I am honored to return to St. James this year to teach Religion to Middle School students.  

St James has been a home to me for over 20 years.  My sons, Aubrey and Max, graduated from St. James in 1999 and 2003. I have been connected to “our” school ever since. In the early years, classroom volunteering offered a life-giving opportunity, showing me the great value of helping others, not just my own children. The gift of contributing one’s strengths and gifts to support the efforts of teachers and parents helps make St. James a very special community. My volunteering led to offering students a Drama Club that challenged them to find the courage to stand on their own and be heard.

I received my bachelor's degree in Theatre and Film production at Albertus Magnus College.  After graduating I found work in the broadcasting and publishing industries but though these experiences rewarded me financially they did not enrich me spiritually.  Through the experience of teaching acting to the students of St. James, I discovered my deepest passions - the discovery of life-giving faith and the vital importance of mental health.  

In 2000 former St. James Church Pastor, Fr. Tom Lynch, offered me the position of Director of Faith Formation classes for Middle School and Confirmation. This opportunity greatly enlarged my commitment to leading others in both the parish and school - students and adults - to know the power of God - and the rich rewards in following the path of the Gospel - hope, joy, peace, and love in our daily lives.

Over the last nine years, I have studied the practice of Mindfulness.  I began my training in this valuable practice at UMASS Center for Mindfulness. I continued workshops and seminars and achieved status as a qualified Teacher of the MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) program and the Mindful Schools curriculum. 

In my life, the greatest gift I have received is from my mother and her example of unwavering faith: faith that brings undeniable knowledge that our Lord is with us in every breath, every moment; and her example of honoring God by respecting the gift of all life. Her example and my faith have carried me through many struggles over the years and will carry me through the rest of this journey. My efforts to broaden my knowledge and experience have led me to attend frequent retreats and study the wisdom in scripture, the teachings of the saints, and the importance of stillness, silence, and nature every day.  

My deepest desire is for the children at St. James to know their powerful and all-loving God and to help them discover and use their God-given gifts to make this world a better place.  Experiencing faith can help our children know that we can successfully navigate this human journey with God's help. Faith is a gift beyond measure and a gift to be cultivated daily, in the home, school community, and wherever life takes us. 

It is an honor and privilege to be back!!!