Providing help and creating hope in Maine
Portland, Maine - On January 28th, Catholic Charities Maine welcomed five new board members. They are:
Danielle Ahern, Senior Vice President and Director of Treasury Services at Machias Savings Bank, has a distinguished banking career spanning over two decades. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maine at Orono and her Master of Business Administration from Husson University. Danielle currently serves as Chairperson of the Board for Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) and has a long history of volunteerism spanning several other organizations, including as past Treasurer of the Bangor YMCA, University of Maine Alumni Association, Penobscot Theatre, and Junior Achievement of Maine. Danielle and her husband Brian live in Bangor and are active members of St. Paul the Apostle Parish.
John Bonner is a lifelong Catholic and married father of four adult children. He is an active member of the Parish of the Precious Blood and the Knights of Columbus. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and is retired from the United States Border Patrol. He resides in Easton, Maine with his wife Theresa.
Elizabeth Keene serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Maine Primary Care Association. Prior to joining MPCA, she served as Vice President of Mission Integration at St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston. Elizabeth began her health care career in Baltimore, MD at Johns Hopkins Home Hospice and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. She is a fellow in Thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling. Elizabeth received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her M.A. from Boston College. She serves on several community boards. Elizabeth is a member at St. Michael Parish where she and her husband, Frank Cuff, are active in social justice ministries.
Fr Anthony D Lawir, born in Cameroon, was ordained on April 17th, 1998, for the Diocese of Kumbo- Cameroon, West Africa. He served as the Parochial Vicar and Manager of Schools, Binju-Nkambe, Rector of St. John the Apostle Quasi Parish Misaje; Spiritual Director and Teacher of the Minor Seminary Kitiwum, the Principal of SARICO Nkambe, the Rector of the Spiritual Formation Centre Bafut, the Catholic Education Secretary for the Diocese of Kumbo, the Kumbo Diocesan Chaplain of the Catholic Women Association, and the Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Nkambe Town. In 2021, I was appointed as a Fidei Donum, Gift of Faith, (Missionary Priest) priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland Maine. While here, he served in Good Shepherd Parish Saco before being appointed Pastor of St. Agnes and Our Lady of the Snows Parishes, Pittsfield and Dexter respectively.
Bruce White represented the 65th district in the Maine House of Representatives with distinction for six years. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and attends Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville. He served on the Parish Financial Council as well as many community boards and committees. Bruce retired from his job as a computer technician at the Winslow Public Schools in 2019. He has been married to his wife Doreen since 1977 and has two children, two grandsons, and a great grandson. His son, Fr. Sebastian White, O.P. is the editor-in-chief of Magnificat and the student master at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
In addition, the board has announced assignments as of January 2025. Jared des Rosiers remains Chair of the board; Paula Moses is the new Vice Chair; Scott Blakeslee is the new Treasurer, and Cindy Nickless remains Secretary.
© 2025 Catholic Charities Maine
