Our Speakers
Click on the tabs below to learn more about the speakers presenting.
- Jacqueline Allen Doucot
- Sister Mary Ellen Burns, ASCJ
- Michael Carotta, Ed.D
- Deacon Timothy Donohue
- Dr. Kevin M. Dowd
- Journeying to Justice Panel
- Peg Hoblin
- Laurie Janecko
- Rev. James Martin, SJ
- Rev. James C. Manship
- Deacon Kevin McCarthy
- Deacon Art Miller
- Nicole R. Miller, M.Ed.
- Deacon David Reynolds
- Sister Jennifer Schaaf
- Terry Steele
Jacqueline Allen Doucot
Jacqueline Allen Doucot is the co-founder of The Hartford Catholic Worker. She and her husband Chris raised two children and many other young people in a community committed to nonviolent action in the North End of Hartford. Jackie is an artist and is currently earning a certificate in Spiritual Direction for Social Transformation from the Center For Prophetic Imagination. She has been actively teaching, writing, and working for Social Justice for over 40 years.
Sister Mary Ellen Burns, ASCJ
Sister Mary Ellen Burns, ASCJ is a member of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Practicing law since 1989, representing low income tenants and persons needing public benefits in New York since 2007. She has been working with immigrants to achieve legal status citizenship and family unity as apostle immigrant services.
Michael Carotta, Ed.D
Michael Carotta, Ed.D. is a recognized religious educator and former Executive Director of the Department of Religious Education at the NCEA. He is a recipient of the national Emmaus Award for Excellence in Catechesis and an adjunct in the theology department at Creighton University.
For the last 6 years he has worked on three trauma awareness resources for two national organizations including Whole Hearted, a free resource from Catholic Charities USA. His two most recent books are Teaching For Discipleship and Unexpected Occasions of Grace (OSV).
Deacon Timothy Donohue
Deacon Timothy Donohue graduated from Holy Cross in 1971 and spent 5 years in the Navy including a tour off the coast of Vietnam. He Spent 40 years in sales and marketing working in the pharmaceutical industry retiring in 2015. Ordained as a Permanent Deacon in 2013 Tim served at Saint Theresa Parish in Sherborn and now serves at Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury. Tim is a Global Fellow with Catholic Relief Services and works in the Office of the Permanent Diaconate. Tim and his wife Kathy have been married 49 years and they have 4 children and 13 grandchildren
Dr. Kevin M. Dowd
Dr. Kevin M. Dowd studied at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, cum laude. After college, Kevin spent two years volunteering at the Capuchin Youth and Family Ministry (CYFM) in Garrison, NY. He has taught in Catholic and public schools in New York and Massachusetts. Kevin holds a Master's in Education from the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry (IREPM) at Boston College. He earned a Ph.D. in Theology and Education from Boston College in 2021 with a dissertation entitled, "Toward a More Perfect Union: Religion and Education in American Public Schools." Dr. Dowd speaks nationwide on a number of topics, including a popular anti-bullying presentation. He is the author of two books from Twenty-third Publications: Teaching Kids to Respect Others: Reflections, Activities, and Prayers on Bullying and Prejudice (2018) and Your Confirmation Bible Companion: What Scripture as "God's Love Song" Means for You (2020).
Journeying to Justice Panel
Marianne Esposito– panelist on Journeying to Justice
Marianne Esposito is the co-chair of Social Justice at St. Mary’s-the McGivney Way. Over the last 4 years, this team has combined and expanded ministry and advocacy at the two churches of St. Mary Parish in New Haven.
Marcia Franko – panelist on Journeying to Justice
Marcia Franko serves as the chair of the Social Justice Committee, as a representative to the Pastoral Council, as a Eucharistic Minister, and as the Volunteer Coordinator for HomeFront, at St. Thomas Parish in Oxford. She has also previously served as the parish Youth Minister, mission trip leader and organizer, and Confirmation coordinator.
Nancy Kiely-– panelist on Journeying to Justice
Nancy Kiely’s social justice related involvement with Corpus Christi, now Christ the King Parish in Wethersfield, began in 1992, when she started the organized Social Action Committee. For the past 30 years, the committee has grown tremendously and the work expanded to include such things as starting and overseeing a medical clinic in Honduras since 2015 and becoming members of GHIAA, the Greater Hartford Action Alliance in 2021.
Brian Stiltner -– panelist on Journeying to Justice
Brian Stiltner lives in Hamden with his wife Ann, a special education teacher, and their two children. He is a member of St. Paul VI Parish, where he has co-chaired the Social Justice and Community Building committee since 2020. Brian received a masters and Ph.D. from Yale University in Christian ethics. He teaches in the Department of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
Peg Hoblin
"Little did I know that the gift of creativity, handed on to me by my father and my mother's strong faith and fortitude, would open not just doors, but also windows to let the Holy Spirit into so many homes.In my second parish religious education position at St. Paul's in Bullville, NY, I focused on the parents becoming the primary education of their children.
I received my Master's Degree in Religious Studies from Felician University in Lodi, NJ (2006). I was asked to become an adjunct professor and teach Franciscan Spirituality. (2006-2009)
Reception of the National Mustard Seed Award in 1999 from the National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors (NPCD), for fostering parental leadership and participation in religious education. Presently I am a regional specialist for the Archdiocese of New York Youth Faith Formation Department overseeing the formation of children in their faith and engaging the parents in the process from Baptism through High School."
Laurie Janecko
Laurie Janecko is a Roman Catholic laywoman, wife and mother of three and eight grandchildren. Laurie has degrees from Saint Joseph College, Boston College and a certificate in Spirituality from Hartford Seminary. Certificates of the Hartford Archdiocese include the Biblical School, the Lay Ministry program, and in Youth Ministry. Laurie is also an Associate of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Her areas of ministerial experience include high school campus ministry and teaching, STRETCH program for service, parish director of faith formation and youth ministry, and adult faith formation. Laurie is enjoying her retirement as the coordinator for adult faith formation programming at The Trinita Retreat Center in New Hartford, Ct.
Rev. James Martin, SJ
Rev. James C. Manship
Born in Hartford, CT, Father James Manship holds a BS in Mechanical Engineer and Materials Science, UCONN, 1986; a STB and M Div, from St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, 1997. Ordained to the priesthood in 1998. Spanish and cultural programs in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Ecuador. He completed the Seven Day Industrial Areas Foundation National Training, Los Angles 2015. From 2015-2016, completed the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and in 2019, the 2 year-Ignatian Spiritual Direction Certificate Program, Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University. Father Manship was the founding co-chair of Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut-CONECT. Using the principles of community organizing, Fr. Manship helps develop disciple-leaders in the parish, who know one another by name and story, are accountable to one another, and act collectively on their shared concerns, putting into action the sacramental graces received to more freely collaborate with Christ’s redemptive work by addressing the root causes of injustice. The intersection of the Mass, prayer, spiritual accompaniment, multicultural ministry, walking with immigrant communities, disciple-leadership development, and organizing continue to be a grace-filled vibrant experience for Fr. Manship. An avid seakayaker, Fr. Manship has navigated the waters of Fishers Island Sound, multi-day expeditions along the coast of Maine, the Bay of Fundy, and Nova Scotia.
Deacon Kevin McCarthy
Deacon Kevin McCarthy serves in full-time ministry with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers leading their outreach to teachers and catechists. Additionally, he works with Hispanic Catholics through Discipulos Misioneros Maryknoll helping others understand and live out their call to mission and discipleship. He worked in Catholic education for 20 years at the secondary level as a teacher and counselor. Additionally, he has led immersion trips to places like Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador for close to 20 years. He has a Masters in Education from the University of Massachusetts, at Boston.
Deacon Art Miller
Author, activist, homilist, and educator, Deacon Miller is known for his inspiring homilies. He speaks nationwide about “radial love” and on the impact of social and racial injustice. The first U.S. born African-American Catholic deacon in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Miller worked as Director of the Office for Black Catholic Ministries of the Archdiocese of Hartford until 2015. He also served as President of the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators. In 2019 Miller received the Bishop Joseph Donnelly Award from the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry, for his impact on significant numbers of people. Miller serves as a deacon at St. Mary Parish in Simsbury where he teaches a Bible study program for the past 11 years.
Nicole R. Miller, M.Ed.
As a DEI practitioner of twenty-five years, Nicole’s experience spans Kindergarten through Higher Education. In 2019, she was recruited by the Anti-Defamation League to join the training team and is utilized regularly to speak to groups and lead conversations and workshops. In July 2021, Nicole started the organization EquityCorps Group with a mission to “Re-educate America One Community At A Time.” Nicole and her team assess, identity, develop and implement the strategies needed to improve the cultural climate and sense of belonging within organizations, municipalities, and communities. Her passion for this work stems from living in America and seeing how skin color differences can either create opportunities or eliminate them. Nicole holds an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University and is pursuing her doctoral degree in Education. Her research focuses on how higher education can better prepare students entering the workforce by rethinking the use of an ethno- and Eurocentric curriculum.
Deacon David Reynolds
Deacon David Reynolds advocates on numerous public policy issues for the Connecticut Catholic Conference. He is a registered lobbyist and has worked for the Conference for the past 18 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Hartford in 1978 and 1979 respectively. David was ordained a permanent deacon in June 2004 by Archbishop Henry Mansell and was assigned to minister to the four-parish cluster in Torrington until July 2015. He currently serves as deacon to the parish of our Lady of Hope, serving churches in Harwinton and New Hartford.
Deacon David also presently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Two Hearts Pregnancy Care Center in Torrington. Prior to becoming a deacon, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Torrington Chapter of FISH, a non-profit social service provider in Torrington, serving six years as Chairman, the Torrington Board of Education and Torrington City Council.
Deacon Reynolds and his wife, Lynn, reside in Torrington.
Sister Jennifer Schaaf
Sister Jennifer Schaaf is a Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY. She has served in campus ministry for thirteen years and worked with young adults in other capacities throughout her career. She received her M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from the University of Portland and her D.Min. from Seattle University.
Terry Steele
Terry Steele is a founding member of the Archdiocesan human trafficking task force. Since its inception in 2017 she has helped strategize outreach, created training resources, and offered numerous presentations. She is passionate about raising awareness and empowering others to live in ways which reduce the risk of trafficking. world-wide. She is also the immediate past president of the OCSJM Board of Directors.