About Us

Links on this page: Our Staff | Our Board members

Program Staff

Ronald F. Shea

Interim Executive Director

Ron is the Business Manager at Saint Mary Church in Branford, a 2,700-family parish with an elementary school and a cemetery. He is an active volunteer at his home parish, Saint John the Baptist in the New Haven, and has served on local and Archdiocesan Catholic Charities boards for over 25 years. He is a facilitator for the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Office’s “Protecting God’s Children” program.

Ron holds a BS degree in accounting and an MBA from Quinnipiac University. He was a 2002 recipient of the Archdiocesan St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation, and a 2009 recipient of the Catholic Charities “Help & Hope” Award. His connection to social justice issues dates back to the 1960s, when Bishop Joseph Donnelly, after whom the Office’s annual award is named, was his pastor.

Lynn Campbell

Parish Social Ministry / Justice Education Coordinator

Lynn joined us in February, 2007. Her participation in JustFaith was an important faith formation experience. She highly recommends it! Lynn has 20 years of experience working as a volunteer in her parish, much of that connected to parish social ministry. She has a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University and a Masters Degree in Non-profit Management and a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Administration from Regis University. Lynn and her husband Tom have three sons and are members of St. Patrick Church in Farmington.

Stephanie Holden

Office Manager

Stephanie has been with the office for 18 years and is an important part of our team. Stephanie is the friendly and hospitable person who will most likely greet you when you call or meet you at the door when you stop by for a visit.

Arturo Iriarté

Parish Social Ministry / Justice Education Coordinator

Arturo joined our staff in January, 2010, reprising the position as Hispanic Parish Social Ministry Coordinator which he held from 2001-2005. Since then, he has been the Archdiocesan Hispanic Youth Ministry Coordinator at the Hispanic Evangelization Office.

He is fluent in both Spanish and English. For over 20 years he has worked with Hispanics and youth on education, community organizing, and counseling on immigration policies. He is an active part of the archdiocesan community: he graduated from JustFaith, participated in HomeFront for eight years, and spent the past six years on the Advisory Board of Directors for Catholic Charities Southern region.

Arturo has a BA in Physical Education from Catholic University of the North in Antofagasta, Chile and received social action training at Trinity College, Hartford, and St. John's University, New York. He lives in East Haven and enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Mary O’Brien

Global Solidarity Coordinator

Linda Roberto

Finance and Development Coordinator

Linda joined the OCSJM staff in December 2009 after working for over 30 years as Administrator and Finance Coordinator for the Center for Ministry Development, a national non-profit church leadership and training organization. A JustFaith graduate, she volunteers weekly at the St. Vincent de Paul Shelter in Waterbury and is active as a lector and member of the Parish Social Action Committee at St. John of the Cross Parish in Middlebury. She has been a member of the Cooperative Parish Sharing Committee for five years.

Linda has a BA in English and Secondary Education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.  She and her husband John live in Naugatuck, and have three adult children and one grandson.

Program staff who donate their time

Jeanie Graustein

Environmental Justice Coordinator

Jeanie Graustein has been the Environmental Justice Ministry Coordinator, within Parish Social Ministry, since 1995. She develops and presents programs to educate parishioners in the riches of Catholic teaching and spirituality on care of God’s creation and the many interconnections with protecting life and health, social and economic issues, clean air and water, environmental justice, land use, and global climate change. She belongs to the worshiping community of St. Thomas More Chapel. Jeanie and her husband have lived in New Haven since 1972. She has a B.A. in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley; M.Ed., University of Utah; and M.Div., Yale Divinity School.

Nancy Kiely

Cooperative Parish Sharing Coordinator

Nancy has been a board member since 1999, on the Cooperative Sharing Committee since 2002, of which she is currently the Committee Chair, and has been very active in parish social ministry at her parish since 1992. She is a grateful graduate of Just Faith and the Just Matters Program on the Climate Crisis. Nancy is active in environmental justice and serves on three different energy committees in Wethersfield. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Masters in Theology, and works part time as a registered nurse. Nancy is married to John and they have two adult sons. They are members of Corpus Christi Church in Wethersfield.

John Ryan

JustFaith Coordinator

John is a pastoral associate focused on social ministries at St. Bridget Parish in Manchester, after volunteering there for 25 years. He has volunteered with The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry for ten years and this year coordinates our new JustFaith Leadership Team. He and his wife Suzanne have four children and seven grandchildren. He believes that "social ministry is essential to a Catholic parish" and that biblical justice calls us to direct service for today and systemic change for tomorrow.

Graziella Zinn

Peace Ministry Coordinator

Graziella, a native of Italy, and a graduate of the University of Padua, came to this country because of her scientific research in Astronomy. While raising with her husband their three children, she continued to be involved in matters of faith and science. She has been part of the work of our office for the past 15 years, first coordinating the Action for Justice Network and now educating parishes and groups on the Peace Teaching of the Catholic Church. She and her family are active members of St. Rita Parish in Hamden.

Board of Directors

Sr. Elaine Betoncourt, CSJ

Mrs. Claire Dalidowitz — President

Deacon William Gilles

Mr. Charles Herbert

Ms. Nancy Kiely — Vice President

Ms. Sarah Nikkel

Ms. Iris Ramos — Secretary

Bishop Peter A. Rosazza — Archbishop's Representative

Ms. Carol Sue Schmidt

Ms. Rose Alma Senatore — Ex Officio

Rev. Stephen M. Sledesky

Ms. Patricia Daly Verde — Treasurer