Rev. Msgr. James P. McCoy, Executive Director

Rev. Msgr. James P. McCoy has served in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for over six decades. He was ordained on May 18, 1963, and has held numerous pastoral and educational assignments throughout his priesthood, including service as Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Chalfont, Pennsylvania. In recognition of his dedicated ministry, he was named an Honorary Prelate by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1982 and, upon retirement, holds the title Pastor Emeritus. 

In addition to his parish work, Msgr. McCoy is deeply involved in the study and preservation of Catholic history.

Michael H. Finnegan, President

Michael was born and raised in North Philadelphia, attending St. Stephen’s Elementary, Roman Catholic High School and Drexel University. He spent 48 years working in Lab Automation/Informatics in various roles, including co-founding Director at LabWare Holdings in 1995 through his retirement in December 2025. His time is now spent on philanthropy and non-profit board positions.

At Roman, he serves as a Trustee, Executive Committee Member, and 2-term past President of the Alumni Board of Trustees, where he has been a trustee for over 45 years. He was President of The Cahill Club for over 10 years. He also has served on the school’s Board of Advisors, and Board of Directors since 2017, currently chairing the Development Committee, and a Board member of the Cahill Trust. 

In his hometown of Kennett Square, he currently serves in his 5th term as the elected Director, Treasurer, and Finance Committee Chair for the Kennett Consolidated School District.  He also serves as a delegate for the Chester County Tax Collection Committee, a member of the Keystone State Education Coalition, Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Southeastern PA School Districts Education Coalition, and a past member of the Chester County School Boards Legislative Council. He is also a Board Member Emeritus and former VP of the Kennett Education Foundation. He also serves on the Stewardship Finance Committee of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, and previously served on the parish Capital Campaign Committee.

He has served on the Board of the American Catholic Historical Society since 2007, serving as President since 2014, a member of the Society of the Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick, a Life Member at The Union League of Philadelphia, and a member of Legatus International.

Dr. Nicholas Rademacher, Vice President

Nicholas Rademacher, Ph.D. serves as professor in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Dayton. His research and teaching are in the fields of American Catholic studies, Catholic social thought and practice, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. 

Rademacher is co-Editor of American Catholic Studies. He authored Paul Hanly Furfey: Priest, Scientist, Social Reformer (2017) and co-edited several volumes, most recently, with Sandra Yocum, Recovering Their Stories: US Catholic Women in the Twentieth Century (2024). He served as a member of the Historical Commission during the diocesan phase of the Cause for Canonization of Fr. William E. Atkinson, OSA.

Eric C. German, Treasurer

Eric German serves as Business Manager for Old St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia’s historic Society Hill neighborhood, one of the city’s oldest Catholic parishes founded in 1733. In his role, Eric oversees parish operations including financial administration, facilities management, and key parish initiatives. He plays a central role in coordinating major projects, such as managing contract bids for restoration and maintenance work, and supports parish ministries like electronic giving and community outreach programs.

Andrew Banecker, Secretary

Andrew Banecker is a Senior Financial Analyst at Chubb Insurance, providing Financial Planning & Analysis support to the North America Claims Organization. In his role, he supports budgeting, forecasting, and strategic decision-making across a dynamic claims organization.

Andrew was raised in South Philadelphia, which shaped his appreciation for community, tradition, and the city’s deep-rooted culture. In 2016, Andrew graduated from Roman Catholic High School, finishing in the top 25 of students academically. Andrew went on to attend La Salle University, studying Finance & Business Systems & Analytics and graduating with Maxima Cum Laude Honors.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys rooting for Philly sports teams (especially the Phillies), spending time with family & friends, and getting out on the golf course.

Msgr. Gregory J. Fairbanks

Msgr. Gregory Fairbanks was raised in Plymouth Township, Montgomery County. After attending Bishop Kenrick High School and Villanova University, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained in 1990. He served in Christ the King parish, Northeast Philadelphia and at the Temple University Newman Center before being sent for graduate studies in Church History at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Upon returning to Philadelphia, he taught Church History at the seminary and directed the Archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. In 2008 he was called to serve at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome, with responsibility for the Reformed, Baptist and Anabaptist churches and with the Catholic representation with the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. During his time in Rome, he resided at the Pontifical North American College, the American seminary in Rome, and served as an adjunct spiritual director.  In 2015 he returned to St Charles Seminary, teaching Church History and since 2020 he has directed the Permanent Deacon formation program.

James A. Fitzsimmons

James A. “Jim” Fitzsimmons is a respected nonprofit and faith-based leader with a long record of service to Catholic institutions dedicated to spiritual formation and historical preservation. He previously served as President of Malvern Retreat House, one of the nation’s oldest and largest Catholic retreat centers, where he provided strategic and operational leadership in support of its spiritual mission. During his tenure, Malvern Retreat House continued to welcome thousands of retreatants annually and to expand programming serving clergy, lay leaders, and Catholic families. In recognition of his service, he was awarded the St. Joseph the Worker Medal upon his retirement in 2016.

Fitzsimmons also served as President of the American Catholic Historical Society and has remained actively engaged with the Society through board service, including leadership roles such as Chair of the House Committee, contributing to the stewardship of its historic collections and facilities.

Christopher Gibbons

Following his graduation from Roman Catholic High School in 1979, Chris then attended Drexel University where he earned a B.S. degree in accounting. He enjoyed a 43-year career in the financial services industry, primarily with SEI Investments and PNC Bank. Chris retired from PNC as a Vice President in their Wealth Management division in 2024. He remained active in Roman’s Alumni Association, previously serving as Alumni Association President as well as on the Executive Committee of the RCHS Board of Trustees. Chris has served on the Board of Managers of the American Catholic Historical Society since 2016.  He is also an author, lecturer, and historic researcher who has been leading the effort to find the names of the 34 Roman alumni who gave their lives in World War I. Chris was named one of Roman’s “125 Persons of Distinction” in 2015 and recipient of the Thomas E. Cahill Award in 2025.

Kris Jaeger

Kris Jaeger has over twenty years of experience as a nonprofit professional and fundraiser committed to advancing services for people experiencing homelessness. Her work centers on building relationships with generous donors, foundations and organizations to support life-sustaining services for vulnerable individuals of Philadelphia including meals, shelter, and access to medical and behavioral health care. Kris currently works for Saint John’s Hospice, an emergency shelter and day services program that provides care for over 3,000 unhoused individuals annually. She is proud to be an active member of the ACHS Board of Managers in their efforts to preserve and document the contribution of Catholics throughout American history.

Jhoselyn Martinez

Jhoselyn Martinez, a member of Saint William Parish in Philadelphia, is the Hispanic Catholic Institute’s administrator since July 2023. Her responsibilities include organizing, coordinating and promoting adult faith formation programs in Spanish for adult Catholics at the parishes and/or in central locations throughout the five-counties Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Hispanic Catholic Institute is part of the Office for Hispanic Catholics of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. 

Ms. Martinez has worked at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for more than two decades. She served as Communications Specialist in the Office for Communications (2011-2023). From 1999 to 2023, she was producer and host of the archdiocese weekly, Spanish-language, radio ministry. She served as board member at Interfaith Philadelphia from 2015 to 2020. And is a founding member (2014-2020) of the Office for Vocations to the Priesthood’s Hispanic Task Force.

MarySheila McDonald

MarySheila E. McDonald, Esquire joined Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law as the inaugural John F. Scarpa Professor of Entrepreneurship and Law in June 2021.  She also serves as the Director of both the Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law and the Reza Taleghani JD/MBA program, as well as the faculty advisor for Scarpa Corporate Negotiation Team, Entrepreneurship Law Society and the Fashion Law Society.  Prior to joining Villanova, McDonald served as Dean of La Salle University’s School of Business. 

McDonald is also an award-winning lawyer-teacher and her research interests include entrepreneurship, the legal implications of social media use on employment decisions, corporate governance and financial literacy.  

McDonald earned her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law and received her BA from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and serves on several boards including the Delaware Valley Industrial Recourse Center (DVIRC,) the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, Villa Maria Academy High School, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Delaware County Advisory Council for Elementary Education and the Foundation for Catholic Education.

Dr. Margaret M. McGuinness

Margaret M. McGuinness, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Religion at La Salle University in Philadelphia, where she also served as Chair of the Religion Department and Vice President of Mission Integration. McGuinness served as co-editor of American Catholic Studies and has held leadership roles in professional associations, including as president of the American Catholic Historical Association. A specialist in U.S. Catholic history, she has contributed widely to scholarship on American Catholicism and has written several books: Katharine Drexel and the Sisters Who Shared Her Vision (Paulist Press, 2026), Called to Serve: A History of Nuns in America (NYU Press, 2013), Neighbors and Missionaries: A History of the Sisters of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine (Fordham University Press, 2012).

Alex Palma

Alex Palma is an Archivist for the Lasallian District of Eastern North America and works out of La Salle University, where he also teaches as an Adjunct Professor. Prior to his current role, Alex served in a variety of different capacities at Museums, Historic Sites and Cultural Institutions throughout Philadelphia. These include, among others; Carpenters’ Hall, Christ Church Preservation Trust, the Union League of Philadelphia and the Weitzman School of Design. In addition to being a board member of ACHS, he is also Vice President of the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia, outgoing Chair for the Delaware Valley Archivists Group and a member of the Organizing Committee for Archives 4 Black Lives in Philadelphia. He is also, intermittently, a freelance Grant Writer and Tour Guide.

Julia M. Rafferty

Julia Rafferty is a partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, where she represents clients in a broad range of complex litigation matters. Her practice is rooted in practical, results-driven advocacy, with a focus on strategic risk management and efficient dispute resolution. She is also actively engaged in board service with nonprofit and community organizations, reflecting her commitment to civic leadership and community impact.

Dr. Thomas Rzeznik

Thomas Rzeznik is professor of history at Seton Hall University and co-editor of the Society’s quarterly journal, American Catholic Studies. He is author of A Monument of Charity: St. Vincent’s Hospital and Catholic Health Care in New York (NYU Press, 2026) and Church and Estate: Religion and Wealth in Industrial-Era Philadelphia (Penn State Press, 2013).  As a member of the ACHS Board of Managers, he currently coordinates the Society’s speaker series and public programming.

Patrick Shank 

Patrick Shank is the archivist at the Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Patrick received a BA in History form St. Joseph’s University in 2015 and a MA in History with a concentration in Public History from Temple University in 2017. He began working at CHRC in 2017 as the assistant archivist and was promoted to the head archivist in 2023. His days are filled with processing the backlog of collections, assisting researchers, and managing the archive’s digital projects.

Leo Vaccaro

Leo J. Vaccaro is an educator and historian with a deep commitment to the study of Catholic institutions and community service. A graduate of Gettysburg College and Villanova University, Leo has been a member of the faculty at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School since 2011 and has taught as an adjunct at both Saint Joseph’s University and the University of the Sciences. His research expertise centers on local historical preservation and sacred spaces, having presented lectures for the American Catholic Historical Society and developed archival lesson plans for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Beyond the classroom, Leo is an active civic leader, serving as President of the Board of Trustees for the vocal ensemble Variant 6 and coordinating long-term service initiatives with the Bethesda Project and the Navajo Nation. His dedication to his craft and community has been honored with the General Meade Society Achievement Award and the John J. “Joe” Dugan ’52 Award for teaching excellence.

Emily Wells

Emily Wells is the archivist for the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, serving both the American Province and the Generalate. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, she was educated in Catholic primary and secondary schools, an experience that shaped her long-standing interest in religious history and institutional memory. She earned a degree in English Literature from Rosemont College, where she developed strong analytical, research, and writing skills that continue to inform her archival work.

Since graduating, Emily has spent the past twelve years working in archives, gaining extensive experience in records management, historical research, and preservation. Her work is guided by a meticulous attention to detail, a deep respect for historical materials, and a passion for making collections accessible and meaningful to a wide range of audiences. She is particularly interested in finding innovative ways to share history through research support, outreach, and creative interpretation, ensuring that the history of Catholics in America continues to inform and inspire future generations

Msgr. Richard Bolger

Rev. Msgr. Richard T. Bolger, MA, MDiv is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with more than 50 years of ordained ministry. He currently serves as Pastor Emeritus of Saint David Parish in Willow Grove, where he provided longstanding pastoral leadership and guidance.

During his tenure at Saint David Parish, he worked closely with the parish’s parochial school and supported Our Lady of Confidence Day School, a program serving children ages 4 to 15 who are mentally challenged or developmentally delayed. Throughout his priesthood, Msgr. Bolger has emphasized service, faith formation, and compassionate care, often noting that serving people as a priest is what he has always wanted to do with his life.

Fr. John McNamee

Rev. John P. McNamee is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who served for decades as pastor of Saint Malachy Parish and Saint Malachy School in North Philadelphia. He began his ministry at Saint Malachy’s in 1982 and was named pastor in 1984, leading the parish and school through a period of profound neighborhood challenge marked by unemployment, drugs, and disinvestment.

A longtime labor supporter and peace activist, Father McNamee has worked closely with unions and stood alongside nationally known organizers.Father McNamee is also an accomplished writer, having published three collections of poetry. His memoir, Diary of a City Priest, was adapted into a full-length, award-winning film in 2001. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to justice, he received the Robin Hood Was Right Award.

Dr. Rodger Van Allen

Dr. Rodger Van Allen is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, where he taught for many years and contributed significantly to Catholic intellectual life. A distinguished scholar of American Catholicism, he has published books and articles on Catholic history, including studies of Commonweal and other facets of Catholic cultural engagement. He co-founded Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society, and for nearly two decades helped revitalize and co-edit American Catholic Studies, the oldest continuously published Catholic scholarly journal in the United States, in partnership with the American Catholic Historical Society. His long academic career has been marked by teaching, research, and leadership in both ecclesial and scholarly communities.