Board of Directors

The Most Reverend Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V., was installed as Bishop of Fall River on September 24, 2014, in the context of Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

He was born in Nova Fatima, Bahia, Brazil, on August 21, 1953, the son of Manoel and Josefa Moreira.

Bishop da Cunha was ordained to the priesthood for the Society of Divine Vocations, in the Church of St. Michael, Newark, by Bishop Joseph A. Francis, S. V .D., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, on March 27, 1982.

Claudine A. Cloutier manages the litigation departments at Keches Law Group in Taunton, MA where she was named partner in 2007. She authored the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education article “Who Is Responsible For An Injury On a Residential Construction Project?” and co-authored and later updated the MCLE article “Practical Aspects of Pursuing a Construction Injury Claim.”

Claudine is a member of the American Association for Justice and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. She has been recognized as a SuperLawyer in both Massachusetts and New England by Boston Magazine. She completed her undergraduate studies at Yale University in 1992 and graduated cum laude from Suffolk University Law School in 1995.

Claudine was recognized as the 2014 Distinguished Attorney and received the St. Thomas More Medal at the annual Red Mass. She taught Confirmation classes and helped to organize Confirmation retreats for over 15 years and was a communicant of St. Bernadette’s parish in Fall River. She is a trustee and donor to the Durfee High School Alumni Scholarship Fund through which she established the Richard and Cecile Cloutier Scholarship in honor of her parents. She is a benefactor to Catholic Charities and currently the Chairman of the Board for FACE.

After spending 3 ½ years in the United States Coast Guard, and while attending night school at the University of Rhode Island, George joined his father and brother in the family construction company.
After his father retired, George became the sole owner of the company and grew its revenue and reputation to what they are today. He has had the distinguished honor of being a finalist for the 1989 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from both Ernst & Young Accounting firm and Inc. Magazine. His superb business acumen, ethical character and entrepreneurial spirit has also won him an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University.

A member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, George is also a former Chairperson of the Catholic Charities Appeal, a member of the President’s Council for Save the Bay, and a former member of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels.  In addition, George is a Board Member of the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, as well as active in the Sisters of Mercy Educational Fund Drive.  In 2010, and along with his wife, Mary, he established The Agostini Family Foundation, a private charitable foundation.  Since its inception, the Foundation has supported various charities in both Africa and South America.  Closer to home, the Foundation is a strong supporter of the Bryant University Catholic Campus Ministry, wherestudents, during their spring break, participate in community service with a number of nonprofit ministries. In his spare time George enjoys golf, traveling to Florida and Bermuda and, most importantly, spending time with his three children, their spouses and his seven grandchildren.

Rev. George C. Bellenoit is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River. He was ordained in 1972 by Bishop Cronin. He subsequently served in parishes in the Attleboro, Fall River and Cape Cod Deaneries. In recent years, he served as Dean for Attleboro and Cape Cod and the Islands. Most recently he was pastor of St. Mary, Mansfield and then St. Pius X, S. Yarmouth. Both parishes have elementary schools which have opened in 2002 and 2004 respectively. Father served as Co-Chair of the Task Force on Catholic Education formed by Bishop da Cunha in the spring of 2015. Retired now, Father George resides on Cape Cod and provides sacramental assistance in cape parishes.

Nicholas Christ is the President and CEO of BayCoast Bank, a community bank serving SouthCoast Massachusetts and Rhode Island. An active member of the community, Christ is involved with a multitude of non-profit organizations throughout the Fall River and New Bedford areas. Some of his affiliations include the City of Fall River’s Task Force to End Homelessness as well as the SouthCoast Development Partnership.  Additionally, Mr. Christ serves on the board of the Bristol County Chamber of Commerce, the SSTAR Campaign Steering Committee, the Finance Committee for Holy Name Church and the Diocese of Fall River Catholic Foundation Task Force.  

As an advocate of education, supporting local schools and encouraging the business community to take an active role in the education of our students has always held particular importance for Christ. He has served on various school advisory boards, including those of Bishop Connolly High School, the Charlton College of Business at UMass Dartmouth, and the Diocese of Fall River Central Catholic School Board. He views the increased interaction and collaboration across the Diocese as truly a spiritual experience that he believes has created momentum and enthusiasm that is palpable. Mr. Christ is honored and humbled to be associated with the Diocese and is truly excited about its future and what is taking place.   

Maureen Cody is a Certified Public Accountant and managing partner at Leahy, Cody & O’Donnell, LLC. She has been in public accounting since 1980 and licensed with the MA Society of CPA’s since 1995 and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Her professional experience includes tax and accounting for individuals, business, non-profits, estates and trusts. Maureen is very involved in community organizations. She is currently an active board member and past president of The Boys & Girls Club of Taunton, director at Bristol County Savings Bank, director on the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation, Treasurer and past president of the Rotary Club of Taunton and past Chair of Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Ed Hurley has been President of the Hockomock Area YMCA since 1993. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a regional YMCA serving 15 area communities in Southeastern Massachusetts. Ed previously worked 7 years at the YMCA of Greater Worcester. Prior to joining the YMCA, Ed spent 8 years as Executive Assistant to the President of Springfield (MA) College. A native of Holyoke, MA, Ed is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Ed has been active in the local community serving as President of the North Attleboro/Plainville Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. Ed also served on the Board of Directors of the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and a Corporator of Milford Regional Medical Center.

Ed has been active in YMCA child protection efforts locally, in MA, and nationally. Ed was a founding member of Guardians, a national group of YMCA CEOs focused on protecting children through educating adults and local communities in preventing child sexual abuse. Ed was the first chair of that group and has also served on various National YMCA committees and task forces.

Ed resides in North Attleboro with his wife Sue. They have three children and two grandchildren.

Paul Kawa is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Natco Home Group, a textile manufacturer and importer, headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

He previously served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chancellor for the Diocese of Fall River from 2014-2016.  Prior to joining the Diocese, he served in a variety of senior financial roles for a number of publicly-traded multinational manufacturing and technology companies, including EnerNOC, Inc., Evergreen Solar, and Helix Technology Corporation.  During his 35+ year career he has managed in diverse environments, led continuous improvement initiatives and mentored and built high impact teams. Paul began his career at EY where he spent seven years.

After attending Coyle and Cassidy High School, he graduated summa cum laude from Bryant University.  Paul is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts and the Rhode Island Society of CPA’s.  He resides in Mansfield and is a member of St. Mary’s Parish where he serves on the parish finance council and the school’s advisory council.

Dennis Kelly Graduated from Providence College.

He is the former President and Current Chairman of the Bristol County Savings Bank and is Chairman of the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation.

Previously, Mr. Kelly was the former Chairman of the Massachusetts Bankers Association, Depositors Insurance Fund of Massachusetts, Bridgewater State University Foundation, Attleboro YMCA, and the United Way of Greater Attleboro and Taunton.

Currently, Dennis is the Vice Chairman of the Diocese of Fall River Finance Council, and is a Board Member of Sturdy Memorial Hospital and the Attleboro YMCA.

Mr. Kelly is a member of the St. John the Evangelist of Attleboro Church Finance Council and St. John the Evangelist School Principal’s Advisory Board.

Kevin was hired as Chancellor and CFO of Diocese of Fall River in April 2016 and spent over 23 years in the Archdiocese of Boston previously in financial, operational and strategic roles. As Chancellor and CFO for the Diocese, Kevin assists Bishop da Cunha with the temporal affairs of all Corporation Sole and Affiliates of the Diocese including Catholic Schools. As a member of the Board, Kevin is committed to success for our great schools and excited to be part of the effort.

Kevin was educated at Suffolk University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Kevin is a Certified Diocesan Fiscal Manager and currently matriculating at Villanova University in their Masters in Church Management Program.

Kevin reside in Marshfield with my wife and four children, with one attending Catholic College and two attending Catholic High School.

Jane Robin serves as Development Associate for the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.  Jane has almost twenty years of experience with the Diocese, in fundraising and event planning where she has built a rapport with donors, volunteers, members of the Diocesan family and the community. At the Catholic Foundation, Jane continues to foster donor relations and provide support to various committees and volunteers during fundraising initiatives and events.

Prior to arrival at the Diocese, Jane spent 17 years in the Development office at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich. She served as the Development Operations Manager where she was responsible for donor recognition events, fundraisers and Golf Classics held at private clubs.

A native of Cape Cod, Jane received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Westfield State University.

Previously, Dan served as an associate superintendent at the Catholic Schools Office for the Archdiocese of Boston.  His focus was on mission effectiveness and leadership, developing and supervising a principal evaluation system, and providing ongoing support to principals and pastors on human resources, legal issues, and other school policy matters.

Prior, Dan was the principal at Nativity Prep, where he directed a rigorous, faith-based academic middle school program for boys from low-income families residing in Boston.

From 2007 to 2011, Dan was on the faculty at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro teaching theology for multi-grade levels.

Dan holds two Masters of education degrees from Boston College, in educational leadership and in secondary education. He earned his bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Macalester College in Minnesota.

He is married and the father of twin girls. His wife is a Catholic principal outside the Fall River Diocese and his daughters attend a Catholic elementary school.