Kathleen Molaro, OFS

Kathleen Molaro, OFS, lives in the foothills of Northern California with her husband of 48 years, where they raised their six children and now enjoy five grandchildren. Kathleen professed in 1993. Her leadership in the Secular Franciscan Order has included several positions on the local fraternity level, six years as St. Junipero Serra’s Regional Secretary, and served six years as Regional Minister.

Kathleen has worked with youth of all ages in many capacities, as a parent, teacher, and catechist, including fifteen years volunteering as a youth director. She has never lost her deep interest in supporting young people on their faith journey, and now serves as the National Franciscan Youth and Young Adult (FY/YA) Commission Chair.

Ileana Oakes, OFS

Ileana Fernandez Oakes, OFS, is a member of Little Portion fraternity in Granite Bay, Northern California. She is originally from Cartago, Costa Rica where she was a member of YouFra since she was 17 years old. In YouFra, she served as part of leadership and formation in her own fraternity and helped strengthen youth fraternities in other cities of Costa Rica. After eight years of very active life in YouFra, she continued her Franciscan formation at the Secular Franciscan Order in Cartago and professed in May 2008. Currently, she serves OFS translating articles for Tau USA Newsletter for the Spanish community and loves sharing with her brothers and sister at her local fraternity of Granite Bay.

Dr.Janice Mary Novello, OFS

Dr. Janice Mary Novello, OFS, A previous member of the NASA Teacher in Space Program and a current NOAA Climate Steward, Janice channels her skills into being the co-developer of the STREAM (Science Technology Religion Engineering Arts Mathematics) program and the annual Care for God’s Creation Contest in her Diocese.  As Regional Youth Animator for Five Franciscan Martyrs, she actively facilitates many one-day Youth events and has visited Young Adult groups to share the Franciscan Charism. A Spiritual Assistant and Liturgist, she is working on developing retreats that can be utilized both in parishes and independently.  Her current focus is to build a Franciscan Regional Y/YA committee that includes all the areas of the Region and work one-on-one with fraternities to develop ideas and possibilities.

Robert Dorsch, OFS

Robert Dorsch, OFS, has been married for 41 years to his bride, Janice. He lives in Clemmons, NC, where they raised their three children. They now have eight grandchildren. He graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Business administration specializing in Human Resources and a minor in Spanish. He currently serves his fraternity, St. Clare, in Winston Salem, N.C. As the formation director. He also serves the region, Brothers and Sisters of St. Francis, as the FYYA animator. Bob has served on the parish council, served on his local K of C  council, and is currently a catechist at a neighboring parish. Bob spent his working life teaching folks to nurture the Divine seeds of greatness planted within each of us and challenging folks to reach their full potential. He realizes the vast potential youth represent and enjoys experiencing the bright eyes, attentive ears, and voracious appetite for knowledge.