Sister Sharon Sullivan to once again guide Leadership Council

The Ursuline Sisters looked to the past for the person to lead them into the future, selecting Sister Sharon Sullivan as congregational leader, six years after she left the same office.

Sister Sharon was congregational leader from 2010-16. The native Texan becomes only the second Sister in the community’s history to be elected to nonconsecutive terms as leader. Mother Teresita Thompson served as superior from 1928-34, and then again from 1937-43. Sister Sharon is celebrating her 40th year as an Ursuline Sister this year, with most of her time in ministry serving at Brescia College/University. She is currently coordinator of special education and a professor at Brescia.

The Ursuline Sisters gathered over Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30, 2022, to choose their new leaders. Joining Sister Sharon on the Council are two newcomers to elected office and one veteran.

Sister Martha Keller was elected as assistant congregational leader. She is a native of Whitesville, Ky., and is serving in her 46th year as an Ursuline. Sister Martha has served as a teacher, parish minister and director of Vocation ministry. Since 2012, she has served as a pastoral associate at St. Jerome Parish, in Fancy Farm, Ky. She was instrumental in leading relief efforts for people in Mayfield, Ky., following the deadly Dec. 10, 2021, tornado that devastated the town.

Sister Monica Seaton was elected as first councilor. Sister Monica is a native of Owensboro, Ky., where she attended St. Stephen Cathedral as her home parish. She is the community’s youngest Sister, serving in her 20th year. Sister Monica served as a teacher, and since 2016 has been the director of Vocation ministry for the Ursulines.

Sister Ann McGrew was elected as the second councilor. The Grayson County, Ky., native previously served as a councilor from 2004-2010. Now in her 57th year as an Ursuline, Sister Ann brings a wide variety of ministry experience to her role. She has been a teacher, parish minister and secretary to the Council. She was also director of novices and of the temporary professed, and she served in the ministry formation program at Brescia. She is a spiritual director and a founding member of the Spiritual Direction Training Program at Maple Mount. She was director of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center from 2010-16. Today, she serves as Motherhouse treasurer and transportation coordinator.

The Sisters will be installed in their new roles during a ceremony on July 17, 2022. They will serve four-year terms.

The current Council — Sisters Amelia Stenger, Pat Lynch, Pam Mueller and Judith Nell Riney — were not eligible for re-election.

The Ursuline Sisters ask for your prayers to guide their new Leadership Council.