The Archdiocesan Catechetical Leaders Association (ACLA) was founded by Washington’s former archbishop, Cardinal James A. Hickey, in 1994. The mission of the Association is to foster, the personal, professional, and spiritual growth of catechetical leaders in the Church of Washington.

Goals

• To address the ongoing spiritual and professional needs and responsibilities of its members.
• To encourage collaboration with the Archbishop, his auxiliary bishops and the Archdiocesan Office for Religious Education in handing on the Catholic faith through parish catechetical programs.
• To improve communication and networking with those Archdiocesan offices that impact life-long faith formation in parishes.

Membership Benefits

• Opportunities for professional development in the areas of theology, catechetics, liturgy and pastoral administration.
• All expenses associated with both the general and regional ACLA meetings.
• Scholarships up to $200 annually for approved courses, conferences and workshops.
• Opportunities for spiritual growth through regional days of recollection and an annual ACLA retreat. (A portion of the cost of this annual retreat is covered by the Association for dues-paying members).
• Organizational membership in the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL).

Executive Committee

Judith Brusseau
Co-President
Holy Trinity, Washington, DC
202-337-2840 ext. 119
JBrusseau@holytrinitydc.org

Rob Maro
Co-President
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Washington, DC
202-449-3989
rmaro@blessedsacramentdc.org

Mary Theresa Heneghan
Vice President
St. Elizabeth, Rockville
301-881-1380
mtheneghan@aol.com

Michele Olewack
Treasurer
Our Lady of the Visitation, Darnestown
301-948-5536 ext. 107
molewack@olvp.org

Regional Representatives

Calvert County
Julie Benjamin
Jesus the Divine Word, Huntingtown
410-414-8304 ext. 123
religioused@jesusdivineword.org

Charles County
Vacant

District of Columbia
Patricia Waddell
St. Teresa of Avila
202-678-3709 ext. 11
patw@stachurch.org

Michael Howard
St. Francis de Sales
202-529-2147
howardetsm@yahoo.com

Montgomery County
Mary Beaudoin
St. Raphael
301-762-2143 ext. 124
mbeaudoin@straphaels.org

Mary Tull
St. Andrew the Apostle
301-649-4200 ext. 1
standrewreled@yahoo.com

Prince George’s County
Cathy Ziegler
Mount Calvary
301-735-5262 ext. 17
caziegler@yahoo.com

St. Mary’s County
Leonard Wathen
St. Aloysius
301-475-8064 ext. 16
lwathen@staloysiuschurch.org

Stacey Panei
St. John Francis Regis
301-373-2281
sjcreled@verizon.net

Hispanic
Stuart Benalcazar
Our Lady Queen of the Americas
202-332-8838
stevbb@msn.com

Gilvar Morales
Our Lady of Lourdes
301-788-8651
catequesis@bethesdalourdes.org