Who We Are

Prior to his coming to Franciscan Action Network, Stephen Schneck was Director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America, where he was also a frequent media source for queries about Catholicism and contemporary public issues, having offered commentary for most national print, radio, television, and online news sources. He writes regularly for Catholic and religious media.

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Sister Marie Lucey, OSF (of FAN Institutional Member Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia) has been with FAN since 2011, advocating for immigrant rights, gun violence prevention, human trafficking and other social justice and peacemaking issues. She also coordinates and communicates with FAN’s institutional members. From 2003-2011, Sr. Marie served as Associate Director for Social Mission of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Prior to working with LCWR, Sister Marie served for six years as her community’s Congregational Minister (President), following many years as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Justice and Peace Coordinator, and educator. She has participated in delegations to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, and a CRS delegation of women religious to Syria and Lebanon to learn first-hand about the Iraqi refugee crisis in order to promote awareness, advocacy and assistance on their return.

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Sr. Maria Orlandini OSF, born in Italy, joined the Canossian Daughters of Charity and after formation was sent to the North American Province in Albuquerque, NM for almost 25 years. She has a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago and has served in parish ministry, as Youth and Young Adults Director, Director of Faith Formation, Pastoral Associate and her community’s Director of National/International Volunteer program.   As part of different committees she has been privileged to travel for meetings and experiences in the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico as well as Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and Kenya. In these countries she believes she was privileged to get to know first- hand the poverty and injustices that keep people and countries poor as well as the warmth of their welcome, the simplicity of their lives and the depth of their trust in God.

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Nora Pfeiffer is a recently returned missioner with Franciscan Mission Service who was in mission in Cochabamba, Bolivia from 2009 to 2012. After which she returned to Bolivia to continue volunteering and working with the Bolivian Franciscan Family’s JPIC movement. From 2014 to 2017 Nora worked for Franciscans International as a Latin American Focal Point, serving as a bridge between the offices in New York City and Geneva and the Franciscans in Latin America. Working with Franciscans from all over the region and getting to know their struggles, missions and goals was a true gift to her. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and their three-year-old daughter.

In the April 2021 issue of St. Anthony’s Messenger, Nora was featured in the Followers of St. Francis Article. Read it here.

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Jason is a faith-based advocate and organizer originally from Toledo, Ohio. His confirmation name was Francis, which fueled a lifelong passion for social justice and peacemaking. He serves as the co-chair of the Faithful Democracy WISC working group. After earning his B.A in History and Religious Studies, Jason entered a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Nashville, Tennessee working at Catholic Charities Refugee Services. He then relocated to the Washington, D.C. area to complete a master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. Jason has since devoted himself to faith-based communications and advocacy work on behalf of economic justice and climate justice issues.

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Sister Louise Lears is a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati and a native of Baltimore with a passion for justice rooted in Gospel values. She has a Master’s in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and a PhD in Health Care Ethics from St. Louis University. Sr. Louise has ministered as a hospital chaplain, medical ethicist, adjunct faculty in several universities, and a Congregational Leader for eight years with the Sisters of Charity. Experiences in Cuba, Guatemala, and El Salvador opened her eyes and her heart to the needs and hopes of people most often left out.

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Janine joined FAN in 2012 as our Communications Coordinator. Working closely with all FAN staff, she develops and publishes our electronic newsletter, maintains our Social Media, coordinates the frequent updates of our projects and actions on our Facebook and Twitter pages as well as updates the articles and postings to our website. Janine serves as our liaison to the Board of Directors and helps out with development. Prior to joining FAN, she was a travel agent and customer service representative. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three daughters, where she works from her home.

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