The Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, an international Catholic community of vowed women religious, elected new leadership during the 22nd Congregation Chapter meeting held between 5 and 16 September, in Seattle, Washington.
Sister Sheila Lemieux CSJP will serve as the Congregation Leader. Other members of the newly elected Leadership Team are Sisters Kristin Funari, Margaret Shannon, Melinda McDonald and Susan Francois. This Leadership Team will serve the Congregation for a six-year term beginning on 7 January 2015.
Sister Sheila currently serves as Congregation Director of Formation. She has held province and congregation leadership role and was the Congregation Leader from 2003-2009. Her background also includes experience as an educator in the Seattle Archdiocese, Pastoral Associate at St Joseph’s parish in Issaquah, Washington, and PeaceHealth Board Chair.
Sister Kristin has been serving on the current Congregation Leadership Team since 2009. Prior to that she served as Executive Director of York Street Project in Jersey City, New Jersey and was associated with York Street Project since its inception in 1988.
Sister Margaret has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for 31 years. Prior to her psychotherapy practice, she worked for the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle in Snohomish County as Young Adult Minister.
Sister Melinda provided patient care in multiple aspects of HIV/AIDS nursing for 25 years and is currently a hospice homecare nurse. Together with associate Eileen McCann, she co-directs the CSJP Associate program in the eastern region.
Sister Susan is currently a Bernardin Scholar at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois where she is completing her Masters of Arts in Theology degree. She previously ministered as a social justice educator and advocate at the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center in Seattle, Washington.
The Sisters of St Joseph of Peace are in three regions: Eastern United States, Western United States and the UK. In the UK the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace have Sisters serving in the Archdiocese of Westminster and in the dioceses of Nottingham, Leeds, Glasgow and Motherwell. The Congregation was founded in 1884 to promote social justice as a way to peace. Current membership includes 185 Sisters and 136 Associates.
