Mark-David Janus, C.S.P., Ph.D. is a Paulist priest and clinical psychologist who is currently the Director of the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a psychologist, Dr. Janus specializes in child-adolescent psychology. An expert is the effect of trauma on children, he has lectured and written extensively on the effects of physical and sexual abuse on childhood and adolescent development, including two books on runaway and homeless youth. He has served as a member of the faculty in the department of psychiatry at both The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Indiana University School of Medicine. In that capacity Dr. Janus was responsible for the psychological assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with acute and chronic pediatric illness as well as severe emotional illness. Actively involved in the training of medical students and psychiatric residents, he was one of the first recipients of a Templeton Grant to introduce the relationship of faith and healing into the medical curriculum.

As a Paulist priest Fr. Janus has served on the staff of the Catholic Information Center in Boston, and in campus ministry at Boston University, the University of Connecticut and most recently, the Ohio State University. In each of these locations he has been involved in adult religious development.

Fr. Janus is a member of the Society of Personality Assessment, the American Psychological Association and the corporate board of the Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps for Children. He is listed in Who’s Who in Medicine and Science, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

Mark-David Janus, C.S.P.
Phone: 616.459.7267
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Fr. John Kenny, C.S.P. Fr. John Kenny was ordained in 1958. His first Paulist assignment was to the faculty of St. Peter's College, the Paulist college seminary in Baltimore. While there his summers were free, so he often helped out at the Grand Rapids Center (including the whole summer of 1958). He was director of the Center here from 1970 to 1978. His other Paulist assignments have been to campuses: Boston U., West Virginia U., Colorado U. and Clemson, the last three as pastor. You can reach him by calling the Center Office at 616-459-7267.

John Kenny, C.S.P.
Phone: 616.459.7267
E-Mail

Joachim Lally, CSP, is Associate Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Andrew and a   presenter for the Catholic Information Center.  After ten years as a Benedictine Monk, Fr. Joachim joined the Paulist Fathers in 1972.  In addition to his theological studies, he has an M.S. in Counseling and is a certified presenter of Centering Prayer.  He has served in parishes, Newman centers and information centers, specializing in a variety of ministries with African Americans and Hispanics.  He has traveled      extensively in the Dominican Republic, participating in and leading over thirty  evangelization, construction, and medical missions as well as founding and directing a Spanish language total immersion program in Santo Domingo, from 1985-95.

 

 

Joachim Lally, CSP
Phone: 616.456-1454
E-Mail

Mary Vaccaro serves as Associate Director for Program Desgin at the Catholic Information Center and an Adjunct Faculty Member in Theology and Women’s Studies at Aquinas College. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Aquinas College and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College.  She served on the board of Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism (GRACE) from 2002-2006 and is a member of the speakers’ bureau for the Interfaith Dialogue Association. Mary has served for several years in various types of parish ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.  She is an Associate of the Grand Rapids Dominicans.

Mary has been on staff at the Center since May of 1999.  Her ministry includes preaching, teaching and various kinds of public speaking.  She also coordinates the Center’s education and formation programming.  As a teacher, she especially enjoys offering courses on Scripture, Sacraments, Social Justice, Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogue, Vatican Council II and Women’s Studies.  Mary integrates theology and human experience into all of her teaching through exploring works of literature, art, music, storytelling and humor.   She also strives to inspire and foster critical thinking, theological reflection, contemplative prayer and social activism in all capacities of her ministry.

When she is not involved with all of the above, Mary enjoys, cooking, entertaining, reading, crossword puzzles, exercising and walking with her dog, Grace.  She loves to spend time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews.


You may contact her by phone 459-7267 or email mvaccaro@catholicinformationcenter.org

 Mary Vaccaro
Phone: 616.459.7267
E-Mail

Fr. Tom Tavella, C.S.P. was born and raised in New York, just a little ways from Kennedy Airport.  He is the oldest of 6 boys and grew up in a largely Jewish neighborhood on Long Island.  He joined the Paulists in 1976 and after receiving an M.A. in Scripture Studies from the Washington Theological Union, was ordained a Paulist priest in May 1981.  He has served in St. Peter’s parish in Toronto, The Newman Center at West Virginia University and in the downtown parish staffed by the Paulists in Knoxville Tennessee.  In 1998 he was assigned to the Preaching Apostolate at the Paulist Mother House in Manhattan.  There he traveled throughout the country giving parish missions and retreats.  During his 23 years as a priest Fr. Tom has done Newman work, parish work, radio, TV, teaching and preaching.  You may contact Fr. Tom through is e-mail or by calling the Center Office at (616) 459-7267.

 
 

Tom Tavella, C.S.P.
Phone: 616.459.7267
E-Mail

Irene Davis Strom is the Associate Director of Business Operations at the Catholic Information Center.  She earned her Master in the Art of Teaching degree from Aquinas in May 2008.  Irene has been on staff at the Catholic Information Center since October 1978, where she has been responsible for the daily business functions of the Center, responsibilities that include finance, personnel, and building management.  She is also active in planning and implementing educational programs and social events at the Center.  You can contact Irene at the Center office at (616) 459-7267.

  

Irene Davis-Strom
Phone: 616.459.7267
E-Mail

Eulene Freeland joined the Center Staff  in March of 2001. She is currently Fr. Mark-David Janus' Administrative Assistant. To contact Eulene please call her at  at 616-456-1454.

Eulene Freeland
Phone: 616.456-1454
E-Mail
 

Joyce Wright  joined the staff at the Catholic Information Center as receptionist over ten years ago. She is also coordinator of the New Life Ministry group for the separated, divorced, widowed and never married. New Life is based at the Center. To contact Joyce you may call the Center evenings at 616-459-7267.

Joyce Wright
Phone: 616.459.7267

 



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360 Division Ave. S, Suite 2A -
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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