The chaplains are honored to be a part of the ongoing spiritual development of the Holy Cross community. Please contact us for more information about our programs or to have a conversation about your faith or personal concerns.
Marybeth Kearns-Barrett
Director of the Chaplains Office
mkearns@holycross.edu
Marybeth Kearns-Barrett M.Div. is the director of the office of college chaplains. She began her work at Holy Cross as an assistant chaplain in 1991 after earning a Master of Divinity at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Marybeth was appointed director of the office in 2011. She is a trained spiritual director and has completed a two-year certificate program in spiritual direction in the Ignatian tradition through the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University.
As a college chaplain Marybeth has worked in the areas of retreat development, LGBTQIA+ support, vocation discernment, and student engagement in the city of Worcester. Currently her work focuses on leadership of college ministries including oversight of Campion House, St. Joseph Memorial Chapel and the Joyce Contemplative Center. Areas of interest include feminist spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, translating Ignatian spirituality for contemporary audiences of all faiths and beliefs, and climate justice.
Megan Fox-Kelly, LCSW
Associate Director, Associate Chaplain - Retreats and Pastoral Care
mfox@holycross.edu
Having worked at Holy Cross since 2005, Meg is one of the college chaplains and a licensed clinical social worker who serves as the director of the retreat program. Meg helps to oversee the work done at the Joyce Contemplative Center, including all one-day, overnight, weekend and 5-day retreats for students, faculty, staff and alumni. In addition, Meg co-facilitates the weekly LGBTQIA+ group, the monthly TGNC+ support group and the monthly support group for survivors of sexual assault with colleagues from the Counseling Center. Meg offers individual, confidential, pastoral counseling to students of all class years with a unique interest in the integration of faith and spirituality in the work towards healing. If you would like to make an appointment with Meg, you can email her at mfox@holycross.edu or call the office at (508) 793-2448.
A Holy Cross graduate of 1999, Meg received her Master of Social Work from the Boston University School of Social Work in 2022 and a Master of Divinity from the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2003.
Fr. Jim Hayes, S.J.
Associate Chaplain
jhayes@holycross.edu
Fr. James Hayes, S.J. graduated from Holy Cross in 1972, served for three years in the U.S. Navy and entered the Jesuits in August 1975. Fr. Hayes has a master's degree in philosophy from Gonzaga University, a Master of Divinity from Regis College of the University of Toronto, a Licentiate degree in Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, and a master's in pastoral counseling from Loyola College of Maryland. Fr. Hayes spent four years in Jamaica teaching and doing pastoral ministry. He served as chaplain at Fairfield University from 1987-1992, and associate chaplain at Holy Cross from 1995-1999. From 1999-2004, Fr. Hayes was director of vocations for the Society of Jesus of New England. Fr. Hayes is the founder and first chair of the College's Mission and Identity Committee.
Marty Kelly
Associate Director, Associate Chaplain - Service and Justice Programs
mkelly@holycross.edu
Marty Kelly is a native of Worcester. Marty began his work at Holy Cross in 2007 after various experiences in parish, high school, and college ministry. Marty's primary responsibility is to advise Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD), which facilitates student engagement with our neighbors in Worcester through both direct service and social action. The SPUD program includes more than 500 committed students and serves over 40 diverse sites in Worcester.
Marty is a graduate of Stonehill College and holds a master's degree in theological studies from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. He is married to Meg Fox-Kelly, and they have three sons: Kieran, Sean, and Conor.
Laura Nelson
Hospitality Director
lnelson@holycross.edu
Laura Nelson joined the Chaplains Office in October 2019, She studied geology at Hamilton College in upstate New York and worked in the fashion industry for many years in New York City. To explore her longstanding passion for baking, she attended the French Culinary Institute and earned her pastry arts certification. After relocating back to her beloved home state of Massachusetts in 2014, Laura combined her passions for health and wellness and food to become a personal chef. Her primary focus is on healthy menu planning and meal prep for her clients as well as catering to food allergies and plant based nutrition. As hospitality coordinator for the Chaplains' Office, Laura brings her passion for food and serving others to her role. She oversees and mentors the student cooks and bakers, menu plans for luncheons and dinners and, handles the room bookings at the Campion House. Laura lives in Princeton with her husband, two children and a plethora of animals.
Andrew A. Omondi
Assistant Chaplain
aomondi@holycross.edu
Before joining Holy Cross as assistant chaplain with special responsibility for outreach to athletes, Omondi taught theology at Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis. He also taught and served in other Jesuit missions in Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda as an educator and a missionary. Omondi holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of London (IOE) and another master’s degree in theological studies from Boston College. He is married to Izabela Omondi. Omondi, Izabela, and their children Austin and Natalia live on campus in Brooks-Mulledy Hall where they serve as chaplains-in-residence.
Emily Rauer Davis
Associate Director, Associate Chaplain - Immersion Programs
edavis@holycross.edu
Emily Rauer Davis joined the Chaplains' Office in 2014 after moving back to Massachusetts from the West Coast. A 1999 graduate of Holy Cross, Emily spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before completing her Master of Divinity degree at Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Her previous work in ministry has involved both high school and college campus ministry, young adult spirituality programming, and faculty/staff formation. Emily works with a team of student leaders to coordinate trips across the United States over fall and spring breaks, and facilitates pre- and post-immersion reflection and spiritual formation. She also assists with liturgy and retreats and enjoys meeting with students for spiritual direction.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Emily currently lives in Natick with her husband, Andrew, and their two sons, Michael and Peter.
Laurence Rosania
Assistant Chaplain / Director of Liturgy and Music
lrosania@holycross.edu
Laurence Rosania, a first-generation college graduate and Philadelphia native, received his B.A cum laude from Yale College and an M.A. in Spirituality from Fordham University, with additional study at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Siena, Italy) and the College of Music, Temple University. As director of liturgy and music, he is responsible for the liturgical ministries of the College and all major campus liturgical celebrations. As a liturgical composer, his music is sung throughout the USA and abroad. It is published and recorded by OCP and World Library Publications, and appears in numerous resources including Breaking Bread, Glory and Praise, JourneySongs and Thánh Ca Dân Chúa.
He has served at three historic New York City churches including the Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier, St. Paul the Apostle (Founding Church of the Paulist Fathers), and the Capuchin Church of Holy Cross-St. John the Baptist. He was artist-in-residence at the Interfaith Center of C.W. Post/Long Island University, and is known for his workshops and retreats in the Psalms and Gregorian chant. His commissioned work for churches and schools includes a recent premiere at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
Laurence has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians /New York, and is an active member of Mensa International.
His career in New York City comprised work as conductor, teacher, accompanist, recording artist, and performances in venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has been a resident at the Trappist St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, Dai Bosatsu Zendo in New York, with Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village, France, and at the New York Catholic Worker with Dorothy Day.
Paula Shanley
Office Coordinator
pshanley@holycross.edu
Paula Shanley began working at Holy Cross in December 2021. Paula has her bachelor's in communications from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts and her master's from Boston University. Paula spent many years working in advertising sales and marketing for cable television in New York City. Since her time in the city, she has been working on a variety of freelance marketing and event planning projects for area non-profit organizations. She has enjoyed planning a variety of fundraising events over years and also developed her social media marketing and web design skills. Paula is thrilled to be a part of the Campion House staff and her many skills will help keep the daily office operations running with efficiency. Contact her if you need assistance scheduling a meeting with one of the chaplains. Paula lives in Leominster, Massachusetts with her husband and two children.