OPAL is currently being led by a leadership team consisting of:
Director: Barbara Spencer, Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown Ohio
Secretary - Linda Hoefflin, Sisters of Divine Providence
Membership & Treasurer - Patsy Richards, Humility of Mary
Communications & Co-Treasurer - Donna Humphrey, Humility of Mary
Leadership Team Members:
Alex Munoz, Sisters of the Incarnate Word
Iliana Cordova, Sisters of the Incarnate Word
Dorothy Brandreth, Passionists
Shannon Lenet, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Advisory Team Member: Conni Dubick, Dominicans of Peace
If you are interested in joining the OPAL Leadership Team, please email us at ohiopaassociates@gmail.com.
Prior Workshops and Presentations
September 25-26, 2015 - “Called to Carry the Charism” - Presented by Jeanne Connolly-Wheaton (Fransiscan Associate) and Arthur Carrillo (CP)
August 20, 2016 - “No one who has seen this vision can be refrained from guarding it and proclaiming it” - Presented by Cathi Duffy (Society of Holy Child Jesus Associate) and Conni Dubick (Dominican of Peace Associate)
September 23-24, 2017 - “The Associate Role - A Time to Dream” - Presented by Deborah Rose Milavec (Executive Director of Future Church, Cleveland)
April 28, 2018 - “Creating the Future in the Now - Formation of Associate Candidates” - A discussion and sharing with Associate Leaders
October 13, 2018 - “Fostering Our Future: How Do We Tell Our Story?” - Led by Erin Middleton & Karen Snyder (Divine Providence Associates)
September 7-8, 2019 - “New Ways of Being, New Ways of Ministering” - Presented by Jayne Helmlinger, CSJ (President LCWR-Leadership Conference of Women Religious)
October 10, 2020 - “Legacy, Love, Leadership: The Unfolding Associate Path” - Presented by Kathleen Wade (Author, Consultant former Director of Collaborative Leadership Development Program)
October 2, 2021 - “Exploring the Associate Path in a Change of Era” - Presented by Janet Mock SSJ and Cathi Duffy (Society of Holy Child Jesus Associate)
October 1-2, 2022 - “Associates as Charism Carriers: Enhancing the Call to Leadership” - Presented by Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ, Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia (Executive Director of LCWR - Leadership Conference of Women Religious.)
October 29, 2023 - “Charism: A Community’s Mother Drum” - Presented by Anita Davidson, OPA, Dominican of Peace Associate, Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, Preacher
October 25th-27th, 2024 - “As Charism Carriers, who are we called to be?” - Presented by Jeanne Connelly, Covenant Companion and Director of Charism and Mission at Wheaton Franciscans
October 25, 2025 - “Transformation: Moving Through change” - Presented by Sr. Linda Buck, CSJ, Executive Director of the Leadership Collaborative
OPAL Conference at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania - October, 29, 2023
OPAL Conference at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania - September, 2017
