Parish Nurses
The Northern Illinois District Parish Nurses are collaborating with the Master Builder Center in Ethiopia to launch a Parish Nurse Ministry in Southern Ethiopia. This pilot initiative aims to expand nationwide over the next five years.
In Ethiopia, healthcare access remains a significant challenge, particularly for the poor and those living in rural areas, where over 78% of the population resides. Although the government manages most hospitals and health centers, there is a shortage of medical professionals, with less than one doctor per 10,000 people, and limited access to essential medicines. The Parish Nurse Ministry seeks to empower the Church to serve as a vital link between underserved communities and the healthcare services they urgently need through training nurses in the parish, providing medical supplies, providing medical mission trips, wellness, and physical education.
The need for Parish Nurses
Ethiopia has 1 doctor per 10,000 people, compared to the US with 30 doctors per 10,000 people. In the Hadiya Zone of Southern Ethiopia with 1.1 million people, there are only 2 dermatologists. There are 353 public hospitals, 3,700 public health centers, and 17,561 health posts
Parish Nurse Advisory Board
Sylvia Baker, RN, MSN, CPAN-RETIRED, FASPAN
Coordination of Medical Supplies
Sylvia Baker, RN, MSN, CPAN-RETIRED, FASPAN
Coordination of Medical Supplies
Sylvia brings more than four decades of distinguished service in nursing, education, and healthcare leadership, with deep expertise spanning clinical care, professional development, and academic instruction. A retired Registered Nurse, her career includes over 37 years at Rockford Memorial Hospital and affiliated health systems, where she provided highly skilled care to surgical patients across the continuum—from pre-operative preparation through post-anesthesia recovery and discharge. She has extensive experience in PACU, outpatient surgery, ICU step-down, and med/surg settings, including service as Interim Nurse Manager overseeing a 19-bed unit. Known as a dependable Charge Nurse and skilled problem solver, Sylvia worked closely with anesthesia, bed placement, and informatics teams to improve documentation systems, patient readiness for surgery, and overall patient and staff satisfaction.
In addition to direct patient care, Sylvia has held numerous leadership roles focused on education, quality, and workforce development. At Mercyhealth and Northwestern Medicine, she served as RN Education Lead and Professional Development Specialist, where she established COVID med/surg and critical care units, developed annual education plans and competencies, coordinated nurse residencies and practice orientations, and supported onboarding for specialty areas including OB and OR. Her work included restructuring learning environments after major disruptions, coordinating clinical affiliations for multiple schools of nursing and advanced practice programs, serving as Primary Nurse Planner, and holding leadership roles within education, quality, and patient care councils. These roles reflect her consistent commitment to clinical excellence, staff development, and system-wide improvement.
Sylvia’s dedication to nursing education also extends into academia, where she has served as a Practical Nursing Clinical Coordinator and substitute instructor at Rockford Career College, as well as a clinical instructor and adjunct faculty member for several community colleges. Across med/surg, cardiac, pulmonary, and foundational nursing courses, she is known for helping students successfully transition from academic learning to professional practice through student-centered, confidence-building instruction. This blend of frontline clinical expertise, educational leadership, and strategic program development equips Sylvia to provide thoughtful governance, mentorship, and mission-aligned insight as a board member.
Mary Hume, RN
International Parish Nursing Networking
Mary Hume, RN
International Parish Nursing Networking
Mary K Hume graduated from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield, Illinois in 1964.
Retuning for more education, she graduated from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas with a Bachelor
of Science in Nursing in 1984. She completed a Parish Nurse course in 2003 through Concordia
University in Mequon Wisconsin. Mary’s professional career has involved many aspects of nursing
including 13 years as a hospice nurse and the last 26 years in the parish nurse ministry at her local church,
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas. As a Parish Nurse, she is a counselor, educator and a
source of referrals for her congregational members for health concerns. Mary has been the district
representative for the parish nurses in the Kansas LCMS district since 2005, helping other nurses and
congregation establish a health ministry, writing newsletters, developing workshops for nurses and
attending the annual meeting for all the parish nurses in the LCMS at Concordia University Mequon
Wisconsin.
Deaconess Dianna Bonfield
Community Resources
Deaconess Dianna Bonfield
Community Resources
Dianna has served as a Deaconess for 54 years in ministry. Over the years she has
served as a Parish Deaconess, a hospital, nursing home, or marketplace chaplain. For
13 years she served as a Deaconess on the staff of the Northern Illinois District Office in
the area of Older Adult Ministry.
In 2005 on the Saturday after Hurricane Katrina made landfall Dianna accepted a call to
Lutheran Church Charities where she is presently serving. These past 21 years she
has served in various capacities: Director of volunteers, Co-Director of Disaster
Response, Director of Human Care Services, Comfort Dog Caregiver, Handler and
Trainer. Most recently Dianna has cut back on her hours to 3 day a week and currently
serves as Deaconess of Special Projects in the LCC Cares Department. With in this
position she developed The LCC Deaconess Network, The LCC Parish Nurse Network,
Hospitality House Ministry for Families in Crisis and serves as the LCC Liaison to the
NID Parish Nurse.
Dianna received Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and Sociology from Concordia
College in Milwaukee Wisconsin and her Bachelor of Science degree in Theology and
the Deaconess Program from Valparaiso University in Indiana. Further studies in
Hispanic Culture and Language, Clinical Pastoral Education, Volunteerism in Purdue
University, Stephen Ministry and Spiritual First Aid.
Dr. Jean Mau DNP, MSN, BS, ACNS-BC
Chairperson
Dr. Jean Mau DNP, MSN, BS, ACNS-BC
Chairperson
Jean is a senior nursing leader and community health advocate with decades of experience advancing
patient‑centered, evidence‑based care across hospital, community, and faith‑based settings. She brings a unique
blend of advanced clinical expertise, program development leadership, and a deep commitment to holistic care that
integrates medical excellence with compassion and purpose.
Jean is a Registered Professional Nurse and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with full practice authority in
Illinois. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, along with specialized certifications in grief support and
parish nursing. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong ability to translate research and best
practices into sustainable care models that improve outcomes and strengthen care transitions.
A hallmark of Jean’s leadership is her work developing and coordinating heart failure programs at Advocate
Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. These initiatives achieved significant reductions in hospital
readmissions and meaningful improvements in patient outcomes, reflecting her strengths in quality improvement,
interdisciplinary collaboration, and system‑level problem solving.
In addition to her health‑system leadership, Jean is widely recognized for her work in faith community nursing. As
Parish Nurse at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, she provides health education, spiritual care,
and community outreach, supporting individuals and families navigating grief, chronic illness, and life transitions. Her
approach emphasizes prevention, education, and compassionate support alongside clinical rigor.
Jean’s leadership extends nationally and internationally. She is certified in faith community nursing and
congregational health ministry and has contributed to parish nursing organizations, spiritual care teams, and
volunteer efforts with the Medical Reserve Corps. In January 2026, she participated in the first Parish Nursing
Train‑the‑Trainer program in Ethiopia, providing education on chronic illness and oral health and helping to build
sustainable capacity for parish nurses globally.
Through published scholarship, conference presentations, professional leadership, and award‑recognized service,
Jean continues to advance the nursing profession. Across all roles, she is known for strategic insight, ethical
leadership, and a steadfast commitment to improving health outcomes in ways that align mission, values, and
measurable impact.
Dianne Weber, RN, BSN, CCM, CDCES
Secretary
Dianne Weber, RN, BSN, CCM, CDCES
Secretary
Dianne Weber is a lifelong Lutheran, born and raised on a dairy and grain farm in Southern
Illinois. She has been a parish nurse since 2009, receiving her certificate from Bon Secours
Health System. Since retirement in 2023, she has enjoyed dedicating more time to parish
nursing. She feels called to serve Him by serving others and to provide holistic care of body,
mind and spirit. She thrives on helping others live full and healthy lives so they can be healthy
servants. She currently serves as the parish nurse at a dual campus congregation, Trinity
Lutheran Church in Richmond and Ashland, VA. In 2024, Dianne answered the call to serve as
the Parish Nurse District Representative for the Southeastern District of LCMS.
In January 2026, Dianne served as a trainer at the Train the Trainers workshop for the Parish
Nurse Program in Ethiopia initiated by Master Builder Center in collaboration with the Ethiopian
Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. Dianne’s lectures included “Roles of the Parish Nurse,” “Self-
Care of the Parish Nurse,” and “Church Worker Wellness.”
Dianne received her RN Diploma and later her BSN degree from Bon Secours Memorial College
of Nursing (formerly Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing) in Richmond, VA. In addition to
congregational health, her special interests and certifications are in Diabetes Management,
Case Management, HIV care, Community Health and Advance Care Planning. She serves on the
Board of Management for Lutheran Parish Nurses International (LPNI). This is a group of nurses
and others from around the world that provide the opportunity to learn, network, support one
another, share experiences and models of practice, meet with pastors, deaconesses,
missionaries and others to enjoy fellowship with like-minded people.
Dianne has been married to her high school sweetheart, Nick, for over 50 years. They are the
proud parents of four daughters and three beloved grandchildren: Grace and Haley (identical
twins), and Ryder.
In her leisure time, Dianne likes to spend time with her family, walk, bike ride, read, cook, sew,
play the piano and travel.
Nelson (Nick) Weber
Promotion and Marketing
Nelson (Nick) Weber
Promotion and Marketing
Nick has been a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for over 50 years. He has
served in many capacities at several Lutheran churches as he moved for his employment. He has
served as Elder, Deacon, Congregational President and school board member at multiple
congregations.
During Nick’s service to the Lord, he has managed church budgets, chaired capital projects,
chaired governance committees and been a part of church and Lutheran school start up teams.
Nick attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois studying Industrial Electronics.
He retired from CSX Transportation, a Class 1 railroad in the United States, in 2017 where he
was in management for 36 years in the Engineering Department. Nick’s positions included
Operations Manager, Manger Safety and Compliance, Regional Manager Work Equipment,
System Teams Manager and Plant Manager.
Nick managed large scale capital projects, budgets, equipment manufacturing facilities, heavy
equipment design teams and track inspection systems that ensured safe railroad track for train
operations across a 23-state network that encompasses over 20,000 track miles.
Nick’s passion since retirement, is serving as a deacon and elder helping to care for God’s
people. He serves as a member of the Parish Nursing Train the Trainer team that introduced
parish nursing to the Lutheran Church in 2026 in Ethiopia.
Nick and his wife Dianne have four daughters and three grandchildren and reside in Ashland,
Virginia.
They attend Trinity Lutheran Church with campuses in Richmond and Ashland Virginia.
Kalkidan Hagen
IT and Technology
Kalkidan Hagen
IT and Technology
Doyle Del Bosque, RN
Assessment of Clinical Needs
Doyle Del Bosque, RN
Assessment of Clinical Needs
Doyle is a seasoned nursing and research leader with more than two decades of progressive responsibility in clinical research, nursing administration, and healthcare operations, most notably at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Currently serving as Director of Nursing Research, he provides strategic leadership, advocacy, and operational guidance for research nurses and clinical research professionals, with a focus on clinical research practice, education, quality, and patient safety. In this role, Doyle ensures compliance with state and federal regulations, the Nurse Practice Act, and Good Clinical Practice standards, while representing research nursing to institutional leadership, external agencies, and professional organizations. Through oversight of Research Quality Nurse Specialists, he plays a key role in translating complex research protocols into safe, practical guidance for bedside nurses, strengthening both patient protection and trial integrity.
Previously, as Associate Director of Nursing Programs–Research, Doyle created and launched an innovative nursing program at MD Anderson, building a specialized team of Research Quality Nurse Specialists to improve care and safety for patients enrolled in clinical trials across the main campus and regional locations. Earlier leadership roles—including Research Nurse Manager and Research Nurse Supervisor—focused on managing complex oncology research portfolios in Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. In these positions, he directed protocol operations, ensured regulatory compliance, managed staffing and competencies, and collaborated closely with principal investigators and multidisciplinary teams to uphold the highest standards for human subjects protection. Doyle’s career foundation includes hands-on experience as a research nurse, operating room nurse, nurse manager, and practice administrator, bringing a rare blend of clinical insight, regulatory expertise, and operational acumen.
Doyle is deeply engaged in professional leadership, ethics, and service, having served on numerous institutional, regional, and national boards and committees, including the International Association of Clinical Research Nurses, MD Anderson’s Ethics Committee, Diversity Council, and Nurse Practice Congress. Recognized for excellence through multiple nominations and leadership appointments, he also holds advanced certifications and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Nursing Education. Beyond professional roles, Doyle is committed to mentorship and community service through parish nursing, ambassador programs, and formal mentoring initiatives. This breadth of experience positions allows Doyle to offer thoughtful governance, strategic perspective, and a strong advocacy voice for quality, safety, and ethical practice as a Parish Nursing board member.
Dr. Marcia (Marcy) Schnorr, Ed.D., MS, RN-BC
Parish Nurse Education
Dr. Marcia (Marcy) Schnorr, Ed.D., MS, RN-BC
Parish Nurse Education
Dr Schnorr is known for her formal name (Marcia) and her more casual
name (Marcy) reflecting her desire to be approachable by all regardless of
the setting. She began her “nursing journey” as a candy striper which
transitioned into a job as a nurse’s aide while in high school. After
graduating from high school, Marcy began her nursing education in a
diploma program at SwedishAmerican Hospital School of Nursing
(Rockford, IL). She then completed her undergraduate studies and a
master’s program in nursing from Northern Illinois University that combined
community health, mental health, and medical-surgical nursing. Marcy
then earned a doctorate in adult education from Northern Illinois University
in DeKalb, IL. Her research dissertation was Spiritual Nursing Care:
Theory and Curriculum Development. Marcy has always had an interest in
the whole person and had developed a part-time chaplaincy service in the
local hospital to enhance the approach to the whole person and family.
Marcy has served in leadership roles for parish nursing within the
congregation, district, national church body, and the global Lutheran parish
nurse community. She received her parish nurse education and her
certificate in Lutheran Lay Ministry (now known as Director of Church
Ministry) from Concordia University Wisconsin. She has received
credentialling as a specialist in faith community nursing (aka parish
nursing) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Her professional
career has included leadership in a community hospital, academia,
community health, and church-based practices. It has also taken her to
numerous international sites to provide parish nursing education or short-
term medical missions.
Edmond W. Holroyd, III, Ph.D.
Coordination of Medical Supplies
Edmond W. Holroyd, III, Ph.D.
Coordination of Medical Supplies
Education
B.S. in astrophysics (1966, University of Rochester, NY).
Ph.D. in atmospheric science (1971, State University of NY at Albany), specializing in cloud physics and weather modification. Thesis about the lake-effect snowstorms of the Great Lakes and Sea of Japan.
Continuing education, non-degree in geology (early 1990s, late 2010s to recent, 10 courses, Colorado School of Mines).
Continuing education course, certificate Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (https://www.perspectives.org/), 2001 to present, student and thereafter coordinating team, 9 times, 4 times as grader.
Continuing education course, Encountering the World of Islam (https://encounteringmuslims.org/) Winter 2007, Fall 2023.
Employment
1971-1974 atmospheric research scientist for Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (C.S.I.R.O.), Division of Cloud Physics, Epping (Sydney), NSW, Australia. Worked on cloud seeding of tropical cumulus clouds in central Queensland. Worked on laboratory measurements of initial snow crystal growth.
1974-2005 research scientist and physical scientist for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Weather research at Miles City, Montana, 1974-1983. Weather research at Montrose, Colorado, 1983-1988. Remote sensing and weather research at Denver, Colorado, 1988-2005.
about 2010 to present seasonal election judge, Jefferson County Elections, mail ballot processing.
2021 lab assistant, ATOKA Geochemical, preparing soil samples for chemical analysis of trace iodine, for petroleum exploration.
2022 to present seasonal associate, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan's Purse, guiding volunteer shoe-box processors, quality control.
University Teaching (also see page topic)
Jan. 1999 to 2016, adjunct professor for University College, University of Denver, teaching graduate courses in remote sensing and image processing.
June 2005 to 2009, adjunct professor for Webster University, Denver campus, teaching graduate courses in satellite remote sensing.
July 2017 instructor for an undergraduate science course at Peking University, Beijing, China.
July 2023, 2024 instructor, coaching graduate students in their use of English for publications, University of Monastir, Tunisia. (For ELIC / Pinnacle Teaching)
Home School High School Teaching
2016 to present, every other school year, for Homeschool, Etc., courses in astronomy, earth science with geology emphasis and sometimes with college credit.
Volunteer work
English Language Institute / China, Summer Teaching Program (www.elic.org/stp), July plus, 2009 to 2015. Usually teaching English to Chinese teachers of English.
Project C.U.R.E. (www.projectcure.org), Denver warehouse, at least once each week, various duties but mostly keeping the inventory of boxes of medical supplies in good order. Additionally as courier. We collect donated medical supplies and equipment, sort, box, file, and retrieve them for packing into ocean-going 40-foot containers for shipment to more than 135 developing nations. The medical goods are free to the receiving clinics and hospitals, but someone needs to pay the shipping costs. Doing this since 2005.
Prospect Recreation and Parks District (www.prospectdistrict.org), Serene Conservancy open space park, volunteer caretaker, preparing the property for future use. Doing cleanup, weed control. 2006 to 2020.
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge (www.fws.gov/twoponds), Arvada, Colorado. Various tasks, but most frequently noxious weed control. Doing this since 2007.
Gallery
