Meet the Catholic Charities Appeal's Deanery Chairs

By Shannon Roh
For The Catholic Week
MOBILE — The Catholic Charities Appeal is blessed with many great volunteers throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile. The Appeal could not happen without the generosity of time and hard work given by our ministry speakers, parish chairs, deanery chairs, archdiocesan chair and countless volunteers who make the entire process possible.  These amazing volunteers give so generously of their time, talents and treasure to ensure a successful appeal. Leading our volunteers is Msgr. William J. Skoneki, archdiocesan chair. 
     
Baldwin Deanery
Teresa and Don Rhodes graciously agreed to serve a second term as the Baldwin/Escambia Deanery Co-Chairs for the Catholic Charities Appeal. Don and Teresa Rhodes are residents of Fairhope and parishioners at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Foley. Don is a truck sales manager at Sunbelt Fire, Inc. and Teresa is a retired private music teacher. Don and Teresa served as St. Margaret of Scotland Parish chairs for the St. Michael Catholic High School Capital Campaign and were parish volunteers for the Generations of Faith Endowing our Future with Hope Campaign. Teresa is past president and currently historian of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women Baldwin-Escambia Deanery.  Don is an organist at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish. Both are Lay Carmelites with Don serving as Director of St. John of the Cross Lay Carmelite Community and Teresa serving as the community’s secretary/treasurer. In their spare time, Don and Teresa enjoy traveling and attending Carmelite retreats and seminars.

Dothan Deanery
Robert Amuso kindly agreed to serve the Catholic Charities Appeal as the Dothan Deanery Chair for the fourth year. He has been married to his lovely wife, Janet for more than 37 years.  Robert is most grateful that Janet guided him into the Catholic faith.  Together they have been blessed with three wonderful children and eight grandchildren.  Robert is retired from the U.S. Army and considers it to be a great honor to have served our nation. Currently, he is the media specialist at Ellis D. Parker Elementary school at Ft. Rucker. He is thankful that Mr. Sam Barranco still continues to offer him great leadership and advice with Catholic Charities. Also, he wants to thank Sister Penny Smith for her great example in answering God’s call to give to those in need as she continues to be an inspiration to him and his family. Lastly, Robert often refers to a quote from the late Rev. Patrick Maher: “God is Madly in Love with You!”    

Mobile Deanery
Jo Dunaway graciously agreed to serve a as the Mobile Deanery Chair again this year. Mrs. Dunaway is a past chair for the Catholic Charities Appeal.  Jo and her husband Danny are members of Our Savior Parish where both serve as lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.  Jo is currently on the Board of Advisors and past president of Catholic Social Services in Mobile.  She served as Chair for the very successful fund raising event, Wine Festival at Five Rivers for three years. Jo and her husband were Co-chairs of the capital campaign to raise the funds for the beautiful and functional Catholic Social Services facility on Florida Street.  
Mrs. Dunaway is recently retired from Hydro Technologies, a company she and her husband founded in 1984 and recently sold.
She has five children and eight grandchildren and is enjoying being a part of their lives and watching them grow.

Montgomery Deanery
Mr. and Mrs. Cary Kuhlmann kindly agreed to serve as the Montgomery Deanery Chair for the Catholic Charities Appeal for the second year. 
Cary and Lynne Kuhlmann settled in Montgomery in 1997 following Cary’s career opportunity to become Executive Director of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.  
Lynne and Cary are born-and-raised New Orleanians and were educated in its Catholic school system.  Lynne attended St. Francis Xavier grammar school and Holy Name of Jesus Mercy Academy (1967).  Cary attended St. Catherine of Siena grammar school and Jesuit High School (1964). Cary and Lynne were members of St. Bede and Queen of Mercy parishes while their children attended Montgomery Catholic High School (Lyndsey 1999/Grant 2002).  
They have been members at St. Peter since 2002. Lynne has been active in St. Peter’s St. Anne’s Guild, serving as its president from 2018 thru 2020. 
Currently, Cary and Lynne serve on St. Peter’s Building and Grounds Committee. Active in the Montgomery community, Cary and Lynne have volunteered with the Capital City Master Gardeners, the American Cancer Society and the Samaritan Counseling Center where Cary serves as its executive director.