Team & Staff

Very Rev. Paul Wierichs, C.P. - Director: I love being a Passionist and a priest. I have had many wonderful assignments. Retreat ministry, pastor, teacher, Director of Development for the Province of St. Paul of the Cross, FBI Chaplain, Palm Beach Sheriff's Chaplain and all have offered me an opportunity to use the gifts that God has given me. I am also extremely proud to be a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. DEUS LO VULT! Membership in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is one of the highest Papal awards which can be conferred on laity and clergy alike who have done meritorious work for the Church and are approved for nomination by their Bishops.

Two experiences that made a mark on my soul were the crash of TWA flight 800 and the attack of the World Trade Center. I 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.

I am the oldest of three children. My sister lives in New Jersey with one of her daughters. Her other daughter lives in Ireland with her husband. My brother also lives in New Jersey with his family. My dear parents are deceased for some time now, but as some of you may know this hurts no matter how long they may have gone onto the Lord.

Retreat ministry particularly here at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center has given me the grace to meet so many wonderful people. I believe we all know that we are on Holy Ground. This is one of the blessings of being a priest, people share with me their soul and in that moment I experience God.

I look forward to many more good years here serving the people who come to this beautiful place to find God’s love and peace. E-mail Fr. Paul here.

Rev. Damian Towey, C.P. - Associate Director: I am a native of Newark, New Jersey. I attended Our Lady of the Valley High School and graduated in 1944. During World War II I served in the United States Navy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa until my discharge in 1946. I subsequently worked as a Copyboy for the Newark Evening News.

While attending Seton Hall College on the GI Bill of Rights, I had a chance encounter with a Passionist priest who asked me “Are you satisfied with your life?” and that set me thinking. After much soul searching I felt the call to religious life and made my first profession of vows in 1949. I was ordained a priest along with 16 classmates in 1956.

In 1958 I was sent to Rome for higher studies and received a Doctorate in Canon Law from University Propaganda Fidei. Upon my return to the States I served as Director of Students and Professor of Canon Law for six years at our seminaries in Scranton and West Springfield. From 1968 to 1974 I served as Rector of Saint Joseph Monastery in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1974 I was elected Rector of Saint Michael’s Monastery in Union City, NJ. During this time I also served as Vicar for Religious for the Archdiocese of Newark. Later I was Associate Editor of SIGN magazine and in 1982 was elected to the Provincial Council and reelected to that office in 1986.

After a year as Associate Pastor of St Gabriel’s Parish in Brighton, Massachusetts I was assigned to Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in 1992. I was appointed Promoter of Justice for the Diocese of Palm Beach in 1994. I am an amateur chef and a movie buff. You can e-mail Fr. Damian here.

Rev. Patrick Daugherty, C.P. – Associate Director: I am a native of Long Island, New York. I was born at St. Albans Naval Hospital, Queens N. Y. As a young boy I lived in N.J., California, Kentucky and from 5^th grade on in Hicksville, New York. I grew up Lutheran and became a Catholic in 1980.

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

I entered formation with the Passionist in 1995 and Professed my vows on September 6, 1998. I was ordained a priest on June 13, 2002 and served as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter Catholic Church in Greenville, N.C. for six years. In addition to the usual ministry of a parish priest, I 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 I accompanied the high school students and adult leaders on their summer mission trips. I am an avid reader, love football and feeding hummingbirds. I have been at Our Lady of Florida since August 2008. E-mail Fr. Pat here.

Sr. Roberta A. Popara, O.P. – Associate Director: An only child, I was born and raised in California. Living in Illinois since the late sixties, I worked for two corporations before becoming a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, part of the Order of Preachers.

Professed in 1983, I have lived and ministered in the Chicago area until joining the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida in the Fall of 2002. I have studied at Illinois State University (Business Administration), Catholic Theological Union (Master of Divinity, biblical studies in the Middle East, as well as additional studies in spirituality and theology), Aquinas Institute (Preaching), as well as training in healthcare chaplaincy. Included among my Chicago ministries is Holy Name Cathedral Parish where I coordinated pastoral care outreach and adult formation for ministry.

I serve on various committees for my congregation, including the Community of Preachers and Anti-Racism Transformation Team. I participate on the North American Dominican Committee on Iraq. I am a member of the local chapter of Pax Christi USA, past co-chair of the Interfaith Clergy Committee, part of Jewish Community Relations Council in Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Coalition (working to end human trafficking/slavery here and globally.)

As part of my ministry at the Spiritual Center, I am available to people interested in Spiritual Direction/Companionship. Personal interests include reading (for study and pleasure), ethnic dining, power walks and caring for a small herd of camels! E-mail Sr Roberta here.

Rev. Emmanuel Hugh Gardon C.P. I, Emmanuel Hugh Gardon (y Delgado y Melendez y Casey), C.P. am a Latino and the oldest priest presently living at the Center. I am an only child and was born in The Bronx in 1921. In 1943 I took my Passionist vows and I was ordained in 1950. In June 2010 I will celebrate sixty years of Priesthood. Education-wise I have a B.S. in Philosophy, an M.A. in Divinity, an M.S. in Library Science and an M.S. in Psychology from St. John’s in New York.

My ministry has varied over the years and so I have served as Librarian, Teacher and Music Director, counselor to people in Jamaica and Dunkirk, New York and in Hayward California and here in North Palm Beach; I was Pastor for ten years in Union City, New Jersey, and Parochial Vicar in Atlanta, Jamaica and Hayward, California. I was also a member of the Retreat Team in Riverdale, NY.

Presently I am the Chaplain of the North Palm Beach Police and Fire Departments, and a Chaplain at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital. I love dogs and currently have two canine companions. There is Tammy, a prim and proper lady who is sixteen years old and there is Jason, a rambunctious rowdy who is fourteen years old. I enjoy kayaking, classical music, reading, gym workouts, and touring in a car and also living in Florida since August 2000. You can E-Mail Fr. Emmanuel here.

Rev. Fidelis Connolly, C.P. I was a classmate of Father Emmanuel and like him, I have had a long Passionist career. I was curate at St. Gabriel's parish, Boston in the early 50's. I volunteered as a chaplain for the Korean "Police Action" and was an Air Force Chaplain for seven years. Upon my return to the United States I was an assistant and later director of St. Gabriel's Retreat House in Boston where I served for seven years. I was appointed and then elected to be the first superior/director of Calvary Retreat House in Shrewsbury, MA. Following that assignment I was elected to the Provincial Council for four years.

After serving the Province in this capacity I was appointed as Director of Students in Theology in Jamaica, New York and then at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for over eight years. Following a Sabbatical in England, living at St. Joseph's Passionist Monastery in Highgate, London, reading English Literature at King's College, University of London, I finally did what Passionists do by preaching the Passion at Parish Missions and Retreats. I was assigned to Our Lady of Florida in late October, 2009. You can E-Mail Fr Fidelis here.

Rev. Jack Connor, C.P.: I was born in Scranton, Pa. the son of the late Anthony and Rose Connor. I have seven sisters and one brother; 22 nieces and nephews and 19 grand nieces and nephews and the family continues to grow.

I am a Viet Nam Veteran and served as a medic in Viet Nam in 1969-70. I graduated from the University of Scranton with a BS in Sociology and certified Social Studies Teacher. I received my Masters of Social Work from the University of Marywood in Scranton and later received my Accredited Social Work Certificate (ACSW). I worked in a residential treatment center for adolescents prior to joining the Passionists in 1978. I received my Masters of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in 1983 and was ordained to the priesthood in June of 1984.

I have served in retreat ministry in Pittsburgh and Shelter Island N.Y and North Palm Beach as well as working on the Mission Band preaching missions and retreats throughout the east coast. I also served in parishes as parochial vicar and pastor in Baltimore, Scranton and North Carolina. I also worked in campus ministry at the University of Scranton. I arrived at North Palm Beach in May 2010 after serving a year on the Mission Band in Scranton, PA.

Last Updated: January 05, 2012 Report Broken Links Site Map Retreat Registration Form 2011-12 Brochure