Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor
Meet Our Authors
David Adams
David Adams’ desire to integrate his faith into his work brought him to Cross Catholic Outreach in 2006, after years of service in the United States government, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Since joining Cross Catholic, David has overseen the expansion of the ministry’s work to about twice as many countries as when he started, while also cultivating new partnerships within those countries. Today, as VP of Missions, he continues to make strides in enhancing the ministry’s ability to collaborate with partners for better accountability and reporting and the promotion of Christian values formation.
Jim Cavnar
A deeply committed Catholic, Jim Cavnar cofounded Cross Catholic Outreach to follow Christ’s command to care for the poorest of the poor. Jim’s career spans more than four decades in ministry management and leadership. He has traveled around the globe to speak at conferences, parishes, and has been called upon to minister to church-based humanitarian programs. Representing Cross Catholic Outreach, Jim has traveled to the Vatican on numerous occasions, meeting St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict, and most recently, Pope Francis.
Father David Andrew Fisher
Reverend David Andrew Fisher was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained to the priesthood in May of 1984 by His Holiness, Saint John Paul II, in St. Peter’s Basilica after receiving formation at the North American College in Rome, Italy. He is an Outreach Priest with Cross Catholic Outreach, 4th degree Knights of Columbus, and presently adjunct professor of Eastern Christian Thought at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. Fr. Fisher is a priest of the Eparchy (Diocese) of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic Church).
Joanne Miceli-Bogash
Joanne Miceli-Bogash is the Director of Outreach Priests for Cross Catholic Outreach. She manages the administration, recruitment and development training of Cross Catholic Outreach Priests, comprised of more than 50 Roman Catholic priests who preach in parishes across the United States on behalf of the poor whom we serve.
Father Bernard Olszewski
Rev. Bernard Olszewski is a priest of the Diocese of Saint George’s in Grenada and was ordained in 1979. He earned his doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University and is currently Associate Professor of Philosophy at SUNY Erie College. In 2016, Pope Francis commissioned him as a Missionary of Mercy.
Bob Penette
Bob Penette has been Cross Catholic Outreach’s in-country project consultant for seven years, and has over 14 years of experience in international development, primarily in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. His father is Haitian so Bob has deep roots in the country.
“Father Ron,” as he is called by most people, is a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Georges in the Caribbean island nation of Grenada. Inspired by the life of Saint Francis of Assisi to work with the poor, Father Ron’s life prior to working with Cross Catholic Outreach had been one of college and university teaching and administration.
