Diocese welcomes new CFO

On Nov. 1, the Diocese of Worcester will welcome a new chief financial officer to the diocese. Bishop McManus has announced that Marybeth Gilmore will replace Paul G. Schasel as director of the Office of Fiscal Affairs.
The incoming and outgoing CFOs have many things in common, but one thing in particular stands out – a commitment to family. Mr. Schasel is relocating with his wife to Florida to care for his aging mother. Ms. Gilmore shares her house in Milton with a brother and his family, who lost everything to a fire, as well as with her sister.
Both also worked in organizations that were related to healthcare. Mr. Schasel came to the diocese from Partners Healthcare and Ms. Gilmore has been CFO of a large, residential program for youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities which also provides an outpatient clinic.
“I’m very humbled and excited about this opportunity,” she said. “I admire Bishop McManus for his willingness to stand by his convictions and look forward to working at the diocese as it aligns with my own values and beliefs.”
“I was very impressed by her expertise as well as her commitment to the Catholic faith,” said Bishop McManus. “Our CFO must be committed to helping us be good stewards of our fiscal resources which are directed to our mission of evangelization.”
The bishop continued, “I am grateful to Mr. Schasel’s commitment for these past six years, which posed many challenges, including the COVID pandemic, and look forward to welcoming Ms. Gilmore to our management team as we face new challenges in the future.”
The search for the new CFO began in the summer when Catholic Recruiter Associates were contracted to begin a search. The local committee was led by Father Richard F. Reidy, vicar general, and included Maria Lemieux, Richard Fournier, Richard Powell, Fred Randall, Davide Villani, members of the Diocesan Finance Council, and Father José A. Rodríguez.
Ms. Gilmore has worked with various organizations which are related to the Archdiocese of Boston. She has been at St. Ann’s Home Inc. in Methuen for 10 years, where she designed and implemented internal controls to prevent fraud; replaced antiquated financial accounting systems; and helped existing staff transition to the new systems and controls.
She feels strongly that she understands how to manage change in a department.
“It’s key to involve staff in the entire process so that they feel that they are a part of it. The goal is to make the tasks easier to accomplish and make their work more meaningful and fulfilling,” she said.
She also stressed that people need support to overcome their fears.
“Mistakes can be fixed so there is no need to panic over pressing a wrong button. It’s all part of the learning process,” she noted.
In her new position, she is looking forward to collaborating with pastors and parish leaders as they work on building up their parishes in this post-COVID world.
“We all have to find ways to invite people back to church who left during the pandemic for whatever reason and show them what we have to offer,” she said.
When asked about her own fears when starting a new job, Ms. Gilmore seems unfazed.
“Prior to St. Ann’s I worked for seven years at Accounting Management Solutions (AMS). I would go into an organization and often act as an interim CFO or controller and had to figure out how to get systems running better and advise their executives, whether the CEO, management team or the board of directors.”
As for the potentially long commute from Milton to Worcester, she is not concerned and said, “I have been commuting more than 40 miles across Boston to Methuen for a decade, and the Merrimack Valley in the winter poses its own unique weather challenges. At least most of my drive to Worcester will be against the flow of commuter traffic on the Mass Pike!”
Prior to AMS she held financial management positions at Boston University School of Law, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, and agencies within Catholic Charites of the Archdiocese of Boston.    
“In many ways, I see similarities with diocesan operations to my past role as assistant treasurer for Norfolk County. There were so many departments and organizations under that umbrella to keep track of as well as assist with treasury functions, including strategic planning,” she said.
Ms. Gilmore holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in administrative studies from Boston College. Along with a variety of professional memberships, she has served on the board of two Catholic schools in the Boston area, Fontbonne Academy and Elizabeth Seton Academy.
She is a lector at Our Lady of the Visitation Parish, Milton, and a parish pro-life volunteer.