Philadelphia, April 8, 2022: The Daughters of Charity Services has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Mark Choonara.
Mark will be the first lay person to lead the charity since its launch in 2012, following Sister Margaret Barrett who served as director of Mission for seven successful years.
Mark joined Daughters of Charity Services in 2016 as Operations Manager, supporting the strategic development of the organization as it has grown and working closely with the family of charities which comprise Daughters of Charity Services.
Mark has worked with the international Vincentian Family Office in Philadelphia on the issue of the transmission of the Vincentian charism, the same subject on which his MBA thesis focused. Prior to joining the organization, Mark spent four years working at The Passage, a homelessness charity founded by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.
Sister Ellen Flynn, Chair of Daughters of Charity Services, said: “The trustees consider that all of this Vincentian context, experience and proven delivery are essential requirements for this post. Mark’s commitment to the Vincentian ideal and his vocation to addressing poverty will help shape the future direction of Daughters of Charity Services.”
Mark said: “I’m honored to take up this position and to support our family of charities as they serve some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities in our society in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul.”
The Daughters of Charity Services was founded by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul with the key purpose to continue the Daughter’s charitable works and Vincentian legacy long into the future.
Source:https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/44441
Most of the Syromalabar church’s issues can be solved through this mechanism. It should be properly intended for it’s right result. Politics in its worst form can found in church politics
Very unusual, though highly welcome! Few in religious life are willing to accept and acknowledge the religious oriented capabilities of their lay collaborators. Most religious, both men and women, apparently imagine that the FIRST PROFESSION, CONSECRATION and ORDINATION change them overnight into know-alls, do-alls and be-alls whereby they have reached the peak of formation in every sphere of life and do not bat an eyelid before indicating their displeasure at being corrected or criticised on any any count whatsoever!
Congratulations Mark! May you be an inspiration to religious and lay-folk alike!