Meet the Key Leaders and Staff of the Catholic Center for Family Spirituality. We have a strong and experienced leadership team to execute our mission, implement our strategic goals, and facilitate our events.
Seminary Leaders
Reverend Monsignor Robert F. Coleman, J.C.D.
Reverend Monsignor Robert Coleman is rector and dean of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, as well as an adjunct professor of pastoral theology. He earned a J.C.D. from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also earned a diploma from the School of Latin Letters, Pontifical Gregorian University. His dissertation was titled Canon 369: The Definition of a Diocese in the Code of Canon Law. Ordained to the priesthood in 1978, his first assignment was as parochial vicar to Saint Aloysius Church in Jersey City until 1982. He then served as advocate, and later, as judge and defender of the Bond of the Metropolitan Tribunal, Archdiocese of Newark. From 1994 to 1996, he was secretary for canonical affairs, Office of the Archbishop of Newark, as well as coordinator of the task force for the pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to the Archdiocese. In 1996, he was named a chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. Monsignor Coleman served as vice-rector/business manager of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology from 1996 to 2000, and, in 2000, he was appointed rector and dean. He teaches canon law - general and canon law of marriage. In 2005, Monsignor Coleman was elevated to the rank of Prelate of Honor.
Reverend Robert K. Suszko, M.B.A., M.Div.
Reverend Robert K. Suszko, M.B.A., M.Div., was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark in 2002. He served as parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Cedar Grove, from June 2002-January 2010, and at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, West Orange, from January 2010-October 2010. In November 2010, he began his duties as Vice Rector, Director of Formation, and Business Manager at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Chapel, S.T.D.
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Chapel is Assistant Spiritual Director for the Seminary, Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Co-Director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality and Director, Center for Diaconal Formation, at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. He earned an M.A. in International Relations from the Paul S. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University. He also earned an S.T.L. and S.T.D. from Accademia Alfonsiana (Lateran University) and an S.T.B. from The Gregorian University. His doctoral dissertation was titled Why Confess Our Sins Out Loud? An Analysis Based on the Dialogical Philosophy of Ferdinand Ebner in Light of the Philosophy of Language and the Symbolic Sacramentology of Louis-Marie Chauvet. Ordained to the priesthood in 1992, he teaches Christian ethics and preaching practicum and reconciliation and anointing. His publications include “Why Confess Our Sins Out Loud? Some Possibilities Based on the Thought of Ferdinand Ebner and Louis-Marie Chauvet” (The Irish Theological Quarterly) and “Dialogical Personalisms Revisited”” (Studia Moralia).
Dianne M. Traflet, J.D., S.T.D.
Dianne Marie Traflet, in addition to serving as associate dean of the School of Theology, is a Seminary Leader and a founder of the Catholic Center for Family Spirituality, founder and co-director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality and assistant professor of pastoral theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. She earned a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law; an M.A. in Catholic Theology and Pastoral Ministry from The Institute of Advanced Studies of Catholic Doctrine, St. John’s University; and an S.T.L. and an S.T.D. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (The Angelicum). She gives numerous lectures and retreats on Edith Stein and related topics in spirituality and has published Saint Edith Stein: A Spiritual Portrait (2008).
Center Director and Staff
Deacon Andrew E. Saunders, M.A.
Deacon Andrew Saunders is Director of the Catholic Center for Family Spirituality and the Coordinator of Programs for the Institute for Christian Spirituality. He has nearly three decades of business experience with leading Fortune 500 firms including the International Business Machines Corporation, Citigroup, Inc., and CIT Group, Inc. He has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Connecticut, an M.A. in Economics from Trinity College and a M.A. in Theology with a Biblical Studies concentration from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. He is a Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and coordinator of adult faith formation at St. Luke’s Church in Ho-Ho-Kus, a member of the Knights of Columbus and was ordained in 2011 to the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Newark.
Stephen B. Kass, M.N.E., M.A.
Stephen Kass is Editor of the Journal of Family Spirituality for the Catholic Center for Family Spirituality and Coordinator of Marketing and Development for the Institute for Christian Spirituality. He has held a variety of leadership positions in the business community where he has worked as the Director of Sales, Director of Marketing and the Director of Customer Care. He has also worked as a Nuclear Marketing specialist and as a nuclear submarine systems design engineer. He spent five years on active duty and nine years of reserve duty as an officer in the United States Navy. Steve received his B.A. in Geological Sciences from the University of Rochester, his M.N.E. in Nuclear Engineering from North Carolina State University and a M.A. in Systematic Theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. He is involved in a variety of Adult Faith Formation ministries and RCIA. He is pursuing his doctorate in Higher Education Leadership, Management and Policy at Seton Hall University and is in formation for the Permanent Diaconate in the Paterson Diocese.
Kristine Hudak
Kristine Hudak is Secretary and Coordinator of Special Programs for the Catholic Center for Family Spirituality and the Secretary for Academics at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. Her previous work experience involved working in medical billing for 22 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Kean College. Kris is an active parishioner at Christ the King Church in Hillside.
Eilish R. Harrington
Eilish R. Harrington is Assistant Editor of Publications and Assistant Marketing Coordinator for the Catholic Center for Family Spirituality and the Institutional Research Specialist for Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. A 2008 summa cum laude graduate of Seton Hall, with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and Classical Studies, Eilish is a member of Eta Sigma Phi National Classics Honor Society and Theta Alpha Kappa Religious Studies Honor Society.
