Rocio Munoz and Sarah Kuemmel bring diverse experience in ministry, education, and community service
MADISON, WI — Catholic Charities of Madison is pleased to announce the appointment of Rocio Munoz and Sarah Kuemmel to its Board of Directors. The new board members were formally welcomed during an orientation held on January 28, 2025, alongside Executive Director Shawn Carney and Board Chair Megan McDermott.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rocio and Sarah to our Board of Directors,” said Shawn Carney, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Madison. “Their dedication to faith, service, and community aligns deeply with our mission, and we look forward to the perspectives and experience they will bring to our work.”
Rocio Munoz
Rocio Munoz’s commitment to service is rooted in her upbringing as one of twelve children from a devout Catholic family in Mexico. After living in Brazil and spending 26 years in South Florida, she and her husband, Roberto, were called to start a new chapter in Madison in 2024 to be closer to their children. She currently serves as the Parishioner Engagement and Stewardship Assistant at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Madison.
For nearly three decades, Munoz has been dedicated to ministry. She and her husband served as Southeast Florida Area Leaders for Worldwide Marriage Encounter, gaining experience in volunteer coordination and planning spiritual retreats. She has also served on the Parish Pastoral Council at Mary Help of Christians in Parkland, Florida, and has held key support roles including Administrative Assistant to the Pastor and Coordinator of Religious Education.
Munoz holds a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from St. Thomas University and a Certificate of Lay Ministry from the University of Dayton in partnership with the Archdiocese of Miami. She is trilingual, fluent in English and Spanish with conversational Portuguese.
“I am sincerely motivated and inspired by Catholic Charities’ mission,” said Munoz. “I humbly offer my multicultural background and experience working in a parish setting, which I hope can contribute to the critical work being done here in the Diocese of Madison.”
Sarah Kuemmel
Sarah Kuemmel brings a deep, multigenerational connection to Catholic Charities of Madison. Both her grandmother and her mother previously served on the organization’s Board of Directors, making Kuemmel a third-generation board member.
A graduate of McFarland High School, Kuemmel earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Edgewood College in 2002. She went on to teach elementary school at St. Josaphat School in Chicago, Illinois, from 2003 to 2011. She and her husband, Mike, live in Fitchburg with their three children and are active members of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, where she volunteers at the parish school. She also volunteers at Edgewood High School, where her children attend.
Kuemmel has been actively involved in community service as a board member of the Caritas Foundation and the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, deepening her understanding of and commitment to the communities served by Catholic Charities.
“I have always been passionate about Catholic Charities and its mission to demonstrate Christ’s love and justice by caring in faith for the human family,” said Kuemmel. “Serving our community and showing compassion to those in need are at the core of why it would be a privilege to serve on the Catholic Charities board.”
About Catholic Charities of Madison
Catholic Charities of Madison is a faith-based nonprofit serving eleven counties in southern Wisconsin through more than 18 programs that support individuals and families across every stage of life. Guided by Catholic social teaching and the values of Compassion, Respect, Humility, Stewardship, and Community, the organization strengthens families and fosters stability for neighbors experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, mental health and substance use challenges, aging-related needs, and economic hardship. Catholic Charities also serves culturally diverse communities, including immigrants and refugees, offering welcoming spaces and pathways to opportunity while upholding the dignity of every person.
Media Contact:
Joshua Minden
Director of Marketing and Communications
Catholic Charities of Madison
(608) 826-8000
communications@ccmadison.org
CCMadison.org