About Our Leadership
Sister Dorothy Metz, President
Sr. Dorothy has been a member of the Sisters of Charity for 48 years. Prior to being elected President of the Congregation in 2003, Sr. Dorothy served as a Regional Coordinator for eight years. Before her ministry in congregational leadership, Sr. Dorothy served in the ministry of education in both elementary and high school, leaving St. Barnabas H.S. after 20 years of service as a teacher, campus minister, and finally Development Director.
Sr. Dorothy sees leadership as a role of service. With Christ as her model and guide, Sr. Dorothy attempts to live in "contemplative tension, holding seemingly opposite values" as sacred. "Leaders need to look to the future without disregarding the present. They need to present a vision of what is possible and desirable and then invite others to be willing to change, and even sacrifice, to achieve the vision."
Sister Donna Dodge, Assistant to the President
Sr. Donna Sister holds a B.A. in Psychology from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an M.A. in Religious Studies from Fordham University, and an Ed.D in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. She entered the Congregation in 1966.
For seven years, Sr. Donna taught in elementary schools in the Bronx and Yonkers. That was followed by six years as the Co-Director of the Planning and Research Office for her Congregation, then ten years as Assistant to the President and Director of Planning at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. In 1992, Sr. Donna began a 15-year ministry at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, where she served as Executive Assistant to the President for three years, then as the Vice President of Mission & Planning for 12 years. In February of 2007, Sister was named Community Outreach Director at Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. She served in that capacity until her election to the Congregation’s Council.
Sister Nora Ellen Cunningham, Regional Coordinator
Sr. Nora’s experiences with the Sisters of Charity as educators led her to enter in 1961. She first worked in the ministry of elementary education and became involved in CCD and parish work. She was one of the founding members of the South Bronx Pastoral Center, a center for adult lay leadership development and ministry training.
In the early 1980's, Sr. Nora became the Candidate Director for the Congregation, and then the Formation Director. After leaving this position, Sr. Nora became the co-founder and co-director of the Center for Renewal and Education in Sullivan and Orange Counties. The Center's purpose is faith development, ministry training, and lay leadership for service in the rural parishes of the upper counties of the Archdiocese of New York.
Sr. Nora believes that the followers of Sts. Vincent, Louise, and Elizabeth Seton are called to be "true to the spiritual journey of personal communal conversion in the God quest; to use the towel of charity in the washing of feet in new ways for today, and to be convinced enough to pass on the torch of charity to newer members and associates." For Sr. Nora, it is important for leadership to keep the focus on the vision of mission in planning and decision making, to inspire hope in difficult times, to continue to build circles of relationships, and to encourage risk taking for all people in need, especially those who are poor.
Sister Margaret Mary Kelly, Regional Coordinator
Sr. Margaret entered the Congregation in 1958. She holds a B.A. in History from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an M.A. in Reading from Manhattan College, her R.N. from the Cochran School of Nursing / St. John's Riverside Hospital, and a B.S.N. from St. Joseph's College of Maine.
Sister's early educational ministries included St. Peter's in Haverstraw, NY, where she was a teacher and Eucharistic Minister for a total of 14 years. She also taught for one year each at two other parochial schools.
After becoming a registered nurse in 1979, Sr. Margaret joined the staff at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers where she would work for 27 years, as a nurse, nurse educator and in management positions. Before her election to the Council, Sister served for a year as a nurse at her Congregation's retirement convent, Mary the Queen in Yonkers.
Sister Helen McGovern, Regional Coordinator
Sr. Helen entered the Sisters of Charity in September of 1956. She has specialized in the ministry of education as a teacher and principal in elementary schools, as Director of Academic Advisement on the college level, and as a high school guidance counselor.
Sr. Helen sees the mission of the Sisters of Charity "alive in our Sisters and Associates and in their ministries." Sister continues to live the charism of charity in her daily efforts to respond to gospel and exemplify gospel values in her personal and ministerial life.
The role of leadership in a religious community is varied, and often not easy. To be an effective leader one needs to maintain her sense of humor and be a flexible person. "At times it means being supportive, affirming, challenging, accompanying, and empowering." One must be open, a good listener, a questioner who is willing to hear the answers and sometimes live without answers and a prayerful and reflective person." It's a challenge, but Sr. Helen McGovern has accepted leadership with joy and openness.
Sister Margaret O'Brien, Regional Coordinator
Sr. Margaret had the Sisters of Charity as teachers in grades 1-12 and they "formed her initial understanding of religious life and served as role models." She entered the Congregation in 1960.
Sister served many years in the ministry of education as a teacher, librarian and principal. She also ministered in elementary education in the Bay Area of California for 11 years. Upon her return to New York, Sr. Margaret assumed the position of Vice President for Mission in the Sisters of Charity Healthcare System on Staten Island. Four years later, she was elected to her present position in leadership for the Congregation.
The mission of the Sisters of Charity remains alive in the "institutions we foster by active sponsorship and presence, and by reason of the leaders and teachers we formed when we were more numerous in schools, hospitals and childcare." Sr. Margaret also notes that "many areas where our Sisters minister directly with the poor and marginalized exemplify our traditional spirit of effective and affective charity."
Sister sees the role of leadership as a need to "reflect God's love" particularly to our Sisters, to discern what the spirit of Charity impels us to today, and to be a voice in the stewardship of the "charism and resources of the Congregation so that the mission has a strong future."
Sister Dominica Rocchio, Regional Coordinator
Sr. Dominica entered the Congregation in 1962. She holds a B.S. in English, an M.A. in Religious Education, an M.A. in English from Manhattan College, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from Fordham University. She also is certified in English, and as a school principal and school district administrator in NYS and as school administrator in NJ.
Sister has been a leader in Catholic school education since 1965. She spent 27 years in high schools as a teacher and administrator. Then in 1980, she began a 12 year ministry as Associate Superintendant of Secondary Schools with the Archdiocese of New York. In 1992, Sister crossed the Hudson and served the Archdiocese of Newark for 15 years as Secretary of Education and Superintendant of Schools.
Sister has sat on many national educational boards and advisory committees and has been instrumental in establishing educational leadership programs. She collaborated on the founding of Christ the King H.S.in Newark in September 2007, as part of the innovative Cristo Rey Network. Her many contributions have been recognized by numerous education leadership awards.
Sr. Dominica is a much sought-after speaker at educators’ conferences. |
