St. Anthony's Parish Council
-
Carol Becker
Residence Easton
Profession Retired business manager / controller
Years a Parishioner 11
Email cjbecker10@yahoo.com
Inspiration to be on the Council
I wanted to be member of the parish council because I wanted to be more involved in parish life. I feel very blessed to be a member of such a wonderful parish. -
Sr. Eileen Boffa, RSM
Residence Bridgeport
Former Profession Educator, Sisters of Mercy
Years at St. Anthony’s 7
Email sebrsm@optonline.net
Inspiration to participate on the Council
I have always loved our parish of St. Anthony, and yet when the request came for us to consider becoming a member of the Parish Council, I did not give it a thought. Shortly before Pentecost Sunday, a call came in on my cell phone: “Please consider becoming a Parish Council member.” I listened carefully and realized it was a sacred moment. I said, “Yes”. May I listen lovingly to the people of the parish and bring their hopes and wishes for St. Anthony’s to the Council.
-
Ralph Burke
Residence Fairfield
Former Profession Public School Educator
Years at St. Anthony’s 2 years
Inspiration to participate on the Council
My wife put my name in the basket; then the Holy Spirit took over. I wish to support the Parish and Eleanor Sauers, and I commit to represent parishioners’ thoughts and ideas to the Council.
-
Anthony Cernera
Residence Fairfield
Current Profession President of Being the Blessing Foundation and The Refugee & Migrant Education Network
Years at St. Anthony’s 12
Email AnthonyJCernera@gmail.com
Inspiration to participate on the Council
Several people approached me and asked me to consider putting my name in the basket. I prayed about it and decided to do so, since I want to be open to the work that the Holy Spirit is asking me to do. -
Colleen H. Connor
Residence Fairfield
Current Profession Environment, Sustainability, and Governance Professional
Years at St. Anthony’s 15 years
Email colleenhconnor@gmail.com
Inspiration to participate on the Council
I so value our St. Anthony community and feel fulfilled by being part of it. I am honored and excited for the opportunity to be on the Parish Council and look forward to grow further in my faith. -
Darlene Dougiello
Residence Fairfield
Current Profession MRI Technologist at Norwalk Hospital
Years at St. Anthony’s I was baptized at St. Anthony’s and attended school here grades 1-8. Oh, what stories we have. I used to go home for lunch, which was only 2 blocks away. St. A’s was always my church. So, I’d say 68 years!
Email dardougiello@gmail.com
Inspiration to participate on the Council
Over the years I’ve watched our church transform into a beautiful gathering of prayerful people volunteering in many different capacities to keep improving our parish. I feel the Council is something I’d like to be involved in. I will “listen, discuss, and pray” for our continuing success at St. Anthony’s.
-
Margaret Mary Fitzgerald
Residence Fairfield
Profession Retired Fairfield Public Schools educator
Years at St. Anthony’s 16+ years
Email mmf1817@gmail.com
Inspiration to participate on the Council
My “inspiration” came from a quote from Isaiah that Eleanor cited when speaking about the Parish Council: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19). Since I retired, I have been looking for meaningful opportunities to volunteer my time and energies. In joining the Parish Council, I hope to contribute to something that evokes new growth in our parish….an authentic community of Christ’s followers. -
Tom Flynn
Residence Fairfield
Profession Retired executive in office products market, primarily involved in identification, justification, business end-of-product development, and market introduction of new products
Years at St. Anthony’s 6
Email flynjoyce@yahoo.com
Inspiration to participate on the Council
St. Anthony's is a welcoming parish, with many parishioners deeply involved. I wanted to feel as if I was pulling my oar. My community background allows me to share decades of experience involving a number of Christian and Non-Christian faith communities and organizations, especially in the area of outreach. -
Brian Kelahan
Residence Fairfield
Profession Former high school teacher for 20+ years
Years at St. Anthony’s 15
Email bpke@optonline.net
Inspiration to participate on the Council
St. A’s is a remarkable and faith-filled community and a very important part of our lives. One of the reasons we value the parish is because it encourages and supports lay involvement, which allows all of us to grow together in our faith. A strong community needs its members to step up and be involved and I am happy to do so.
-
Paul Lakeland
Residence Trumbull
Profession Fairfield University Professor and Director of the Center for Catholic Studies, retired one year ago
Years at St. Anthony’s 10+
Email Pflakeland@fairfield.edu
Inspiration to participate on the Council
As a newly-minted retiree who suddenly has some free time, I thought that as a theologian I might have something to contribute to the walking together (the synodal way) of the community of faith. -
Jim Long
Residence Fairfield
Profession Professor of Philosophy for 47 years at Fairfield U; also 25 years teaching seminarians of the Diocese at St. John Fisher in Stamford
Years at St. Anthony’s 22 years
Email jlong@fairfield.edu
Inspiration to participate on the Council
I am happy to do whatever I am able to support this parish, which I have learned to consider my spiritual home. -
Beth McDonald
Residence Fairfield
Years at St. Anthony’s 4
Former Profession Outplacement counselor until I retired about 10 years ago.
Inspiration to participate on the Council
I put my name in the basket for Parish Council because I find St Anthony a spiritually enriching parish. I know the Catholic Church is changing and losing members. I hope to contribute to the success of our parish by trying to stay abreast of what our parishioners want.