The Pax Community in McLean, Virginia. He is married to Judy, a PhD environmental chemist. Judy is still active in environmental consulting, primarily on a pro bono basis, and she devotes considerable time to the Houston Ballet. Judy and John have two married sons and two granddaughters. They enjoy international travel, gardening, bridge, and the theatre.   (back to top)


Elia Marnik

VOTF has been a part of my life for over six years. As a lifelong Catholic, I am deeply committed to the three goals of VOTF, which are a dramatic response to the shocking sexual abuse crisis in our Church. VOTF has emerged as a united “voice” for faithful Catholics.

Since the early spring of 2002, I have been a member of VOTF, starting with my attendance at the weekly sharing meetings at St. John’s in Wellesley, then the first working group meetings. I then helped to staff the Summer 2002 Conference. Since that time, I have been active in many different initiatives: as a charter member of the Structural Change Working Group; as a member of the Protecting Our Children Group; as a facilitator at the Indianapolis convention; as a presenter at the Newton conference; as a member of the VOTF team which met with (then) Archbishop O’Malley; as a representative and member of a parish affiliate; as a director of the Boston Council; and for two years as the chair of the Nominating Committee for national officers.

I continue to see the need for the laity to have an integral and meaningful role in our Church, and I am willing to work vigorously toward that end.

Outside of VOTF, I am an educator. I have substantial experience serving on state, municipal and private boards, and have served for more than four years as President of a non-profit corporation. My most important role in life, however, is that of wife, mother and grandmother.   (back to top)


Mark Mullaney

Mark and his wife Kathy have three adult sons and one granddaughter. After almost 25 years in Wellesley MA they now reside in Wayland MA. Both were founders and present at the first meeting of Voice of the Faithful in January 2002 at St John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley.

Mark has been active in the establishment and ongoing development of VOTF. He has served as Chairman of the Search Committee for all three Executive Directors of VOTF and also served as Interim Executive Director for eight months in 2005.

Mark is a graduate of Boston College and has served on its Alumni Board. He is the President of Resolve Associates, LLC, a business advisory service to small and mid-sized business owners and companies. He is an Accredited Associate of the Institute For Independent Business (AAInstB). He is a member of the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees and was awarded its Professional of the Year award in 2009.

Mark has been involved with developing the infrastructure and improving the administrative efficiency of the VOTF office since its inception. He served on the original VOTF Representative Board and has served on several regional and national committees. He has been and continues to be active in the VOTF Development Committee.

Mark remains active in VOTF because he simply wants to see and effect an inclusive, relevant and vibrant church for his children and their children. The church has its role as does the hierarchy. They each need to be clear to all that their major theme is service for those we know and for those in need.

The opportunity to serve VOTF on the Board of Trustees is an opportunity to continue his commitment to the goals of VOTF and a way to provide service to those in need now and in the future.   (back to top)
 


Jayne O'Donnell

A parishioner of the Church of St. Timothy parish in West Hartford, CT, Jayne has been the Director of Religious Education there since 1990; she also served from 2000 to 2006 as the first Development Coordinator for the parish middle school. In addition, she is the past chair of the St. Timothy Middle School Board; past Parish Council chair; taught 2nd and 3rd grade C.C.D.; and has been involved in the parish Social Outreach program.

Jayne graduated with a B.A. from Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart (Purchase, NY) and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

An active member of VOTF since May 2002, Jayne co-founded the Greater West Hartford VOTF affiliate, serves as the VOTF Regional Coordinator for Hartford, CT; and sits on the Hartford Regional VOTF Steering Committee.

She resides in West Hartford CT with her husband Edward (Bud) O'Donnell, and they are the parents of a son and daughter.  (back to top)


Edward N. Wilson

Jesuit-educated at Regis HS, NYC and Holy Cross College. U.S. Naval Officer. Columbia Law. 40-years corporate & financial law in NYC including VP/General Counsel of major public corporation.

Four Years VOTF:

Attended ’02 Boston Convocation.

Co-founder, Brooklyn VOTF ‘02.

On team that negotiated lifting ban on VOTF meetings using church property ’03;

Dialogue with diocese continues.

With wife Anne, Co-leader Brooklyn affiliate.

On national Governance Committee that proposed present NRC.

Member: National Structural Change Working Group.

Legislative Accountability Advisors.

Tri-State VOTF group that organized Fordham

Convocation, ‘03 and St. Paul’s Forum, ‘04.

National Representative Council since 2006.

Marketing & Communications (MarCom) Group

Member of the Oratory Church of St. Boniface, Brooklyn, NY. Finance chair and member of parish council 2001-2004.

Two adult daughters. Two small grandchildren

  (back to top)