Safe Environment Resources

Diocesan Review Board

The Diocesan Review Board was established to assist the bishop in complying with the requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms (Estatuto para la protección de niños y jóvenes) and advises him regarding allegations against clergy and policies and procedures related to Youth Protection.

GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION AS A MEMBER OF THE DIOCESAN REVIEW BOARD

Katharine Barrett

Graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1985, and then spent two years in Brooklyn, New York serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps: East (1985-1987), completed the M.Div. degree at the University of Notre Dame in 1990. Has worked in Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame for 20 years.  Mother of four children.  Member of Saint Joseph Parish, South Bend.

Deacon Joseph Dietz

Joe has 40 years of law enforcement experience, including 17 years as a police officer in Florida and Ohio and 20 years as a Special Agent for the Ohio Bureau of Investigation (BCI). Joe was a Lieutenant with the Palm Beach Police Department when he relocated to Ohio for faith and family reasons. He retired from BCI in 2016 as Director of Investigative Services after having also worked in Crime Scene, Special Investigations, and Cyber Crimes. Following his retirement from BCI, Joe and his wife Mary moved to South Bend, Indiana, to be near their children and grandchildren, and he began working part-time for the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office in 2017. Joe currently works conducting criminal investigations of financial crimes and specializes in cases that involve financial exploitation of the elderly.  Joe was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Cleveland on May 7, 2005, and has served at St. Edward Parish in Ashland, Ohio, since then. He was granted diaconal ministerial faculties in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend by the Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades in May of 2017. Joe currently exercises his diaconal ministry at Christ the King Parish in South Bend, while also returning one weekend a month to assist at St. Edward.

Dr. Susan Feathergill

Dr. Susan Feathergill, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist. Graduated from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in1994.  Currently provides psychological services for children, adolescents, and adults in private practice. Previously worked in inpatient and outpatient community mental health settings. Adjunct Professor at University of Notre Dame, Theology Department. Wife, Aunt to 9 nieces and nephews, Member of St. Pius X Parish, Granger.

Joseph Flores

Joseph received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science from Ball State University, and completed his master’s degree in Public Administration at Purdue University Fort Wayne. His early career was spent in retail management, followed by a transition into public service. He has since investigated civil rights complaints, including allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, for the City of Fort Wayne Metropolitan Human Relations Commission and Purdue University Fort Wayne. He was recently hired as an investigator at the US Center for SafeSport, which responds to allegations of misconduct within the US Olympic and Paralympic movement. Mr. Flores is also a notary and registered mediator in the State of Indiana.

Kenton Kiracofe

Kenton Kiracofe was appointed Judge of the 28th Judicial Circuit (Wells Circuit Court), by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2011.  He has since been elected twice and his present term expires on December 31, 2024.  He was appointed by Chief Justice Loretta Rush to be the Chair of the Probation Committee and an at large representative on the Indiana Judicial Board of Directors.   He also currently serves on the board of directors for the Indiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.  Judge Kiracofe’s docket includes a wide variety of cases, including major felonies, juvenile delinquents, children in need of services, family law, probate, and litigation. Prior to taking the bench, he was a deputy prosecutor from 2002 through 2011 in the Wells County Prosecutor’s office, handling a variety of misdemeanor and felony cases. He was also an attorney in the law firm of Carnall, Myers & Kiracofe, in Bluffton, Indiana.   He is a graduate of New Haven High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne.  He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis (now McKinney School of Law).  He has been licensed to practice law in the State of Indiana since 2002.

He is married to Theresa Kiracofe, who teaches kindergarten at Saint Aloysius Catholic School.  He and his wife have three children, ages 15, 13, and 12.  He resides in Ossian, Indiana and he and his family are parishioner at St. Aloysius Catholic Church.  His hobbies include playing hockey, reading and spending time with his family.

Carl Loesch

Graduate of the University of Notre Dame with degrees in theology, education, and school administration.  Teacher and former chair of the Theology Department at Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne and former principal of Marian High School in Mishawaka.  Currently serves as Secretary for Catholic Education.  Father of four boys.  Member of Saint Matthew Cathedral, South Bend.

Msgr. Bruce Piechocki, JCL

Graduate of the University of Notre Dame and St. Meinrad Seminary with a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America. Pastor of Saint Aloysius Parish, Yoder.

Robert Raster, MD

Graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Wayne State University, and Northwestern University.  Currently Medical Director of Michiana Behavioral Health Center in Plymouth.  Father of seven children. Member of Saint Joseph Parish, South Bend.

Jeremy Reidy

Graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2004, received a Master of Business Administration Degree from Indiana University (IPFW) in 2010, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Indiana University (IPFW) School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2000. Currently serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Redeemer Radio, Board of Directors of the Saint Thomas More Society of Fort Wayne, and half of a Mentor Couple for the Third Option Program to Strengthen Marriages. Husband, father of five, and a member of Our Lady of Good Hope, Fort Wayne.

Stephen Ross, PsyD

Dr. Ross graduated from St. Meinrad Seminary, the University of Dayton, and the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. He is a clinical and forensic psychologist practicing in Fort Wayne and the president of Clinical & Forensic Psychological Services, PC. He regularly conducts forensic evaluations for state and federal courts. He and his wife have 3 children and are members of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

Rev. Thomas Shoemaker

Graduate of Wabash College, Indiana University School of Dentistry, and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA.  Ordained to the Priesthood in 1990 and currently serving as Pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Fort Wayne.

Non-Members Who Assist the Review Board

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, DD, STL, JCL

Diocesan Bishop. Graduate of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Bachelor of Sacred Theology and advanced degrees in Dogmatic Theology and Canon Law from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.  As Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, he attends all Diocesan Review Board meetings.

Rev. Mark A. Gurtner, Vicar General/Chancellor

Father Mark Gurtner is currently the Vicar General of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Pastor of Our Lady of Good Hope Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He was raised in Auburn, Indiana, and received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, in 1991.  He attended St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, where he received a Master’s Degree in Divinity and was ordained a priest in 1996.  A few years after ordination, he was sent to Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from which he received a licentiate degree in Canon Law.  He is currently a candidate for the doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.  He also enjoys playing golf.

Joe Garcia, Ministry Specialist for Victims Assistance and Safe Environment

Graduate of University of Notre Dame with degrees in English and Theology. Taught high school Theology for 22 years at Bishop Dwenger High School, and recently began work as Ministry Specialist for Victims Assistance and Safe Environment for the diocese in July 2022. Father of two sons. He is a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Fort Wayne.

Mary Glowaski, Assistant to the Bishop in Pastoral Care

Graduate of the University of St. Francis with a degree in Social Work and from the University of Dayton with an MA in Pastoral Theology.  Mary has served the diocese in different capacities for over 25 years including as pastoral associate of St. John the Baptist Church, Fort Wayne.  Currently serving the diocese as Assistant to the Bishop for Pastoral Concerns and has also served as the Victim Assistance Coordinator for the diocese since 2004.

Safe Environment Policies

Resources & Forms for Parish/School Coordinators