Most Holy Rosary Foundation

Father Fred Mannara

Father Fred Mannara celebrated his 60th jubilee in May 2023, marking six decades of devoted service to the Lord and His people. Ordained on May 18, 1963, Fr. Fred has lived his calling with unwavering faith and compassion—serving as pastor, teacher, and spiritual guide to countless individuals across Central New York.

Throughout his ministry, he has faithfully led and served in numerous parishes, including St. Bartholomew (Norwich), St. Mary of the Assumption (Binghamton), Corpus Christi (South Onondaga), St. Patrick’s (Otisco), St. Mary’s (Baldwinsville), St. Patrick’s (Jordan), St. Brigid/St. Joseph (Syracuse), and Transfiguration (Syracuse). He also served on the faculty at Bishop Ludden-Grimes and as Director of Faith Centers at Henninger High School and Public Service Leadership Academy (PSLA) at Fowler High School in Syracuse.

Fr. Fred was later named pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes (Syracuse), parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist (New Hartford), and in 1998, he became pastor at Most Holy Rosary Church, where he continues to serve with deep love and dedication. Known affectionately to students as the “breakfast chef,” Fr. Fred begins many mornings cooking for the children of MHR, embodying his lifelong commitment to faith in action.

In recognition of his remarkable service, Catholic Charities of Syracuse and Onondaga County honored Fr. Fred with the Bishop’s Medallion in 2009 for his enduring commitment to the Church and his compassionate outreach to those in need.

Sherri Stone

Sherri Stone is a career educator with over 30 years of experience dedicated to student success across various levels. Her deep commitment to learning has seen her teach elementary, middle school, and college students, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding of educational needs from early childhood through higher education. For the past six years, Sherri has served as the Principal of Most Holy Rosary School. Sherri holds a Master’s in Education and Psychology along with many certifications ranging from leadership, mentoring, and reading. 

Throughout her distinguished career, Mrs. Stone has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards that highlight her impact on students and the field of education. Her accolades include: Teacher of the Year for her school and county, culminating in her recognition as one of the Top 12 for the state of Georgia, the Outstanding Educator and Outstanding Pre-K Teacher for the state of Georgia awards, the Stephen Shank Award for Teaching Excellence and College Learner Success, and named to Georgia’s Best and Brightest “40 Under 40”.

Beyond her professional life, Mrs. Stone is a devoted family woman. She has been happily married to Eric Stone for 37 years, and they have two daughters and an English Labrador. In her downtime, she enjoys the grounding activities of cooking, gardening, reading, and, most importantly, spending quality time with her family.

Dave Hardy

David Hardy serves as the current President of the Most Holy Rosary Foundation, continuing a legacy of dedicated service to the Most Holy Rosary Church community. A member of the parish for over 45 years, David has also served as a trustee of the church and remains a steadfast advocate for its mission and values.

All four of David’s children attended Most Holy Rosary School, a testament to his belief in the transformative role the parish plays in shaping lives and strengthening the broader community. His leadership is rooted in a deep appreciation for the spiritual, educational, and social contributions Most Holy Rosary offers its members.

Professionally, David is a retired Certified Public Accountant whose career was largely devoted to hospital administration. His background in finance and healthcare brings a thoughtful, service-oriented perspective to his work with the Foundation, helping to ensure its long-term sustainability and impact.

Matt Kerwin

Matt Kerwin is a third-generation parishioner of Most Holy Rosary Church.  His three children all graduated from Most Holy Rosary (MHR) and Bishop Ludden.  Matt previously served as President of the MHR School Commission, coached the MHR boys basketball team, and has volunteered at numerous school/parish functions over the years.  He is a graduate of Corcoran High School, Providence College, and the University at Buffalo School of Law.  Matt is an attorney with National Grid.

Ellen Hardy

Ellen Hardy is one of 2 trustees of MHR. She has served in this capacity for 10 years. Ellen is married to Dave Hardy and they have 4 children, who attended MHR, and 11 grandchildren. She is a graduate of Marywood University, SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oswego. She is a former foreign language teacher in Syracuse and school administrator in North Syracuse. Ellen taught religious education at Most Holy Rosary (MHR) for several years at many grade levels and was a former parent group president and MHR School board president. She volunteers at the Everson Museum of Art as a docent and drives for Sarah’s Guest House and cooks at Francis House. She enjoys golf and skiing in her spare time.

Frank Price

Brad O’Connor

Brad is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience providing strategic financial advice to non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses of all sizes.  His career has focused on organizational and accounting department optimization, and long-term corporate financial planning.  He is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Barclay Damon, LLP.

Brad is parishioner and proud graduate of Most Holy Rosary School.  In addition to his work on the Most Holy Rosary Foundation board, he is the Treasurer of Aurora of Central New York, a non-profit organization serving individuals with vision and hearing loss.  He also volunteers his time as coach of the Rosary girls basketball teams.

Brad lives in Strathmore with his wife and three daughters, all of whom attended Most Holy Rosary.

Christina Wiegand

Christina Wiegand is a mother of two children at Most Holy Rosary School and 1 child at Bishop Ludden-Grimes Jr./Sr. High School. Her roots and loyalty are deep with the Diocese as she is an alumnus of both schools. She is currently on the Most Holy Rosary School PTC Executive Board serving as the President. Christina is an enthusiastic 2nd grade teacher at The Syracuse Latin School in the Syracuse City School District. She also finds fulfillment with facilitating the Children’s Liturgy at Most Holy Rosary Church on Sundays. Christina strives to live a life of intentional dedication, demonstrating that true impact is often measured by the depth of care shown to others.

Christina graduated from Tompkins Cortland Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Education and Liberal Arts. She then transferred to SUNY Cortland and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Christina continued her learning at LeMoyne College, where she received a Master’s Degree in Special Education. She later attended Nazareth College, where she received a Master’s Degree in Gifted and Talented Education.

Alison Oropallo

Alison Oropallo is a mother of two children at Most Holy Rosary (MHR). Her oldest child has been at MHR since Pre K-3 and is currently in second grade with her youngest child currently in kindergarten. Alison also previously served on the PTC board at MHR. Alison is an Assistant District Attorney in Onondaga County, assigned to the Narcotics Bureau. She is a member of the Onondaga County Drug Task Force as well as the Central New York Threat Assessment Management and Strategy Team where she serves on the advisory board. 

Alison Oropallo graduated from Bishop Ludden in 2005. Alison went on to St. Bonaventure University and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration on international relations and received a Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law.