The inaugural cohort of Spirituality Fellows had their first gathering in Ocean City, New Jersey, Sept. 19-21. Led by Brother Bill Mann, FSC, D.Min., the fellows engaged with Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s works and life, broader Catholic spirituality, contemporary voices, and more.
The program focuses on formal formation but also guides fellows to discern where they can contribute outwardly to support the Lasallian family. In this way, the program is a gift to the participants and to their communities. Throughout the program, the fellows will consider how De La Salle understood the presence of God, how they are called to educate and accompany the young, and how faith is central to our ministerial communities.
The fellows will meet again in-person in the spring in Napa, California. To learn more about the program, visit our Spirituality Fellows webpage.
Below are the biographies of the first cohort of Spirituality Fellows and their accompanier:
Tony Behan, Ed.D., has been part of the De La Salle High School community in New Orleans since 2004, where he teaches religious studies and serves as department chair, coordinator of campus ministry and Lasallian formation. Passionate about helping young people grow in faith and purpose, he designs retreats, service opportunities and classroom experiences that invite students to explore meaning, belonging and justice. Dr. Behan has shared his love for Lasallian education through talks, workshops and formation programs, and has completed the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies. Recognized as Distinguished Lasallian Educator of the Year by the Christian Brothers Conference and Educator of the Year by the Anti-Defamation League, Dr. Behan is committed to fostering meaningful, faith-filled learning rooted in the Lasallian tradition, and he continues to see teaching and learning as a vocation rooted in faith, hope, and care for students.
Brother Dennis Cronin, FSC, received a Master of Education from Boston College in religion and education. He currently serves as the president of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York. He began his career as a junior high teacher in a parish elementary school, served in the Diocese of Brooklyn as the coordinator for youth ministry and in the Archdiocese of New York as the director for adolescent catechesis. He returned to teach and lead campus ministry at LaSalle, Oakdale and then, in 2001, to serve as principal and then president at Loughlin.
Thomas Devlin is a campus minister, history teacher and cross country/track coach at La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. Additionally, he helps lead the school’s “FSC Team,” which coordinates faculty formation opportunities at La Salle. He is also an alumnus of the school and holds a master’s degree in theology from La Salle University in addition to degrees from Saint Joseph’s University and Villanova University. Tom is also a former participant in the Lasallian Social Justice Institute, a Brother John Johnston Institute of Contemporary Lasallian Practice graduate, and served as a member of the 2024 Huether Planning Committee. Tom lives in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, with his wife Sarah and their two children, Seamus and Maura.
Holly Hoey Germann is a Catholic educator and spiritual director with more than 30 years of experience as a theology teacher, retreat facilitator, and curriculum developer. She teaches theology at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minnesota, where she has also coordinated adult faith formation and mentored students in leadership and service. Holly has authored curriculum resources, written articles on Catholic education, and presented at national conferences and webinars. She received the Distinguished Lasallian and School Sisters of Notre Dame Educator Award in both 2019 and 2025 from Totino-Grace, recognizing her leadership and contributions to Catholic education. She holds a certificate in spiritual direction from the University of St. Catherine, a master of catholic education degree from St. Mary’s University, and a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from the University of Minnesota. Holly is married to her husband, Jeff, and has two adult children.
Brother Nick Gonzalez, FSC, has been in ministry with schools as a teacher and administrator in Lasallian schools for 40 years. He’s blessed to have worked in Lasallian ministries in Santa Fe, Denver, Tucson and El Paso. Originally serving in the legacy New Orleans Santa Fe District, his current ministry is as Visitor to the San Francisco New Orleans District where he enjoys working with Lasallian Partners and Brothers to sustain and grow the Lasallian mission.
Brother Bob Kinzler, FSC, is the AVP for student advocacy and support at La Salle University. In that capacity he manages the behavioral intervention team and emergency support for students. Prior to that he was director of campus ministry at La Salle for 20 years. Brother Bob spent the first part of his life as a Brother working in the Saint Gabriel’s system, a program for court adjudicated young men and women. Brother Bob made CIL in 2002. A biology undergrad, Bob has master’s degrees in education and social work. He has a love of liturgy, reading and cooking. A native of Pittsburgh, he is a lifelong Pirate, Steeler and Penguin fan.
Susan Major, MA, is the vice president of mission and director of campus Ministry for Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) in Syracuse, New York. Her Lasallian journey began in 2010 when she began teaching religion at CBA. In 2019 she was named Lasallian Educator of the Year and in 2023 was named to the Senior Leadership Team as VP of mission. She is a graduate of the Lasallian Spiritual Accompaniment and Brother John Johnston formation programs. She has been commissioned as a lay minister for family life ministry in the Diocese of Syracuse and takes the most pride in her family. She lives in Skaneateles, New York, with her husband of 28 years, Matt, and together they have three children; Peter (25), Anna (22) and Grace (20).
Chris Winiarski is a graduate of Mount St. Joseph University, the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies and La Salle High School in Cincinnati, where he serves as director of campus ministry, mission and formation. For more than 25 years, he has been blessed to help accompany many students, staff and families through faith formation experiences, Christian service focused encounters, leadership opportunities, scholastic pursuits, and association of family and community through grief and loss. Chris has served on various non-profit boards and has been recognized as a Distinguished Lasallian Educator. His wife, Angela, and their three children, Luke, Kate and Sam all live in Cincinnati and enjoy Sunday family meals together, vacationing together and living life deeply rooted in the core values of a Catholic and Lasallian education.
Accompanier:
Brother William Mann, FSC, D.Min., is president emeritus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, editor-in-chief of AXIS: Journal of Lasallian Higher Education, a long-time presenter on Lasallian spirituality at the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies, and the recent director of the International Lasallian Faculty Leadership Program in Rome. He is also a former vicar general of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (2000-2007) and a past president of the International Association of La Salle Universities (2015-2018). He lives at Christian Brothers Center at Manhattan University, a community of 21 Brothers in the Riverdale section of New York City.