Leadership Team
Louis Arceneaux, CM
Congregation of the Mission
812 Constantinople St., New Orleans, LA 70115
504-453-4744
louiearceneaux66@gmail.com
B. Kwame Assenyoh
Diocese of Oakland
1928 Saint Marys Road PMB 3052
Moraga, CA 94575
415-349-6458
b.kwame617@gmail.com
Michael Hickin
Diocese of Fargo
204 Mooreton Ave N, Mooreton, ND 58061
701-891-1238
michael.hickin@fargodiocese.org
Robert Lisowski, CSC
Congregation of Holy Cross
124 Corby Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
574-360-7826
robert.lisowski4@nd.edu
Peter Murray, SJ
Society of Jesus
1419 Salt Springs Rd., Syracuse, NY 13214
716-400-5041
pjmsjrev@gmail.com
Linh Nguyen
Diocese of Lexington, KY
806 Cincinnati Road, Georgetown, KY 40324
859-324-0304
lnguyen@cdlex.org
Jeffery Ott, OP
National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus
780 Lakeview Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
225-247-7150
jefferynjoy@me.com
Neil Pezzulo, VIce-Chair
Glenmary Home Missioners
131 David Drive North, Maynardville, TN 37807
423-231-3216
npezzulo@glenmary.org
Bernie Survil
Diocese of Greensburg
130 S. 19th St./PO Box 73, Olean, NY 14760
724-523-0291
bsurvil@gmail.com
Tim Taugher
Diocese of Syracuse
1031 Chenango St., Binghamton, NY 13901
607-725-1751
taughertim@hotmail.com
Donna Doucette
17 Langdon Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472
617-686-3757
dbdoucette@yahoo.com
Svea Fraser
4 Stearns Rd., Wellesley, MA 02482
781-234-8886
sveafraser@gmail.com
Staff
Fr. Stephen Newton, CSC – Executive Director
Ordained in 1989; Congregation of Holy Cross
Stephen Newton is a member of Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. He serves as a Campus Minister at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame. When asked what strengths do you bring to the Leadership Team of the Association of US Catholic priests, he answered: Creative thinking; persistence; faith in the Spirit; desire for authenticity; help others see in new ways.
“I consider status quo to be merely a step to what is next in any endeavor, including religion and spirituality. So I am always looking for new ways to understand and proclaim the Word. Often enough, therefore, I initially find myself on the margins rather than at the center of developments until persistence leads to understanding. Then, it’s time to move on.”
“I have a special affinity for those who have been hurt by the institutional church, ministering primarily to others on the margins: homeless and addicted people; disaffiliated and minority groups; students and catechumens. My approach has tempered through age and experience but thirst for what is right has not. Some folks think my use of spontaneous humor can be very effective; some do not.”
Sr. Jackie Doepker OFM — Executive Secretary
Sr. Jackie Doepker is a Sister of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio.
Sister Jackie spent 21 years in elementary education and 16 years in community leadership. She
worked for the Social Action Office of the Diocese of Cleveland for 7 years, developing
programs on Catholic Social Teaching and working on specific social justice issues.
Other past ministries include jail and prison ministry, pastoral ministry, social outreach in
Appalachia, and hosting refugees in a Sanctuary community.
She works to promote the spirit of Vatican II, encourage servant leadership within the Church, and promote justice.
Sr. Jackie has served as Executive Secretary of the AUSCP since September of 2014.
Paul Leingang – Communications and Media
auscp.communications@gmail.com
Paul R. Leingang
Paul has assisted AUSCP communications since the first Assembly in St. Leo, Florida, 2012, the year he retired from diocesan communications after 25 years in Evansville, Ind. His background includes minor and major seminary studies in Belleville, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo., a bachelor’s in philosophy and education, and post-graduate studies in Theology and Scripture.
Paul’s career included radio and television news, on-air and in management at broadcast stations in Missouri and Illinois, with national honors for his newscasts from United Press International.
Paul and Jane, married in 1971, have two sons and two grandchildren. Paul and Jane participated in Marriage Encounter and Cursillo, and served in diocese leadership for Teens Encounter Christ. They served in local and national leadership in the Christian Family Movement, a Cardijn See-Judge-Act movement, for many years.
Sr. Linda Scheckelhoff – Office Assistant
Sister Linda Scheckelhoff is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio. She ministered as an elementary teacher for 8 years, served in community leadership and worked 25 years as a missionary in the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. She returned to the States in 2020 and has been working as assistant to Sr. Jackie for 2 and a half years. She strongly believes in
and promotes the values and ideals of Vatican II. She is currently ministering to
Hispanic immigrants in the local county jail and supporting various other social
justice endeavors.
Last updated October 2024.