The Strategic Planning Task Force

The Strategic Planning Task Force will listen, study, evaluate, discuss, and only then propose, how the Archdiocese can best serve the spiritual and community life of its people and the faith and educational development needs of its children now and in the future. The planning process will focus on both parishes and schools, seeking to build a sustainable way of organizing to effectively do the mission of the Church.

Members of the Strategic Planning Task Force

• Father John Bauer, co-chair
Rector of the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis; formerly pastor of St. Gregory, St. Leo and St. Therese in St. Paul, which were merged into Lumen Christi Catholic Community; ordained 1979

• Father Peter Laird, co-chair
Vice rector of St. Paul Seminary; member of archdiocesan Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors; weekend associate at parishes throughout the Archdiocese, ordained in 1997


• Sister Mary Madonna Ashton, CSJ  
Involved in health care administration for private and public sectors: acute care, long-term care and public health.

• Brother Milton Barker, FSC
President, Totino Grace High School, Fridley.

• Deacon Robert Durham
Deacon at St. John the Baptist, Savage; business administrator at Our Lady of Grace, Edina.

• Dr. Marilou Eldred
President of Catholic Community Foundation; member of Assumption Parish, St. Paul; formerly president, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., 1979-1997;

• Father Kevin Finnegan
Pastor of Divine Mercy in Faribault, St. Michael in Kenyon and St. Patrick in Shieldsville; ordained 1996

• Deacon Ramon Garcia
Deacon at St. Stephen Church in Anoka and St. Odilia Church in Shoreview; served Sagrado de Corazon de Jesus Hispanic Community for 15 years; ordained in 2008

• Dr. Lori Glynn
Principal of Our Lady of Peace School in south Minneapolis; formerly archdiocesan superintendent of Catholic schools.

• Father William Kenney
Retired; serving at Lumen Christi in St. Paul; formerly priest personnel director for Archdiocese; ordained 1956

• Deacon George Nugent
Deacon and facilities administrator at All Saints in Lakeville; retired business executive; ordained in 1992

• Mr. Charles Osborne
Member and trustee, St. Charles Borromeo Parish in St. Anthony; vice president and chief financial officer, Fair Isaac Corporation.

• Deacon Rip Riordan
Deacon at St. Ambrose Church of Woodbury; formerly director of diaconate for Archdiocese, 2001-2004; director of clergy services for Archdiocese 2004-2007; ordained in 1998

• Mrs. Carol Shukle
President, Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women; member of Our Lady of the Lake parish in Mound; career in education and background in mass communications.

• Father Peter Wittman
Pastor of St. Mary in Shakopee and St. Mary of Purification of Marystown; formerly held many other parish assignments; ordained in 1975.

• Mr. James Lundholm-Eades, archdiocesan staff