News/Events

July 27, 2007 - Catholic Charities of Boston Appoints New President

Brighton, MA -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston have announced the appointment of Ms. Tiziana Dearing as the President of Catholic Charities. Ms. Dearing will report to Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, who since 2004 has served as both the President of Catholic Charities and the Secretary for Social Services for the Archdiocese. 

"Fr. Hehir's role as Social Services Secretary not only involves responsibility for Catholic Charities, but also for other agencies in the Archdiocese such as Life Resources, St. Ann's Home, Pro-Life Office and service on the Board of the Mass Catholic Conference.  Additionally, Fr. Hehir is assisting with the 2010 Initiative for Catholic Education and consultations pertaining to the Archdiocese's health care ministry," said Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley. "These important responsibilities compete with the time needed for management of Catholic Charities. We are fortunate that Ms. Dearing, who has significant experience as a management consultant and particular familiarity with the needs of non profit organizations, will provide the day to day leadership that will allow Catholic Charities to most effectively carry out its mission.”

The Cardinal added, “Her work with Catholic Relief Services and her service to the Archdiocese in assisting the preparation of the financial transparency report in 2006 gives her a strong understanding of the work of the Archdiocese and its affiliated institutions. Tiziana is an outstanding example of lay persons bringing their skills and talents to the work of the Church for the good of all whom we serve and the wider society.”

Fr. Hehir welcomed Ms. Dearing to the work of Catholic Charities. "I have known and worked with Tiziana at Catholic Relief Services and at Harvard. I believe that she brings a unique blend of skill, dedication and experience to this agency whose work is essential to the Church and the welfare of civil society in Massachusetts. She will find, as I have at Catholic Charities, colleagues who are deeply committed to the service of the poor and vulnerable in our society. Daily they place their skill, their commitment and their lives in the service of others." Since 2003 Ms. Dearing has served as Executive Director of the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University. Leading the center through a period of strategic change, her responsibilities have included providing strategic direction; marketing and fundraising; personnel management; relationship management with major donors, foundations and advisory board members; serving as the public face of the center; coaching students, faculty and researchers; and conducting independent research.

"We have been blessed with Fr. Hehir’s leadership as both President and Secretary of Social Services, and we are happy to know that Catholic Charities will continue to benefit from his spiritual and intellectual leadership as Secretary of Social Services,” said Jeffrey J. Kaneb, Chair of the Catholic Charities Board of Trustees.  “As President, Tiziana brings the skills, background and enthusiasm that will be critical to Catholic Charities as we seek to meet the increasing needs of the children and families in the Archdiocese, as well as new areas of need in the immigrant communities.  As a Board, we all look forward to working with her to continue to meet these needs.” 

Prior to joining the Hauser Center, Ms. Dearing served in a number of consultant roles for nonprofit organizations including faith-based organizations, specializing in strategy, organizational development, executive coaching, conflict and group problem solving, program start-up and ethics. Her work as a consultant included providing knowledge management, process development and strategic measurement consulting to Fortune 500 companies.

"I am truly excited about this opportunity," said Ms. Dearing. "Catholic Charities has a century-long tradition here in Boston of serving those in need, regardless of faith, and of helping to fulfill the Church's social mission. It is an honor to join a group of people who have dedicated their professional lives to this work. I look forward to working with the Cardinal, Fr. Hehir, the Board of Catholic Charities, and its dedicated staff."

Ms. Dearing earned a Masters in Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government from Harvard University in 2000. A 1992 graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelors degree in English, she graduated with Distinction.

Born and raised in Michigan, Ms. Dearing is a resident of Bedford, Massachusetts where she resides with her husband and two children.

About Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston

For more than 100 years, Catholic Charities has continued its mission of building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people. The agency provides approximately 140 programs and services throughout Eastern Massachusetts. These services respond to the needs of the poor and working poor, provide supportive services to children and families, and assist refugees and immigrants as they become active participants in their communities. Last year, Catholic Charities served nearly 200,000 people in need of all faiths. To discover more of our work, visit www.ccab.org.

About the Archdiocese of Boston

The Archdiocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of approximately 2 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 295 parishes, across 144 communities, educating nearly 50,000 students in its Catholic schools and 156, 000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of more than one million patients annually in its hospitals and 200,000 individuals through its social service outreach. Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit www.rcab.org.

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