Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 5/6/04)

After serving the Arlington Diocese as program director for Gabriel Project for 20 months, Celeste McCloskey stepped down from her position on April 30.

"I can’t say enough about Celeste, the professionalism that she brought to the office, and her zeal for her Catholic faith," said Bob Laird, director of the Office for Family Life. She built a program which is now visible in nearly 25 percent of diocesan parishes and helped over 260 pregnant women in need last year, an 88 percent increase over the previous year.

Additionally, McCloskey was able to unite and train over a hundred volunteers in a very short period of time. "She will be greatly missed by both the office staff and the parish volunteers," said Gerri Laird.

"Celeste’s departure from the office set the stage to make some significant changes," said Laird. Pam Fitzgibbons, program director for Young Adult Ministry, has accepted the challenge as the new director for Gabriel Project. In addition, Maryanne Christensen will assume the role as program director for Project Rachel. Gerri Laird will tackle a new position as the coordinator of Education and Training within the Office for Family Life.

Fitzgibbons is no stranger to Gabriel Project. She was its caretaker in its infancy, before a program director was hired.

"Like her predecessor, Pam is multi-talented with mature enthusiasm and infinite creativity," said Gerri Laird. A native of Northern Virginia, Fitzgibbons knows the area resources and brings with her the talents of a gifted school teacher, having taught in the Fairfax County school system prior to joining the diocese.

Juliette Glasow, assistant director for Family Life, will manage the Young Adult Program until a new program director is found.

Gerri Laird has directed Project Rachel in the Arlington Diocese since it was founded in Aug. 15, 1995. She has turned it into one of the premier Project Rachel organizations in the country. In 2000, the Arlington Diocese office participated in a prototype radio promotional campaign with the Washington and Baltimore archdioceses reaching out to the metropolitan Washington and Baltimore areas with the forgiving message of Project Rachel to those women (and men) who are suffering as a result of their abortions. Averaging about 16 clients each month for the past five years has kept this program in the forefront of helping women.

Gerri has had a finger in the Conferences for the Engaged, natural family planning, parenting, and virtually all of the educational programs of the office. "I have wanted to place a greater emphasis on the educational and training aspects of the Family Life Office," said Bob Laird in describing the move. "Gerri is a natural for the position," he said. "This move will allow her to participate more fully in this work."

Gerri’s replacement as program director of Project Rachel is no stranger to the ministry. Christensen has worked as the primary assistant to Laird in that office since her hiring in 1999. She brings experience and maturity to an already robust program. "She knows the program, knows the people, and has a great rapport with the callers, the counselors, and the priests in the program," said Gerri Laird. "I know that the program will be in good hands under Maryanne’s leadership."

Fitzgibbons moves into the Gabriel Project position May 1. The other changes will occur during the subsequent weeks.