Board of Directors

The first North American Lourdes Volunteer, Marlene Watkins made her Commitment to the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Piscine Service on April 11, 2006, and is now a Hospitalité Formation teacher. Marlene oversees our Association, leading both Special Needs and...

Barry Vaughn  |  President  |  Syracuse DioceseBarry has a wide technology background, having been involved in numerous technology companies from start-up to mid-size to Fortune 10. His 30-year career includes leading technology companies, groups and projects of...

          Teresa Lewis made her Commitment to the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes in the Service Notre-Dame on April 4, 2012, and has served on the Board of Directors since 2009. As our “Madame Accueil Notre-Dame,” she is responsible for our...

Joining the Board of Directors in 2015, Jim Kernell brings his legal experience and insight to the canonical and civil needs of the Association. Jim provides reporting and documentation of legal records for the Association in the Church and to...

Dr. Belen Tan, MD  |  Board Member  |  Diocese of St Augustine  Dr. Belen Tan joined the board of directors in 2019, after serving faithfully as a medical volunteer since 2017. In addition to her service on Special Needs Pilgrimages, she was instrumental in...

Erika Vincent manages the day-to-day operations of the Association’s Syracuse headquarters, providing accounting and contract oversight, coordinating internal and external communications and leading our dedicated office team. As Lourdes Volunteers’ first...

Jim Barton  |  Board Member  |  Archdiocese of Milwaukee Jim is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and has devoted his life to leading and serving others. He holds an M.A. in Computer Resources and Information Management, a B.A. in Psychology and certificates in...

Pam Barton  |  Board Member  | Archdiocese of Milwaukee   Pam joined the board of directors in 2019. A volunteer member since 2009, she began her service as youth leader and catechist. She continues sharing the gospel message of Lourdes across the Midwest as...

In honor of her husband’s decade of extraordinary leadership, Dr. Majel Braden accepted an honorary position to the Board of Directors in 2016, where she guides the growth and development of the Association and helps facilitate Special Needs Pilgrimages. Majel is an...

Tonja Lynde-Kernell  |  Board Member  | Kansas City Archdiocese An attendee of the very first Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience in 2004, Tonja joined her husband Jim on the Board of Directors in 2019. A former chemist, she is an active member of Curé of Ars Parish...

Melinde Nene | RN | Diocese of St. Petersburg Nurse Melinde joined the board of directors in 2020, after faithfully serving on our medical team since 2008. Melinde is our Head Nurse and Supportive Care Plan Specialist, having developed hundreds of detailed plans to...

Nancy Pease is a leader of our Special Needs Pilgrimages, serving on the Board of Directors since 2017. She is also a stagiaire with the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes in St. Jean de Baptiste service. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force...

Ret. LTC Patrick “Brian” Polk | Board Member | Archdiocese of San Antonio Brian joined the board of directors in 2020. He first served with Youth Volunteer Pilgrimages and Special Needs Pilgrimages in 2007. Brian is a Board Certified Advanced Nursing Executive as well...

Edwin & Charo Rojas | Borad Members | Miami Archdiocese Edwin and Charo Rojas have served on the Board of Directors since 2016 and are leaders of our Special Needs Pilgrimages. As Spanish-speaking Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience Guides, Edwin and Charo...

Dr. Linda Satterlee  |  Board Member  |  Diocese of Orlando Dr. Linda Satterlee joined the Board of Directors in 2019, after faithfully lending her medical expertise since 2004 in her role as Medical Director. Over her tenure, she has traveled to Lourdes on Special...

Kathy Schulz | Board Member | Diocese of Corpus Christi Kathy is a retired U.S. Navy Commander. She holds a M.A. in Management, and a B.S. in Education. After retiring, she became a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant to care for her daughter. She helped bring...

Theresa Stiner | Board Member | Philadelphia Archdiocese A founding board member, Theresa Stiner made her commitment to the Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes in the Service of St. Jean de Baptiste in May of 2006. Theresa holds a degree in Management Information...

Father Hyde is the pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Camillus, NY. He also serves on the Diocese of Syracuse Tribunal, as well as a local hospital chaplain. Father has served as our Spiritual Director since March of 2017. Ordained in 1988, he holds degrees in history...

On June 4, 2019, Pope Francis appointed Most Reverend Douglas John Lucia to be the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse, succeeding Bishop Robert J. Cunningham who served the diocese since 2009. Formerly of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Bishop Lucia will be the...