STAFF MEMBERS

Dave joined World Villages for Children in 2023. Dave was won over for the mission of Father Al and the Sisters of Mary after his book club read Priest and Beggar. He has a spirit of service with a Eucharistic outlook. 

Dave received his bachelor’s from the greatest school in the nation, Notre Dame, and his MBA from George Mason. He has a long history working with Catholic Nonprofits. Most recently, he was the Director of the Annual Appeal for the Archdiocese of Washington. Dave also has volunteered with international religious orders and currently volunteers locally at his parish as lector, basketball coach, finance council member, and Eucharistic adorer. 

Dave enjoys sports, Cuban cigars, watching the Great British Bake Off and spending time with his wife and 6 kids…not necessarily in that order. 

Paul joined Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children in 2020, motivated by the tireless work of the Sisters of Mary and the inspiration provided by its founder, Fr. Al. Paul has over 20 years of experience working the in the nonprofit sector. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Colorado and his master’s in public administration from the University of Illinois. He has certificates in nonprofit management and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Paul enjoys running to no place in particular, following Colorado sports teams and spending time with his wife and four kiddos.

Janet Klotz has been working with World Villages for Children for over 25 years.

Janet provides support to our donors, our staff and our Board of Directors. From the very beginning, she developed a strong sense of devotion to the Sisters of Mary and their charity works. If you don’t believe us, just call her! In addition to answering donor questions, Janet enjoys gardening, reading, upcycling furniture, and spending time with her husband and two adult children.

“The Sisters of Mary represents so much of what I stand for as a person. Hope, mercy and compassion. I try to put these words into action every day.”

Ivy received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of New Haven. After being a treasurer for her church for almost 10 years while in Connecticut, Ivy has found a new home working for Sisters of Mary- World Villages for Children in Maryland. She has been with the Sisters of Mary far over 5 years now.

Ivy was born and raised in Queens, NY. However, she lived, studied and graduated High School in El Salvador. She knows first-hand what a poverty stricken country looks like and understands what resources are required to help getting children out of poverty. Ivy enjoys playing in soccer leagues, gardening and cooking. Her greatest joys and treasures are her children, Ivy Elizabeth and Caleb Benjamin.

“We all have a purpose in life. Our Heavenly Father has planned our life from the very beginning and this includes World Villages for Children. Father Al’s passion and commitment to the poorest of the poor children, and the purity and self-less acts of the Sisters towards this grand plan is no accident. You and I have been chosen to continue the good fight, and I am honored to be part of it.”

Colleen Sullivan Opack fell in love with the work of the Sisters of Mary and World Villages for children when she was a young girl. She was fortunate to meet our founder, Venerable Fr. Aloysius Schwartz in her home as a young girl. While in college she was blessed to see the program in person when she visited Father Al, the children, and Sisters in Korea and the Philippines with her family. That trip changed her life. She hosted fundraisers with friends for the Sisters as a young adult. She always wanted to work for a cause so near and dear to her heart. She feels blessed to be part of this wonderful work that is changing lives and forming truly Catholic missionaries one child at a time.

Colleen has made several pilgrimages to see the work firsthand and can attest to the life changing opportunities that our students are receiving thanks to our generous donors. Prior to accepting this position, Colleen served as VP of an environmental, health, and safety training company. She enjoys working with the public and serving on the board of her family’s foundation for Catholic Charities. In her spare time, Colleen enjoys spending her free time with her husband, two college age children, and dogs.

After working as a sports writer, building contractor, and Catholic author, Kevin Wells left everything for World Villages after discovering the holy work of the Sisters of Mary. Wells was so moved by the stories of “Fr. Al” and witnessing firsthand the sisters’ round-the-clock work to nourish, house, catechize and care for 21,000-plus teens in seven different countries, he penned the acclaimed biography: Priest and Beggar: The Heroic Life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, published in 2021 by Ignatius Press. Kevin’s book became a best-seller and has been published in German.

As the Director of Public Relations, Kevin travels throughout the United States to share stories on the missionary work of Fr. Al and the Sisters of Mary, where he presents a series of talks to parishes and book clubs. He has served as a “content expert” for the EWTN series “They Might Be Saints,” featuring Fr. Al Schwartz, in collaboration with Michael O’Neill, The Miracle Hunter.

Kevin is a graduate of Loyola University, where his studies in creative writing and journalism led to a major daily newspaper job with the Tampa Tribune, where he covered the Tampa Bay Rays MLB team. Kevin has served as Vice President for a thriving three-generation family contracting business, one of the oldest-surviving masonry outfits on the mid-Atlantic seaboard.

“Fr. Al’s thankless and grinding work to salvage a devastated post-war Korea was as heroic as any work done in the history of the Church. The Sisters’ continuation of his work today – with some of the most bullied children in the world – is testimony to Fr. Al’s intercession and the resilience and holiness of perhaps the hardest-working community of religious sisters in the world.”

Susan Driscoll joined the Sisters of Mary World Villages in 2021 and serves as Director of Mission Engagement. She has developed the pilot program for Spiritual Retreats and Pilgrimages in Girlstown, Chalco Mexico and coordinates all pilgrim logistics for the US team. She also serves as a key member of our Major Giving team.

She brings years of service both to the Church and in the nonprofit sector. She received a dual bachelor’s of Arts in Sociology and Art History from Keene State College, New Hampshire and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from St. Joseph’s College, Maine.

She has a strong devotion to serving the poor and was particularly inspired by the work of Fr. Al and the Sisters of Mary. Her favorite Saints are St. John Paul II and St. Josemaría Escrivá. Her joy is found in spending time with her husband, children and her spoiled rotten dogs.

“I love to facilitate visits to developing countries to introduce others to the plight of the poor first hand. I believe that when we look into the eyes of a person in need, hearts are moved and it allows us to see and respond to the inherent dignity of each person.”

Christy is honored to serve the Sisters of Mary and the 21,000 children in their care. She describes the schools as stepping into a little piece of Heaven and leaving with a heart full of gratitude and joy. The Sisters and the children are her inspiration at work every day.

She graduated from Catholic University and Johns Hopkins University, with degrees in Education and Instructional Design. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband and children, who bring her the most joy.

Emily joined World Villages for Children in 2023. She has her bachelor’s in Mass Communications and Marketing from Towson University. After college, she spent a year serving the homeless in Baltimore City. Emily has a heart for Jesus in the poor and Jesus in the Eucharist. She is in love with the work of the Sisters of Mary and the teachings of their founder, Father Al.