Meet the Foundation
Board of Directors
The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano
Bishop, Diocese of Bridgeport
The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano was installed as Fifth Bishop of Bridgeport on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at St. Theresa Church in Trumbull.
Under his leadership the diocese has launched the Catholic Service Corps, the Diocesan Leadership Institute, ongoing Strategic and Pastoral Planning, Foundations in Education to support Catholic schools, the Face of Prayer social media campaign, and other initiatives to renew the liturgical and pastoral life of the diocese.
Deacon Patrick Toole OCDS
After retiring from IBM at the end of 2017, Pat joined the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport as the Episcopal Delegate of Administration reporting to Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. This position is equivalent to the Chief Operating Officer in the secular world.
In October, 2019, Pat was appointed as the Secretary of the Curia in addition to his current responsibilities. Pat was ordained to the permanent diaconate in June, 2011 and currently serves at the parish of St. Catherine of Siena in Trumbull, CT.
Kate Allsup
Bio and photo coming soon!
Thomas Banahan resides in Wilton, CT and is a long-time parishioner at the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist in Stamford.
For the past 25 years, he has been active in the Holy Name Society in Stamford, including weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
An attorney who has spent the bulk of his career practicing in the field of commercial real estate in Manhattan, he looks forward to assisting the Foundation in its goal of establishing a permanent home for the Carmelite Monastery in the Bridgeport Diocese.
Patricia DaSilva
A half-century after reading Saint Thérèse and the Roses in the third grade at Assumption School, Patricia DaSilva made her final profession as a secular Carmelite on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, 2022. She serves as director of the Mystical Rose Lay Carmelite Community (based at Saint Lawrence parish in Shelton, CT) and worships at Holy Rosary Parish in Ansonia, CT.
In her daily life, Pat strives to listen (often imperfectly) for the “still, small voice” in her roles as wife to Dan, mother to Lucy, and executive assistant at CT State Community College. She is most grateful for the powerful and prayerful presence of the Carmelites of Mary Ever Virgin.
Daniel Adu Donkor, hailing from Ghana in West Africa, married to Elizabeth with 5 kids.
He currently resides in Stamford and is a member of the Basilica of St John the Evangelist.
He works as a sourcing and supply chain professional in the semiconductor industry at ASML in Wilton. Despite having five young kids and don’t find time for hobbies though he loves soccer, he derives fulfillment from volunteering my time doing something for the church.
Steven Filizzola is the Special Assistant to Bishop Caggiano and focuses on Project Management, Operations and Communications.
At the parish of Saint Jerome in Norwalk he leads the Elementary Faith Formation team, with a profound calling to help the “Little Ones” be honest, faithful, compassionate joyful Christians. He joined the Carmelite Foundation team in 2023 and is inspired by the joy and passion that the Sisters bring to the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Bio and photo coming soon!
Thomas Kolenberg
Bio and photo coming soon!
Reverend Sean Kulacz
Bio and photo coming soon!
Bio and photo coming soon!
Rafael Mendoza
Mr. Mendoza is a Partner at Compass Group, Head of Equities, and Portfolio Manager of the LatAm All Cap and Small Cap Equity Strategies in the New York office.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mendoza was a Research Analyst, Lead Portfolio Manager of the Latin American Large Cap strategy and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Latin American Small Cap strategy at Pinebridge Investments. Subsequently, between 2004 and 2009, he was Director of Equity Research and Portfolio Manager of Chile Small Cap at Bice Inversiones. He started his career in the finance industry at Moneda Asset Management in 2002.
Mr. Mendoza has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Magister’s degree in financial economics from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Rafael lives in Stamford, CT, with his wife, Claudia, and their six kids, Maria Trinidad, Catalina, Bernardita, Rafael, Victoria and Nicolas.
Nadine is a retired grandmother and professed secular Carmelite. She holds a certificate in biblical studies from the New England Catholic Biblical School.
Besides being the state of Connecticut Flame of Love Coordinator, Nadine prepares children for First Holy Communion, emphasizing greater reverence for the Eucharist.
