Parish: Saint Michael, Greenville
You know there is a rich history of faith in play when someone tells you “my family has been involved in this parish for over 100 years.” Such is the case with another of the Catholic Foundation’s new board members, Roberta Leonard, who is an active member of Saint Michael Parish in Greenville. Professionally Roberta is the Vice President for College Advancement at Thiel College where she has made a significant impact over the years. In addition to her fund development expertise, Roberta has a finance background having served as the finance director of Mercer County in earlier years. Beyond her professional experience with endowment building, Roberta’s affinity for the Catholic Foundation mission attracted her to board service. “The role of faith in my life crystalized following the death of my two sisters,” Roberta shares. One sister died following an extended illness and the other suddenly just ten weeks later. “Faith helped our family navigate this journey,” she says. Roberta sees her participation in the board of the Catholic Foundation as an opportunity to give back “in the name of both of my sisters.” She adds, “The way you keep someone alive is to speak their name.” Roberta’s sister, Kristin, in particular was very involved at Saint Michael before her death.
Along with her many fond memories as a student at Saint Michael School in her youth, Roberta also speaks of how this community of faith is woven into her adult life. She speaks with pride of her involvement the church and the school. More personally, Roberta cared actively for her mother throughout the cancer journey that led to her death and her father who suffered from dementia.. Fr. David Foradori was pastor of Saint Michael at the time. “He was incredibly sweet and kind,” Roberta says, recalling ways the Saint Michael parish community was supportive. “My mother died with great faith, and I have learned that the core of our faith is sustaining in the most difficult times.”
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