Meet ourTeam
Fr. Aaron Lynch [Director]
Father Aaron Lynch is a native of St. Patrick Parish in Carlisle. His calling to the priesthood began as a series of dispersed moments throughout middle school and high school which led to his entering the Seminary at St. Charles Borromoeo at age 18. He has described discernment of vocation as the "training our own hearts to be obedient to the pull of God's will for your life."
“One of the first steps in discernment is noticing what you are attracted to and what you find beautiful,” he says. He was assisted in his discernment by prayer and the practice of Ignatian spirituality, which he described as “discernment of your emotions, of what’s going on inside you. It’s a good spirituality for someone in discernment. A big part of it is the understanding that everything that happens around you, God is aware of. There isn’t anything outside of His plan,” he explains. “Just thinking about the priestly life – what a priest is and what he does – was so beautiful to me every time I thought of it that I didn’t want to miss out on that life. God wouldn’t put that great desire and great attraction to that beauty in me if it wasn’t for some purpose.”
Fr. Lynch was ordained to the priesthood for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg on June 5, 2021. After his ordination, he served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Gettysburg, Chaplain to Gettysburg College, and later at St. Francis of Assisi and the Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick in Harrisburg. He has served as Chaplain at Bloomsburg University and Parochial Vicar at Saint Columba Parish, Bloomsburg and Christ the King Mission, Benton, since June, 2025.
In his spare time, Father Lynch enjoys movies, music, reading, board games, and spending time with his brother priests (especially when he gets to cook).
Mary L. Howe [Associate Director]
Mary Lenzini Howe is a St. Columba parishioner since 1957 and a St. Columba School Alumna.
In 2023, she retired from a 10-year position as Commonwealth University’s (Bloomsburg Campus) Director of the Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) Program in the Zeigler College of Business and then as interim principal of St. Columba School during the 2023-24 school year.
Ms. Howe earned a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater from New York University. She is also credentialed as a SHRM-Certified Senior Professional [SHRM CSP], and Job and Career Development/Transition Coach [JCD/TC].
Her career has traversed several business industries in leadership positions including VPHR and Marketing for Bloomsburg Health System; mayor and council member of the Town of Bloomsburg; proprietor of La Groceria Italian Deli; and professional vocalist.
She has served on numerous community, state and national boards, and recently served as a past advisory member for the Susquehanna Human Resource Management Association [SHRMA], the Columbia Montour Area on Aging Agency, the PA Perinatal Quality Initiative, and the Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. She also serves in several St. Columba Parish ministries including cantor, lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and finance committee member. She has has been a volunteer leader in the OCIA, Cursillo, and True Colors programs in the Harrisburg Diocese.
In February 2025, Mary and her spouse Michael celebrated 40 years of marriage. Together, with the Grace of God, they provide continued love and support to their oldest daughter Katie, her spouse George Berger, and their youngest daughter, Aly Howe. They delight in spending time with their six grandchildren, (Gavin, Liam, Maryn, Jameson, Armando and Aria Grace, ) and their Labradoodle, Hazel and kitties, Luna & Tuddles (aka Mister-Mister). Grateful beyond words to Our Lord for all of His blessings and love that fill each day to overflowing.