Director Named for Family Life/Respect Life Office

Dr. Kathleen Wither, who served for a decade as a teacher of Catholic doctrine and formation at an inner-city parish and school in Cleveland, Ohio, has been named director of the archdiocese’s Family Life/Respect Life Office.

Her appointment was effective June 4.

Since 2003, she had taught Catholic doctrine and Christian formation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish and school, staffed by the Mercedarian friars and sisters. Early in her school tenure, she developed and implemented the “Our Changing Child” sexuality program that integrated age-appropriate Catholic health, sexuality and morality issues in the curriculum of grades 5 to 8. She collaborated and coordinated the program with the school’s science/health teacher and nurse.

She interned as a pastoral associate at the parish in 2011-2012.

For 15 years, beginning in 1984, she was the owner and chief executive officer of a computer technology training company.

As director, she succeeds Sister Veronica Sullivan, S.V., who has been given a new assignment by her religious community, the Sisters of Life. Two Sisters of Life, Sister Lucy Marie, S.V., and Sister Shirley Ann, S.V., continue to serve the office as coordinator and assistant coordinator of Respect Life Activities, respectively.

Dr. Wither, who is known as Kathy, told CNY a sense of spirituality grounded in faith and prayer, which is promoted by the Sisters of Life, pervades the personnel and programs of the Family Life/Respect Life Office.

“That is the foundation,” she said. “They are a good model to follow.”

She said she would make good use of her time and management experience to develop and assist the staff, and to streamline the office’s operations.

She holds a doctorate in ministry and master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and Graduate School of Theology in Wickliffe, Ohio. She also holds a master’s in business administration from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.

During the CNY interview, she touched on a number of points, including one that focused on sacramental formation as an essential component of marriage preparation and enrichment.

“It’s a true gift that the Church has in the sacraments,” she said. “We have to use that to form people.”