Catholic Charities Maine has named Lauren Moody as its new board chair and Jared des Rosiers as board vice chair. Both will serve for two years.

Moody is a parishioner of Prince of Peace in Lewiston. She serves as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. She is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and volunteers for St. Martin de Porres residence. She previously worked in the field of surgical technology in both New Jersey and Maine. Moody resides in Auburn with her husband Wayne.

Des Rosiers is a partner in Pierce Atwood LLP and has practiced with the Portland firm since 1992. His legal practice focuses on complex energy regulatory, infrastructure development, and siting, and litigation matters. He is a member of the firm’s management committee and chairs its energy practice group. Des Rosiers holds a juris doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Notre Dame. He actively provides pro bono legal services as the former pro bono partner for his firm and current director of VLP Inc., the nonprofit responsible for the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project. Des Rosiers also enjoys volunteering at the Preble Street Resource Center. He is a member of the Parish of Holy Eucharist, where he previously served on the Parish Finance Council. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Falmouth and have six children.

In addition, two new members have joined the Catholic Charities Maine Board; they are Cynthia Nickless and Darrell Blackwell.

Nickless currently serves as board president for Maria Mater Dei Missions, Inc., a nonprofit which has launched the FAITH CONQUERS FEAR™ initiative. She serves as a board member for the GIVEN Institute and the Finance Council for St. John Paull II Parish in Scarborough. She was the founder and executive director of The Presence Radio Network. Prior to her involvement with Catholic radio, her career was in the technology industry. She has served as a board member for the Catholic Foundation of Maine, the Diocese of Portland Finance Council, Positive Radio Network (89.3FM), Chairperson of the Catholic Radio Association, EWTN Affiliate Advisory Team, and Public Policy Committee for the Diocese of Portland. She received her bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of Southern Maine.

Blackwell lives in Wells with his wife, Marla. He was ordained in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1996. He retired from active ministry at Holy Spirit Parish in Wells/Kennebunk in May 2021 but continues to exercise his diaconal ministry within the parish. Deacon Darrell is a Fourth Degree Knight and the Spiritual Advisor for his council. He also is a board member of the Beacon Charitable Corporation.