Multicultural Ministry

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, 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 Herizonte, 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 teaching theology and also part-time at Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary in Weston. 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.

Born in El Salvador, Wendy came to the United States when she was three years old, and ever since then, she has called Massachusetts her home.

Raised in a beautiful Catholic family, Wendy volunteered her teenage years to youth ministry and volunteered for mission trips locally and abroad.

Wendy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Northeastern University and later pursued a career in public relations. Today, Wendy has more than ten years of experience in the field of public relations.

In addition to her new role at the Archdiocese, Wendy continues to serve as an active member of St. Mary of the Annunciation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, along with her husband Deacon Franklin Mejia, and their two children, Gabriel and Isabella.

Lorna DesRoses currently serves Black Catholics within the Archdiocese of Boston by supporting, assisting, and providing resources to assist in the work of evangelization within the Black Catholic community and assisting parishes and institutions to provide pastoral care in a culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive manner so that members of ethnic and cultural communities will feel welcomed, included, and valued as part of the life of the Archdiocese of Boston. Before serving in this capacity, she worked as a teacher of English as a Second Language in various educational settings. Lorna strives to joyfully give witness to the Good news of the love of Christ with everyone she meets. She lives in Boston with her husband Robert.

“We unite ourselves with Christ’s redemptive work when we reconcile, when we make peace, when we share the good news that God is in our lives, when we reflect to our brothers and sisters God’s healing, God’s unconditional love.” Sr. Thea Bowman

Sr. Elsa Narváez Rodríguez, was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. In 2004, Sr. Elsa joined the Missionary Servants of the Word, a community that allows young people to serve as a lay missionaries for a period of time. After two and a half years as a lay missionary she decided to pursue religious life in the religious branch of the same community.   Her firs assignment as a religious sister was in Portsmouth NH and after that she was sent to serve the Hispanic community of St. Joseph Parish in Lynn MA. Since 2016 Sr. Elsa has served Hispanic Communities within the Archdiocese of Boston.

Dashe joined the Archdiocese of Boston on All Saint’s Day in 2023. She believes she was led by God to deeply serve through the Multicultural Ministries team and support the growth of parishes across the Archdiocese.

Dashe grew up in a loving and service filled family in Foxboro, MA. Her father was a Knight of Columbus and her mother taught CCD at St. Mary’s Parish. Her father is a first generation American from Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. When Dashe was born, her parents decided to leave Staten Island, NY, and pursue a suburban “American Dream” lifestyle to raise their kids. Her parents worked incredibly hard running their 30+ year small business in order to send their four children to Catholic school. Dashe is the first of her family to graduate college and continue her studies. She received a BA in Psychology from Bridgewater State University and a graduate degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of the Rockies.

Dashe currently lives in Franklin, MA, with her husband and four children. In her spare time, she teaches a 5:30 am workout class a few days a week, supports local farming, and serves the community around Franklin and her kid’s schools.