Past Canonical Superiors

Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin
1845–1871
- Born: April of 1810 in Baltimore, Maryland
- Died: January 14, 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 Mother 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 at West Chester, PA: 1885

Mother Mary Joseph Shaughnessy
1871–1877
- Born: May 1, 1840 in 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
- Elected: 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 27, 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
- Elected: 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 during her leadership term

Mother Mary Magdalen Jackson
1889–1899
- Born: June 9, 1842 in Middleboro in 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: 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
- Elected: 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: August 27, 1858 in 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: August, 1901
Interesting Information
- 1901-1903: Walked nearly every day 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.
- 1903: Father Jankola sought the assistance of Mother M. Cyril to direct the candidates who would form a new congregation to serve Slovak immigrants and the first 3 aspirants began their initial formation at Mt. St. Mary’s In Scranton, PA
- November 2, 1905: Mother M. Cyril accepted Casmira Kaupas and two other young women into the formation program at Mount St. Mary
- August 29, 1907: Mother Maria, Mother Immaculata and Mother Concepta were professed. This day marked the birth of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Casimir (Lithuanian Sisters)
- September 11, 1909: celebration of the founding of the Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius occured (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
- Orphanages: 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: 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 Murray
1919–1929
- Born: November 10, 1850 in 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: 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)
- Missions established under her leadership: Sacred Heart Elementary and High Schools, La Plata, MD and St. Joseph’s, New Bern, NC

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: 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 in 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 Mother 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 in 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: 1940-1943 (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 in 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 in Scranton, PA
- 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 Vatican 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 in Williamsport, PA
- Died: May 02, 2012 in Scranton, 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
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 in Payette, Idaho
- Died: May 1, 2019 in Scranton, PA
- Name: Patricia Alice Keenan
- Parents: John J. and Lucille Bindel Keenan
- Education: Ph.D. University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana
- Entered the Congregation: February 6, 1946
- Reception of Habit: August 2, 1946
- Religious Profession: August 2, 1948
- Elected Superior General: 1978 -Focus of administration: Peace and Justice in all talks and letters.
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” published by RoseDog Books

Sister M. Redempta Sweeney
1986–1994
- Born: in Pittsburgh, PA
- Name: Joanne Mary Sweeney
- Parents: M. Leonard and Mary Agnes Ahearn Sweeney
- Education: B.A., M.S. in Religious Studies, Marywood College; Further study in Rome, Italy, in the Apostolic Religious Congregations Program (ARC) 1971-1972
- Entered the Congregation: September, 1955
- Reception of Habit: March 12, 1956
- Religious Profession: March 13, 1958
- Elected Congregation Administrator: 1986-1990 and re-elected 1990-1994
- Current Ministry: Prayer Minister
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: Transferred 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: in Scranton, PA
- Name: Anne Margaret Munley
- Parents: Thomas C. and Mary L. Pickard Munley
- Education: B.A. Marywood College, Scranton, PA; M.A. Catholic University, Washington D.C.; Ph.D. Boston College, Boston, MA
- Entered the Congregation: September 8, 1961
- Reception of Habit: June 26, 1962
- Religious Profession: June 26, 1964
- Elected President: 1994-2002
- Current Ministry: LCWR: Associate Director for Emerging Future Initiative
Interesting Information
- 1974-1976: High School teacher of sociology, world cultures and economics
- 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
- 2006-2008: Executive Director of ASEC (The African Sisters Education Collaborative)
- 2007-2016: 11th President of Marywood University
- 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
2002–2010
- Born: in Hazleton, PA
- Name: Mary Angela Persico
- Parents: Frank J. and Margaret Arnold Persico
- 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
- Entered the Congregation: August 31, 1968
- Reception of Habit: June 26, 1969
- Religious Profession: June 20, 1970
- Elected President: 2002-2010
- Current Ministry: President of Marywood University
Interesting Information
- 1970-1978: French teacher in high schools in New York and PA
1978-1980: Assistant Principal: Bishop Klonowski High School, Scranton, PA - 1980-1994: Principal: Notre Dame High School, East Stroudsburg, PA and Holy Cross High School, Delran, NJ
- Adjunct professor at Marywood University, Scranton, PA
- 1994-2002: Elected treasurer of IHM Congregation
- President of Lackawanna County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity
- October 11, 2003: Sponsored reunion with Srs. of St.Casmir, Srs. of St. Cyril and Methoius and IHMs
- Planned with administration for new Marian Convent, groundbreaking held on July 23, 2004
- June 25-28, 2004: Conducted convocation for IHM future presence in South America
- October 28, 2016: Installed as the 12th President of Maywood University

Sister Therese O’Rourke
2010–2014
- Born: in Wilkes-Barre, PA
- Name: Therese O’Rourke
- Parents: John and Rose Kielty O’Rourke
- Education: B.S. in Elementary Education/Art Education, Marywood College, Scranton, PA; MEd in Elementary Administration, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH; MSW in Social Work, Marywood College, Scranton, PA
- Entered the Congregation: August 4, 1968
- Reception of Habit: June 26, 1969
- Religious Profession: June 20, 1970
- Elected President: 2010-2014
- Current Ministry: Projects Coordinator at Friends of the Poor
Interesting Information
- 1978-1985: Principal: Wyoming Area Catholic School, Exeter, PA
- 1985-1990: Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Scranton, PA
- Elected IHM Congregation Assistant Administrator and Director of Apostolic Planning (1990-1998)
- 1998-2001: Worked for Catholic Social Services as St. Patrick’s Elementary School, Scranton, PA
- 2002-2010: President and CEO St. Joseph’s Center, Scranton, PA

Sister Ellen Maroney
2014–2022
- Born: in Syracuse, NY
- Name: Ellen Marie Maroney
- Parents: John and Catherine Menten Maroney
- Education: B.A. in Social Studies, Marywood College, Scranton PA; M.A. in American History, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC; M.A. in Pastoral Counseling, Marywood University, Scranton, PA
- Entered the Congregation: September 1, 1968
- Reception of Habit: June 26, 1969
- Religious Profession: June 6, 1971
- Elected President: 2014
- Current Ministry: Transition Team Member, Sisters of Saint Casimir

Sister Kathryn Clauss
2022–
- Born: in Scranton, PA
- Name: Mary Kathryn Clauss
- Parents: James and Marion Lynch Clauss
- Education: B.A. in Education/English, Marywood College, Scranton, PA; M.A. in Counseling, Marywood College, Scranton, PA; PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
- Entered the Congregation: September 1, 1968
- Reception of Habit: June 26, 1969
- Religious Profession: June 6, 1971
- Elected President: 2022
- Current Ministry: President of IHM Congregation