Dear Partners in Catholic Advocacy,

In September we celebrated the retirement of the executive director of the Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), Mario Villanueva. Mario served at the WSCC for four years, preceded by a long, distinguished career working for the common good as Vice President of Catholic Charities of Central Washington and as state director for the USDA Rural Development. We are grateful for Mario’s work.

We now welcome Jean Welch Hill as the WSCC’s newly appointed executive director. Jean has more than 25 years of experience in state and federal advocacy. She previously worked as the Government Liaison and Director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace for the Diocese of Salt Lake City for 11 years. She comes to us directly from Salt Lake County government, where she was Director of the Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform and the county’s Criminal Justice Advisory Council.

As the WSCC executive director Jean will lead advocacy efforts and represent the bishops of the Archdiocese of Seattle, the Diocese of Spokane, and the Diocese of Yakima on public policy matters. She will also direct year-round advocacy across Washington state.
As the WSCC promotes the values of Catholic Social Teaching in public policy, we are thankful for the gifts Jean brings to lead the WSCC.

In the heart of Christ,

Most Rev. Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle

Most Rev. Joseph J. Tyson, Bishop of Yakima

Most Rev. Thomas A. Daly, Bishop of Spokane

Most Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle

M.Sp.S. Most Rev. Frank Schuster, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle

 

710 Ninth Avenue • Seattle, WA 98104 • Tel 206.301.0556 • Fax 206.301.0558 • E-mail: wscc@wacatholics.org