Meet the team
Jean Pagliaro
Director
Jean has been a part of the FSC team since 2017. Her first role was as the program and retreat coordinator. She earned her Master of Divinity from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and her Bachelor of Arts in social work from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She has extensive training in crisis response, community-based organizing and effective communication, as well as significant fundraising and grant-writing experience. Jean lives in Onalaska with her husband, Matt; their children, Logan and Lydia; and two Labrador retrievers, Gander and Scout.
Steve Spilde
Associate Director/Spiritual Director
Steve first became involved at the FSC when he joined a spiritual direction group that was offered to Lutheran clergy. He has since been a grateful participant in many of the Center's offerings, including the Spiritual Director Preparation Program. Prior to joining the staff of the FSC, Steve was a stay-at-home parent, helping his young daughter overcome challenges related to autism. Steve facilitates several spiritual direction groups and also is available to meet with individuals. He is amazed to discover all of the ways that God is speaking in his life, and grateful to walk with others as they make similar discoveries. Steve has an undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University and graduate degrees from Washington State University and Luther Seminary. He previously has served as pastor to Lutheran (ELCA) congregations in Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin. His wife, Jeannette, is a physician at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse.
Laurie Swan
Office Manager
Laurie joined the staff at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in January 2014 as the office manager. Previously, she worked for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration as the executive secretary for their leadership team. Originally from Bangor, Wisconsin, she grew up in a large family, the youngest of 12 children. Laurie graduated from Western Technical College with an administrative assistant degree in 1985. She has lived in La Crosse since 1992, raising her two children. In her free time, she loves volunteering, art and enjoying live, local music.
Cathie Boerboom, RGS
Spiritual Director
Cathie Boerboom, a Good Shepherd Sister, completed our SDPP program a few years ago and in July 2022 joined the Franciscan Spirituality Center staff. She grew up on a farm in Southwest Minnesota and thoroughly enjoys her large extended family. She entered the convent after a year of college, later receiving a BA in sociology at St. Catherine’s in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in applied behavioral science from the LIOS institute in Spokane, Washington. She is a trained grief recovery specialist. She has ministered in Minnesota, Washington, Hawaii, Colorado, France and Oregon. Her ministries have included working with troubled youth both in Good Shepherd homes and in jail, families in shelters, women trapped in prostitution, in jail, abused and/or without a home. She walked the streets of Portland assisting women and men, listening to their stories, offering resources and thoroughly enjoying the diversity, beauty and generosity of these amazing people. Her experience on the streets led to her spearhead the creation of a community and intervention center for women and children (Rose Haven). After offering spiritual direction, retreats and classes in her parish and parish school, she returned to the Midwest to help care for her mother and to be part of FSC's ministries. Among other things, Cathie enjoys weaving, playing card games, making greeting cards, walking, gardening, dreamwork, laughing and sharing life stories. She is grateful to God, her Good Shepherd sisters and her family for all these gifts in her life while she looks forward to the future.
Sarah Hennessey, FSPA
Spiritual Director
Sister Sarah officially joined the staff of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in August 2019, but her involvement with the FSC goes back several years. Sarah trained to be a spiritual director through the FSC’s Spiritual Direction Preparation Program and served on the FSC’s board of directors from 2016-19. She has been a frequent participant in many of our programs and looks forward to leading some of her own. Sarah moved to La Crosse in 2002 to become a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration after a long journey of discernment. She was raised as a Quaker in the South, and her diverse experiences before making her religious vows include teaching at a Navajo high school, translating Spanish at a free medical clinic, serving as a health educator in farm labor camps, tending a daylily farm and leading junior high inner-city immersion experiences. She previously served as the perpetual adoration coordinator at St. Rose Convent. As a spiritual director, she companions people to find the holy in the ordinary. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies and a Master of Arts degree in theology from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She enjoys singing, long walks in the wilderness and making some of the best popcorn around!
Karna Marks
Spiritual Director
Karna joined the staff of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in December 2021. For 22 years, she served as a parish pastor in beautiful Mississippi bluff country – walking with people through joy and struggle, listening for God together and discovering grace and hope, again and again. Karna studied education and sociology at Moorhead State University and earned her Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary. Her spiritual direction training is through the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. She is a Mayo-certified wellness coach and a Daring Way™ facilitator. Karna is married to Stephen; they have two grown children and a new son-in-law. She and her husband love spending time with family and friends, reading books, biking on beautiful trails and chasing after their dog, Scout.
Hope Hembd
Director of Community Engagement
Hope grew up in La Crosse and calls it an honor to work in her hometown, serving the community. She earned her Bachelors of Arts from Viterbo University and continues to grow her career in business development, communications and fundraising. She likes to say that she “has a crush on customer service,” and she believes in the power of hospitality. After years away from the area, she returned home in 2010 and continues on her journey working in business management and fundraising. To challenge herself and grow both professionally and personally, she earned her Master’s Degree in Servant Leadership in 2018. In her free time, Hope loves to entertain and cook for her friends and family, especially her nieces and nephew. She likes to read, golf and volunteer at organizations such as Aptiv and Place of Grace. Hope considers it a privilege to be a leader in her hometown and believes that everyone should continue to discover the joy of serving in one’s community.
Julie Connelly
Program and Retreat Coordinator
Julie was born and raised in the La Crosse area and continues to call this beautiful area home. She attended Holmen High School and enlisted into the Army National Guard her junior year of high school, serving for six years. Julie graduated from Western Technical College and received degrees in marketing, retail management and fashion marketing. She then went on to earn her bachelor's degree in business with a focus on leadership from Capella University. More recently, Julie completed the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program at the Franciscan Spirituality Center, where she fell in love with being at the center and participating in programs. Julie has one son, Mason, who is pursuing a degree in accounting at UW-La Crosse and is in ROTC. Julie loves spending time with her family, friends and adorable dog, Buster. She also enjoys participating in activities with her North Presbyterian Church family, being outside, reading, shopping, traveling and exploring.
Stacey Kalas
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Stacey joined the staff at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in August 2014 after a long career in journalism at the La Crosse Tribune. Primarily a copy editor, she also wrote a local business column and reported on faith issues, which introduced her to the FSC and its wonderful programming. Stacey coordinates the FSC's print and electronic promotional materials, social media presence, advertising initiatives and media relations, and very much enjoys introducing others to all the FSC has to offer. Stacey lives just outside of La Crosse with her husband, John, and is the mother of three (now adult) children. She is a very active volunteer in her parish, St. Elias Orthodox Christian Church. Personal interests include art, music, iconography, books, hiking, kayaking and organic food.
Kathy Holman
Administrative Assistant/Receptionist
Kathy started her career at the Franciscan Spirituality Center on August 31, 2020, as the administrative assistant and receptionist. Her role supports the FSC’s mission by serving the clerical and receptionist needs of internal and external customers at the FSC and FSPA. She earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from UW-Stout and developed her customer service experience through food service management, human resources and quality service certification through the Disney Institute. Kathy believes that we can find peace when we treat each other with dignity, compassion and love. She finds solitude within the Catholic faith and enjoys creating a home with her husband, Tim, and their two rambunctious Labrador retrievers, Grace and Zella.
Natalie Smith
Guest Service Specialist
Natalie joined the FSC staff in August 2022 after working in the kitchen at Villa St. Joseph for a year and a half. In her role here, she assists at the FSC front desk, provides hospitality for retreats and programs, and helps with housekeeping and food service needs. She also is enrolled at Western Technical College and plans to go into a people-oriented field. She grew up in the Minnesota side of the area and lives with her two furry kids (cats), Alaska and Finn. Natalie looks forward to enhancing her spirituality through her workplace and meeting everyone she can on this path.