Six new diocesan staff members are now in place.
The Rev. Dr. Edie Dolnikowski has been hired as the new canon for ordained vocations and will begin full time on Feb. 25. She has been the associate rector at St. Andrew's Church in Wellesley and has served on the Commission on Ministry as an examining chaplain. As of Feb. 25 she can be reached at the diocesan offices at 617-482-4826, ext. 514 or edie@diomass.org.
The Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas has been appointed as priest-in-charge of the Episcopal chaplaincy at MIT in Cambridge, where she began work on Jan. 17. She served most recently as the rector of Calvary Church in Danvers, which is merging with St. Paul's Church in Peabody and calling new clergy leadership. She can be contacted at MIT at 617-253-2983 or theakl@mit.edu.
Cathy Menard joined the Treasurer's Office staff on Jan. 14 as controller. She is the former controller for the Diocese of New Hampshire. She can be reached at 617-482-4826, ext. 307 or cmenard@diomass.org.
Esther Powell has been hired as grants and events administrator, a new staff position within the Congregational Resources and Training area and partially funded through the diocesan Together Now fundraising campaign. She began on Jan. 7, having recently relocated from Chicago where she worked as the director of community investment at United Way of DuPage/West Cook. She can be reached at 617-482-4826, ext. 421 or epowell@diomass.org.
Laura Simons joined the staff on Feb. 4 as administrator of Convention and Council. She worked most recently as parish administrator for Old North Church in Boston and St. John's Church in Charlestown. She can be reached at 617-482-4826, ext. 406 or lsimons@diomass.org.
Laura Walta has been hired as project director for global mission, a new part-time position funded through the Together Now campaign. She has worked previously as both a director and consultant, most recently at Microsemi Corp. in Lawrence. She begins her work at the diocesan offices on Feb. 19 and can be reached at 617-482-4826, ext. 422 or lwalta@diomass.org.
"Having had several vacancies over a period of time, we are now nearly fully staffed, and we are grateful to have the new energy and experience that each brings. I know our diocesan community joins me in welcoming them," Canon to the Ordinary Mally Lloyd said.