A University Chaplain since 2004, Chris is in her second year of service as the chairperson of the University's Religious Affairs Committee. As such she works with other religious leaders at the University to organize, support, and promote the spiritual and religious dimensions of life on campus. She also works with the Five College Religious Life Council on matters of special concern to deans of religious life.

Personal motto: Onward!

As a campus minister Chris seeds and supports ministries such as pre-cana, marriage enrichment, graduate and young professionals; advocates for and organizes international service trips and other social justice initiatives; tends to bridges between communities; conducts communion services, prayer services and retreats; offers a catholic voice to interfaith works, relationships, and dialogue; serves as sounding board and pastoral associate to individuals and small groups discerning the call of the Spirit; and she works with Five College, University, and community leaders to organize and carry out Christ's mission in the Valley.

Chris's approach to campus ministry derives depth and light from her entry into communion with the church as an adult, a love of farce and satire, commitments with differently-abled persons and homeless families, and ongoing exploration into the creative and mystical side of life.

Favorite pedagogue: Erasmus - back to the sources (including The Source.)

As the director of religious education at the Newman Center, Chris responds to four constituencies: the children themselves; the faculty, staff, and others' callfor the Center to support and inform their role as primary formators of their children in faith; UMass students' desire to develop as educators in religious education; and (for the Church) the Diocese in its apostolic mission to informbelievers at every phase of spiritual development.

Chris has been an active educator in the diocese since 1998.As an adjunct faculty member at Elms College she has been offering courses in scripture, spirituality and theology and has directed students in their MAAT theses. In 2005-06 she presented Elms nursing students with a course in spirituality in nursing. In 2006-07 Chris offered "Scripture and Liberation" and "Peace and Justice." In 2007-08 she offers "Addiction, Recovery, Spirituality" with Mark Stelzer and "Peace and Justice" to undergraduate and graduate students.

Chris also serves in diocesan formation programs. In spring 2006 presented a seminar-style course on 'The Creed' at the Newman Center for the Diocese's lay ministry program. In Spring, 2007 she led candidates to the diaconate in their exploration of church history. She has recently been appointed to the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

A creative educator, Chris was named in 'Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2004 and 2005 for her work with young women at the Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro. She continues to work with youth, preparing students for the Sacrament of Confirmation at Deerfield Academy in 2005 and 2006 and at the Newman Center in 2007.

Favorite color: Black! (Okay, the blue-black of ink, sky, or water.)

As the child safety advocate at the Newman Center, Chris is responsible to see that Diocesan-mandated administrative and interpersonal supports are in place at
the Center and for Center-sponsored activities with children and vulnerable elders. She reports on these supports yearly. She is the Diocesan-designated person at the Newman Center for conversations on issues around interpersonal safety for children and vulnerable adults.

Chris holds the Master of Theology (Weston Jesuit School of Theology 1999, in Church History, and with the M.Div. equivalent, conferred with distinction); Master of Theological Studies (Weston Jesuit School of Theology 1997, Systematics, conferred with distinction); Master of Arts in Applied Theology (Elms 1995, Systematics, gpa 3.87), Associate of Science (Holyoke Community College 1984, Medical Secretarial Science, magna cum laude), and Bachelor of Arts (University of Massachusetts Amherst 1982, Spanish Literature, cum laude).Certified by the Amherst Writers and Artists Institute to facilitate writers' workshops with underserved populations.

updated 3/16/08

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Last update: Wed, 23 Apr 2008