New employees have joined three HNP ministries, located in Florida, Philadelphia and northern New Jersey. Two fill existing positions while one of the new hires is a new position.
In January, Kenn Hitchcock began as the new principal of Sacred Heart Academy, Tampa, Fla.
Hitchcock, self-described as the “product of Catholic schooling from K-post graduation,” was a member of the first graduation class of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. He holds degrees in education and educational administration from Fairfield University.
He has taught in Connecticut and New Mexico and has served as an administrator in New Mexico and Florida. “My teaching and administrative experiences in Connecticut and New Mexico were in public schools. Serving as the assistant principal at Resurrection Catholic School in Lakeland, Fla., is my first experience working in Catholic schools,” Hitchcock said.
“I feel that I have come full circle,” he said, adding that he has also served as the director of education at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. He and his wife Louise have four grown children.
Evette Pena joined the staff of the St. Francis Urban Center, one of the St. Francis Inn Ministries in Philadelphia on Jan.10. Pena, a native of Philadelphia, has more than 10 years experience in social work positions serving families and children, said John Gill, OFM, director of the urban center. She has experience in multicultural settings and is bilingual in English/Spanish.
“Evette serves as the case manager for the families at St. Margaret House, a permanent supportive housing program for mothers and children,” John said. “She also works with families and individuals in our housing stabilization program. Her responsibilities also include working on the ministry’s website by keeping it updated.”
St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J., where Michael Jones, OFM, is pastor, welcomed a new music director this year. Phillip LaGala started his job on Jan. 8.
In addition, the Washington Theological Union announced this month that Marc DelMonico, a former staff member of the Franciscan Action Network, of which Holy Name Province is a member, joined its staff as an assistant librarian. He is responsible for managing the O’Toole Library’s 500 periodical subscriptions and the new additions to the book collection as well as developing the library’s website.
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.