We are happy to announce that Mrs. Darleen Farland is our new Director of Religious Education (DRE) for both parishes!  From Southbridge, MA, Darleen attended Southbridge High School, then on to U Mass Amherst where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Anthropology.  At U Mass, she was very involved in campus ministry at the Newman Center (In fact, Blessed John Henry Newman is now one of her favorite heavenly friends).  After working in the Educational and Interpretation Programs at Old Sturbridge Village, she did post-graduate work at Worcester State University obtaining her certificate in Massachusetts for Elementary Education.

After some years in the public school system, Darleen began to work as an Administrator of Religious Education at Notre Dame Parish in Southbridge in 1993.  She then obtained her Master’s degree in Religious Education from Assumption College in 2002.  She was then certified as Director of Religious Education by our Diocese.  She served as DRE first at Notre Dame, which underwent two mergers: Notre Dame of the Sacred Heart and then St. John Paul II Parish over some years.

She successfully saw these transitions through, until she took on a new assignment as a faculty member in the Religious Studies department at Cathedral High School in Springfield, MA.  Most recently, she was DRE at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Worcester, MA.  Darleen is currently married to her husband Paul, and has one son, Joshua.

Please help us welcome Darleen at a small reception to be held after all Masses the weekend of June 2nd & 3rd.