Meet New MLNNA Officers (through June 30, 2011)

President: A.J. Wagner

I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the third child, and eldest son, in a family of eighteen children (one mom, one dad, one at a time).

I met the Marianists when I became a law student at the University of Dayton and I have spent almost all of my adult life guided by Marianists – Marianist priests at the University and Queen of Apostles Parish Community; Marianist Brothers and Sisters in our Dayton neighborhood, and Lay Marianists in Lay Communities.

I have been gifted with an incredible wife, Joan McGuinness Wagner, for more than thirty-four years. Joan, after serving as President of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers went to work at the University of Dayton where she now serves as Director of Marianist Strategies. Joan has also served as Director of Marianist Formation for North America on behalf of the Marianist Family Council. Together we have been a part of the formation of several Marianist Lay Communities. We have been working on the formation of the Embers Community at the University of Dayton and in the spring semester we will be working on the formation of two more new Lay Communities at the University.

I was recently appointed to the position of Development Director for MLNNA. With the help of the MLNNA Board we developed new ideas to pursue resources on many levels. As President, I hope to work closely with the Board on financial resources, increased communication,
new tools for Lay Communities and better collaboration with the Global Family of Mary.

My “day job” is Judge for the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in Dayton. Joan and I have two adult daughters – Aileen who is a writer and editor for McGraw Hill in Columbus, Ohio and Maureen who works for Catholic Charities in Boston.

I am also a published author with three children’s books to my credit – How Old is Old?, A Miracle on Alaska Street and A Pocket Full of Smirks. I have also written a book of essays on fatherhood called Daddy Stories. All my books have been sold locally for various family charities.

Editor/Communications Coordinator: Jacqui Griswold

I grew up as the oldest of seven children and even though I'm single, there are plenty of family events in my life. My parents, siblings, nieces and nephews get together regularly. We all live in the Midwest, within a day's drive of each other.

I went to Purdue University and studied pharmacy. I've worked within the pharmaceutical industry in various Research & Development positions over the past years. Today I work for Eli Lilly and Company as a Clinical Project Manager supporting Zyprexa. I've served as the pharmacist on some medical mission trips and regularly volunteer in a Free Clinic in Indianapolis. I enjoy making quilts, growing orchids, and vacation travel.

My first exposure to the Marianists was when I joined the Mustard Seed lay community in Kalamazoo Michigan. As a member of that community, I truly felt at home. The Marianist charism and spirit I experienced in getting to know Tom Giardino,SM, Larry Cada, SM and the lay members helped to form my foundation in the Marianist family. I held a number of leadership positions in the community and worked to build a family spirit of connectedness. I moved from Kalamazoo to Pittsburgh and became part of the Marianist Renaissance community for 1 year. From there, I moved to Indianapolis where I have lived the last 17 years. I'm part of a small christian community from my parish but there are no other Marianist in Indianapolis. I am a vowed member of the Marianist State Community (The State of Religious Living in the World). Our members live all over the US and gather twice yearly for retreats which are great renewal experiences for me.