Mike Fenn Begins Tenure as New Mt. Irenaeus Executive Director

May 10, 2016

Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, along with the Mt. Irenaeus Board of Trustees, are pleased to announce that Michael Fenn has accepted the position of the Mountain's first executive director.

Mike is working alongside Fr. Dan as president and founder/animator, and Br. Kevin Kriso, ofm, director of ministries and guardian of Holy Peace Friary, to form the Mountain's leadership team. For a number of years, the Mountain's strategic plan has called for this position alongside others in leadership.

"After a long period of searching for prospects, followed by a comprehensive interview process of multiple candidates, we are delighted to have Mike join our ministry and management team." Fr. Dan explained. "He brings the richness of his family life and exceptional career working in leadership within dynamic organizations. Having just completed our spring convocation, stakeholders from near and far have already experienced Mike’s collaborative approach toward working with others in the effort of meeting our strategic objectives."

 

Mike has been involved with Mt. Irenaeus since 1987 as a freshman at St. Bonaventure University, and he lived in community with the friars during the summers of 1990 and 1991. After his three daughters began to grow older, he sought out more involvement. He was invited to join the Board of Trustees in 2007, eventually taking the role of chair in 2014.

After working in the corporate world for the past 24 years, Mike began to recognize the need for a dramatic change in his professional life.

"Last year I began to see more and more signs in my life that I needed to try something different. Life is too short to go to a job every day and be unfulfilled in the work. One day I was driving home to participate in a search committee conference call and the thought suddenly struck me: "Why not YOU? Why not NOW?""

Mike said he walks into the role of executive director with a primary goal: To help sustain and grow the Mountain Way of Life and Ministry for generations to come.

"The friars have had an incredible impact on my life. I have a passion to ensure the commitment they have made for the past few decades does not disappear."

The role of executive director is critical in sustaining the Manner of Life and Ministry, articulating its message and developing resources to support strategic efforts for generations to come.

At the spring convocation on April 30, Mike and his wife, Julie, were blessed in the chapel:

 

During his first year as a student at SBU, Mike was immediately influenced by the simple way friars went about their lives, and how Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, and Fr. Dan Hurley, ofm, always invited students to participate equally in the Mountain’s daily life.

"This has never been a hierarchical place. The mission of the Mountain has always been driven from religious and laity working together," Mike said. "If we are to sustain ourselves it will be critical for all of us to help it flourish."

One of Mike’s initial projects is developing the Mountain Companions ministry, which will reach out to women and men, lay and religious, in the Franciscan family and beyond to live amongst this Gospel-based community.

Mike is also excited to live life on the Mountain and work with St. Bonaventure. "As a passionate alum, I am so excited to work alongside the ministry team that serves the students and community of St. Bonaventure.

"I am also eager to branch out and develop our relationships with others, including local colleges, other Christian communities of Western New York and beyond. The beauty of this ministry is that the Mountain stretches beyond 400 acres in Allegany County!"

Along with the Mountain leadership team of Mike, Fr. Dan and Br. Kevin, the friars in residence continue to include Fr. Lou McCormick, ofm, and Br. Joe Kotula, ofm, along with the Mountain team of Michelle Marcellin, Mary Giardini and Mary Schlosser. Continuing in his role as treasurer and mentor during our transition is Mike Kasperski. Diane Kuzia-Hills was elected chair of the Board of Trustees at its April 30 meeting.

Mt. Irenaeus recently celebrated its 30th year working in collaboration with Holy Name Province and St. Bonaventure University, along with other organizations and individuals. Looking ahead strategically with these partners, the Mountain continues to seek new and creative ways to reach across the country and around the world.

Fr. Dan and Br. Kevin, with Fr. Dan Hurley on their minds, noted that the Mountain is maturing, with God’s grace and the blessing of our Franciscan forebears. Mike's appointment is a response to our first notions of almost 40 years ago as our mission statement calls us "to join with Jesus Christ in making all things new!"

(Mike leads a time of reflection and strategic planning at our recent spring convocation.)