Leadership & Faculty

Father John Fisher
Pastor

Desiree Disney
Principal
Our Pastor & Principal
OMC is led by Desiree Disney, Principal, and Father John Fisher, Pastor. They work together to support our students, families, and teachers in a caring, faith-filled environment. Please click on their photos to learn a bit about their years of experience in Catholic education.
Father John, OMC Pastor
Father John Fisher, Pastor, brings more than four decades of ministry experience to Our Mother of Consolation Parish. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, the fifth of six children, he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales in 1977, made his first profession of vows in 1980, perpetual vows in 1986, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1988. Father John seeks to embody the Salesian virtues of humility and gentleness, serving as a model of faith for our students and parish community.
His ministry has included a variety of pastoral and educational assignments, with his appointment to OMC in July 2022. Father John’s extensive background, including as a school principal, in Catholic education and pastoral leadership provided steady guidance and vision during the rebuilding of our parish school.
Outside of his ministry, Father John enjoys walking, as well as listening to music, attending concerts, and spending time with his family. He especially treasures his role as “Uncle John” to his 12 nieces and nephews.
Faculty:
Father Judge
High School
Bishop Verot
High School
Salesianum School
De Sales University
Northeast Catholic
High School
Principal:
Salesianum School
Interim Principal:
Nativity Preparatory School
Rector:
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, NJ
Pastor:
Our Mother of Consolation Parish
Desiree Disney, Principal
Principal Disney is a devoted educator and administrator who has served OMC since 2020 in a variety of roles, including Kindergarten teacher, Fourth Grade teacher, Vice Principal, and now Principal. Her experience within the school has given her a deep understanding of the OMC community and a strong commitment to its continued growth and success. Throughout her time at OMC, Principal Disney has continuously innovated and implemented ways to strengthen OMC’s academics, extracurriculars, and community.
As both a former teacher and a former professional in journalism and media, Principal Disney is emphatic about meeting and exceeding standards and expectations. She prioritizes the details that make each day run smoothly while simultaneously embodying visionary leadership, setting OMC up for success for many years to come.
As a school leader (as well as a CYO coach), Principal Disney seeks to instill rigor, discipline, and confidence in OMC students. Her dedication to the OMC community—which her own daughter proudly calls home as a student—is evident in all she does. She is honored to serve the families of Our Mother of Consolation Parish School.
Education:
Temple University
BA in Communication Studies
Major in Journalism
Drexel University
MS in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum
Certificates:
PA Instructional I: Grades PreK-4
Faculty & Staff
Our dedicated teachers help students learn, grow, and thrive. At OMC, they create a caring environment where every child grows spiritually, academically, and socially.

Nichole Guerrant
PreK Teacher

Nancy Wilson
Pre-K Assistant

Jenni Longstreth
Kindergarten Teacher

Kelly Carroll
First Grade Teacher

Nicole Santini
First Grade Assistant

Joan Kuneck
Second Grade Teacher

Evelyn Aponte
Second Grade Assistant & Tuition

Katie Pownall
Third Grade Teacher

Cornelia Hope
Fourth Grade Teacher

Abigail Salamone
Fifth Grade Teacher

Alex Hauber
Sixth Grade Teacher

Sonya Aversa
Seventh Grade Teacher

Jessica Stack
Eighth Grade Teacher

Elise Malizia
Music Teacher

Mark Vrooman
Advanced Math

Michael Jenkins
Gym Teacher

Julia Kuneck
Art Teacher

Leoncia Cruz
STREAM / Innovation

Laura Cilia
Director of Mission & Education

Chandra Wroblewski
Director of Advancement

Dianna Branch
Administrative Assistant

Breonna Harmon
Kitchen Manager
What we need is a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience.
– Saint Francis de Sales
Faculty & Staff
Our dedicated teachers help students learn, grow, and thrive. At OMC, they create a caring environment where every child grows spiritually, academically, and socially.

Nichole Guerrant
PreK Teacher

Nancy Wilson
Pre-K Assistant

Jenni Longstreth
Kindergarten Teacher

Kelly Carroll
First Grade Teacher

Nicole Santini
First Grade Assistant

Joan Kuneck
Second Grade Teacher

Evelyn Aponte
Second Grade Assistant & Tuition

Katie Pownall
Third Grade Teacher

Cornelia Hope
Fourth Grade Teacher

Abigail Salamone
Fifth Grade Teacher

Alex Hauber
Sixth Grade Teacher

Sonya Aversa
Seventh Grade Teacher

Jessica Stack
Eighth Grade Teacher

Elise Malizia
Music Teacher

Mark Vrooman
Advanced Math

Michael Jenkins
Gym Teacher

Julia Kuneck
Art Teacher

Leoncia Cruz
STREAM / Innovation

Laura Cilia
Director of Mission & Education

Chandra Wroblewski
Director of Advancement

Dianna Branch
Administrative Assistant

Breonna Harmon
Kitchen Manager
What we need is a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience.
– Saint Francis de Sales
Board of Limited Jurisdiction
OMC’s Board of Limited Jurisdiction (BLJ), in collaboration with the Principal and Pastor, fosters the highest possible standards of academic and Catholic religious education for all students. Learn more about our board members:
Peter Amuso, Esq.
Peter Amuso is a partner at the law firm of Rudolph Clarke LLC, and proud OMC parent. A member of the Jesuit Honor Society of Alpha Sigma Nu by way of Georgetown with a A.B. in Government and English, and an honors graduate of Harvard Law School with J.D. in law. Peter brings a personal commitment to Catholic education and a professional expertise in school law to the Board of Limited Jurisdiction. An active member of the parish, Peter coaches the CYO track team, and was the founding cubmaster of Pack 1855. He was recently awarded the St. John Neumann Emblem by the Archdiocesan Committee on Catholic Scouting.
Jason Bempah
Jason Bempah serves on the Admissions Team and Teaching Faculty at La Salle College High School. A Philadelphia native and a 2018 graduate of La Salle, he returned to his alma mater with a passion for supporting students both inside and outside the classroom. Jason earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Corporate Communication from Duquesne University, where he developed a strong foundation in communication and organizational leadership.
While pursuing his graduate degree, Jason worked as an Administrative Assistant for AD99 Solutions, the nonprofit organization founded by Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald. The organization focused on providing holistic educational opportunities and resources to underserved youth throughout the Pittsburgh area. This experience reinforced his commitment to education, mentorship, and community engagement.
At La Salle, Jason teaches Effective Communication and Intro to Technology & Design, helping students develop essential skills in public speaking, collaboration, critical thinking, and digital literacy. In his admissions role, he organizes application materials, guides prospective students and families through the admissions process, conducts campus tours, and visits local schools to represent La Salle’s mission and values. Beyond the classroom and admissions office, Jason is actively involved with freshman basketball, the Saint Katharine Drexel Program, and the Summer Enrichment Program, further supporting student growth and engagement across the school community.
Kathleen Boyle, SSJ
Kathleen Boyle, SSJ, was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended St. Bernard’s Elementary School and St. Hubert’s High School. She has been a Sister of St. Joseph for 49 years. She received a BS in Sociology from Chestnut Hill College and a Masters in Education from Villanova University. Most of her years have been spent in the Education Ministry. She has taught first, second, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. She served as principal for eleven years at St. Stephen’s School in Pennsauken, NJ. Most recently I taught Theology for fifteen years at St. Rose High School in Belmar, NJ
In 2021, she became Area Delegate for the Sisters of St. Joseph. She reports directly to the President of the order of sisters. She visits their convents and keeps the President informed about the sisters and their needs and helps to facilitate whatever needs arise. She also hold a place on their Missioning Board. She is a certified Spiritual Director and Retreat Director.
Brendan Dwyer
Brendan Dwyer (OMC, Class of ’06) is a Financial Advisor with Principal Financial Network, working alongside his identical twin brother Mike (’06) and father Tim (’67). He earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Villanova University in 2014, majoring in Finance with a minor in Spanish Language & Literature. He spent five years working for Janney Montgomery Scott, a brokerage firm in center city Philadelphia, before moving to Guatemala for two full years (2020 & 2021) to volunteer and work as National Director for Asociación Nuestros Ahijados/The GOD’S CHILD Project, a non-profit dedicated to helping those living in extreme poverty through educational, healthcare, housing, and sustainable development programs. Back home in Philadelphia, Brendan spends his time outside of his role as a financial advisor leading service teams to Guatemala each year to volunteer, conducting speaking engagements to foster volunteer interest, advocate for the poor, and support fundraising efforts for The GOD’S CHILD Project, and serving on its board of directors. He is a fluent Spanish speaker and also involved in trash and street clean-up with I Love Thy Hood, a Philadelphia-based non-profit founded by fellow class of ’06 OMC graduate Matthew A. George.
Brendan was born and raised in Chestnut Hill and was the fifth generation on his father’s side to attend Our Mother of Consolation School.
Pat Cunningham
Pat Cunningham was born and grew up in Mexico City. In Mexico, she attended a bilingual school (Spanish/English) from first grade until graduating from secretarial school. While in Mexico, she worked for the International Department at the Universidad Iberoamericana. She relocated to Philadelphia in 1970 and joined the Latin American studies program at St. Joseph’s University. In 1988, she began a 30-year career with the William Penn Charter School, first in the development office and then in the admissions office. Pat retired in 2018. She has been a member of the OMC parish for 17 years and volunteers as a eucharistic minister and funeral sacristan.
Michael Pavelsky
Michael W. Pavelsky, AIA, LEED Fellow, serves as Senior Associate and Sustainability Director at The Sheward Partnership, LLC, an architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting firm headquartered in Philadelphia. A Registered Architect with extensive expertise in high-performance building design, Michael leads the firm’s Sustainability Consulting Practice, directing a multidisciplinary team that delivers innovative sustainability and resiliency solutions for projects around the world.
In 2020, Michael was elevated to LEED Fellow by the U.S. Green Building Council, one of the highest honors in the green building industry. This prestigious distinction recognizes exceptional professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and measurable contributions to advancing sustainable design and environmental stewardship.
A respected leader within the sustainable design community, Michael has served as Co-Chair of the AIA Philadelphia Committee on the Environment and as a member of the Board of Directors for Green Building United, the region’s leading organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and high-performance building practices throughout the greater Philadelphia area.
Michael has also demonstrated long-standing leadership and service within the OMC community. As Chair of the OMC Parish School Facilities Committee, he oversaw significant improvements to the school’s physical environment and infrastructure. He played a key role in shaping and advancing the 2015 OMC Strategic Plan, and his deep institutional knowledge proved instrumental as a member of the OMC Rebuild Executive Committee, where he helped guide the school community through the successful planning and execution of the rebuild process.
Mary Osirim
Mary Johnson Osirim is a member of Our Mother of Consolation Parish, where she and her husband Sam have been parishioners for over 30 years. Her two daughters attended CCD classes in the parish and received several of their sacraments there. From 2021-24, she served a previous term on the Board of Limited Jurisdiction.
She is the former Interim Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Franklin and Marshall College and currently Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Bryn Mawr College. At Bryn Mawr College, she held many different academic and administrative positions including as Provost, Dean of Graduate Studies, Chair of the Sociology Department and Africana Studies Program, as well as Co-Director of the Center for International Studies and the Center for Ethnicities, Communities and Social Policy. Her research and publications focus on gender and development in sub-Saharan Africa and African immigrant communities in the US.
Osirim was a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a Trustee at the Baldwin School, Co-President of Sociologists for Women in Society, Co-Convener of the Women’s Caucus and a member of the Board of Directors of the African Studies Association. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Lincoln University.
Katrina Wise
Madeline Franze, SSJ
Madeline Franze, SSJ, is a Sister of Saint Joseph having entered the congregation in 1967. She received a B.S. degree from Chestnut Hill College in elementary education and a M.A. degree from Villanova University in educational administration. She holds certificates in fundraising from the University of Pennsylvania and human resources from LaSalle University. Sister Madeline also holds the designation of Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 1994. Her past professional experience includes 12 years as an elementary school teacher, 8 years as an elementary school principal, 15 years as Director of Development for Sisters of Saint Joseph and 18 years in her current role as a development consultant, working with religious communities of women and men throughout the United States, Ireland, and Jamaica. She has been a member of the OMC parish since 1998.
Meaghan Patterson, SSJ
Sr. Meaghan Patterson is a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia with a background in teaching and administration in Philadelphia and a surrounding suburb. She taught both younger and older elementary students before entering administration, where she worked with various stakeholders of the school, participated in development and fundraising opportunities, and coordinated community partnerships. Sr. Meaghan interned with a small non-profit in Chester County, PA where she worked with women who have or were about to experience homelessness. Her educational background includes a degree in English from Chestnut Hill College, a Master’s degree in Multicultural Education from Eastern University, and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. She is now the Executive Director of Dawn’s Place, a safe house and residential facility for adult female survivors of sex trafficking and/or commercial sexual exploitation.
Eileen F. Wilkinson, Ed. D.
Eileen Wilkinson, Ed.D brings over four decades of experience in Catholic education and has served in four dioceses. Eileen currently serves as principal at Saint Mark’s High School in Wilmington, DE. She completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2024. A secondary focus of her studies was infusing the 5 Hallmarks of Catholic Education into all subject areas. Having taught in elementary schools for 8 years, she welcomes the opportunity to serve on the OMC Board of Limited Jurisdiction. Dr. Wilkinson holds degrees from Chestnut Hill College, Villanova University, and Immaculata University.
Donald Tippet
Donald Tippet began his professional career as Business Manager for St. Thomas’ Church in Whitemarsh, where he served for 15 years. He later found his calling in public service with Philadelphia City Council, where he has worked for the past 27 years. During his tenure, he has served several Councilmembers and, most recently, joined the Office of the Chief Clerk as a staff member supporting the President of City Council.
Donald met his wife, Carole, an OMC alumna, while teaching swimming at the Roxborough YMCA. They have made their home in Chestnut Hill, where they raised their three children.
Outside of work, Donald enjoys home improvement projects and a variety of outdoor adventures, including flying his ultralight aircraft, scuba diving, kayaking, and riding his motorcycle.
Donald is honored to serve on the OMC Board and is committed to supporting the school’s mission and helping it continue to grow and thrive for future generations.
A native Philadelphian, Donald moved to Lafayette Hill with his family at the age of two. He was educated in the Colonial School District before earning a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University’s School of Management.
John Gomes
João (John) Gomes joined the Our Mother of Consolation Board of Limited Jurisdiction this year, serving on the Finance Committee. A lifelong educator with two decades of experience in independent schools, João currently serves as Dean of Studies & Instruction at Mount Saint Joseph Academy, where he leads academic programs and faculty development. João’s connection to OMC is personal as well as professional: his niece and two nephews have called OMC home, with one still a current student. He brings to the Board a background in community building, equity and inclusion work, and analytical leadership – always in service of the people at the center of a school’s mission. He is committed to ensuring that OMC remains a place where every family feels they belong.
Mary Helen Beirne, SSJ
Mary Helen Beirne SSJ (BLJ consultant) has ministered as a principal, Head of School for Norwood Fontbonne Academy, and Associate Superintendent in the Diocese of Trenton and Archdiocese of Baltimore. She has served on numerous Boards (Chestnut Hill College, The John Carroll School in Maryland, Middle States Board- Colleges and Schools). Sister has her BA from Chestnut Hill College, MA from Catholic University, and Ed.D. in education leadership from Temple University. Most recently, she has been an educational coach for Independence Mission Schools in Philadelphia. Sister regularly consults for curriculum formation, board development, principal mentoring, and strategic planning.

