Pastoral Advisory Council

The Pastoral Advisory Council (PAC) meets with Fr. Chris 4 times during the period of September to June to provide advice, suggestions, support and to discuss matters related to our Catholic community at the Newman Centre.

You are more than welcome to speak with any of the members should you have a concern, suggestion, compliment or an idea that you would like to have placed on the agenda for a future meeting. Feel free to e-mail your comments, questions or suggestions to fr.chris@newmantoronto.com
Click the link at the bottom of the page to see the PAC Constitution (revised June, 2008).

PAC Members:

 

FR. CHRIS CAUCHI, PASTOR

 

PATRICK DOUGLAS, FINANCE COUNCIL

Patrick Douglas has served on staff at the Newman Centre since 2001. Patrick serves as the Director of Human Resources and Operations on a full-time basis. He is a member of, and the PAC's liaison to, the Finance Council. He is also the Treasurer of the Newman Foundation.

Patrick graduated from Queen's University in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science in Engineering Chemistry degree. Before coming to Newman, he developed a career at Xerox in business and information management. Patrick has recently completed a certificate program in Human Resources Management through the University of Toronto and has earned the designation, Certified Human Resources Professional.  Patrick lives in Sutton with his wife, Carissa, and six children.

CATHERINE DUFF, MEMBER AT LARGE

Catherine was a member of the Campus Ministry team in 2004-2005. She earned her doctorate degree from the University of Toronto in 2010 in the archaeology and history of the ancient Near East. Catherine has worked on archaeological projects in Jordan, Israel and more recently, in Sinai, Egypt. Before moving to Toronto, Catherine worked as a Journalist with CBC Radio in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, she is a research associate with the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto.

JOHN KENNEDY, MEMBER AT LARGE

John Kennedy has been a parishioner at Newman for 18 years and is active in the Choir and as a Pastoral Visitor and in the Outreach programs. He has previously served as a member of the Parish Council. John has a Ph.D. from University of Toronto and currently works as a Professor of Liberal Studies, Applied Degree Program, Centennial College in Scarborough.

 

NICOLE CASTELINO, PASTORAL ASSISTANT

Hi Everyone! I feel so blessed to be the newest member of the Newman Community! In fact it was coincidence (or perhaps not) that I had my interview on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas – so thank you, St. Thomas!
Life has had a funny way of revealing to me that it is the grace of God that moves all things and keeps all things in being. Little did I know, that after graduating from high school as a vocal student, receiving my BA in Marketing and working in a bankruptcy trustee firm, that one day in a small church in Singapore I would be called to drop everything and go learn about our faith! If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s that when God’s hand moves, it moves swiftly and mightily, so one must always be attentive to His voice. In less than a month I had quit my job, applied for my MA Theology degree, got accepted, moved to Steubenville, Ohio and was enrolled in my first semester as a Theology Grad student at Franciscan University. I went from being a Business major to a Theology major and my life has never been the same since!

KAY ARPIN, VOLUNTEER SCREENING

Kay Arpin has been a member of the Newman Centre Community for 10 years and is currently a member of the Volunteer Screening Committee. She has been a Visitor to the Sick at Mt Sinai Hospital and a volunteer in the Hospitality Ministry.

Kay is Professor Emeritus, Lawrence S Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.

 

CARL O'BYRNE, LITURGY COMMITTEE

Carl O’Byrne has been coming to Newman since the late 1980s.  He has been a member of the Liturgy Committee for a number of years.  Carl has a Master of Science in Education, from Niagara University, New York.  He is a graduate of St. Michael’s College and has a degree in education from the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto.  He is a teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

 

GEM OFRENEO, NEWMAN YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Gem Ofreneo was born and raised in the Philippines where she was active in the Youth Ministry at her parish.  She moved to Toronto with her parents and her sister in 2001 and has since then been looking for a parish youth group to get involved in.  Seven years later in 2008, she discovered the Newman Centre after googling “Catholic Youth Retreat” and hearing about the Newman Centre from a new friend a week later.  Her first visit to Newman was to join the summer backpacking retreat that the Youth Council organized that year.  She didn’t know anyone in the community then. Three years later, the Newman Centre has become her home parish where she has met a lot of her dearest friends.  Gem currently works in the evenings at a law firm.
 

DIANE LAUZIERE, MEMBER AT LARGE

Hailing from the Eastern Townships in Quebec, I have been lIving in Toronto for 30 years.  I have been part of the Newman Community for 21 years. I have been part of the Choir for 15 years.  As well, I have been a Eucharistic Minister and serve on the Coffee Ministry for 10 years and I have helped in numerous activities of the various Social committees through the years.

I have my degrees in Philosophy, Theology and Pedagogy. I just completed 25 years of service for the Toronto District School Board and public education. I have a FSL Specialist and Reading Specialist and I mentored foreign teachers in their acquaintances with the curriculums and the teaching careers within the French-Immersion program of the Board.
 
I am also a member of the Third Dominican Order, the Dominican Laity. I am in formation with the Dominican Friars on Huron Street. As a member of the Order of the Preachers, I find my joy to be at service to the church and I have found much fulfillment being at service to you in many ways.
 
COLLEEN COYNE, CHAIR

HEATHER HARRISON, MEMBER AT LARGE

File Attachment: 
PACConstitution-revised.pdf

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