Parish Staff
PASTORAL STAFF:
Fr. Daniel Kenna, O.F.M. - Pastor
Fr. Dan was professed as a Franciscan friar in 1971 and ordained to the priesthood in 1973. He has ministered in a variety of ways and places over the past thirty-five years. Fr. Dan served as a Vice President at St. Bonaventure University out in the western part of our state and much further west, out in the state of Colorado, as a Director of St. Francis Interfaith Center in Denver. Returning to the east coast, he served as Pastor of St. Joseph church in Winsted, Connecticut for five years and then as Director of Novices for Holy Name Province for the next five. After three years of “hardship duty” on New Jersey’s Long Beach Island, Fr. Dan returned to his home state of North Carolina where he served for twelve years as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh and as Chaplain to the North Carolina State Basketball team. Before coming back North, Fr. Dan served a three year term as President of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh.
Fr. Dan enjoys travelling, golf and college basketball and loves finding new and exciting places to eat out in New York City.
Fr. Michael McDonnell, O.F.M. – Parochial Vicar
Fr. Michael was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was ordained in 1965. He has worked in areas ranging from Puerto Rico to Peru. He assisted with a migrant ministry in Florida and New Jersey, Fr. Michael has also worked at Holy Cross Church in the Bronx, New York, St. Camillus in Silver Spring, Maryland, and most recently at St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan. He has been with us at Holy Name since the summer of 2007.
Fr. Lawrence Ford, O.F.M. – Parochial Vicar
Fr. Larry is originally from Olean, New York and met the friars, including Fr. Dan, through St. Bonaventure University. He was professed as a friar in 1991 and ordained in 1996. Upon ordination he was assigned to St. Anthony Shrine in Boston to work the schedule of masses and confessions and served as the business and operations manager. Staying in Boston, he began doctoral studies while working as a Doctoral Fellow in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. He worked for a year as a program manager at the University of Notre Dame, from where he received an MSA degree in 1996. In the past few years he has served as a friar in residence at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Maryland and most recently at Siena College outside Albany, New York.
He enjoys playing golf, cheering for college athletics, especially basketball and is a Buffalo Bills and Boston Red Sox fan. Fr. Larry is the oldest of five children and his whole family is looking forward to visiting him in New York City. He is looking forward to his New York City adventure and discovering the community at Holy Name Parish.
Fr. Gonzalo de Jesus Torres, O.F.M. – Parochial Vicar
Fr. Gonzalo de Jesus Torres Acosta was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. He comes from a big Catholic family. His parents, Jesus and Clara Torres, had nine sons; Fr. Gonzalo is the third-oldest. His journey with the Franciscan friars began in 1966 when he was baptized by the friars at La Iglesia de la Porciúncula in Bogota. He earned a degree in petroleum engineering from Universidad de América in Bogotá and worked as an engineer in the Amazon jungle before owning and managing a chain of natural products stores.
Fr. Gonzalo came to New York City to study English, and because his school was near Saint Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street he would attend Mass there and encountered the Franciscans in the U.S.A. Fr. Gonzalo found the friars of Holy Name Province welcoming and open. He was attracted to them mainly because of their ministries with the immigrants and the less-privileged people.
During his years in initial formation Fr. Gonzalo ministered in parishes, prisons, schools, universities, hospitals, urban centers, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has been living and has served in the Bronx, NY; Wilmington, DE; Pompton Lakes, NJ; Beach Haven, NJ; Silver Spring, MD; Arlington, VA; Durham, NC; Albany, NY; and at Holy Name parish in New York City. Fr. Gonzalo spent a year as an intern student at Holy Name parish. Fr. Gonzalo de Jesus took solemn vows as a Franciscan friar on September 9, 2006, and was ordained as a Catholic priest on May 24, 2008. Holy Name Church is Fr. Gonzalo’s first assignment.
Fr. Evariste Ouedraogo – Associate Pastor
Fr. Evariste recently joined Holy Name with a primary responsibility to minister to the French speaking members of our community. Initially, Father will be with us on a part-time basis as he continues his studies at St. John’s University and his ministry at Sacred Heart Church in Mt. Vernon, New York.
Sr. Maria-Theresa de los Rios, F.M.M. – Pastoral Associate
Sister Maria-Teresa is a native of Bilbao, Spain. In 1955 she entered Religious life with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, an international missionary Congregation. Shortly thereafter she was sent to Rome, Italy to complete her religious formation. She remained in Rome for five years. Sister came to the United States in 1961 to work with the increasing number of Spanish speaking children in the care of Social Services. Always serving the poor, the immigrants and the sick, Sr. Maria-Teresa has lived in San Francisco, Chicago and Waukegan, Illinios. She received her B.A. in Social Work from Marillac College in St. Louis, Missouri. She also has a Certificate in Pastoral and Religious Studies from “El Instituto Superior de Pastoral” in Madrid, Spain.
In 2005. Sr. Maria-Teresa celebrated her Golden Jubilee in Religious life, but she is still serving those in need. Presently, Sr. is coordinating the Pastoral Care for the home-bound, the sick and the dying. She also recruits and prepares ministers of the Eucharist and Lectors to serve at the 10:30 Sundays Spanish mass. In her spare time Sister Maria-Teresa enjoys reading, walking, gardening, swimming at the beach (not too often) and being a member of her international community. She and her sisters spend valuable time each day in their chapel before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the needs of the world.
Sr. Mary Griffin, F.M.M. – Pastoral Assistant
Sister Mary serves as our day receptionist in the parish office and she is often the first voice heard when people initially contact Holy Name Parish. She received her B.A. in Sociology and Religious Studies from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. Sr. Mary came to Holy Name in 2001 after working as the Religious Outreach Coordinator for McMahon Children’s Services in NYC. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Cardinal Hayes Home for Children which is based in Milbrook, NY. Bi-lingual she has served as a missionary in Columbia and the Amazon Region of Ecuador. Originally from Boston, MA, Sr. Mary enjoys experiencing diversified cultures and using her Spanish language skills here at Holy Name Parish.
Heather L. Dilbeck – Director of Finance and Administration
Is the Director of Finance and Administration. She received an MBA in Finance from Northeastern University. Her prior experience was as an equities analyst specializing in Financial Services stocks. She spent 18 months at St. Paul the Apostle at Columbus Circle as Director of Finance and Operations before coming to Holy Name.
Mildred Morency – Director of Franciscan Community Center
Mildred became the Director of the Franciscan Community Center(FCC) in 2004. Mildred began her career in education at her alma mater, Holy Name School. She received her B.S. in Education and Psychology from SUNY at Stony Brook and her M.S. in Education from CUNY. Mildred began her work at the Franciscan Community Center in 1991 when the FCC instituted the Franciscan Tutorial Program. Ms. Morency was hired to teach French to 7th and 8th graders. She became the program’s coordinator in 1994. She became the Director of Youth Services at the community center in 1996, responsible for the operation of educational and recreational programs.
John Joven - Principal of Holy Name School
Mr. Joven was appointed Principal in 2009. He began his teaching career at St. Jude School in Brooklyn where he taught Middle School Science. After seven years he accepted a position at Notre Dame High School in lower Manhattan. He taught there, and served as Chair of the Science Department, for ten years before being named Assistant Principal in 1987. After four years he was appointed Principal. He served at Notre Dame for thirteen years in this capacity. Mr. Joven has also been the Chair of the Board of Trustees of St. Vincent Ferrer High School in New York since 2005. Technology integrated into the curriculum is one of the hallmarks of Holy Name School. The school uses Smartboards in the classroom, has two computer labs and makes use of video conference. Holy Name is a Middle States accredited school. The school was the recipient of the 2005 BLACKBOARD AWARD recognizing it as an outstanding private elementary school on the Upper Westside of Manhattan.
Peter Adamczyk – Director of Music
Peter was born in Evanston, Illinois. Both his parents were active as church organists and began teaching him organ at the age of five. As a boy in Evanston, he sang in the chorister program at St. Luke’s, and at age 14 began his first position as organist and choir director at St. Andrew’s. Later he was Director of Music at Resurrection Parish in Wayne, Illinois, which was administered by the Franciscans at that time. He later pursued formal keyboard, composition, and musicology studies at Eastman School of Music. He relocated to Houston, Texas where he studied organ with Clyde Holloway and received the Bachelor of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepard School of Music. While in Houston he served as director of music ministries at Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Frances de Sales parishes.
He earned his M.A. in music at New York University. He has performed as organist and directed choirs in various New York City area churches and took the position of Music Director at Holy Name in December 1998. Since his start at Holy Name, he has performed as organist in France and Germany. His positions have been premiered in New York, Los Angeles and Beijing. He is married to composer Chien-Yin Chen and together they have a son named Ian-Pascal.
Veronica Soto - Coordinator of Faith Formation
Our Coordinator of Faith Formation, Veronica was born in Cortazar, Guanajuato, Mexico. Veronica is the third oldest of ten children. She earned her degree in pedagogy from Instituto Pedagogico Anglo-Español and her Master in Theology from Universidad La Salle, both in Mexico City. She continued her education with courses and workshops in philosophy, catechesis, pastoral planning and administration in Mexico, El Salvador and the United States.
Veronica’s work experience includes a wide array of positions including that of catechist, Director of Religious Education, counselor, spiritual director, lecturer, and teacher in locations ranging from Mexico, El Salvador, the Philippines, Guatemala, Honduras, Macao, Hong Kong and the United States. During her many years of service to God’s people, Veronica has especially enjoyed working with homeless children, gang members, immigrants and people struggling with addictions. Veronica co-founded the pastoral school for the laity in the Diocese of Sonsonate in El Salvador.
Veronica joined the pastoral staff of Holy Name Parish in September 2008.
Sophia Goitia - Financial Administrator
Sophia is the Financial Administrator for Holy Name parish and also the Franciscan Community Center. She is a graduate of our own Holy Name School and received a B.A. from Bernard Baruch College in Manhattan. She is a notary public and is one of the longest serving employees of Holy Name. Bi-lingual, she has held a variety of positions during her career at Holy Name.
Jacqueline Espinal - Assistant to the Pastor
Jackie is the Assistant to the Pastor. A graduate of our own Holy Name School and bi-lingual, she is the primary liaison within the parish. Jackie has been a member of the staff for a decade, serving in a variety of positions, since 1998.
FRIARS IN RESIDENCE:
Fr. Brian Jordan, O.F.M
Father Brian was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the Franciscan Order after graduation from Siena College, N.Y. in 1978. He took his first vows in 1979 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1983. Father Brian has served in various multicultural parishes in Holy Name Province. He learned to speak Spanish while studying in the Maryknoll School of Languages in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Presently, Father Brian recently began the Holy Name Province Labor--Immigration Project in August, 2008. Father Brian is the official chaplain for the Building Trades and Construction Unions of New York City. While ministering among documented union workers, he also ministers among undocumented immigrants in New York City and advocates for their dignity within the workplace. Father Brian is literally living out the thesis of his recently acquired master’s degree from Cornell University entitled “The Role of the Roman Catholic Church as a Mediating Structure Between Labor Unions and Undocumented Immigrant Workers in New York City.”
Father Brian is happy to help out with the Masses at Holy Name Parish and will also offer immigration counseling to members of the parish on a free and confidential basis.
Fr. Matthew A. Pravetz, O.F.M.
Father Matthew is a native New Yorker, growing up in the College Point section of Queens before entering the Franciscan Order in 1964. A graduate of St. Francis College, Brooklyn, most of his full time ministry has been in the field of education. Early in his career was spent at the secondary level as teacher and administrator in Brooklyn and Long Island. Fr. Matthew was ordained to the priesthood in 1979 by the then Bishop Theodore McCarrick.
After completion of his training at New York Medical College specializing in the field of clinical anatomy, Father Matthew has been on the faculty of the medical school since the early 1980’s where he is presently the director of Medical Gross Anatomy. He teaches medical students and resident physicians in the surgical subspecialties. In addition he is involved in the medical ethics curriculum.
Father Matthew is very happy to be part of the vibrant friar community at Holy Name of Jesus and especially looks forward to weekend Eucharistic celebrations with the wonderfully diverse members of the Holy Name parish.
ADDITIONAL STAFF
Charlemagne Tiendrebeogo - Sacristan / Security
Nathaniel Davis - Friary Chef / Food Pantry
Regla Lara - Receptionist
Denice Soto - Receptionist
Frankie Medina - Maintenance
Edwin Rodriquez - Maintenance
Carmen Ramos - Housekeeping
Henry Crawford - Maintenance / Security