BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Paul Covino joined the TATENDA Board in 2019.  After receiving an M.A. in Theology with a concentration in Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame in 1981, Paul served as the Associate Director of the Georgetown Center for Liturgy,  Associate Chaplain and Director of Liturgy at the College of the Holy Cross, and Director of Campus Ministry at Assumption University.

Paul has also served the Church’s life of worship as a teacher, workshop leader, conference liturgy coordinator, and director of liturgy at two parishes and a graduate pastoral ministry program. His publications include A Deacon’s Guide to Baptizing Children (Liturgy Training Publications) and Celebrating Marriage: Preparing the Roman Catholic Wedding Liturgy (OCP Publications), articles in various journals, and chapters in books and encyclopedias.

After 36 years in lay ministry, Paul was ordained a deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Worcester in 2017. He and his wife Anne have four grown sons and two grandchildren.

CO-FOUNDER & RETREAT DIRECTOR

Dr. Nicki Verploegen, Co-Founder of TATENDA International, served as Director of Spiritual and Ministerial Development and Visiting Professor at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts for 8 years. 

Presently she teaches courses in spirituality in graduate schools around the US, including the Archdiocese of Boston’s Diaconate Program. Her academic degrees include: Ph.D. and M.A. Formative Spirituality from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, M.. A. and an M.A. from Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.

Originally from Montana, Dr. Verploegen has traveled throughout the US, Asia and Africa, offering support for caregivers, as well as serving as a lay missioner in Liberia for two years. She has been conducting retreats and giving spiritual direction for over 30 years and is the author of four books, including From Monks to Missionaries; Planning and Implementing Retreats: A Parish Handbook; Organic Spirituality: A Sixfold Path for Contemplative Living; and Meditations With Merton. Her books can be obtained by contacting Wipf and Stock, Eugene, OR at 541-344-1528 or via email at orders@wipfandstock.com. 

VICE PRESIDENT

Nancy Y. Sheridan SASV, is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. She has been a financial supporter of Tatenda International since its inception. Her full-time ministries include spiritual direction, supervision and retreat work and formation of spiritual guides and directors in the USA, Canada, and Europe. She engages in contemplative facilitation with various leadership groups and boards of various denominations.

Her loves are poetry, ritual, the sea and the countryside of North Wales where she is presently residing for two months.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

 Noel Fernandez, an Indian, has travelled extensively over Middle East and Africa spanning over 2 decades. His background has been in the Business Development and Business Management, working with Multi-national’s and multi-lingual individuals. Based in the Middle East, he had the privilege, through the church community, to be a part of the hospital ministry, visiting and praying with patients. He was also a part of the Samaritan/labour ministry, which was the social arm of the parish, that collected and packed food and essentials for the needy. 

SECRETARY

With degrees in Theology, Pastoral Ministry, and Spirituality, I have spent the last 30 years in parish ministry, religious education, campus ministry, and directing retreats around the Pacific Northwest.  In addition to ministry, I spent the last 16 years in social services which included home healthcare, trauma-informed care, education, and supported employment - 10 years working with adults with developmental diversities (L’Arche Spokane) and 6 years with women experiencing poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Regina holds a Masters in Pastoral Ministry/Pastoral Counseling from Boston College. After 30 years of parish ministry as a Director of Faith Formation, Youth Ministry and as Pastoral Associate Regina now is the Coordinator of Social Concerns and Liturgy for the Sisters of Saint Anne in Marlborough. For 8 years she served as the director of Vacations That Give a SSA ministry for short term mission trips in the US, Chile and Haiti. She is married to Alan and they are parents to Jennifer and grandparents to Ryan and Cameron.

ORGANIZATION'S TREASURER

Karen is a Director of Finance for BMT, a division of Christian Brothers Services, Inc. BMT is a management and financial consulting firm which provides consulting services such as accounting and financial management, benefit eligibility management, human resources, investment consulting and planning. to faith-based organizations. She has 30 years of nonprofit accounting experience with a focus on religious organizations.