Announcing Our New DRE, 

Shannon Haddad

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Divine Mercy Parish,

I am very pleased to announce that Mrs. Shannon Haddad will join Divine Mercy Parish as our new Director of Religious Education (DRE). Shannon will begin her journey with us on July 1, 2021 and will be working closely with Mr. Jacques Delouche during the month of June to ensure a smooth transition plan is in place. 

As Director of Religious Education, Shannon will be responsible for providing the overall leadership and direction for parish faith formation. Currently, this includes developing curricula, training, and staffing of elementary catechetical classes (K-5th), sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, coordinating Adult Faith Formation opportunities, implementing programs for Adult Confirmation and Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) and Adults (RCIA), serving as the Church’s Safe Environment officer, and catechist formation. Shannon will serve as an integral member of the pastoral staff and work collaboratively with the clergy, faith formation volunteers, parents, and teachers.

Shannon currently serves as the Executive Director of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Retreat Center and has previously served as a theology teacher at Mount Carmel Academy (New Orleans, LA) and St. Mary’s High School (Annapolis, MD). Shannon holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, LA) graduating magna cum laude with coursework in Systematic, Biblical, and Historical Theology. She has also completed coursework at The Pontifical John Paul II Institute (Washington, D.C.) with a focus on marriage and family studies and bioethics.

Shannon and her husband Jordan are parishioners of Divine Mercy Parish with one of their two children currently enrolled at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. 

Shannon’s great enthusiasm, coupled with her many talents and gifts, will be a tremendous blessing to Divine Mercy Parish. She appreciates the inestimable value of religious education and faith formation and truly has a servant’s heart. 

As Shannon notes, “Working to develop faith formation opportunities for both youth and adults through theological coursework, retreats, and conferences has convicted me of the importance of religious education in shaping and forming individuals, families, and our culture.” Her desire is that “every member of our parish might come to have a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church and be deeply convicted by the truth, freedom, and joy of the Gospel.”

Join me in welcoming Shannon to our pastoral staff! Let us hold each other in prayer in this time of transition and new beginnings.