Staff

Our dedicated staff of professionals help with the Mountain’s operations, communications and fundraising. Our team works in the beautiful McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry on the campus of St. Bonaventure University. They are generally available 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Photo above from left to right: Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, Mary Giardini, Br. Kevin Kriso, ofm, Br. Joe Kotula, ofm, Mary Schlosser, Fr. Lou McCormick, Mike Fenn, Michelle Marcellin

Michael Fenn

Executive Director

My first experience at the Mountain was fall of 1987 as a freshman at Bonas, when I attended a work day, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I spent most of my adult career as a marketing professional with Fisher-Price toys while my wife Julie and I raised 3 daughters. We kept involved with the Mountain on and off while they grew up. I joined the Mountain Board of Trustees in 2007, becoming Chair in 2014. We had spent those years as a board trying to find candidates who could be our first executive director at the Mountain. In parallel to this search, I began thinking about what was next in my professional life, as I was lacking fulfillment in its current direction. Finally one day I was driving home when I had a “road to Damascus” moment. That night we were going to talk about potential candidates for the position, and I realized that I was ready to make this significant step and commit in a deeper way to the Life of the Mountain. I currently am in the role of ED, working with many others to ensure that this way of life and ministry continues to grow and flourish for generations to come.

Michelle Marcellin

Office Coordinator

In 1993, when I was working in Financial Aid at SBU, I was asked to work part-time to help with bookkeeping. Soon the Mountain decided that it needed a full-time employee. In September of 1995 I started as the first official “Mountain employee” as Administrative Assistant. What began as “another job” soon turned into a ministry and a calling. The longer I worked with the friars, students, alumni and friends of the Mountain the more I became committed to this manner of life and ministry. I am truly blessed to be a part of something so uplifting, positive and accepting of all people.

I have been married since 1989 to my wonderful husband Bob and we have two incredible daughters, Aimee and Hannah. They are truly a gift to both of us. Some of my fondest memories with my girls are when they both (at different times) attended the “Women’s Overnights” at the Mountain. It was exciting to see my girls connect with the intelligent, kind and beautiful young SBU women that we have been blessed to meet at the Mountain.

In 2000 I was able (and very blessed) to make a pilgrimage to Assisi with 15 SBU students. It was truly a life changing event for me and after I returned I began the process of becoming a Secular Franciscan. I was professed as a Secular Franciscan in April of 2002. This is yet another group of amazing friends I have counted in my blessings since beginning my time with the Mountain. I truly look forward to many more years of life, ministry and friendship with the friars, alumni, students and friends that come to the Mountain. Thank you, one and all, for all you do for Mt. Irenaeus.

Mary Giardini

Advancement and Communications Coordinator

When I was an undergraduate at St. Bonaventure University, I joined a group of my friends at the Mountain to help clear a small part of the land where the House of Peace now sits and that was my first exposure to the Mountain and friars.

I graduated SBU in 1993 with a BSEd and 2005 with a MSEd and after teaching elementary school and high school Spanish for 15 years, I felt the call to a different kind of life and, as always happens when God leads you, the right person happened to hear that I was looking for a job and I started working for Mt. Irenaeus in a part-time position. Nearly 15 years later I am now a full-time coordinator helping to facilitate communications and advancement efforts for the Mountain. I am also the coordinator for the New York State high school equivalency diploma program (GED) for Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.

When not working I enjoy volunteering with community groups such as the Friends of the Library where I’m a Board Member; FLS Member-at-Large for the Friends of Libraries Section of the New York Library Association and a member of the Allegany Engine Company Auxiliary. I am very grateful for the love and support that the Mountain community has always shown me, especially when my husband passed away in 2015. I currently live in Olean where I help take care of my parents.

Mary Schlosser

Auction and Special Events Coordinator

I grew up in Syracuse and after graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology, I moved down to this area in 1984. I have previously worked at Kodak, St. Bonaventure University, and Dresser-Rand. I have been working part time at the Mountain as the Coordinator of Development and Volunteers since 2009. I have had the pleasure of being involved with the Mountain since its early years. My first visit was to the original cabin in 1985. The Mountain has expanded significantly since then but the prevailing feeling of “coming home” has continued and grown in strength over the years. I hope you have the opportunity to experience the Mountain with a visit sometime soon – all are welcome!