Team & Staff

Rev. Paul Wierichs, C.P. - Director: Fr Paul most recently served as Pastor of St. Ann's Basilica in Scranton, PA, beginning February 2004. Fr. Paul was professed a Passionist on March 8, 1964 and was ordained a Passionist priest on May 18, 1978.

Fr. Paul's missions over the past years include teaching high school in Philadelphia, running retreats for high school and college students, serving as Retreat Director at the Bishop Molloy Retreat House in Jamaica, NY and serving as administrator at Shelter Island which houses St. Gabriel's, the only retreat house on the east coast dealing with youths of all cultures and religious backgrounds. Fr. Paul's assignment as FBI chaplain has taken him to the sites of two of the worst disasters in the metropolitan area, the crash of TWA flight 800 and the attack on the World Trade Center. Fr. Paul administered spiritual counseling to family members, law enforcement agents, emergency workers and the injured, as well as administering the Last Rights to the victims at the scenes of the disasters.

Also, Fr. Paul’s assignment as Passionist Director for Special Gifts included the responsibility of the Annual Award Event that recognizes those individuals who distinguish themselves in their own fields. Past award recipients include Cardinal O’Connor, Cardinal Egan, The Honorable Louis Freeh, The Honorable Elizabeth Dole, Mary Higgins Clark, General Barry McCaffrey, Governor Frank Keating, James Kallstrom and Brother Louis De Thomasis FSC.

Rev. Damian Towey, C.P. - Associate Director: Father Towey, a native of Newark, N.J. was also educated in Passionist Theologates in New York and New Jersey. Prior to his Profession in 1949 and Ordination in 1956 he served in the Navy aboard the USS Tarawa. Fr. Damian celebrated his Golden Jubilee of ordination at Our Lady of Florida in 2006. He has a Doctorate of Canon Law from University Propanda Fidei in Rome. In the 60's he served as Director of Students at monasteries in Scranton and Springfield, Mass. From there he was Rector in Baltimore and Union City. Fr. Damian served as Provincial Consultor in South River, NJ from 1982 to 1990. He has been a Retreat Team member (Associate Director) since 1991. He also serves as Promoter of Justice for the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Rev. Patrick Daugherty, C.P. – Associate Director: Father Pat entered formation with the Passionists in 1995 and was professed as a Passionist on September 6, 1998. A native of Long Island, N. Y. Fr. Pat was born at St. Albans Naval Hospital, Queens N. Y. As a young boy he lived in N.J., California and Kentucky and from 5^th grade on in Hicksville, New York. Fr. Pat grew up Lutheran and became a Catholic in 1980.

Prior to joining the Passionists Fr. Pat worked for 18 years at Auto-Mat-Co,Inc. in Hicksville, Long Island. He received an Associates degree in Financial Accounting from Nassau Community College, N.Y., holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy from La Salle University in Philadelphia, and a Masters of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He also received a certificate in Alcohol and Addictions Counseling from South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, New York.

Fr. Pat was ordained a priest on June 13, 2002 and served as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter Catholic Church in Greenville, N.C. for the past six years. In addition to the usual ministry of a parish priest Fr. Pat started a Young Adult group, trained altar servers, and was chaplain to the Golden Eagles, the Knights of Columbus and St. Peter’s School football team. Each year he accompanied the high school students and adult leaders on their summer mission trips. Fr. Pat is an avid reader, loves football and feeding hummingbirds.

Sr. Roberta A. Popara, O.P. – Associate Director: Sister Roberta, an only child, was born and raised in California. Living in Illinois since the late sixties, she worked for two corporations before entering the Sinsinawa (Wisconsin) Dominicans. Professed in 1983, she has lived and ministered in the Chicago area for 19 years. She has studied at Illinois State University (Business Administration), Catholic Theological Union (Masters in Theological Studies, biblical studies in the Middle East, and currently Doctor of Ministry candidate in Spirituality), Aquinas Institute (Preaching), as well as training in health care chaplaincy. She has ministered in parishes and service agencies, including Holy Name Cathedral Parish, Chicago. She serves on various committees for her congregation, including the Preaching Task Force and Anti-racism Training Team. Personal interests include reading (for study and pleasure), trying various ethnic foods and power walks. Don't forget to ask her about her camels.

Ellen K. McCormack, Ph.D. - Associate Director is a Roman Catholic laywoman who has been teaching students in elementary schools, high schools, graduate schools and seminary during the past thirty years.. Ellen has taught religious education to children, teens and adults from both Catholic and Protestant traditions. Receiving her Ph.D. in Christian spiritual formation in 1997 from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA), Ellen is dedicated to helping adults find ways to connect their everyday lives with their deepest faith beliefs. Believing that God dwells within and among us, Christians yearn to live from that deepest core of our being where we are always and already united with God. Excited to be on Our Lady of Florida’s retreat team, Ellen reports that “retreat ministry is an awesome venue for sharing and walking together in faith. As a facilitator for Loyola University’s (New Orleans) LIMEX program, Ellen meets weekly at the Diocesan Center with a small group of Catholic laymen and women who are pursuing their Master’s degree in Religious Education or Religious Studies. With an undergraduate degree in physical education, Ellen enjoys playing outdoors! She likes to rollerblade and rides her bike during “winter” in Florida. Recently purchasing a sewing machine, Ellen looks forward to doing some quilting work.

Rev. Emmanuel Hugh Gardon (y Delgado y Melendez y Casey), C.P. is the elder statesman of the Center. Fr. Gardon is an only child from The Bronx. Professed in 1943 and Ordained in 1950, he celebrated fifty seven years of Priesthood on June 3, 2007. Fr. Emmanuel’s education includes a B.S. in Philosophy, M.A. in Divinity, M.S. in Library Science and an M.S. in Psychology from St. John’s in New York. He has served as Librarian, Teacher and Music Director in Jamaica and Dunkirk, New York; Parochial Vicar in Atlanta, Jamaica and Hayward, California; Pastor of St. Michael’s in Union City, New Jersey and on the Retreat Team in Riverdale, NY. Fr. Gardon was drawn to his ministry by a “Superior Decision” and states that he has never made a decision for himself, but allowed God to move him, accepting all of his assignments from his superiors. Fr. Emmanuel is the Police and Firefighters Chaplain in North Palm Beach and does volunteer work as a tram driver at John D. McArthur State Park. He loves dogs and his current shadow, Tammy, is loved by all. Fr. Emmanuel also enjoys kayaking, music, reading, gym workouts, sightseeing and prayer.

Last Updated: July 31, 2008