Catholic Charities Boston Expands Leadership with Three New Board Appointments

Today, Catholic Charities Boston announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees: Most Reverend Cristiano Barbosa, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Boston; Peter Gibson, former Co-CEO of Knowledgent Group, advisor and investor; and Linda Hooley, Saint Rock Haiti Foundation Advisory Council member and humanitarian.

“Bishop Barbosa, Peter, and Linda are joining the board at a pivotal time for Catholic Charities,” said Kelley Tuthill, CCAB President and CEO. “As the need for food, housing, and emergency assistance keeps rising across our communities, their compassion and lived experiences will help us rise to meet it. I’m grateful for the insight they will bring to this work and the impact it will have on the families we are humbled to serve.”

“Each of these new board members brings a distinct set of skills and perspectives that strengthen our board as a whole—from nonprofit leadership and business strategy to spiritual guidance,” said Mark B. Kerwin, Chair of the Board. “Their addition reflects our ongoing commitment to building a board with the talent and lived experiences needed to guide Catholic Charities Boston well into the future.”

Most Reverend Cristiano Barbosa, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Boston
Born in Adamantina, Brazil, Bishop Barbosa was ordained to the priesthood in December 2007 at the Diocesan Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Bauru, SP, Brazil – Diocese of Bauru. He later served in a number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston, including Saint Anthony of Padua in Cambridge, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Cambridge, Holy Family Parish in Lowell, Holy Trinity Parish in Lowell, Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell, and Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Lowell. He was incardinated as a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston in 2021.

His academic record is extensive and includes the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Bauru, SP (Licentiate and Training in Professional Psychology), Universidade de Sagrado Coração in Bauru, SP, Brazil (Licentiate of Philosophy), Faculdade Jesuíta (FAJE), in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil (Bachelor in Sacred Theology), Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais – Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil (Master in Psychology), and Boston College (School of Theology and Ministry) – Chestnut Hill, MA (Licentiate in Sacred Theology and Doctor of Sacred Theology).

He previously was on the faculty of Saint John Seminary and Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary teaching courses in theology and pastoral counseling. Bishop Barbosa speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish. He is a trained psychologist.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap. ordained Bishop Barbosa to the episcopacy on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. He currently serves as the Episcopal Vicar for the Central Region and Cabinet Secretary for the department of Evangelization and Discipleship.

Peter Gibson, former Co-CEO of Knowledgent Group, advisor and investor

Peter Gibson is a Board Member, advisor and investor, focused on unlocking the potential in people, teams and companies.

Peter has been a founder and leader of multiple startup ventures that have led to successful exits. He is the former Co-CEO of Knowledgent Group, a Data Intelligence firm that was acquired by Accenture. Peter was also President and Co-Founder of BusinessEdge Solutions, a New Jersey-based, industry-focused technology consulting firm that was acquired by EMC Corporation. While at EMC, Peter transformed and led the Global Services Sales organization.

Peter is currently a Board member of the Catholic School Foundation of Boston and leads the Catholic Charities Greater Boston Advisory Council. He is a former Board Member of the Trenton, NJ Boys and Girls Club and founded the Rutgers University Leadership Council for Student Athletes.

Linda Hooley, Saint Rock Haiti Foundation, humanitarian

Linda Hooley is a nonprofit supporter, board member, community volunteer, and former business professional whose work spans California, Massachusetts, and international humanitarian outreach. She has been a dedicated supporter of the Saint Rock Haiti Foundation for many years, serving on the Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024 and currently serving on the Advisory Council. Additionally, she was a member of the foundation’s Education Committee, where she helped revitalize the education sponsorship program to reach and keep as many students in school as possible. In May 2018, Linda traveled to Haiti, an experience that changed her life. Nothing could have prepared her for the depths of poverty she witnessed or for how difficult it was for residents to secure basic needs like water, electricity, and health care. What struck her was the joy of the children, and the conviction that educating as many young people as possible was a critical way to support Haiti’s future. She continues to be inspired by the dedication of those working toward that goal, both on the ground in the US and in Haiti. Linda’s professional experience includes working with ARCO on the “Drive for Conservation” campaign during the early 1980s gas crisis and AT&T Sales and Sales Management. She has served on the boards of Thayer Academy and Womanade of the South Shore, as an Artemis Circle member of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, and volunteers at the Hingham Food Pantry. Linda lives in Hingham, where she and her husband, Jay, raised their four children.

To learn more about CCAB’s Board of Trustees, visit https://www.ccab.org/about-us/leadership/.

About Catholic Charities Boston

For over a century, Catholic Charities Boston has served vulnerable individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds. One of the most comprehensive non-profit providers of social services in Massachusetts, we offer programs across more than 20 locations throughout Greater Boston, with 450 employees serving thousands of individuals and families annually within the four core areas of Basic Needs, Family & Youth Services, Refugee & Immigrant Services, and Adult Education & Workforce Development. Rooted in our faith mission, we address critical social justice issues with compassion and aim to break the cycles of poverty in our communities by providing life’s necessities, education, and advocacy to move families toward self-sufficiency.