2024 SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B.

The Spiritual Aspect of “The Ask”

Rt. Rev. Lawrence is the 10th Abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey. Abbot Lawrence professed vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on July 11, 1985, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 6, 1994. He was elected as Abbot on January 6, 2006. He holds a licentiate and doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Monastic Institute of the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo, the Benedictine sponsored university in Rome.

Abbot Lawrence served at St. Gregory’s University as Vice-Present for Church Relations between 1996 and 2000, and then as President from May 2000 to April 2007. 

Abbot Lawrence has over twenty-five years of experience in the areas of institutional development through the cultivation of relationships with individuals, foundations and corporations. He has gained wide-ranging experience by serving as a chief executive officer, as trustee of several not-for-profit organizations, and as a founding board member of a private charitable foundation with over $120,000 in invested assets. He inaugurated the first organized communications and development efforts for St. Gregory’s Abbey after he was elected as Abbot.

In addition to his duties as the monastery, Abbot Lawrence served for eight years on the National Board of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. He presently serves as First Councilor on the Abbot President’s Council and as a Trustees for the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, a world-renowned collection of art and artifacts owned by St. Gregory’s Abbey.

Greg Girsch

Engaging and Inspiring the Young Donor

Greg has worked in not-for-profit fundraising for over 22 years. 

In 2011, he returned to his alma mater, Benet Academy to serve as the Manager of Alumni Relations.  In that role, Greg assisted in planning reunions and other alumni events, enhancing alumni engagement, and increasing alumni giving. In 2017, Greg was promoted to the Director of Development where he oversees a team of 4 in the department. Greg is responsible for all fundraising at Benet that includes capital initiatives, annual appeal, scholarship support, and event fundraising (Gala and Golf Outing). Greg and his department bring in over $3 Million annually in contributions for the school of 1,230 students. In March of 2023, Greg was promoted to Vice President of Development. 

Prior to working at Benet, Greg worked for 8 years at LINK Unlimited – a high school scholarship program serving inner-city Chicago youth. LINK pairs deserving African American students with sponsors who pay for the student’s tuition at local private (primarily Catholic) high schools and, more importantly, those sponsors mentor their LINK students. Greg was responsible for raising sfunds for the program, finding mentors, and managing the relationship between LINK mentors and students. 

Greg is a 1996 alum of Benet and a 2000 graduate of DePaul University where he majored in Marketing.  

Greg lives in Downers Grove with his wife Katie, sons Henry (9) and Johnny (7), and daughter Lucy (5). Greg is an avid sports fan and serves as an assistant Varsity Baseball coach at Benet while also coaching his kids in a variety of youth sports.

Shannon Joseph Jordan

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Shannon Jordan has worked for the Church for over twenty years.  In 2001, he started at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a recruiter, policy analyst, and HRIS administrator in Human Resources. He went on in 2003 to work for Migration and Refugee Services as a Field Coordinator managing the Federal grants and working with dioceses throughout the country on resettlement capacity building.  Mr. Jordan began working in Development for the Diocese of Trenton and then the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  He founded the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, building a new non-profit corporation from the ground-up and served as its first Executive Director and President until 2016.  Mr. Jordan and the Foundation helped raise the funds for the World Meeting of Families and Papal visit to the United States in 2015.  Since 2016, he has served as Chief Mission Advancement Officer for Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary where he builds programs and secures the resources for them. He is instrumental in strategic planning for the Archabbey and Seminary.

Mr. Jordan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, in Psychology, and a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Irish Studies and Literature.  He teaches at Saint Vincent College in Irish Folklore and its effects on Irish childhood.  Mr. Jordan also serves on various committees and boards at Saint Vincent Seminary and College, including Secretary for the Seminary Board of Regents and the Mission Integration Committee at Saint Vincent College. 

Garrick Lambert

Venmo & Crypto Currencies

Garrick Lambert has worked for St. Benedict’s Abbey as the Events and Recurring Gifts Manager since 2020. Garrick specializes in fundraising and donor engagement event planning and execution, coordinating both small events and the Abbey's annual benefit dinner. In his role Garrick also focuses on young donor engagement and major gift cultivation.

He graduated from Benedictine College in 2013 with a degree in Psychology. Before joining the monks in Atchison, he had worked in mental health both behavioral and addiction therapy. Garrick is married with three children and they reside in Atchison, KS.

Fr. Edward Mazich, OSB

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Father Edward Michael Mazich, O.S.B., is a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey and has been the Rector of Saint Vincent Seminary since 2015. He received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Penn State University in 1994 and a master of arts degree in theology from Saint Vincent Seminary in May of 1998. He is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa. He has degrees from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, receiving the Licentiate in Sacred Scripture (S.S.L.) in 2003, and at the Gregorian University in Rome, earning a Licentiate in Fundamental Theology (S.T.L.) in 2005. He then completed his studies in England, receiving a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Oxford in 2009, having written his dissertation on John Henry Newman’s “Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine.”

Father Edward writes and publishes in numerous academic and popular periodicals. Hs is active in retreat ministry, frequently offering retreats for laity, religious, and clergy. He also serves as an associate editor of The Bible Today. In just a small example of his professional capacity, Father Edward sits on various boards and committees. Current memberships include, Saint Vincent College Board, Saint Benedict’s Education Foundation, President’s Council of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital Ethics Committee, and Member and Chair, Catholic Epistles Translators’ Group – New American Bible New Testament Revision Project.

Sr. Susan Nicole Reuber

Questions from a New Director of Development

Sr. Susan Nicole Reuber is a Benedictine Sister of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana. She entered the community in 2012 after teaching at Roncalli High School for 8 years since 2003. Sr. Susan Nicole was able to return to Roncalli after 3 years in formation to teach English another 7 years. In 2021, she became the Development Director at the Monastery. As Development Director, Sr. Susan Nicole coordinates the fundraising for the community and serves as communication director, writing and editing our magazine “Branching Out”.

Sr. Susan Nicole has her bachelor’s degree in English Secondary Education from Franklin College and a Master of Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. Most recently, she received an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

She enjoys spending time with the community watching movies and playing cards and board games. Sr. Susan Nicole loves spending time reading a good book.

Sr. Anne Shepard

Ask and You Shall Receive

Sr. Anne Shepard is a Benedictine Sister of St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. She entered the community in 1965 and has filled many positions. She was prioress for 12 years from 2005-2017 after serving the community as Development Director. Currently, she is the president of A.I.M-USA, on the Board of Directors and Advancement Committee of Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas, and donates time and energy for multiple nonprofits.

Professionally, she held multiple teaching and administrative positions and civic, diocesan, and educational boards. She ministered in Catholic Education for 32 years, culminating as the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Kansas City, Saint Joseph.

Sr. Anne has a BA in mathematics, an MA in religious studies, and a doctorate from Columbia University in peace studies. She plans to weave stories about her experience in fundraising and development and her professional training in these fields.

Angela White

Inviting Generosity and Engagement from Younger Donors

Angela E. White, CFRE, has been instrumental in JGA’s success since 1996, when she joined the JGA team. In 2011, she became CEO of JGA, responsible for providing day-to-day leadership to the firm and guiding the JGA staff, while continuing to provide tailored consulting services directly to our clients. Angela has a high level of expertise in philanthropic consulting in healthcare, education, social services, arts, and faith-based organizations. She also has considerable depth in strategic planning and data analysis.

Among Angela’s passions are women’s issues and women-serving organizations. Angela is a member of the faculty at The Fundraising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and often presents on behalf of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Before joining JGA, Angela was the Executive Director for Institutional Advancement at the University of Indianapolis. There, she managed the functions of development, alumni relations, marketing and media relations, publications, and prospect research. She began her career in development at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

She currently serves on the Committee on Directorship for CFRE International, a member of the Editorial Review Board for Giving USA, and a member of the steering committee for the Arago Honors, a program of the Meridian Foundation to identify and reward nonprofit innovation. She has served as the Conference Co-Chair for CASE District 5 and the Vice President for Membership for the Indiana Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is a faculty member at The Fundraising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and often presents on behalf of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Angela was recently named the 2021 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals–Indiana Chapter.

For more information, call Brother Tobias Dammert at  402-352-4189