Canonical Superiors

Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin 1845-1871 Born: 1810 in Baltimore, Maryland Died: January 22, 1892 in West Chester, PA Name: Alamaine Duchemin Parents: Major Arthur Howard and Marie Anne Maxis Duchemin Religious Profession: July 2, 1829 in Oblates of Providence, Baltimore Elected Superior General: June 21, 1841 Superior General of Oblates of Providence Interesting Information: Co-founder with Father Gillet of IHM Sisters in Monroe, Michigan: November 1845 at age 35 Exiled to Grey Nuns of Ottawa, Canada: 1867 Returned to IHMs of Philadelphia, PA: 1885 Mother Mary Joseph Shaughnessy 1871-1877 Born: 1841, Friendsville, PA Died: May 6, 1884 Name: Mary Shaughnessy Reception of Habit: July 24, 1859 in Susquehanna, PA (then the Diocese of Philadelphia) Religious Profession: July 13, 1860 Appointed Superior General: Appointed Superior General (by Bishop O’Hara) of new Scranton IHM: 1871 Interesting Information: One of the original 12 IHMs who separated from Reading to go to Scranton at the request of the Bishop. Served Six years as Superior General 1871-1877 Mother Mary Francis Henry 1877-1889 Born: October, 1835 in Sligo, Ireland. Came to the U.S. in 1852, lived in Paterson N.J. Died: October 11, 1912 Name: Margaret Henry Education: Educated in Presentation Convent, Dublin Reception of Habit: Reading, PA; August 15, 1863 Religious Profession: Reading, PA; August 25, 1865 Appointed Superior General: Appointed Superior General by Bishop O’Hara: August 1877 Interesting Information: One of the original 12 IHM Sisters in Scranton Diocese: 1871 Served as Superior General for 2 terms: 1877-1889 Had artistic talent Congregation became a legally incorporated body in 1883 under her. Mother Mary Magdalen Jackson 1889-1899 Born: 1842 in Middleboro, Yorkshire England Died: April 13, 1899, at St. Cecilia’s in Scranton, PA. Name: Elizabeth Jackson Parents: Christine Fawcett and David Jackson. Mother was Quaker, Father was Anglican Entered the Congregation: September 8, 1871 Reception of Habit: February 2, 1872 in Pittston, PA Religious Profession: August 14, 1874 Elected Superior General: July 22, 1889, the feast of St. Mary Magdalen Re-elected: August 15, 1895 Interesting Information: Came to Ontario, Canada with parents in 1852 Converted to Catholicism Accomplished musician First postulant received in newly formed Scranton Diocese First elected Superior General of Scranton IHMs In 1893, purchased 30 acres of the land now known as Marywood University. 224 Professed Sisters; 29 novices at time of her death. Mother Mary Crescentia Foster 1899-1901 Born: September 5, 1859 in Scranton, PA Died: April 11, 1916 at St. Alphonsus Convent, New York City (of pneumonia) Name: Mary Foster Parents: Ann Nolan and William Foster, natives of Ireland Entered the Congregation: February 6, 1877 at St. Cecilia’s Scranton Reception of Habit: November 21, 1877 Religious Profession: December 31, 1879 Appointed Superior General: Appointed by Bishop Michel Hoban to completed unexpired term of Mother Mary Magdalen Jackson. 1899-1901 Interesting Information: Continued plans of Mother Mary for building new Motherhouse at Mt. St. Mary’s. Conducted groundbreaking on July 19, 1901. Building not completed until 1903, after her term. Elected Assistant Superior General with Mother Mary Jackson: 1888-1899 1913-1916: Appointed superior and principal of St. Alphonsus School, N.Y Mother M. Cyril Conway 1901-1913 Born: 1859, Pittston, PA Died: June 6, 1942 Name: Ellen Conway Parents: Margaret Shellue and Henry J. Conway Entered the Congregation: June 1876 at St. Cecilia’s, Scranton Reception of Habit: February 13, 1877, St. Rose, Carbondale Religious Profession: August 27, 1878, St. Cecilia’s, Scranton Elected Superior General: August, 1901 Interesting Information: 1901-1903: Walked nearly everyday from St. Cecilia’s, Scranton to supervise work at new motherhouse site. 1903: Completed Mt. St. Mary’s Motherhouse, Scranton. Constructed shrine to Our Lady of Victory in Thanksgiving that a proposed railroad was not built through the grounds. August 30, 1907: Founded Sisters of St. Casimir (Lithuanian Sisters) September 11, 1909: Founded Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius (Slovak Sisters) Western Missions: -1903: Opening of St. Lawrence School, Portland, Oregon -1903: IHM Academy, Couer d’Alene, Idaho -1905: St. Joseph’s School, Spokane, Washington Orphanges: 1909: St. John’s Home, Altoona, PA Mother M. Germaine O'Neill 1913-1919 Born: March 23, 1861 in Sheffield, England Died: September 13, 1928 Name: Agnes O’Neil Parents: Mary Hynes and Michael O’Neil. Moved to Williamsport, PA (8 children attended St. Joseph’s School) Entered the Congregation: 1879 Reception of Habit: December 21, 1880; St. Rose, Carbondale, PA Religious Profession: 1882 Elected Superior General: August 7, 1913 Interesting Information: Elected Assistant Superior General: 1907 1914: M. Germaine wrote the first Marywood College Catalog 1915: Marywood College opened for Classes 1914: Sent 3 Sisters to Ossining, NY (Maryknoll) to begin training of future Maryknoll Sisters. 1918: Petitioned Fordham University, NY to open its graduate schools to the Sisters. 1918: Sent sisters (and she herself went) to help the sick of the county in the flu epidemic. Mother M. Casimir Murry 1919-1929 Born: November 10, 1850 at Reading PA Died: February 16, 1929 at 79 years of age Name: Ellen Murray Parents: Margaret Dolon and James Murray Entered the Congregation: September 29, 1868 at Reading, PA Reception of Habit: December 3, 1868 at Reading, PA Religious Profession: November 22, 1870 at Susquehanna, PA Elected Superior General: 1919-1925 and 1925-1929 Interesting Information: Member of the General Council:1871-1877 Opened 26 schools across North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Rhode Island; St. Joseph’s Hospital, Carbondale, PA and St. Agnes, Elmhurst, PA(Home for aged IHMs) Mother Mary William Craig 1929-1931 Born: August 10, 1871 in Pittston, PA Died: May 3, 1965 Name: Ellen Craig Parents: Ann Brown and Patrick Craig Entered the Congregation: July 31, 1890 Reception of Habit: August 2, 1891 Religious Profession: April 3, 1893 Elected Superior General: 1929-1931 (completed M. Casimir’s term, not elected) Interesting Information: Member of General Council: 1st Assistant to Mother Casimir, 1925-1929 St. Alphonsus Academy, Tilamook, Oregon (traveled by train to Portland, then by Covered Wagon to Tilamook) St. Lawrence Elementary School, Portland Oregon IHM Academy, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Danville, PA Mother M. Josepha Hurley 1931-1940 Born: February 8, 1876, Susquehanna, PA Died: December 4, 1940 at 64 years of age Name: Delia Hurley Parents: Thomas and Helen Maroney Hurley Education: A.B. Marywood University M.A. Fordham University, New York Entered the Congregation: October 2, 1901 at St. Rose; Carbondale, PA Reception of Habit: April 1, 1902 Religious Profession: August 2, 1904 Elected Superior General: 1931-1937 and 1937-1940 (she died during second term) Interesting Information: Opened 16 new missions from Twin Falls, Idaho to Rocky Mount, North Carolina Served as Principal and Superior at six missions Mother M. Marcella Gill 1940-1955 Born: December 22, 1877; Parsons, PA Died: September 14, 1955 at 77 years of age Name: Katherine Gill Parents: John and Marie Nolan Gill Entered the Congregation: July 2, 1896 at St. Rose; Carbondale, PA Reception of Habit: February 2, 1897 Religious Profession: July 15, 1899 Elected Superior General: 1941-1943 (completed Mother Josepha's term) 1943-1949 and 1949-1955 Interesting Information: Served at the following 4 High Schools: -Holy Rosary, Scranton, PA -St. Joseph's, Renovo, PA -Most Holy Rosary, Syracuse, NY -St. Dominic's, Oyster Bay, NY 21 new missions opened during her administration. 4 buildings added to Marywood College: Fine Arts Building, Physical Education Building, Immaculata Residence Hall, and Science Building Member of General Council: 1931-1940 - First Assistant to Mother Josepha Mother M. Kathleen Hart 1955-1962 Born: June 20, 1891; Ashley, PA Died: January 31, 1962 Name: Helen Hart Parents: James B. and Mary Sullivan Hart Entered the Congregation: September 8, 1908 at Scranton, PA Reception of Habit: October 15, 1910 Religious Profession: August 2, 1912 Elected Superior General: 1955-1961 and 1961-1962 Interesting Information: Member of General Council: 1947-1955 Served at 11 missions as Superior and Principal Served as Supervisor of Schools, Scranton Diocese: 1944-1946 1960: Obtained Decree of Praise at Papal Institute 1956: Marian Convent original wing completed 1959: Our Lady of Grace Convent, Manhasset, NY acquired from Peter Grace 1960: Groundbreaking for Novitiate Building, now IHM Center 1960-1961: Approved construction of new College buildings: Madonna Hall, Nazareth Student Center, Emmanuel Hall Mother M. Beata Wertz 1962-1974 Born: July 28, 1898 in Bedford, PA Died: September 14, 1989 at 91 years of age Name: Bernice Wertz Parents: Charles A. and Margaret Schenck Wertz Entered the Congregation: December 8, 1919 Reception of Habit: August 2, 1920 Religious Profession: August 15, 1922 Elected Superior General: 1962-1968 and 1968-1974 Interesting Information: Member of General Council: 1955-1961 and 1961-1962 Principal and supervisor at six missions Received honorary L.L.D. from University of Scranton, PA Presided during Renewal/Adaptation period after Vactican II Accepted foreign missions in Lima, Peru and Ponce, Puerto Rico Built addition to Marian Convent Completed IHM Novitiate Building (now IHM Center) Marywood Motherhouse burned to ground: 1971 St. Joseph's Hospital Convent built Program for education of Sisters from foreign lands: China, Africa, India and Korea Sister Anne Fulwiler 1974-1978 Born: October 14, 1924, Williamsport, PA Name: Anne Marie Fulwiler Parents: Harold and Joann White Fulwiler Entered the Congregation: September, 1944 Reception of Habit: May 8, 1945 (name: Sister M. Albertus) Religious Profession: May 8, 1947 Elected Superior General: 1974-1978 Current Ministry: Canonical Consultant and Volunteer Interesting Information: 1970-1974: Coordinator of Apostolic Works, IHM Congregation 1975: Honorary LHD (Doctor of Humane Letters) from University of Scranton 1979-2003: Canonical Consultant for St. John's Hospital, Downingtown, PA 1980: Earned Masters in Church Administration from Catholic University, Washington, D.C. 1981: Earned Juris Canonici Licentate from Catholic University, Washington, D.C. 1981-1988: Served as Judge in Tribunal and Canonical Consultant for the religious men and women of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. 1988-1997: Vicar for Religious, Diocese of Trenton, N.J. 1997-2002: Vice-Chancellor, Diocese of Trenton, N.J. September 10, 1997: Received the Benemerenti Medal from Pope John Paul II in St. Mary's Cathedral, Trenton, N.J. Sister M. Michel Keenan 1978-1986 Born: March 28, 1924, Payette, Idaho Name: Patricia Alice Keenan Parents: John J. and Lucille Bindel Keenan Entered the Congregation: February 6, 1946 Reception of Habit: August 2, 1946 Religious Profession: August 2, 1948 Education: Ph.D. University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana Elected Superior General: 1978 -Focus of administration: Peace and Justice in all talks and letters. Current Ministry: IHM History: Researcher/Writer Interesting Information: 1958-1978: Marywood College, Scranton Faculty member in Philosophy and Education Departments Graduate Dean 1970-1978: Vice President for Academic Affairs, Marywood College, Scranton 1973-1978: PA State Board of Education 1982: Opened Avila Youth Center in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada with 3 IHM Sisters. 1982: Held Founder's Day Celebration on November 10th at the Chapel on PACA St. in Baltimore where Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin worshiped when she was a member of the Oblates of Providence. 1979: Opened House of Prayer in Verona, N.J. 1984: Added wing to St. Joseph's Hospital, Carbondale, PA. 1986: Presidential Medal, Marywood College, Scranton, PA. 2004: Honorary Doctorate, Marywood University, Scranton, PA. 2004: Author of "Sisters, Servants of the IHM: 1919-1974" soon to be published Sister M. Redempta Sweeney 1986-1994 Born: January 31, 1937, Pittsburgh, PA Name: Joanne Mary Sweeney Parents: M. Leonard and Mary Agnes Ahearn Sweeney Entered the Congregation: September, 1955 Reception of Habit: March 12, 1956 Religious Profession: March 13, 1958 Education: B.A., M.S. in Religious Studies, Marywood College Further study in Rome, Italy, in the Apostolic Religious Congregations Program (ARC) 1971-1972 Elected President: 1986-1990 and re-elected 1990-1994 Current Ministry: Co-Director: Pastoral Care Department at St. Mark High School, Spiritual Director Retreats and Conferences Interesting Information: 1958-1968: Teaching Apostolate 1968-1974: Director of Novices for the IHM Congregation 1978-1986: Member of General Council as Director of Spiritual Renewal 1987: Opened Formation Program/Novitiate in Peru 1987: Hosted the Scranton Black Community to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Eucharist and dinner 1987: Future of the American Church, Washington, DC. All of the leadership team and 90 local coordinators gathered 1988 - New Missions opened in Mississippi and the State of Washington - our "Preferential Option for the Poor" 1989: Inclusive IHM Days with 200 of the laity, priests and religious co-workers 1989: ARC Program Re-visited, Sea of Galilee, Israel 1990: 25th anniversary of the Scranton IHMs in Peru 1990: Founded Spiritual Renewal Center at Cresco, PA 1990: Transfered IHM Novitiate to IHM Convent, River Street, Scranton 1991: Collaborated with five other congregations in founding Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore, Md. 1991: Established Peace Site on grounds of IHM Center 1991: Refounding event with Gerald Arbuckle, Marist priest from New Zealand 1991: Established Office of Development and Advisory Council for Development 1992: Tri-IHM Governing Board promulgated a Holy Year to celebrate 100th anniversary of the deaths of Fr. Gillet and Mother Theresa 1992: Oblate Sisters of Providence, Baltimore, Md., invited to IHM Days for first time 1992: Consolidation of St. Joseph Hospital and Carbondale General Hospital and a new entity, Marian Community Hospital, is established 1993: Reunion of all former members, their spouses and children at IHM Days 1993: Presidential Scholarship Honoree - Marywood College 1993: Hosted all the board members of the various sponsored institutions for an evening of prayer and celebration 1994: Building of the hermitages at the IHM Center in Scranton and the IHM Spiritual Renewal Center in Cresco 1994: Sabbatical year - Sangre de Cristo Center, Sante Fe, NM and Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN Sister Anne Munley 1994-2002 Born: August 6, 1943, Scranton, PA Name: Anne Margaret Munley Parents: Thomas C. and Mary L. Pickard Munley Entered the Congregation: September 8, 1961 Reception of Habit: June 26, 1962 Religious Profession: June 26, 1964 Education: B.A. Marywood College, Scranton, PA M.A. Catholic University, Washington D.C. Ph.D. Boston College, Boston, MA Elected President: 1994-2002 Current Ministry: Director of Programs and Special Mission, UISG, Rome, Italy Interesting Information: High School teacher of sociology, world cultures and economics 1974-1976; 1980-1982: Asst. Professor of Sociology, Marywood College, Scranton, PA 1982-1990: Elected Assistant Congregation Admin. & Director of Apostolic Planning 1990-1994: Director of Planning and Research, Marywood College, Scranton, PA 1995: Visited the Sisters of St. Carimir in Lithuania after the dissolution of the Soviet Union 1995: Received an honorary doctorate from Marywood University 1995-1998: President of LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) 1998: Helped to initiate the African Sisters Education Collaborative 1999-2001: Facilitator of the 2001 Plenary of the Union of International Superior Generals; Chair of Planning Committee 1997: Education of Foreign Sisters from Uganda, Korea, Tanzania, China 2000: Commissioned the statue of Theresa Maxis and established the Theresa Maxis Conference Center 2002: Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Scranton 2002: Received the Presidential Medal from Marywood University Established the IHM Education Enrichment Institute (the EEI) Oversaw the renovation of the chapel at the IHM Center Publications include books on aging, the hospice alternative in death and dying, contemporary social issues, and many articles on religious life and leadership. Sister Mary Persico 2002- Born: November 27, 1947, Hazleton, PA Name: Mary Angela Persico Parents: Frank J. and Margaret Arnold Persico Entered the Congregation: August 31, 1968 Reception of Habit: June 26, 1969 Religious Profession: June 20, 1970 Education: B.A. in French, Marywood College, Scranton, PA M.A. in French, Assumption College, Worchester, MA Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA Elected President: 2002-present Interesting Information: French teacher in high schools in New York and PA Principal: Notre Dame High School, East Stroudsburg, PA and Holy Cross High School, Delran, NJ Adjunct professor at Marywood University, Scranton Elected treasurer of IHM Congregation: 1994-2002 President of Lackawanna County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity Sponsored reunion with Srs.of St.Casmir,Srs. of St. Cyril and Methoius and IHMs - October 11, 2003 Planned with administration for new Marian Convent, groundbreaking held on July 23, 2004 Conducted convocation for IHM future presence in South America, June 25-28, 2004