Board of Directors

The Most Reverend James Thomas Ruggieri was named the thirteenth bishop of Portland by His Holiness Pope Francis on February 13, 2024, and was ordained and installed as Bishop of Portland on May 7, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Bishop Ruggieri was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on January 12, 1968, to the late John A. Ruggieri, Jr. and Irene (Paolino) Ruggieri. The youngest of four sons, he was educated in the Barrington, Rhode Island, public school system.  He is a 1986 graduate of Barrington High School.

He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, then Providence College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies in 1990. Following his undergraduate education, he went on to receive a Master of Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1994. He was ordained a deacon on April 23, 1994, at the seminary by Most Reverend Joseph J. Gerry, OSB, the Tenth Bishop of Portland, Maine. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Providence on June 24, 1995, at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul by the Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau.

Bishop Ruggieri was the pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Providence from 2003-2024 and St. Michael the Archangel Parish, also in Providence, from 2020-2024. In 2009, he, along with parishioners and supporters, founded St. Patrick Academy, a Catholic college-preparatory high school in Providence. St. Patrick Academy has been recognized for its mission of accepting students regardless of their families’ financial situations.

Prior to St. Patrick Parish, Bishop Ruggieri was an assistant pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Central Falls (2001-2003), All Saints Parish in Woonsocket (1998-2001), and St. Matthew Church in Cranston – his first assignment following ordination.

Bishop Ruggieri has served in several administrative and leadership capacities, including on the Diocese of Providence’s Presbyteral Council and as a diocesan dean (vicar forane).

Bishop Ruggieri has been recognized with awards such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Vision Award from Providence College, and the Lumen Gentium Award for Evangelization from the Diocese of Providence. In addition, St. Patrick Parish was honored with the Loyola Press Opening Doors Parish Award for providing a welcoming environment for people with disabilities.

Bishop Ruggieri’s work to feed the poor of Providence and his frequent travels around the city in his food truck have been well-documented. His engagement in the community was the hallmark of his ministry in his home state.

Bishop Ruggieri is fluent in Spanish, a language he learned so he would be able to serve Providence’s inner-city parishes.

Monsignor Marc Caron is vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Portland. As vicar general and moderator, Monsignor Caron assists the bishop in the administration and pastoral care of the diocese, overseeing those who hold offices and minister in diocesan administration. Currently, Monsignor Caron is a professor of theology and a member of the priestly formation faculty at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, where he has served since July of 2016. A native of Lewiston, Monsignor Caron attended St. Dominic’s Regional High School before majoring in French and philosophy at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, where he graduated summa cum laude. He completed his clerical studies at Theological College of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology. On May 20, 1989, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Amédée W. Proulx at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston. In August of 1989, he was named parochial vicar of St. Louis Parish in Fort Kent, where he also served as chaplain at the University of Maine-Fort Kent. In 1990, in addition to his duties at St. Louis, then-Fr. Caron was named temporary administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Wallagrass and Holy Family Parish in Daigle, where he remained until August of 1992 when he was appointed parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Biddeford. While serving in Biddeford, he was also chaplain at the University of New England. From July of 1995 to July of 1997, he completed an advanced degree in sacred theology at The Catholic University of America, specializing in liturgical studies. Upon returning from Washington, D.C., he was appointed chancellor of the Diocese of Portland and served as director of the department of ministerial services. Monsignor Caron was named a Chaplain of His Holiness (Monsignor) by the Vatican in December 2000. During his time at the Chancery (1997-2008), Monsignor Caron also served as the interim co-director of vocations for a short period. In September of 2008, Monsignor Caron was named administrator of the five Catholic parishes in Lewiston, and on January 1, 2009, he was appointed the founding pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston (Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Holy Cross Parish, and Holy Family Parish), where he served before his current assignment. In addition to his parish duties, Monsignor Caron has served as a member of the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors, and the Priests’ Personnel Board.

Jared des Rosiers is a partner in Pierce Atwood LLP and has practiced with the Portland firm since 1992. His legal practice focuses on complex energy regulatory, infrastructure development, and siting, and litigation matters. He is a member of the firm’s management committee and chairs its energy practice group. Jared holds a juris doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame. He actively provides pro bono legal services as the former pro bono partner for his firm and current director of VLP Inc., the non-profit responsible for the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project. Jared also enjoys volunteering at the Preble Street Resource Center. He is a member of the Parish of Holy Eucharist, where he previously served on the Parish Finance Council. Jared and his wife Jennifer live in Falmouth and have six children.    

After a 31-year career during which Paula Moses held a variety of managerial and executive positions with New England Telephone and AT&T, she retired to Maine full-time to enjoy the slower pace, the ocean, the mountains, and the people. Paula’s retirement didn’t last long, and at the request of her pastor, she agreed to take a two-year, part-time position as business manager for the three Biddeford, Maine, parishes. Nine years later, while still working full-time as business coordinator of the new Good Shepherd Parish, (which encompasses the three Biddeford parishes as well as Saco, Old Orchard, and Lyman), Paula retired again. As a retiree, she has enjoyed becoming a Literacy Volunteer, serving on a number of small nonprofit boards, working at a local animal shelter, and being a Hospice Volunteer. Paula is active in her parish and served on the Diocesan Finance Council for 10 years, concluding as a two-year Chair. 

A retired CPA with 29 years of financial industry experience specializing in audit and tax services to the housing industry. Blakeslee lives in the Portland/Westbrook area of Maine and has been a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher since 2018.

Cindy currently serves as board president for Maria Mater Dei Missions, Inc., a non-profit which has launched the FAITH CONQUERS FEAR™ initiative. She serves as a board member for the GIVEN Institute and the Finance Council for St. John Paull II Parish in Scarborough. She was the founder and executive director of The Presence Radio Network. Prior to her involvement with Catholic radio, her career was in the technology industry. She has served as a board member for the Catholic Foundation of Maine, the Diocese of Portland Finance Council, Positive Radio Network (89.3FM), Chairperson of the Catholic Radio Association, EWTN Affiliate Advisory Team, and Public Policy Committee for the Diocese of Portland. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of Southern Maine.

Steve has served as Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities Maine since February of 2007 and has served in multiple leadership roles within the agency for the past 16 years. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Farmington and has taken graduate level business courses at Thomas College in Waterville. Steve is a member of Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville, Maine.

Danielle Ahern, Senior Vice President and Director of Treasury Services at Machias Savings Bank, has a distinguished banking career spanning over two decades. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maine at Orono and her Master of Business Administration from Husson University. Danielle currently serves as Chairperson of the Board for Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) and has a long history of volunteerism spanning several other organizations, including as past Treasurer of the Bangor YMCA, University of Maine Alumni Association, Penobscot Theatre, and Junior Achievement of Maine. Danielle and her husband Brian live in Bangor and are active members of St. Paul the Apostle Parish.

Innocent Binwa, a lifelong Catholic, is an information technology professional who earned a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the Democratic Republic of Congo and studied English through Portland Adult Education. He started his career as a building technology specialist with Portland Public Schools, followed by five years working as a network administrator at the Chewonki Foundation. In June 2022, Innocent took a network administrator and cybersecurity specialist position at the Waynflete School in Portland. His ultimate goal is to provide cybersecurity consulting services to businesses and organizations in his community and has had this goal since moving to the United States. Innocent has started his own business, iSECTECH, and is determined to turn it into a successful enterprise and the ultimate realization of his goal. He is also a dedicated father to his eight-year-old daughter. Innocent is actively engaged in his community through volunteer work, including involvement with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Portland and its Peace and Justice Commission.

John Bonner is a lifelong Catholic and married father of four adult children. He is an active member of the Parish of the Precious Blood and the Knights of Columbus.  He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and is retired from the United States Border Patrol. He resides in Easton, Maine with his wife Theresa.

Janet Brackett retired after 24 years as a librarian at the University of Maine at Farmington.  She holds a BA in English (UMF), an MA in American Studies (USM), and an MLIS in Library Science (University of South Carolina).  She serves on the board of the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry and recently retired from the board of the local food pantry.  She is a parishioner of St. Joseph’s in Farmington.  As coordinator of the St. Joseph’s/St. Rose of Lima Haiti Ministry, she travels to Haiti annually to visit their sister parish in the Diocese of Les Cayes.  Janet and her husband Jeff live in New Sharon.

Retired from Catholic Charities USA, Kathy Brown has served in multiple leadership positions in the Catholic Church over the past 40 years.  She has a Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureatus (STB) and a Master of Arts in Theology from St. Paul University and the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Kathy and her husband, Scott, recently moved from Baltimore MD to Gardiner ME. She is a member of St. Michael’s Parish, attending St. Joseph Church in Gardiner.

Deacon Bob Cleveland is Vice President, Sr. Network Engineer at Camden National Bank. Ordained in 2004, he currently serves as Deacon at St. Brendan the Navigator parish where he is active in many areas of parish life and has served as Parish Council President and Director of R.C.I.A. Cleveland graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, ME with a Bachelor of Arts in American Cultural Studies and received his Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans. He resides with his wife, Anne, in Hope, Maine.

A Catholic Chaplain for Maine General Alfond Center for Health, Peter Czerwinski has experience in outreach to the marginalized, parish ministry, youth and young adult ministry, and prison ministry. He has also volunteered for the American Red Cross for more than 10 years as Disaster Action Team Supervisor. Born and raised in Sweden of Polish Immigrant parents, he was active in his parish and served the Diocese of Stockholm as the Secretary General for the Swedish Young Catholic Organization before entering religious formation with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Melbourne University of Divinity and is completing his Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry through the Oblate School of Theology. He recently was accepted into the Diaconate Formation program with the diocese of Portland, Maine. He is active in St. Michaels Parish, Augusta.

Amy Ford is a member of All Saints Parish and serves as the Children's Faith Formation Director. Amy holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts from St. Michael's College and a master's degree in pastoral theology from St. Joseph's College. She is the keeper of a sweet cat who came to her from the local animal shelter, and she enjoys learning about organic gardening.

Elizabeth Keene serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Maine Primary Care Association. Prior to joining MPCA, she served as Vice President of Mission Integration at St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston. Elizabeth began her health care career in Baltimore, MD at Johns Hopkins Home Hospice and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. She is a fellow in Thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling. Elizabeth received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her M.A. from Boston College. She serves on several community boards. Elizabeth is a member at St. Michael Parish where she and her husband, Frank Cuff, are active in social justice ministries.

Fr Anthony D Lawir, born in Cameroon, was ordained on April 17^th, 1998, for the Diocese of Kumbo- Cameroon, West Africa. He served as the Parochial Vicar and Manager of Schools, Binju-Nkambe, Rector of St. John the Apostle Quasi Parish Misaje; Spiritual Director and Teacher of the Minor Seminary Kitiwum, the Principal of SARICO Nkambe, the Rector of the Spiritual Formation Centre Bafut, the Catholic Education Secretary for the Diocese of Kumbo, the Kumbo Diocesan Chaplain of the Catholic Women Association, and the Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Nkambe Town. In 2021, I was appointed as a Fidei Donum, Gift of Faith, (Missionary Priest) priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland Maine. While here, he served in Good Shepherd Parish Saco before being appointed Pastor of St. Agnes and Our Lady of the Snows Parishes, Pittsfield and Dexter respectively.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liwanga is the Workforce Development Coordinator for New Mainers at Northern Maine Community College and a member of the Northern Maine Growth Initiative, a task force comprised of local business and community leaders, building connections to the refugee community and providing resources and support to families seeking to build a life in Northern Maine. She has extensive experience in financial management and fundraising and is active in the Cathedral Parish, Portland.

Founding partner of Great Diamond Partners, where he leads the financial planning and insurance strategies. He is a Big Brother and the past president of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southern Maine and a former Chair of the Catholic Foundation of Maine. He and his wife are supporters of Good Shepherd Food Bank and Portland Ovations and live in Yarmouth, Maine. 

Bruce White represented the 65th district in the Maine House of Representatives with distinction for six years. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and attends Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville. He served on the Parish Financial Council as well as many community boards and committees. Bruce retired from his job as a computer technician at the Winslow Public Schools in 2019. He has been married to his wife Doreen since 1977 and has two children, two grandsons, and a great grandson.  His son, Fr. Sebastian White, O.P. is the editor-in-chief of Magnificat and the student master at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.