Board of Directors

At Bethany House, we are blessed with a very engaged and active Board of Directors who come from very diverse backgrounds.  The collective wisdom and knowledge of this Board is essential to our success.

Board Members

Ruth Raichle

• President and Co-Founder of Bethany House Ministries
• Founder Our Lady of Mercy Dominican Laity Chapter at Norfolk Prison
• Massachusetts Department of Corrections Chaplain - 30 years
  • Chaplain at Plymouth Forestry Camp
  • Chaplain at MCI Norfolk
  • Chaplain at Pondville Correctional Center
  • Chaplain at MCI Cedar Junction
  • Chaplain at Bay State Correctional Center
  • Volunteer MCI Framingham
• Former member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
• Former member of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany
• In March of 2017 presented with the International Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey Foundation
• In November 2017 presented with the Paul McDevitt Humanitarian of the Year Award from Prisoner Legal Services

Sr. Kathleen Denevan OSF LICSW

• Member of the Board of Directors and Co-Founder of Bethany House Ministries
• Massachusetts Department of Corrections Chaplain at MCI Norfolk and Pondville Correctional Center prisons for 23 years. 
• Founder of the Lifers Fully Alive Group at MCI Norfolk
• Member of the Franciscan Sisters of Milwaukee, WI
• Former Psychotherapist for Family Counseling and Guidance
• Former Special Ed. Teacher
• Former Board Member, Cardinal Cushing School and Training Center
• In March of 2017 presented with the International Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey Foundation
• In November 2017 presented with the Paul McDevitt Humanitarian of the Year Award from Prisoner Legal Services

Paul Minear

• Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bethany House Ministries                             
• Bethany Volunteer and Active in Prison Ministry for the past 16 years at MCI Norfolk.
• MCI Cedar Junction and South Middlesex Correctional Center.                                   
• Graduating Student at St John’s Seminary Masters in Ministries Program                
• Training Facilitator for the Virtues Protecting Gods Child program at Immaculate Conception Parish
• Executive Sales Representative at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

Jane Hanson

Fr. Wayne Cavalier OP., PH.D

     *Member of the Board of Directors of Bethany House Ministries

     * Member of the Dominican Friars (Southern Province)

     * Spiritual Director for the Dominican Laity Fraternity at Norfolk State Prison

     * In 2005 he completed studies for a Ph.D. in theology and education at Boston College.

     * Director of the Congar Institue for Ministry Development

     * In 2016, he was presented with the Juan Diego Award by the National Association

       Lay Ministry (NALM)

Sr. Sara Bohmer OP

     * Member of the Board of Directors of Bethany House Ministries

     * Member of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany of Venlo

     * Former General Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany (2005-2017)

     * General Bursar and Secretary of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany

     * Studies in theology, social work and economics

     * Sr. Sara has been visiting Bethany House and Our Lady of Mercy Dominican Laity for

       9 years

Attorney Ted Harrington

      * Member of the Board of Directors of Bethany House Ministries.

      * Former Assistant district attorney who has extensive criminal and civil trial experience.

      * Specializes in criminal defense and also handles civil trials.

      * Areas of law include Criminal Law, Felonies, Misdemeanors, Drug Crimes, DUI/DWI,

        Juvenile Crime and Railroad Law.

Patrick Dempsey

• Member Board of Directors and Finance Committee of Bethany House Ministries
• Active in Prison Ministry and prison system volunteer for the past 16 years at MCI Norfolk.
• Mathematics Faculty Member for Boston University’s Prison Education Program.  http://www.bu.edu/pep/
• Mathematics Lecturer at Curry College Milton Massachusetts and Lasell College, Newton Massachusetts
• Retired Vice President of Engineering and Information Technology  for GTE Government Systems Corporation, Waltham Massachusett

Kenneth Neelon

• Member of the Board of Directors 
• Volunteer in Prison Ministry past 25 Years
• Founder and Leader of the Bethany Men’s Aftercare Group at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA
• Former volunteer, Old West Church/ St John’s Soup Kitchen Boston MA
• Coordinator and Leader of Inside Cursillo Programs and Bethany Christmas Gift Program
• Volunteer and Caregiver for the Homeless men with AIDs at Seaton Manor in Brighton MA
• Retired Lincoln Labs/MIT

Ed Poole

• Board Member of Bethany House Ministries.
• Member of the Bethany Finance Committee and Bookkeeper
• Active in Prison Ministries and volunteer at South Middlesex Correctional Center.
• REC team member at SMCC & Bridgewater State Hospital.
• Speaker at various churches and facilities focusing on prison ministries and re-entry.
• Assisting new releases with tax preparation.

Lisa Jackson

• Board Member of Bethany House Ministries
• Retired Superintendent of South Middlesex Correctional Center
• Board Member RIA House, a program that supports women in their recovery from commercial sexual exploitation.
• Case Manager at one of three Safe Houses in New England for women seeking safety from human trafficking.

Kurt Hanson

       . Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in the Non Profit Banking Group

          group at People's United Bank.

       .  20 years experience working exclusively with nonprofit organizations and institutions, 

          providing custimized financial services and solutions.

       .  Board member and treasurer of Roxbury Home, Sophia Snow House, Inc. and Sophia

          Snow Independent Living, as treasurer of Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic    

          Association, and as vice chair of the board of Forest Hills Cemetary.

       .  Serves on the Business Advisory Board of Dean College.

       .  20 years experience in active prison ministry programs in Massachusetts.

       .  Volunteers as a personal mentor to returning citizens, supporting their integration

          through financial literacy training, vocational development, and life coaching.