May 9, 2009
New chancellor looks forward to working with diverse people of diocese
By Herald staff
Kathy Conner, who will begin her work May 16 as chancellor of the diocese, speaks with Oblate of St. Joseph Father Philip Massetti on a recent day at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Sacramento. Cathy Joyce/Herald photo
Kathy Conner, administrator of the diocese’s Department of Evangelization
and Catechesis since June 2007, has been appointed by Bishop Jaime Soto
as chancellor and director of pastoral services. She will begin her new
position on May 16.
The bishop said Conner will assume responsibility for oversight of pastoral services and planning for the diocese, as well as the operations of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, located at 2110 Broadway in Sacramento.
In an April 24 announcement to pastors, administrators and parochial vicars as well as Pastoral Center staff, the bishop said he made the appointment after an exhaustive search to fill the position. He thanked Conner for her efforts in the Department of Evangelization and Catechesis and her willingness to serve as chancellor.
As a member of the bishop’s management team, Conner, among other duties, will provide direction and supervision for the superintendent of Catholic schools, the administrator of the Department of Evangelization and Catechesis, the coordinator of safe environment programs, the administrator of pro-life programs and campus ministry directors.
She will also assist Msgr. James Murphy, vicar general and moderator of the curia, in development and implementation of the pastoral initiatives outlined in the 2004 diocesan synod.
Conner said she was “excited and honored” to be the new chancellor.
“What better place to work than in a Catholic environment, whose goal is to support the people of God in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ,” she told The Herald. “Even though these are difficult times both financially, with the current deep recession, and socially, with the secular erosion of marriage, family and pro-life values, it is in times of struggle that many opportunities present themselves.”
Conner added that she looks forward to working with Bishop Soto and “our caring and hard-working clergy, religious, lay ministers and all the wonderfully-diverse people of the diocese to find and take advantage of those opportunities that will further the mission of the church.”
Prior to directing evangelization and catechesis efforts for the diocese, Conner was director of student services and manager of human resources for the University of Sacramento.
She served as respect life director for the diocese from 2003 to 2006, directing the diocesan and parish respect life information and education program, the Natural Family Planning program and Rachel’s Vineyard, a post-abortion ministry.
Conner was executive director of the Sacramento Life Center from 1995 to 1997 and again from 2001 to 2003, transforming the organization from a small, nonprofit organization to a licensed medical clinic that provides ultrasound screening with licensed nurses.
During her tenure at the Life Center, she started an aggressive media campaign to reach teens and young women ages 15 to 25 in the greater Sacramento area and make them aware of pregnancy tests and assistance offered by the Life Center. The campaign included radio advertisements and placement of ads on bus benches located near public and private high schools in the Sacramento area.
During her career she has also worked as general manager and district manager for the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurants, managing restaurants in Roseville, Rancho Cordova and Stockton. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Sacramento.
Conner is a member of St. Rose Parish in Roseville. She and her husband, Jay, are the parents of four adult children.
Conner succeeds Father Mark Richards, who has served as chancellor since June 2007 and will continue to serve as judicial vicar of the diocese.
