Board of Directors

FDLC’s board is comprised of representatives from each of the USCCB’s 14 geographic regions, as well as two ex-officio members. The following directors are serving terms from October 2023 – October 2024.


Region 1

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Richard J. Clark
Archdiocese of Boston

Cathedral of the Holy Cross
1400 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
[email protected]


Region 2

New York

Rev. Sean Paul Fleming
Diocese of Buffalo
Saint Joseph Cathedral
50 Franklin Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
[email protected]


Region 3

New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Mr. Thomas Octave
Diocese of Greensburg
723 East Pittsburgh Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
[email protected]


Region 4

District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and the Military Archdiocese

Dr. James Starke, Chair
Diocese of Arlington

St. Mary’s University
5400 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21210
[email protected]


Region 5

Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee

Betty-Ann Hickey
Archdiocese of New Orleans
7887 Walmsley Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70125
[email protected]


Region 6

Ohio and Michigan

Msgr. Gary Smetanka
Archdiocese of Detroit

Our Lady Star of the Sea
467 Fairford Road
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
[email protected]


Region 7

Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin

Todd Williamson, Vice Chair
Archdiocese of Chicago
3525 South Lake Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60653
[email protected]


Region 8

Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota

Mr. Daniel Ewens
Diocese of Crookston
Sacred Heart Church
200 Third Street
East Grand Forks, MN 56721
[email protected]


Region 9

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska

Mrs. Kay Temple
Diocese of Davenport
3017 Provence Lane
Muscatine, IA 52761
[email protected]


Region 10

Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas

Rev. Marcus McFadin
Diocese of El Paso

St. Patrick Cathedral
1118 N. Mesa St.
El Paso, TX 79902
[email protected]


Region 11

California, Hawaii, and Nevada

Dr. Noreen McInnes
Diocese of San Diego

3888 Paducah Drive
San Diego, CA  92117
[email protected]


Region 12

Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington

Tish Thornton, Treasurer
Diocese of Boise

1501 S. Federal Way, Suite 400
Boise, ID 83705
[email protected]


Region 13

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

Rev. Rob Spaulding
Diocese of Cheyenne
St. Paul Newman Center
1800 Grand Avenue
Laramie, WY 82070
[email protected]


Region 14

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina

Lisa Weis
Diocese of Orlando

St. Margaret Mary Church
526 North Park Avenue
Winter Park, FL 32789
[email protected]


Ex-Officio

Mrs. Rita Thiron
Executive Director
FDLC

415 Michigan Avenue NE, Suite 70
Washington, DC 20017
[email protected]

Rev. Dustin Dought
Executive Director
Secretariat for Divine Worship
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
[email protected]