Rev. Dr. Wesley E. Palmer

Executive Director

I am blessed to be receiving the mantle of Executive Director of the Preachers’ Aid Society from my predecessor Rev. Dr. Thomas Gallen.  Thom has led the Society with wisdom, compassion and vision for the past 14 years.  Through his work, Wesley Woods and Wesley By The Sea became vital parts of our housing initiative for retired pastors.  With our offices now housed in the Rev. Dr. Thomas J. Gallen Community Building at Wesley By The Sea in Wells, Maine, the Society continues to carry out our mission to faithfully care for our pastors and their families in many ways that you can learn about through this website.

The Society is able to do its work because of a history of generous gifts that have been shared with us by many persons who believe in what we are doing.  Our Board members have been faithful stewards of those gifts ensuring that our work can continue and grow.  At the heart of our work are the relationships that we care for through the visitations of our staff, the phone calls we receive, the retiree newsletters prepared and sent, the special events we host and many more acts of love.  I look forward to meeting many of you in my new role as we continue our work of caring.

Main Office
Phone: 207-467-3246
E-mail: wpalmer@preachersaid.org

Ms. Gail V. Tapply

Director Clergy Family Services Northwest-Central

Greetings from the Northwest area of our Conference.  I'm blessed to have the opportunity to visit our retired pastors and their spouses throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.  What a delight it is to connect with these individuals who have spent much of their lives serving and caring for others, and to be able to bring to them the connection, care and concern of  The Preachers' Aid Society.  Until we meet again, Peace and Blessings.   

Northwest-Central Office
Phone: 603-851-2761
E-mail: gtapply@preachersaid.org

mimi Wood-magee

Director Clergy Family Services - southeast

Mimi has served with PAS in Maine since early 2020 and is now moving to the Southern New England region, the region previously served by Karen Ruggiero. Mimi also serves as Care Specialist to the retired clergy of the New England Annual Conference. An adventurer by nature, Mimi appreciates the opportunity to travel the roads and ways of southern New England, meeting retired clergy and their families. She is particularly looking forward to hearing the retiree’s stories and finding ways to meet their connectional needs. Mimi hopes that by sharing time together lasting friendships will develop and current and future needs may be met with care and ease.

Southeast Office
Phone: 207-432-7179
E-mail: mimi@preachersaid.org

rev. dr. Hope Luckie

Director of Clergy Family Services Southwest/

director of pastoral care

I am passionate about walking with people on their journeys of faith and helping others notice God present and active in their lives. I am certified as a spiritual director, supervisor, mentor, and interim minister. I hold a doctorate in ecumenism and interreligious dialogue and a Master of Divinity focusing on spiritual formation and direction. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, I have served a variety of creative ministries. With the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, I lead in a variety of ways. I am co-chair of the Open Spirit Task Force, an active member on the Commission of the Status and Role of Women (COSROW), a team member of the Ministry Exploration Summit and a Dismantling Racism and Mentor trainer for the Annual Conference.

I enjoy traveling, sailing, surfing, listening to jazz, eating great food, and getting to know diverse communities of people. Spending time nurturing my garden and my family brings me much joy. I am committed to praying and working for justice in whatever context I find myself. My husband, Matthew Grasse and I have two young children, Gabriel and Eden. We also have three furry felines named Mary Magdalene (Maggie), Mary Cleopas (Chloe) and Acorn.

Southwest Office

Phone: 413-658-8161

Email: hope@preachersaid.org

Ms. Kathleen (kathie) Mccatherin

Director of clergy family services - maine

Kathleen “Kathie” McCatherin has joined the Preacher’s Aid Society staff as Director of Clergy Family Services- Maine Region and will start with us on March 1, 2021.  Kathie has a background in mediation, social work and adult education.  Initially, Kathie provided care for a couple of residents at Wesley By the Sea and found the community to be one of care and kindness.  Eager to affiliate with these values she applied for the open position.  Kathie has a rich spiritual life and is one with a quest for spiritual awareness, growth, and the deeper meaning and purpose of our lives.   Kathie considers herself a “people person” happy to bring her skills, experience and qualities of humor, kindness and careful listening to her work with retired pastors.   She is eager to meet and know the staff and those served by the Preacher’s Aid Society.  Kathie has been a lifelong musician and creator of arts and crafts.  She resides in Falmouth where she loves to gaze at the ocean and hear the birds chirp.

Wendy Kirk

Office Manager

Wendy Kirk is originally from Saugus, MA but has lived most of her life in New Hampshire and Maine. She takes pride in her professional organizational skills. Wendy has enjoyed working with people in multiple office settings building relationships for the past 35 years. Personally, Wendy enjoys the theater, gardening at her home in Cornish, ME and loves cooking for her family and friends. 

Wells, Maine
Main Office
Phone: 207-467-3246
E-mail: wkirk@preachersaid.org