“The Catholic Church is a leader in developing programs which apply the tenets of Catholic social teaching to today’s society,” said Franzman. “Nicholas will continue this vital tradition.”

As coordinator for Ministry in Higher Education, Lund-Molfese managed campus ministry efforts at both Catholic and non-Catholic colleges and universities in Cook and Lake counties for the last five years. He will continue in that post until a replacement is found. He was also director of the Integritas Institute, a forum for the study and discussion of ethics in the professional colleges of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Among other initiatives, the Office for Peace and Justice works with immigration, affordable housing and violence issues. Its staff is responsible for coordinating local efforts of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services. The office also serves as a resource for parishes and coordinates the Parish Sharing program that links more affluent parishes with those in need in the Archdiocese.

Lund-Molfese, an attorney who spent two years working with the poor at a downstate legal clinic, has a background in Catholic social teaching, justice and ethics issues. Before joining the Archdiocese, he was an assistant professor at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, where he taught graduate and undergraduate courses in morality, ethics and computer crime.

He and his wife, Christine, ran St. Joseph the Worker House and Farm in Rhode Island, where assistance was provided to women in crisis pregnancy who were victims of domestic violence. He has also written and lectured on topics involving Catholic social teaching.

"The Office for Peace and Justice works to help Catholics integrate their faith with their economic, political and charitable activities,” says Lund-Molfese. “Everyone is called to cooperate with Christ in the whole of their life,” he continued, “and our friendship with Christ is deeply relevant to every moment of our day and everything we do."

Lund-Molfese and his wife are the parents of four children.