At The Basilica, we are blessed with incredible leaders. I have had the privilege of working with many of them over the years and these will be special memories I will cherish as I retire at the end of the year.
I am happy to share that Jill Ahern accepted Fr. Griffith’s request to become Managing Director of Mission Advancement on an interim basis. Jill’s decision fills me with gratitude, confidence and hope for the future.
Jill recently completed over 12 years at HAVI, a company with over 10,0000 employees in 40 countries, after serving as Chief Transformation Officer. During her 25-plus year career, Jill led complex business initiatives and consulted with Fortune 100 and 500 companies, non-governmental organizations, government agencies and entrepreneurs.
A leader in our community and beyond – Jill serves on the Ordway Theater Board, and as a Director at Girl Scouts of America in Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. She advanced these organizations by providing governance oversight, developing a strategic vision, and actively supporting fundraising efforts.
A parishioner since 2009, Jill knows and loves The Basilica, is well acquainted with parishioners, with our Mission Advancement team and other Basilica staff. I’ve been privileged to know and work with Jill as a volunteer leader. She served two terms on The Basilica’s Parish Council between 2011 -17. She stepped up again in 2018 to lead The Basilica’s Strategic Planning. Jill helped assemble a planning team focused on key strategic questions and grounded in data.
A long time Basilica volunteer, Jill served as a Mentor for students through our partnership with Minneapolis College. She helped decorate The Basilica for Christmas, hosted families who were homeless as part of Families Moving Forward and volunteered at many Basilica Block Parties.
For 15 years, Jill and her husband Dan served as team leaders at the Catholic Charities Opportunity Center – a drop-in Center where meals are served. They orchestrated lunches each 4th Saturday of the month, and often provided meals over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
My colleague Julia Buege Freeman described Dan and Jill as a dynamic duo. “Dependable and dedicated, they put a lot of thought, care and pride into menu planning for the guests. They got to know the people they served well. Jill and Dan planned the meals, did the shopping, and coordinated volunteers to assist. Their cheesy potatoes are still considered epic!” Julia shared, “Jill is not just a consultant who knows her stuff –which she does – She has helped in so many grassroots ways.”
This year, Jill and Dan are leading the development of branding for the Capital Campaign – Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope. Last Spring, Jill and Dan co-chaired our Landmark Spark fundraiser. When Jill spoke that evening, she brought tears to my eyes. She described The Basilica as a place “where people go each and every day to learn, to be fed, to seek shelter, to be heard, to ask for help. It’s where we go in the most joyful times – it’s where we go to mourn – and sometimes we go to The Basilica when we simply have nowhere else to turn. It’s where art, and music and fellowship and the divine build connections between people – for a moment, a day or a lifetime – that is possible because at The Basilica all are welcomed, cared for, and valued… in this world that can be so overwhelming and conflicted – The Basilica of Saint Mary is a place of belonging, acceptance, and peace—it’s vital to the wellbeing of our Twin Cities community and its people.”
We are excited to welcome Jill to our Basilica team and look toward the future of the parish with hope and joy.
Terri Ashmore